God Of War: 10 Best Kratos Quotes | ScreenRant
Fans of the God of War franchise have followed Kratos’ story for years, starting from his glory days as a Spartan to his grand adventures across realms to get to Jotunheim. Along the way, he has said some of the most unforgettable lines that stay with players long after they’ve put their controllers down.
The God of War games are known for their brilliant storytelling and well-written characters, which are best seen through the protagonist’s story. Kratos’ violent past, unfair treatment from the gods, and efforts to change his son’s future are masterfully weaved together with reimagined Greek and Norse mythologies. Some of his best quotes showcase the depth of these narratives.
10 “A Choice From The Gods Is As Useless As The Gods Themselves.”
One of the most profound quotes in the God of War series is said just a few minutes into the events of GoW 2, when Kratos gets into an epic fight with his father Zeus on Mount Olympus. His father doesn’t believe he’s worthy of being considered the god of war, and he gives Kratos one last chance to respect the gods and join their pantheon.
After years of servitude to the cruel gods, Kratos is not about to change his mind. With blood coming out of his mouth and the Sword of Olympus buried deep in his abdomen, he mocks his father in his last moments. He has learned from experience that a choice from the gods is just an illusion, making inferior beings feel like they have control.
9 “A Spartan Never Lets His Back Hit The Ground.”
In God of War 3, players are shown a flashback that features Kratos and his brother Deimos training to become Spartans as kids. It reminds fans of just how difficult life has always been for the protagonist, especially when he learns the hard lesson that defeat often means losing something valuable.
Kratos is no match for the gods Ares and Athena, who arrive out of nowhere to kidnap Deimos, mistakenly thinking that he’s the prophesied child meant to take down Zeus. When Kratos tries to resist, Ares strikes him down and causes him to fall to the ground, giving him a nasty scar. The protagonist has tried to live by this line for the rest of his days, always keeping his guard up and never showing weakness.
8 “I Am What The Gods Have Made Me!”
Fueled by hatred and revenge, Kratos fights his way through the Underworld in God of War 2 and seeks the Sisters of Fate to turn back time and get the upper hand. He refuses to believe that any of his actions have led to this point in his life, blaming only the gods for his painful experiences and recurring nightmares.
The quote raises important questions about free will in Kratos’ universe and whether it even exists. With the gods manipulating events and people to get what they want, Kratos wrongly believes that his violent choices must be a result of the deities’ control over mortal lives – he refuses to take responsibility for killing his own family.
7 “Do Not Mistake My Silence For Lack Of Grief.”
Out of all the most tragic characters in God of War, Kratos has undoubtedly had the worst experiences throughout his life. He had no choice but to become hardened to these events, perhaps even to expect something bad at every turn. This is in stark contrast to the naivety and innocence of his son, Atreus, whose first terrible life event is the death of his mother, Faye.
Atreus accuses Kratos of not caring about Faye’s passing in the latest God of War title, at least not visibly. It’s a statement that causes the god of war to snap, reminding viewers that his wife’s death still hurt him deeply and that he is grieving in his own way.
6 “I’m Your Monster No More.”
Kratos realizes his mistake too late in God of War, as he learns that keeping Atreus’ true nature from him only does more harm than good. During his grueling journey back to their home, an illusion of his half-sister Athena accompanies him, reminding him of his chaotic past and his previous blunders.
Standing by his doorway, the specter says a haunting line: “You cannot change. You will always be a monster.” Kratos pauses and seems to think about this for one second, before closing his eyes and accepting this as a fact. He says that he knows what he is, but at least he’s no longer controlled by the monsters that made him.
5 “Zeus! Your Son Has Returned. I Bring The Destruction Of Olympus!”
After crawling out of the Underworld and getting Gaia’s help to overthrow the pantheon, God of War 2 gives fans one of the most epic cliffhangers in gaming history. It shows Kratos hanging on to Gaia as she ascends towards Mount Olympus, preparing to annihilate the gods.
Kratos, of course, wanted to take revenge on Zeus above everyone else. This memorable line would set the stage for one of the hardest boss fights in God of War, which fans would, unfortunately, have to wait three years to see.
4 “My Vengeance Ends Now.”
The end of GoW 3 marks an important transition between Kratos’ brutal rule as the god of war and his role as a father figure in the latest installment in the franchise. Instead of giving Athena the power of hope he gained from Pandora’s Box, he decides to release it into the world and trusts that the universe will correct itself.
He’s grown tired of letting the gods control his actions, whether through commands or indirectly by his rebellion against the pantheon. Using the Sword of Olympus, he sacrifices himself to give the planet a fighting chance after nearly destroying it by starting a war with the gods.
3 “Don't Be Sorry, Be Better.”
Part of what made the 2018 God of War game so great was the connection between Kratos and Atreus. One thing fans know about God of War Ragnarök is that it will continue to explore the intimate father and son story, which is a bond that was initially rough in the prequel.
During the earliest moments of the game, Atreus makes a mistake and shoots the deer the pair were hunting too soon, causing it to run away. Kratos loses his cool, which scares his son into apologizing. Fans get a glimpse into the effects of the god of war’s tumultuous past through this line, which shows how much he wants to make sure Atreus learns how to kill and defend himself.
2 “Boy!”
This single world is perhaps Kratos’ most unforgettable quote, partly because it’s so easy for fans to remember. The way he says it has become iconic and has been echoed repeatedly in fan videos, memes, and reviews of the game.
Instead of calling Atreus by his name, the protagonist often chooses to shout “boy” to instruct or berate him. He says it with his deep voice that often makes it sound threatening, but it eventually becomes more endearing as their relationship improves. If fans remember any single line from any of the GoW games, it would undoubtedly be this one.
1 “The Cycle Ends Here. We Must Be Better Than This.”
Towards the end of God of War, Kratos has to make a difficult decision when Baldur attempts to kill his mother, Freya. It’s sadly a familiar sight for the protagonist, who has grown used to patricide and matricide among the gods.
He decides to snap Baldur’s neck, hoping that it will end the vicious cycle of murder. There’s a moving moment after this where he admits he killed his own father, explaining to Atreus that he won’t have to experience the same hardship that he did. Kratos and Atreus have journeyed far and realized at this point that they are responsible for their own actions, and the tragic scene ends on a somewhat hopeful note that the father and son will do better than their predecessors.