Kratos Meets Young Kratos In Valhalla Scene - God Of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC 

You know a character has completed their development and gone full circle once they have their own Shakespearean monologue about themselves.

Idk if it’s me but young Kratos is Terrifying and Older Kratos makes me feel safe

"It's just a free DLC, you don't need to try too hard." Writes the most beautiful monologue since the days of Shakespeare.

Love how they formatted this as a long monologue like in ancient Greek plays. Great call back to Kratos recalling Greek Tradition.

Young kratos is literally the dude who can stare into your soul

They did a terrific job with young Kratos, you can see his rage even in silence. Looks like he's ready to kill at all times

I really appreciate the line Kratos says that young Kratos was always more than what others said he was. Acknowledging that the character was always deep, not just a mindless action power fantasy character even during the older

I love how much Kratos cares for his friends now especially Mimir when he almost accidentally killed him bc of being tricked he sounded genuinely scared. The bond of the two of them is amazing.

This is exactly what Pandora wanted for Kratos since GOW 3. For him to finally understand the power of Hope. Its not just a power, it's a deeper understanding. For Kratos to finally accept himself

I like to think that young Kratos had no words for his older self. For better or worse, he's still part of him. A reminder of his cruelty and foolishness, but also a reminder of how even that young Kratos wound up changing.

When I was a young teen playing god of war, it was an outlet for all my anger and angst. Now I'm a father playing god of war and feeling it dig into what it means to grow as a person. Kratos grew up with his audience.

Love how mimir smiles when kratos says that he’ll like to sit for awhile. Mimir witnessed a man come to terms with himself and can’t be happier

When Kratos speaks softly it's almost like a whimper. It's incredible how Kratos was brought to life in every emotion besides rage with Christopher Judge.

The symbolism is so strong. Him talking to his hatred,his pride, his arrogance who had control, confronting it. By the end he accepts what he did and who he was, but is no longer. He took full control and literally took the seat of control showing that it no longer is the driving force within him and has no more power over him.

Finished Valhalla and this got me into so much emotion. Played this game since the start of the series in 2005. Character development at it's finest. Santa monica. Thank you for closing 2023 with this. It felt like this scenes was the final scene for Kratos' redemption arc, and it got me crying.

As he sat on the throne once more I got chills down my spine I felt like a long chapter has ended and a new one begins.

I love the lesson here. It’s the classic you can’t get rid of something that essentially part of who you. All you can do is accept, but also remember to be better than what you once was or expect to be. That’s the only way to find peace and how you can move forward

2:43 I absolutely love that it's only when he recalls Pandora's words to him that he reaches a turning point. Before Freya, before Mirnir, before Atreus, and even before Faye, there was someone else who was able to speak to the humanity within Kratos, hidden under all the rage and pain; and that was Pandora. It's been hundreds of years since the destruction of the Greek Pantheon, but Kratos still remembers her last words to him. That's beautiful, man.

Does anyone else kinda notice after he turns around to his younger self the last time calling him arrogant, selfish, and cruel, that he looks tan again. Almost as if, he lifted the curse off of himself to have his wife and child’s ashes stuck to him for life, like he finally let go. The most beautiful, gut wrenching, destructive, full circle story/game/movie I have ever witnessed and will have ever witnessed in my life

Kratos was alone the first time he sat on the throne, now he is with a friend

What’s a tad freaky to me is that Young Kratos is reacting to what is being said. He’s not just some avatar for Kratos to yell at. When Kratos says: “There is no forgiving you. You chose!”, you can see his lip curl. This is really digging deep into Kratos’ mind. That this part of him is still there and so, so angry and hurt. But he has finally learned to temper it, to harness it for something good.

Young Kratos' body language is so subtle, yet it says so much. When Kratos enters, he's tired, and bored, and hollow. His throne has given him nothing and taken everything, and he's unimpressed by the man he will eventually become as he's lectured. He's young and arrogant, and doesn't believe he needs to hear what he's being told, like a petulant teenager. When Kratos approaches him and begins to chastise him, his lip curls and he sits up, staring Kratos down, and it even gives Kratos pause. When Kratos begins to scold his past self for his decisions, he sets his jaw and stares right through Kratos, totally unimpressed as Kratos realizes that they were still his decisions, no matter how much he's changed. After Kratos realizes that he needs to accept his past and forgive himself, we can't see what Young Kratos does. It's easy to believe that he merely disappeared off screen, but honestly? I'd like to imagine he got sick of Kratos monologuing and simply got up and walked away to sulk somewhere else.

Watching this scene, I got very emotional and reflective upon my own journey in life. The hatred we carry towards our past selves, without understanding the reasons why “you” made those choices. Changing the perspective from “you” to “I”, you then start to understand that you are the person who made those choices but it doesn’t mean you can’t change and be better.

To young Kratos as to all the fans who loved this "brainless and revengeful character"... YOU ARE MORE THAN THAT ♥️

Kratos talking to his younger self was so emotional

It's a beautiful transition. He's hating on his younger self like a separate person... but realizes that he was once that person too. But he has changed. There is always room to grow and improve. Hope.

This goes so hard especially when you've really grown up with God of War as a series. When I was little I genuinely understood Kratos and was with him and either felt like he was doing the right thing or I just didn't care. I felt every bit of anger he felt and more, which put me in the same mindset. I grew up a little and after the first Norse game I realized I developed alongside Kratos and after a while of working out my own issues and thinking about my relationship to these games I think I've grown. I'm a less angry person for it and I've stopped being sorry and have just started getting better. Besides having TC Carson or even Kory Balrog (doing an impression) as young Kratos this scene could not have been better fan service or tribute to his character.

As I watched him getting angry not forgiving his younger self and then..... slowly realizing not forgiving himself was what held him back and that his present is far better then his younger really shows wisdom and remorse really is the most incredible thing I've seen in gaming history (I've never played God of War and only watched the game play footage from the first one to now)

I love that they took the time to completely model a younger Kratos, he looks so damn good. Possible next gen remakes for the older GOWs incoming??👀👀

One thing God of War as a franchise has that many others do not have in their newest instalments; Respect for what brought them to where they are now. This is true fan service

What a fitting ending. Well deserved solace for a tormented soul. Every, single, moment of this reboot has been an absolute masterpiece.

Kratos development made me cry😢, we all fool and arrogant when we were young. Self reflection our past.

I think this was a response to the simplicity that the original series was boiled down to. Prior to GoW3, Kratos DID perform good deeds at times. He wasnt incapable of emotion or empathy. While he did things that required atonement and change, he wasn't some blood adled monster. He was just hurt.

They made the young Kratos look so f*ckin scary!

Man.... This was full of emotion. I'm tearing up at how good this is........ Truly phenomenal. They did an amazing job with this. You can feel the conviction in his words & realizations.

It is a bit shame, that we didn't get anything from young Kratos, but I find this monologue an amazing scene

I was expecting a fight, but this feels so much more appropriate, Kratos has moved past times where he solved every problem with violence, still uses it obviously, but only when he has to, he's grown and now confronts what is before him instead of just beating it to bloody bits.

It's pretty fucking crazy that when Mimir reappears you can SEE how light and at peace Kratos is. That little smirk, the way he leans back. The animation is really top tier here, in a free dlc. Crazy shit.

5:03 hits so hard man. The slow descent as the weight leaves his shoulders. He may never be redeemed but he gave himself like what he gave the rest of us .. H O P E🔥❤️

“Should I lose everything and everyone will there still be enough left inside so that I do not become you? I do not know. But I have hope” God this line gave me chills, I’m honestly still newer to the franchise but the WEIGHT behind this speech was so powerful. Atreus and Kratos bond is amazing to see sure but personally seeing Kratos journey of self discovery and realization/reflection has been the best part of these games to me. How truly accepting love back into his heart has changed him from the type of man who was cruel into somebody kind. When he ponders if he were to lose everything AGAIN what would happen, to me it’s already proving he’s changed. Even if it DID happen he’s grown and seen enough that he wouldn’t turn back into the monster he once was. He would never be able to live with himself if he did and it’s honestly been beautiful to see Kratos evolve EMOTIONALLY instead of JUST physically. The writing and acting that went into this entire ARC for him, using his NEW family to mirror his first and have characters like Freya and Thor reflect his past self on him have been phenomenal.

Was hoping to hear T.C. Carson voice young kratos again.

At the end, Kratos grabbing mimir from nothing was hilarious. Kratos just accepts valhalla doing its thing and doesnt question it

kratos is the video game mike tyson, when he was young too he was a monster and how he tries to be a different man

I can't be the only one getting goosebumps from this music, too, right? It helps this scene so much with emotion!

“What remained was hope, which you chose to release back to the world” A testament to Cory Barlog bringing this franchise back to life, as far as I’m concerned. Thank you, Cory. ♥️

Young kratos eyes make him look 10x scarier, kinda like how anakins eyes looked when he turned to the dark side

“You are cruel, and arrogant, and selfish… But you are *more* than that.” This part makes me tear up. Such a beautiful line. They’re really nailing down the fact that Kratos really WAS more than just a killing machine to angry to die in the trilogy. He was always a tragic character who just couldn’t catch a break.

This scene is great, but it feels like a missed opportunity not to have TC Carson voice a few lines as Young Kratos here.

Not only the DLC was free but it added to the story, further developed Kratos, and the ending was perfect, i was at the edge of the seat expecting a battle with his younger self, cant be the only one holding the controller waiting for a fight. But it was just him reflecting on his past self and accepting his mistakes and aiming to be better, ending was purely perfect.

😭 This brought me to legit tears hearing kratos accept himself and monologue his mind. The pain and suffering he endured, and the acceptance that he was more than he put himself as... DAMN dude... This is the writing we didn't deserve; but we needed.

5:28 how it feels to sit down in your chair at home after a year of college

"A man believing he was only capable of rage remembers he's a god capable of love and hope... plus rage"

Bruh i love how the death stare of young Kratos who is barely moving and not talking in one scene is way more intimadiating than all we've heard and seen from Thor.

I think this truly is the most beautiful thing to come out of this series…. A series that has come such a long ways in development both emotionally and story wise. It’s stunning to watch a man who has grown from a cold and hateful being to a calm and aware one. To see his journey from bloodshed and gore come full circle to him finally embracing who he is and what he has done. For all of those who took the time to read this and be apart of the community since the first gow game came out. I solute you

Kratos went through so much pain and suffering I’m happy that he was able to find redemption and start a new family his son and another brother mirmir and Faye

Only just realised watching this back now, they remixed rage of sparta for this

This DLC feels like a bridge to the next game. Tyr boss fights he uses weapons from Egypt and Aztec mythology. That’s already a big hint.

I love how the developers realize that the fanbase slowly started seeing the past entries of the franchise the way Kratos does, as him simply being a bloodthirsty monster. This DLC is basically the game reminding both Kratos and the players that although the Greek saga was violent, it wasn't because then-Kratos was a blind monster, but because he was hurt and broken. Both the community and Kratos himself are reminded that his past was not as black and white as they remember. It serves as a great character development for Kratos while also being meta as fuck by calling out the player's own revisionism of what happened in Greece.

Telling a story, a self reflective monoligue, of one's doubts and hopes and duty and growth and fears and all between. In a single moment, uninterrupted. How very Greek. ❤

Young Kratos and the original voice of kratos was a winner

Without sounding cheesy and over praising, this was purely beautiful. They took one of the most selfish and single minded video game characters of all time, and transformed him to into a truly remorseful and sympathetic man. And it never felt forced or unearned. This is a massive achievement, and every one who has ever worked on the God of War franchise should be proud.

To all the god of war fans that are here since starting the journey with kratos in 2005, what a truly epic moment this is. I am crying. Thank you Santa Monica.

I miss young kratos. He could jump when I wanted him too.

Such drastic change he brought to everything and himself. And to see him reach it since playing the first game. What a journey 🙂

Self accountability & shadow work is such a difficult, arduous and uncomfortable journey. As someone who has been on & is still on that journey, this monologue resonates with me heavily. Even after doing the unthinkable & unforgivable, we MUST still find a way to look at ourselves in the mirror and move forward. GOW Ragnarok is undoubtedly the best video game I’ve played in my life. The lessons Kratos has embraced are priceless

Kinda hoped to hear young Kratos talk but this is just as good he finally came full circle

4:50 - Masterpiece.

When you look at your own past and hate yourself for the mistakes you made, remember this scene. You're more than all of that, and all you have to do to atone is just keep moving forward and keep trying to spread good into the world. You are forgiven.

Older Kratos is swole asf young Kratos was shredded

I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get a young kratos as the final boss of the Valhalla DLC, but this is certainly a beautiful way to end it Edit 2.2k likes?! This is a first

I love the fact that kratos knows that he was such a bad person back then, but realized that He could change and be better for himself and for those around him. This is why God of war is such a beloved game. With so much back story and detail.

Ppl that are calling him soft never been strong before

3:14 when the original theme started playing here i wanted to cry so bad this series has truly aged well

I wanna talk about a weird but kinda cool comparison: The goatee on younger Kratos allows more of his scarier features to show While the beard on Older Kratos hides most of his facial features making him look remarkably gentler in comparison Case and point Kratos is now the god of beards

Love how he finally looks to be at peace when he sits on the throne. He loses the normal scowl he usually has. Almost looks like a smile as the scene fades away.

On of the things I love is the evolution of his throne. His throne doesn't change, it is the same throne that he first took from Ares, and now it is the same throne he reclaims. However, after his affirmations of "You chose... I chose" followed by "You have always been more than what others saw", he clearly begins to accept himself for who he was and how he has grown, and after these realisations and acceptance of who he now is (no longer a target of self loathing) the throne is literally disarmed; the spears and corners have been broken off, broken down, lost from the artistry of its design. In this simplicity, in the throne's most rugged, honest, beaten, worn and aged form, Kratos actualises himself, and finds peace enough to once again take his seat upon it. We even see this metamorphosis in his mind as the camera pans around his head whilst he deliberates if he should take the throne, emulating his shifting ideation of himself. Truly beautiful cinematography, and a phenomenal effort from all involved in the choreography, direction, acting, score, everything

Ok the modern rendition of young Kratos look genuinely intimidating. Back then, yeah he also looks like he’s full of rage and all that, but you could still get the “protagonist” vibe when you look at him. But here he looks like a whole ass villain, man’s look like a fucking Sith Lord with those pairs of eyes lol He looks like he’s ready to bounce up any second from that throne and straight up give you a Mortal Kombat fatality. I WOULD NOT WANT TO FIGHT THAT GUY, this guy ain’t playing

This made me cry. For me, this single moment brings Kratos' journey so full circle. To see him look at his past self and truly attempt to confront it in this way is so poetic and human. I started thinking about letting my stuff go, lol.

Man this dialogue are more emotional than COD MWIII Campaign

Thats just amazing. The Immersion of face himself like that. Kratos is one a hell of character, a real masterpiece of videogame. Im huge fan since GoW 1. What a journey.

I remember the day people compare Kratos vs Thor. And now look how they depict Young Kratos in this DLC. How scary he is comparing to Thor. That death stare alone already showed his absolute strength and wining over everything.

It started with him sitting on a throne as the god of war. Now it ends with him sitting on throne as the god of hope. Now that's the best character development I've ever seen. Also love mimir smiling after kratos said "I would like to sit here for awhile" it looks like he was proud of his brother

1:30 when i finally catch the guy whos been ruining my life.

I never thought I'd see the day that a character as hellbent and unstoppable as Kratos would become self-introspective and want to change and grow as a person. The line "You have always been more than what others saw" is actually pretty devastating coming from him. It's almost like if a sword had a soul and decided it didn't want to kill people.

Kratos, the God of Hope.

Christopher Judge is just amazing with his performance and handling of Kratos. This is just fantastic acting.

5:35 me on the toilet at 3am 😂

This feels more like theater than a video game.

What a beautifully crafted story. Such a full circle moment. The developers really poured their hearts and soul into this and it shows.

Welp, time for a ng+ replay with the young Kratos skin

This brings me to tears because it reminds me of myself, my own battles; seeing the way he talks to his past self is just how i would and watching it gives me hope that I’ll be able to do the same(metaphorically) as kratos

Such a good moment. Being able to reflect on your early 20s self or so.

I think it’s cool how towards the end the light makes it look like the ash isn’t on his skin anymore

3:05 young kratos over there like "swing... i wish you would"

Ngl I was Completely terrified of young Kratos in this scene he looks so scary. I was waiting for him to attack. I could see why people feared the ghost of Sparta.

3:33 I hear "should I shit"💀

A god of war, a god of pain. What a dialogue.

I was actually expecting TC Carson to start talking when young Kratos appeared

Hands down one of the best single player games in existence! This series has been around since my childhood and I loved every game and it only ever got better! True masterpiece

Goodness. What a beautiful scene. Reminds me of who i was. I think many can relate to this as well. Overcoming the demons, which i couldnt by myself. Thank you my Lord for saving me