Can New Kratos Beat Old Kratos? A Deep Dive into the God of War’s Evolution
The question of whether the Norse Saga Kratos, often referred to as “New Kratos”, could defeat his younger, angrier Greek Era counterpart, commonly known as “Old Kratos,” is a topic of heated debate among God of War fans. The short answer, based on the game lore and developer statements, is that Old Kratos would likely overpower New Kratos. However, the fight wouldn’t be straightforward, and here’s why.
A Tale of Two Kratos: Power and Evolution
The difference between these versions of Kratos isn’t simply about age, but also about the loss of power, shift in mentality, and environmental factors. Old Kratos was fueled by pure, unadulterated rage, the Greek God of War with access to a myriad of powerful magic, weapons, and abilities born from the pantheon of Olympus. In stark contrast, New Kratos, the man who has spent centuries trying to outrun his past, operates in a different realm, with a different skill set and a significant loss in raw, divine power.
The Power of Greek Kratos
Old Kratos was at his apex during the God of War III era. He could utilize the power of the gods, weapons like the Blades of Chaos, the Blade of Olympus, and could manipulate fire and other elemental magic. His strength was unparalleled, capable of overpowering titans and even the King of the Gods, Zeus himself. He was a relentless force of destruction, fueled by a vendetta and possessed a brutal, almost unstoppable, fighting style. The article you provided states, “He’s at his strongest in Ghost of Sparta, without question. He’s a full god in that.” confirming his strength was at an all-time high.
The Subdued Strength of Norse Kratos
New Kratos, while still incredibly formidable, has experienced a notable decline in his overall power. This loss of strength isn’t due to old age but the destruction of Olympus and the associated loss of his Greek magic. The article notes, “Kratos in the Norse saga appears weaker for a couple of reasons. #1 – Kratos lost all of his Greek magic when he destroyed his homeland and sailed away.” Now, he relies on the Leviathan Axe, the Guardian Shield, and his Spartan Rage, which is more strategic and controlled compared to his previous blind fury. The article also confirms, “No. It is mentioned in the latest God of war title that Kratos attempted to use some of his Olympian abilities after leaving Greece but was unsuccessful.” In essence, his magical abilities were tied to the realm of Olympus. This power has been effectively severed.
The Decisive Factors in a Fight
Several key factors would come into play if Old Kratos and New Kratos were to clash:
- Magic and Abilities: Old Kratos has a significant edge here. His access to the magic of Olympus, including fire manipulation, the Blades of Chaos, and other godly weapons, is far superior to New Kratos’s Norse arsenal.
- Raw Strength: While New Kratos is still incredibly strong, Old Kratos, in his prime, was arguably stronger and more ruthless in his use of that strength. The feats of strength by Old Kratos are described in the article as “stuff of legend”. He was able to overpower titans, which are among the most powerful entities in his world.
- Fighting Style: Old Kratos was a whirlwind of rage, employing brutal and often reckless tactics. New Kratos, on the other hand, is more disciplined and strategic, relying on precision and tactical thinking.
- The Environment: The battle arena could play a role. Old Kratos might be better suited to a more chaotic environment where brute force prevails. New Kratos might use strategy to leverage any environment to his advantage.
- Psychological State: Old Kratos was driven by pure revenge, while New Kratos carries a burden of responsibility and is more emotionally guarded. While the rage fueled the old Kratos, the current Kratos is more grounded which does hinder his raw power.
Why Old Kratos Would Likely Win
Given these factors, it’s clear that Old Kratos, in his prime, would have a distinct advantage. The sheer raw power and the arsenal of magical abilities at his disposal would likely overwhelm the more subdued New Kratos. Though the Norse saga Kratos is no pushover, he’s not operating at the peak of his abilities.
Conclusion
While New Kratos is a more complex and emotionally nuanced character, the power scaling leans heavily in favor of Old Kratos. The loss of Greek magic and the move towards a more measured fighting style means that even the older, wiser Kratos would likely struggle against the unbridled fury of his younger self. This doesn’t diminish New Kratos’s achievements in the Norse saga but reinforces the idea that he is operating in a very different power bracket compared to his former self.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Kratos the same character in all God of War games?
Yes, Kratos is the same character throughout all God of War games. The new games continue his story, exploring his character development and evolution after the Greek saga. The article provided confirms that “Yes, they’re the same character.”
2. How old is Kratos in God of War Ragnarök?
Based on calculations and educated guesses, it is estimated that Kratos is around 1,055 years old in God of War Ragnarök. He is still incredibly powerful due to his demigod status.
3. Did Kratos get weaker in the Norse saga?
Yes, Kratos was confirmed to be weaker in the Norse saga compared to his Greek era, primarily due to the loss of his Greek magic and Olympian abilities after the destruction of Olympus.
4. What are Kratos’ origins?
Kratos is the son of Zeus, making him a demigod. He later became the God of War after killing Ares.
5. Who are some of the strongest characters Kratos could not defeat?
The article lists characters like Thirteen, Beerus, Satoru Gojo, and Kizaru who possess abilities that could overpower Kratos. These characters are from different franchises and are generally considered to be among the most powerful in their respective universes.
6. Can Kratos still turn giant?
No, Kratos can no longer turn giant. This ability, like many of his other Olympian powers, was lost after the destruction of Olympus.
7. Why was Kratos portrayed differently in God of War (2018)?
The main reason for the change in Kratos’ portrayal was the developers wanting to showcase a more mature, nuanced, and burdened version of the character. The change is driven by the need for a character arc that allowed for a more intimate and emotional story.
8. Who is stronger, Kratos or Goku?
The article suggests that while Goku may be more powerful overall, Kratos would likely find a way to win in his own world, due to his adaptability and ability to conquer gods. However, it does state that “Anything in his Pocket would only distract Goku or prolong the inevitable fact that Goku would eventually win,” further reiterating the point that Goku has a higher level of raw power.
9. How strong was Kratos in his prime?
In his prime, Kratos was incredibly strong, capable of overpowering titans and repeatedly defeating Zeus. His strength is legendary within the God of War universe. The article states that “Kratos ended Zeus by repeatedly clobbering his face.” showcasing the raw strength at his disposal.
10. What happened to Kratos’ Greek powers?
Kratos’ Greek powers were lost when Olympus was destroyed. He left his home world to try to escape his sins, leaving behind any powers linked to it.
11. How much can Kratos lift?
Based on scaling from Cronos’ strength, who can hold the earth’s crust, Kratos should be able to lift around 30-24 quintillion tons, which is roughly one-third of the moon’s mass.
12. Is Atreus a God?
Yes, Atreus is part god and also part giant, and also known as Loki. This is a crucial element to his character development in the Norse saga.
13. Is Kratos immortal?
Kratos is virtually immortal as a demigod turned god and is also cursed to never be able to die, a fact stated in the article when referring to how he survived his suicide attempt.
14. Did Kratos kill all the Greek Gods?
Kratos did not kill all the Greek Gods. Some Olympians survived his path of destruction.
15. Who took over Kratos’ role in the newer God of War?
Christopher Judge took over the role of Kratos for the PlayStation 4 God of War. He was chosen due to his height which was needed for motion capture, and also because of his chemistry with the actor that plays Atreus.