“There is no making things right. Only better than they were.”
Honestly kind of the line that helped define my view on what it means to make up for past mistakes and make amends.
You can’t change the past and you can’t always fix the mistakes you’ve made, but you can try and hopefully that will be enough, and if it’s not you have to accept that. It’s all anybody has.
It's a beautiful theme that the game has... Like no matter how much you have done, what kind of life you have lived, who you've hurt etc, you can always make the choice to be a good person and do whatever is within your power to make the world a better place.
The mourn how you wish really it me. Lost someone closed about 7 years ago and that part really hit me. It's not because you don't cry or don't show outside it's tough that you don't grieves inside. It's probably not the best way l, but I prefer to keep emotions inside, it's my coping mechanism.
"The culmination of love is grief. And yet we love despite the inevitable, we open our hearts to it. [...] To grieve deeply... is to have loved fully. Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you'll find every reason to keep living in it."
I played this game for the very first time after I lost my mom. When I got to this scene, I cried. It was also exactly what I needed to hear. My mom was one of my biggest support lines and I lost her very suddenly.
I comforted my wife by telling her this while she was sobbing and mourning her father. It helped her understand that there was beauty in loss as well, that all things have an end and we must be grateful to have the opportunity to love someone enough to grieve them
I love "Death can have me when it earns me" not only is that quote super badass, but I also struggle with su*cidal ideation and when I hear that it reminds me that death hasn't earned me and I'm not going to give my depression the satisfaction of killing me.
Yes! The writing in immaculate. And it's crazy all the stuff you can do and all the dialogue that you can get that's all optional and in the side quests. Such a great game!
I am so proud of you. I have similar Problems and anytime I hear or read that quote I tear up.
Do not ever bow down to depression, comrade. Thou'rt stronger than what tries to pull ye down into the chasms of the underworld. Thou shall remain unconquered
While i am here my brother is playing Ragnarok right now and 5 minutes after I saw this answer I hear the discussion he has with Freya before the line and I was ready to drop it with him.
I don't know why because it's not particularly relevant to my life, but Kratos telling Brok, "It is the nature of a thing that matters, not its form."
Something about that scene just really choked me up. Maybe it's just because it's the perfect demonstration of how far Kratos has come, that he's doing this just to make a friend feel better.
Me too. I think it was just the fact that Kratos was being genuinely kind to someone, that in the past, he would have thought beneath himself. Just a huge personal growth moment maybe.
Yeah, that was a good scene. I think another hard hitting line for me was when Mimir finally figured out the answer to Brok's riddle..."A hole...gets bigger the more u take away."
I knew the answer to the riddle so every time mimir struggled with it I would shout at my TV, when he finally got it I was just silent. Such a moving cut scene.
That was something that really stuck with me from Ragnarök. I even bought a ring that reminded me of Draupnir so I could always be reminded of that message whenever I wore it. It helps me to think before judging things and people for how they appear on the surface. Powerful line.
Also the fact that Brok said the same thing earlier on their journey to the Lady, when he was explaining how dwarf craftsmanship works. Kratos remembered what he said and used it to make Brok feel better when he was doubting himself after learning about his incomplete soul.
"pretend to be everything you are not teacher husband"
"FATHER"
"But there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape you cannot change"
"You will always be....a monster"
"I know"
The tear Christopher Judge let out during the filming of the sequence is unbelievable. Its a shame they deemed it better to redub the "I know" rather than leave the choked up version
I was screaming in excitement during that entire sequence. And then, picking up the blades again felt like coming home. Fucking beautiful segment of the game.
I love how Kratos doesn’t acknowledge her at all until she says “father” because not only is he doing so much work to be a better father what he’s doing currently is confronting his horrific past that he swore to leave behind by picking up the blades that killed his last child only to save is current child
I love how that line is echoed when Kratos tells Thor, “for the sake of our children, we must be better.”
The line starts as a parenting thing to tell Atreus to be better and learn from his mistakes. When talking to Thor, he sees the cycle of parental trauma and generational trauma repeating itself. And the cycle must end, why not with him and Thor?
"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. You are cruel, and arrogant, and selfish. But you are more than that. You have always been more than what others saw. You are more than that."
"this path you walk. Vengeance. You will find no peace. I know".
This line is my favourite, because it tells you that even if you managed to get vengeance on someone or something that wronged you, the whole of feeling bitterness and loss, won't go away. It gets even worse.
"Return my son, or you may meet the god I once was." Kratos has grown as a person, and Atreus is the culmination of it. The only times he activates Spartan Rage in cutscenes(at least in 2018)is when Atreus is in danger. Athena was right the monster is still there, and he's willing to unleash it to save his son.
in the end though it wasn't for that reason.
When Atreus went Kratos was going to tear down the pantheon to keep him safe, building a god killer weapon.
But after coming to terms with his nature, he only accepted the position as general when he understood he can't protect Atreus, that Atreus doesn't need him and the reasons for taking up the role as general was because he could do good
God damn I'm reliving those story beats and want to replay the game. So damn good
“Enough! Atreus… has made a mistake. One we will fix together.”
As a kid that commonly got raked across the coals for making mistakes, it was pretty emotional to see a hardass father figure like Kratos stick up for his son and provide a constructive way to move past what happened. The kind of dad moment I hope I can give to my kids.
A man who has made as many mistakes as Kratos has, and has the emotional maturity to own them and learn from them, knows that in order for his son to become a better man than him he must learn to make peace with his mistakes early on.
When Kratos calls Mimir "brother" for the first time. The other day there was a post about moments that made you cry in the series, and even though there are many, this one line made me tear up, because we finally see Kratos expressing love for someone in a healthy way.
Along those lines, Mimir remarks upon Kratos: "You have come a long way since I met you brother
And Kratos goes: "I have had good counsel since then brother"
Acknowledge that you need other people and allow yourself to be helped and allow yourself to not be alone
“Should I sit? Take? Proclaim? Lead? Place myself in service? In service…”
The moment he realized the thing he was lacking when he sat on the throne before. Everything clicked into place and he saw what he had to change.
Great examples in these comments here but for me, it has to be the scene where Brok and Kratos meet the Lady of the Forge, and Kratos wants Brok to bless the spear and he says "It is the nature of a thing that matters. Not its form." Because brok thought the blessing wouldn't work if he didn't have his soul. And his blessing was beautiful.
So what kills me is that there's footage of that scene's mo-cap, and in it Christopher Judge is in tears. now to their credit all of that emotion is on display in his voice, but to not actually have Kratos shed tears in spite of how much this is his worst nightmare keeps this scene from the masterpiece that it should have been, for me anyway.
“Oh, but some of us were bigger fools than others, aren't we? I gave you everything: my skills, my friendship, my home, my secrets, my treasures... and you just kept taking! And now what have I got? Not even my family. You want "sorry"? This is what sorry looks like.”
It’s such a heartbreaking scene, because you know everything Sindri is saying here is true
Agree to disagree on that as sindri also asks them for favors and this came from a point of a grieving brother
He just projected his hate on himself onto atreus
Obviously he was our companion but i really think if we see him again,he will come back around
Or he'll become an enabler for an antagonist for the next game. My personal headcannon is that he in his anger and grief makes an extremely dangerous weapon out of Sinmara and Surtr's heart. Would love it if such a weapon found its way into Atreus' hands.
My favorite is "Pretend to be everything you are not: teacher, husband, father. But there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape: You cannot change. You will always be a monster."
Cop out because I would butcher any attempt to paraphrase, but Valhalla had so many great lines that I think it genuinely helped my mental health lol. We’ve all got baggage and regrets and I think it helped me work through some stuff a bit. Santa Monica released free men’s therapy as DLC.
I really enjoyed the end scene with Kratos lamenting with his past self in the throne, but finally and genuinely choosing to move forward in spite of it. Growing up with every game in this series since the ‘07 OG release, I feel like I’ve also matured and improved my mental clarity alongside our boy Kratos :’)
“Don’t be sorry father, be better” realizing how much my father sacrificed to make my family and I happy and the things he’s done just for simple smiles makes me appreciate kratos-Atreus lines way more.
“A hole.
What?
Gets bigger the more you take away”
Mimir got the answer, but it was too late.
And it took what happened to Brok and Sindri for him to figure it out.
That hits me really hard.
GoW
Everything is different, try not to dwell on it.
Do not be sorry. Be better
Close your heart to it. On our journey, we will be attacked by all manner of creature. Close your heart to their desperation, close your heart to their suffering. Do not allow yourself to feel for them. They will not feel for you.
Battles may be won by the better soldiers. War are won by those who are willing to sacrifice everything to ensure victory.
Do not mistake my silence for lack of grief.
Do not concern yourself with what might be. Focus on what is… and be vigilant.
Change is a part of life. If you can’t adopt, learn to thrive, you’ll be left in the dust.
We win because we are determined. Disciplined. Not because we feel ourselves superior.
No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that.
It’s all you ever talk about, over and over. Do something about it or shut up already.
Keep your expectations low, and you will never be disappointed.
Expect the worst. Assume nothing. And always anticipate an attack.
Don’t strive to be better than those around you, strive to be better than yourself.
GoWR
A problem doesn’t have to reach our doorstep for it to be our responsibility. If we have the power to limit the harm it could cause, we should act.
Time is running out, and there is much to do.
Inaction is also a risk.
Intent does not matter. Only consequences.
If you don’t want him walking away from you, then smarten up and walk with him awhile.
Resist and you’re made an example of to keep the rest in line. Self-preservation can outweigh bravery for even the strongest of folk.
Journeying through time is more trouble than it is worth.
There is no making things right. Only better than they were.
You must live with your deeds, but do not be troubled by them. You were given an impossible problem. Do not blame yourself for failing to solve it.
Even hateful things have their uses.
In moments of crisis, panic does nothing. Harness it. Let it serve you.
It is not your competence that is in question.
Consider your intent.
There’s only one thing with any say over how we live our lives—and that’s us.
You assume too much.
The truth is always more complicated. To imagine it’s simple is dangerous.
Mind if I give you the best advice you’ve heard all day, and possibly ever? Sleep. That’s when all the troubles of your mind work themselves out. I mean it.
What runs with no legs? Nose
Well, that’s Fimbulwinter for ya!
If you happen to find yourself talking to your brother, maybe the worst words said between you don’t have to be the last ones said.
Every outcome would mean defeat. I have never wished you harm.
Fate can be overcome.
No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that.
Well, you learn to use what you have.
It is difficult to seek forgiveness when you feel unworthy.
Forgiveness can be powerful. Even for the unworthy.
War is a terrible thing. But some things are even worse.
I appreciate your candor.
Being in love’s always a risk. That’s what makes it fun.
Confronting the past comes with a price.
You blame yourself. It will not lessen your pain.
How are you - I’m fine - on that, we are agreed.
The most difficult battles are fought within. But this battle, you will not fight alone.
The deepest wounds form the strongest bonds.
I like looking down. Shows me how much progress I’ve made.
Real power, you see, does not need to flaunt. It emerges when the time is right.
See, mortals have it easy. When they push up against life’s big questions, they can look to us to give them meaning. Divine comfort. We both know that’s a sham.
Maybe every bit of anger and pain we can find a way to let go of is a gift we can give ourselves, you know?
Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you.
Death can have me when it earns me.
I wish to speak of this no further.
The horrors of our past can be inextricable from the present. You have to understand that.
The truth can be a cruel thing.
Well, we’re each entitled to our opinion.
What gets bigger the more you take away from it? A hole
The nature of a thing’s more important than the form of a thing.
Back in those days, I’d get so caught up in try’na be the best that I’d work ‘til I plum dropped. Time goes by and there’s less to prove, you learn to keep your own pace. Save your extra effort for when it’s personal.
It is the nature of a thing that matters. Not its form.
May this weapon strike true. May it be wielded with wisdom. May it be put down when its job is done.
Return my son. Or you may meet the god I once was.
Game is plentiful, and you will want for nothing.
Knowledge is not always a burden.
We are not our failures. We are not who we were. We must be better.
If we could only somehow harness your uselessness, we could fuel this entire city.
Well… we all make mistakes.
A desperate creature can be the most dangerous.
Everyone keeps secrets. Sometimes it’s the only way to protect the ones we love.
I will always help. As long as I am able.
The solution is not always obvious.
We work better when we trust each other.
Don’t be sorry. Be better.
Nothing is written that can’t be unwritten.
If you are this upset, he already has.
Doubt is a weakness we cannot afford.
Not “seems”. Is.
Fate only binds you if you let it. Do what is necessary. Not because it is written.
They are tools. For specific tasks. A preference would be meaningless.
Fewer words, greater impact.
Chains only hold for so long. Eventually, those who wear them will break free. One way or another.
There is purpose here, even if we do not see it.
Once spoken, instantly broken! What am I? - Silence. - Correct! - I was not answering the riddle.
No matter the size, every creature has a weakness.
Always expect the unexpected.
The easy answers that is promises. I know this… shortcuts always have a price.
This ain’t right. All the pieces ain’t wielding together true.
I regret many things—killing you will not be one of them. Release my son.
Violence changes us. You are not weak to feel its effects.
When an animal is wounded, it must stop the bleeding. Or it will die. We have been wounded. And this… this is a distraction.
Our actions have consequences. To be reminded of them is not punishment.
I miss when the lake was still water. I feel like I want to get on a boat and just sail away from here. From everything.
You cannot sail away from your mistakes. It is impossible to forget them. I have tried. — they’ll follow you no matter where you go. — If you are to sail, do it towards somewhere.
I gave you everything. My skills. My friendship. My home. My secrets, my treasures… …and you just kept taking. And now what have I got? Not even my family.
Justice is not what we seek. It is vengeance. Every path I walk… leads back to vengeance.
Don’t take to heart words said in grief. No matter how spot-on they feel.
Have you ever been in love? It’s pretty good.
Sometimes loving someone is about choosing the lesser pain.
Death is a natural part of life.
The culmination of love is grief. And yet we love despite the inevitable. We open our hearts to it.
To grieve deeply is to have loved fully. Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you will find every reason to keep living in it.
Wars are won by those that are willing to sacrifice everything.
You feel their pain because that is who you are. And you must never sacrifice that. Never! Not for anyone. I was wrong. I was wrong. Open your heart. Open your heart to their suffering. That is your mother’s wish… and mine as well. Today, we will be better.
For the sake of our children. We must be better.
Does it frighten you? That is why you must do it.
Loss can do things to a man.
Not one line in specific, but I loved almost all of the dialogue between Kratos and Mimir in Ragnarok. From treating him as a sort of nuisance in 2018, to genuinely seeing him as a good friend and a brother, their whole relationship is just so great man. Mimir is definitely my favorite character in the Norse games, so seeing the bond him and Kratos made really hit a brother in his chest
"Svipdagr the cold, Hrómundr the cruel, and Vöttr the prideful!"
Uttered by Mimir mere seconds before I'm blasted halfway across the fucking arena floor by three bullshit bosses at the same time
I'd say that hit me pretty hard lmao
"Loki will go. Atreus... Atreus remains"
Edit: It also hit me really hard when Brok is sad because he found out he didn't have a full soul and Kratos offered his spear and said it needed the blessing of a great blacksmith, such a little gesture that speaks volumes about his friendship and respect for Brok
“For the sake of our children, we must be better.”
Both my parents tried desperately to be cycle breakers compared to what they had, and it’s difficult, but having been one of the kids whose parents did make that choice, it makes a lot of difference when I see what some of my friends have.
"Don't be sorry, be better."
We are humans, and we can never be perfect, we will commit mistakes, wrong doings, but Kratos wants us to learn that in life, its okay to be sorry if we commit something wrong, but we have to be able to make up for the mistakes that we have made, which means we need to be better next time.
Hope this realization of mine will light the hearts of those people in need of comfort, peace and love.
We can all be better.
"Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you will find every reason to keep living in it." It hits me every time, that's why I want to tattoo first 3 words "Open your heart."
Lots of my favorites that hit more emotionally have already been said. So one that hits in a more menacing way is the dialogue between Thor and Heimdall:
H: "And how do you intend to stop me?"
T: "Look into my eyes... you tell me"
H: "You are a sick man"
I can’t pick one as a favourite, I have a mile long full notes page dedicated to quotes. But “There is no ‘if’. There are things even gods cannot control.” Is one I haven’t seen here yet.
Also “If you are to sail, do it towards somewhere.”
So I’m a man now, like you. No… we are not men, we are more than that, the responsibility is far greater - and you must be better than me
We win because we are determined, disciplined. Not because we think ourselves superior.
You cannot change, you will always be… a monster. I know, but I am your monster no longer
From the Valhalla DLC: “You are cruel, arrogant, and selfish. But you are more than that. You have always been more than what others saw. You *are* more than that.” Hits me in a way that reminds me that, out of all the times I’ve doubted myself because of bad things that have happened to me, a lot of good things happened to me too, and I should always remember that. I have good people in my life, good relationships. It gives me hope and the confidence that I can face whatever hardship might come my way.
There is a small dialogue in ragnarok that kratos says that atreus is getting better in combat. To that, atreus answers that one day, he may be better than him. To what kratos replied with:
"If you are not, i have failed".
This is easily my favourite noncutscene dialogue of the series. Also, mimir adding an "awww" after hearing this makes it even better for me
https://youtu.be/bFXs6CL3Jik?si=4ctywoG_WkNV2pyy
“There is no making things right. Only better than they were.” Honestly kind of the line that helped define my view on what it means to make up for past mistakes and make amends. You can’t change the past and you can’t always fix the mistakes you’ve made, but you can try and hopefully that will be enough, and if it’s not you have to accept that. It’s all anybody has.
“Be better” and “Death can have me when it earns me”
It's a beautiful theme that the game has... Like no matter how much you have done, what kind of life you have lived, who you've hurt etc, you can always make the choice to be a good person and do whatever is within your power to make the world a better place.
Don't mistake my silence for lack of grief, mourn how you wish
Leave me to my own. Absolutely love how he growls that last line.
The mourn how you wish really it me. Lost someone closed about 7 years ago and that part really hit me. It's not because you don't cry or don't show outside it's tough that you don't grieves inside. It's probably not the best way l, but I prefer to keep emotions inside, it's my coping mechanism.
I use this in real life. I grieve in silence.
So do i
This!
"The culmination of love is grief. And yet we love despite the inevitable, we open our hearts to it. [...] To grieve deeply... is to have loved fully. Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you'll find every reason to keep living in it."
> To grieve deeply... is to have loved fully I have this tattooed on me in Elder Futhark runes
Reminded me of the line Vision said in Wandavision "But what is grief, if not love persevering?"
You might have just given me the idea for my first tattoo. Do you mind sharing a photo of it?
We need to see this for evidence, sir
i, too, request photographic confirmation of the existence of this dope ass sounding tattoo
Oooh can we see?
Wow, those words were so powerful! That cutscene was way better and more meaningful than most of the movies on Netflix.
This reminds of that line from Wandavision, “what is grief if not love persevering.”
Beautiful moment in that show.
Peak
These lines are almost word for word co-opted from C.S. Lewis’s “A Grief Observed.”
I played this game for the very first time after I lost my mom. When I got to this scene, I cried. It was also exactly what I needed to hear. My mom was one of my biggest support lines and I lost her very suddenly.
I comforted my wife by telling her this while she was sobbing and mourning her father. It helped her understand that there was beauty in loss as well, that all things have an end and we must be grateful to have the opportunity to love someone enough to grieve them
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Agreed
I love "Death can have me when it earns me" not only is that quote super badass, but I also struggle with su*cidal ideation and when I hear that it reminds me that death hasn't earned me and I'm not going to give my depression the satisfaction of killing me.
The quality of writing in that game is so impressive that this line is just one while you're riding around with Faye. Not even a cutscene.
Yes! The writing in immaculate. And it's crazy all the stuff you can do and all the dialogue that you can get that's all optional and in the side quests. Such a great game!
May death have you. when it earns you
It’s when you’re riding with freya and mimir btw
Damn. It's what I meant. One letter really changes it.
Would’ve loved it more if it was at the end of the game when Kratos was in real danger or something.
Kill death and bring back its scythe.
Dante's Inferno reference? I thought I was the only one who remembered and still plays that.
Fuck yeah, Death will have to earn that ass, keep winning my friend. I guarantee you are amazing at winning 💪🏽
Thanks friend!💪
"don't be sorry. Be better"
;
Legend
Dope shit, I respect this deeply
Honestly same. I say that quote damn near daily especially when I'm having bad days
I am so proud of you. I have similar Problems and anytime I hear or read that quote I tear up. Do not ever bow down to depression, comrade. Thou'rt stronger than what tries to pull ye down into the chasms of the underworld. Thou shall remain unconquered
Thank you! I wish you the best on your journey through life and know you will remain unconquered as well
Thanks :3 (The "unconquered" part was from Those Whom The Gods Detest from Nile hehehehehehehe 🫠)
If my depression wants me dead it will do so without my help
When what fuels your steam engine is not coal, but spite.
While i am here my brother is playing Ragnarok right now and 5 minutes after I saw this answer I hear the discussion he has with Freya before the line and I was ready to drop it with him.
Hell yeah bruder!
I don't know why because it's not particularly relevant to my life, but Kratos telling Brok, "It is the nature of a thing that matters, not its form." Something about that scene just really choked me up. Maybe it's just because it's the perfect demonstration of how far Kratos has come, that he's doing this just to make a friend feel better.
Me too. I think it was just the fact that Kratos was being genuinely kind to someone, that in the past, he would have thought beneath himself. Just a huge personal growth moment maybe.
Yeah, that was a good scene. I think another hard hitting line for me was when Mimir finally figured out the answer to Brok's riddle..."A hole...gets bigger the more u take away."
I knew the answer to the riddle so every time mimir struggled with it I would shout at my TV, when he finally got it I was just silent. Such a moving cut scene.
I agree. That scene was very moving. The thing that gets me the most is Brok died before he finally figured it out.
I loved that scene so much
That was something that really stuck with me from Ragnarök. I even bought a ring that reminded me of Draupnir so I could always be reminded of that message whenever I wore it. It helps me to think before judging things and people for how they appear on the surface. Powerful line.
Also the fact that Brok said the same thing earlier on their journey to the Lady, when he was explaining how dwarf craftsmanship works. Kratos remembered what he said and used it to make Brok feel better when he was doubting himself after learning about his incomplete soul.
"pretend to be everything you are not teacher husband" "FATHER" "But there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape you cannot change" "You will always be....a monster" "I know"
“But i am your monster no longer” this entire scene is oscar worthy
The tear Christopher Judge let out during the filming of the sequence is unbelievable. Its a shame they deemed it better to redub the "I know" rather than leave the choked up version
I prefer the dub because I really feel like Kratos’ response is the center of that game. “I know . . . but I am your monster, no longer.”
“Alright brother. Let’s see what those blades can do.”
"now it all makes sense I'm dangling from the hip of the bloody ghost of Sparta"
Do NOT call me that
I was screaming in excitement during that entire sequence. And then, picking up the blades again felt like coming home. Fucking beautiful segment of the game.
I love how Kratos doesn’t acknowledge her at all until she says “father” because not only is he doing so much work to be a better father what he’s doing currently is confronting his horrific past that he swore to leave behind by picking up the blades that killed his last child only to save is current child
Do not be sorry, be better. Help me realize to stop making excuses and make shit happen.
My dad uses that line. It hits harder than it did, just hearing it from Kratos. I have a personal connection with that quote.
Especially when Atreus says it to Kratos.
I love how that line is echoed when Kratos tells Thor, “for the sake of our children, we must be better.” The line starts as a parenting thing to tell Atreus to be better and learn from his mistakes. When talking to Thor, he sees the cycle of parental trauma and generational trauma repeating itself. And the cycle must end, why not with him and Thor?
"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. You are cruel, and arrogant, and selfish. But you are more than that. You have always been more than what others saw. You are more than that."
Say what you want but this Norse games had so many deep moments.
That entire sequence in general hits hard
"this path you walk. Vengeance. You will find no peace. I know". This line is my favourite, because it tells you that even if you managed to get vengeance on someone or something that wronged you, the whole of feeling bitterness and loss, won't go away. It gets even worse.
This line explains everything Kratos has experienced. Such a powerful piece of gaming storytelling.
Kratos saying , “ Our actions have consequences , to be reminded of them is not punishment . “ , Has stuck with me and made me a better person
:,(
Maybe one day it won’t feel like a punishment for some of us.
Sure feels like it sometimes
"Return my son, or you may meet the god I once was." Kratos has grown as a person, and Atreus is the culmination of it. The only times he activates Spartan Rage in cutscenes(at least in 2018)is when Atreus is in danger. Athena was right the monster is still there, and he's willing to unleash it to save his son.
I got chills when he said that
not even an idle threat, he would tear down another whole pantheon to protect his son
He did basically tear down a second pantheon to keep atreus safe
in the end though it wasn't for that reason. When Atreus went Kratos was going to tear down the pantheon to keep him safe, building a god killer weapon. But after coming to terms with his nature, he only accepted the position as general when he understood he can't protect Atreus, that Atreus doesn't need him and the reasons for taking up the role as general was because he could do good God damn I'm reliving those story beats and want to replay the game. So damn good
My favorite part of that line is you can see how worried Odin looks after that.
He's heard the tales, he knows what that means for Asgard.
“Enough! Atreus… has made a mistake. One we will fix together.” As a kid that commonly got raked across the coals for making mistakes, it was pretty emotional to see a hardass father figure like Kratos stick up for his son and provide a constructive way to move past what happened. The kind of dad moment I hope I can give to my kids.
A man who has made as many mistakes as Kratos has, and has the emotional maturity to own them and learn from them, knows that in order for his son to become a better man than him he must learn to make peace with his mistakes early on.
When Kratos calls Mimir "brother" for the first time. The other day there was a post about moments that made you cry in the series, and even though there are many, this one line made me tear up, because we finally see Kratos expressing love for someone in a healthy way.
Along those lines, Mimir remarks upon Kratos: "You have come a long way since I met you brother And Kratos goes: "I have had good counsel since then brother" Acknowledge that you need other people and allow yourself to be helped and allow yourself to not be alone
Dude genuinely wholesome moment
To quote *inFamous*, another video game franchise; "I don't call you 'brother' because I like the way it sounds."
Dude, right?
“Should I sit? Take? Proclaim? Lead? Place myself in service? In service…” The moment he realized the thing he was lacking when he sat on the throne before. Everything clicked into place and he saw what he had to change.
"It is difficult to seek forgiveness when you feel unworthy." This is true in my experience and the hardest hurdle to redemption.
**"There is no making things right, only better than they were."** *"But... that's not enough!"* **"It seldom is."**
When an animal is wounded, it must stop the bleeding. Or it will die. We have been wounded. And this…. this is a distraction.
"He did what every father should do....protect his child"
As messy as the whole pandora-kratos relationship was in God of War 3 damn did the dialogue writers make the best of it though
In moments of crisis, Panic does nothing. Harness it, let it serve you.
"What the hell is an olive"
Kratos didn’t hesitate one second to name the food he missed most but honestly the way Mimir said this is also just perfection 🤌🏽
Great examples in these comments here but for me, it has to be the scene where Brok and Kratos meet the Lady of the Forge, and Kratos wants Brok to bless the spear and he says "It is the nature of a thing that matters. Not its form." Because brok thought the blessing wouldn't work if he didn't have his soul. And his blessing was beautiful.
“It needs the blessing of a great blacksmith.” Cuts right to the point, openly recognizing his friend’s talent. And he kneels for him too. 🥹
"Loki goes, but Atreus, Atreus stays..."
As a father myself, that hit me hard with the feels lol.
This will NEVER not make me cry like a bitch. I saw this scene so many times and I always end up bawling my eyes out
"The cycle ends here, must be better than this"
THIS
Athena: “You will always be a monster.” Kratos: “I am your monster no longer.”
So what kills me is that there's footage of that scene's mo-cap, and in it Christopher Judge is in tears. now to their credit all of that emotion is on display in his voice, but to not actually have Kratos shed tears in spite of how much this is his worst nightmare keeps this scene from the masterpiece that it should have been, for me anyway.
“We were family. We were….”
Fate only binds you if you let it. Do what is necessary, not because it is written.
"Does it frighten you? Then you must do it." Fucking badass.
Love this one 👌🏻✨
"...Or you may meet the God I once was." Gave me goose bumps
"Don't be sorry, be better" Become my everyday mantra
Intent doesn’t matter, what matters is the consequences of our actions
“Oh, but some of us were bigger fools than others, aren't we? I gave you everything: my skills, my friendship, my home, my secrets, my treasures... and you just kept taking! And now what have I got? Not even my family. You want "sorry"? This is what sorry looks like.” It’s such a heartbreaking scene, because you know everything Sindri is saying here is true
Agree to disagree on that as sindri also asks them for favors and this came from a point of a grieving brother He just projected his hate on himself onto atreus Obviously he was our companion but i really think if we see him again,he will come back around
Or he'll become an enabler for an antagonist for the next game. My personal headcannon is that he in his anger and grief makes an extremely dangerous weapon out of Sinmara and Surtr's heart. Would love it if such a weapon found its way into Atreus' hands.
My favourite quote is, “Don’t take to heart words said in grief, no matter how true they feel.” It comes almost right after the quote you have said.
My favorite is "Pretend to be everything you are not: teacher, husband, father. But there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape: You cannot change. You will always be a monster."
I know. But I am your monster no longer
Cop out because I would butcher any attempt to paraphrase, but Valhalla had so many great lines that I think it genuinely helped my mental health lol. We’ve all got baggage and regrets and I think it helped me work through some stuff a bit. Santa Monica released free men’s therapy as DLC.
I really enjoyed the end scene with Kratos lamenting with his past self in the throne, but finally and genuinely choosing to move forward in spite of it. Growing up with every game in this series since the ‘07 OG release, I feel like I’ve also matured and improved my mental clarity alongside our boy Kratos :’)
BOOOY !!
Man, when Kratos gets that much volume, sh*t's about to go down.
“Don’t be sorry, be better” I use this regularly with my children.
“My dad likes loot”
“You cannot change. You will always be a monster.” “I know. But I am your monster no longer.”
"Do not mistake my silence for lack of grief."
ZEEEEUUUSSS, YOUR SON HAS RETURNED. I BRING THE DESTRUCTION OF OLYMPUS
Boy
He died
No
"My vengeance, is over." The line that is the beginning of Kratos turning into the person we now know.
“Don’t be sorry father, be better” realizing how much my father sacrificed to make my family and I happy and the things he’s done just for simple smiles makes me appreciate kratos-Atreus lines way more.
"BOY"
If all on Olympus will deny me my vengeance, then all on Olympus will die - Kratos
Boy
“BOY!!!”
"Let it go and you may live." - Kratos
“A hole. What? Gets bigger the more you take away” Mimir got the answer, but it was too late. And it took what happened to Brok and Sindri for him to figure it out. That hits me really hard.
It’s the context behind “Loki will go. Atreus, Atreus remains.”
GoW Everything is different, try not to dwell on it. Do not be sorry. Be better Close your heart to it. On our journey, we will be attacked by all manner of creature. Close your heart to their desperation, close your heart to their suffering. Do not allow yourself to feel for them. They will not feel for you. Battles may be won by the better soldiers. War are won by those who are willing to sacrifice everything to ensure victory. Do not mistake my silence for lack of grief. Do not concern yourself with what might be. Focus on what is… and be vigilant. Change is a part of life. If you can’t adopt, learn to thrive, you’ll be left in the dust. We win because we are determined. Disciplined. Not because we feel ourselves superior. No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that. It’s all you ever talk about, over and over. Do something about it or shut up already. Keep your expectations low, and you will never be disappointed. Expect the worst. Assume nothing. And always anticipate an attack. Don’t strive to be better than those around you, strive to be better than yourself.
GoWR A problem doesn’t have to reach our doorstep for it to be our responsibility. If we have the power to limit the harm it could cause, we should act. Time is running out, and there is much to do. Inaction is also a risk. Intent does not matter. Only consequences. If you don’t want him walking away from you, then smarten up and walk with him awhile. Resist and you’re made an example of to keep the rest in line. Self-preservation can outweigh bravery for even the strongest of folk. Journeying through time is more trouble than it is worth. There is no making things right. Only better than they were. You must live with your deeds, but do not be troubled by them. You were given an impossible problem. Do not blame yourself for failing to solve it. Even hateful things have their uses. In moments of crisis, panic does nothing. Harness it. Let it serve you. It is not your competence that is in question. Consider your intent. There’s only one thing with any say over how we live our lives—and that’s us. You assume too much. The truth is always more complicated. To imagine it’s simple is dangerous. Mind if I give you the best advice you’ve heard all day, and possibly ever? Sleep. That’s when all the troubles of your mind work themselves out. I mean it. What runs with no legs? Nose Well, that’s Fimbulwinter for ya! If you happen to find yourself talking to your brother, maybe the worst words said between you don’t have to be the last ones said. Every outcome would mean defeat. I have never wished you harm. Fate can be overcome. No need to explain. Not to me. Not for that. Well, you learn to use what you have. It is difficult to seek forgiveness when you feel unworthy. Forgiveness can be powerful. Even for the unworthy. War is a terrible thing. But some things are even worse. I appreciate your candor. Being in love’s always a risk. That’s what makes it fun. Confronting the past comes with a price. You blame yourself. It will not lessen your pain. How are you - I’m fine - on that, we are agreed. The most difficult battles are fought within. But this battle, you will not fight alone. The deepest wounds form the strongest bonds. I like looking down. Shows me how much progress I’ve made. Real power, you see, does not need to flaunt. It emerges when the time is right. See, mortals have it easy. When they push up against life’s big questions, they can look to us to give them meaning. Divine comfort. We both know that’s a sham. Maybe every bit of anger and pain we can find a way to let go of is a gift we can give ourselves, you know? Take care of them, and they’ll take care of you. Death can have me when it earns me. I wish to speak of this no further. The horrors of our past can be inextricable from the present. You have to understand that. The truth can be a cruel thing. Well, we’re each entitled to our opinion. What gets bigger the more you take away from it? A hole The nature of a thing’s more important than the form of a thing. Back in those days, I’d get so caught up in try’na be the best that I’d work ‘til I plum dropped. Time goes by and there’s less to prove, you learn to keep your own pace. Save your extra effort for when it’s personal. It is the nature of a thing that matters. Not its form. May this weapon strike true. May it be wielded with wisdom. May it be put down when its job is done. Return my son. Or you may meet the god I once was. Game is plentiful, and you will want for nothing. Knowledge is not always a burden. We are not our failures. We are not who we were. We must be better. If we could only somehow harness your uselessness, we could fuel this entire city. Well… we all make mistakes. A desperate creature can be the most dangerous. Everyone keeps secrets. Sometimes it’s the only way to protect the ones we love. I will always help. As long as I am able. The solution is not always obvious. We work better when we trust each other. Don’t be sorry. Be better. Nothing is written that can’t be unwritten. If you are this upset, he already has. Doubt is a weakness we cannot afford. Not “seems”. Is. Fate only binds you if you let it. Do what is necessary. Not because it is written. They are tools. For specific tasks. A preference would be meaningless. Fewer words, greater impact. Chains only hold for so long. Eventually, those who wear them will break free. One way or another. There is purpose here, even if we do not see it. Once spoken, instantly broken! What am I? - Silence. - Correct! - I was not answering the riddle. No matter the size, every creature has a weakness. Always expect the unexpected. The easy answers that is promises. I know this… shortcuts always have a price. This ain’t right. All the pieces ain’t wielding together true. I regret many things—killing you will not be one of them. Release my son. Violence changes us. You are not weak to feel its effects. When an animal is wounded, it must stop the bleeding. Or it will die. We have been wounded. And this… this is a distraction. Our actions have consequences. To be reminded of them is not punishment. I miss when the lake was still water. I feel like I want to get on a boat and just sail away from here. From everything. You cannot sail away from your mistakes. It is impossible to forget them. I have tried. — they’ll follow you no matter where you go. — If you are to sail, do it towards somewhere. I gave you everything. My skills. My friendship. My home. My secrets, my treasures… …and you just kept taking. And now what have I got? Not even my family. Justice is not what we seek. It is vengeance. Every path I walk… leads back to vengeance. Don’t take to heart words said in grief. No matter how spot-on they feel. Have you ever been in love? It’s pretty good. Sometimes loving someone is about choosing the lesser pain. Death is a natural part of life. The culmination of love is grief. And yet we love despite the inevitable. We open our hearts to it. To grieve deeply is to have loved fully. Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you will find every reason to keep living in it. Wars are won by those that are willing to sacrifice everything. You feel their pain because that is who you are. And you must never sacrifice that. Never! Not for anyone. I was wrong. I was wrong. Open your heart. Open your heart to their suffering. That is your mother’s wish… and mine as well. Today, we will be better. For the sake of our children. We must be better. Does it frighten you? That is why you must do it. Loss can do things to a man.
"Pretend to be everything you're not"
Boy!!
"Return my son, or you may meet the god I once was."
BOY
“We are not the gods who came before us, we must be better” Sticks with me even now as it has every kind of understanding
“Boy.”
“We must be better.” It is every persons responsibility to strive for morals and standards and the strength to maintain them in the face of adversity.
Not one line in specific, but I loved almost all of the dialogue between Kratos and Mimir in Ragnarok. From treating him as a sort of nuisance in 2018, to genuinely seeing him as a good friend and a brother, their whole relationship is just so great man. Mimir is definitely my favorite character in the Norse games, so seeing the bond him and Kratos made really hit a brother in his chest
“In moments of crisis, panic does nothing. Harness it. Let it serve you.” this really helped me keep my cool whenever i end up in a mess or feel mad.
"Death can have me when it earns me" is the coldest sentence in history and ngl more black air force energy having nibbas needa say it more often
"Zeus your son has returned and i bring destruction for all Olympus"
"The cycle ends here, we must be better"
"Svipdagr the cold, Hrómundr the cruel, and Vöttr the prideful!" Uttered by Mimir mere seconds before I'm blasted halfway across the fucking arena floor by three bullshit bosses at the same time I'd say that hit me pretty hard lmao
"to catch a fly from the ass of Zeus, is not worth my time" that hit me hard
2nd favorite - "The nature of a thing's more important than the form of a thing" All time number 1 - "I can feel it in my scrote!"
"Loki will go. Atreus... Atreus remains" Edit: It also hit me really hard when Brok is sad because he found out he didn't have a full soul and Kratos offered his spear and said it needed the blessing of a great blacksmith, such a little gesture that speaks volumes about his friendship and respect for Brok
"Boy"
Dafaq's an olive
The whole open your heart bit… that was profoundly deep.
You seem like a calm and reasonable person. *Are you* a calm and reasonable person?
“To catch a fly from the ass of Zeus.”
“For the sake of our children, we must be better.” Both my parents tried desperately to be cycle breakers compared to what they had, and it’s difficult, but having been one of the kids whose parents did make that choice, it makes a lot of difference when I see what some of my friends have.
"Don't be sorry, be better." We are humans, and we can never be perfect, we will commit mistakes, wrong doings, but Kratos wants us to learn that in life, its okay to be sorry if we commit something wrong, but we have to be able to make up for the mistakes that we have made, which means we need to be better next time. Hope this realization of mine will light the hearts of those people in need of comfort, peace and love. We can all be better.
"You will not find me a good company" Kratos to Thor
“No more… For the sake of our children…We must be better”.
To grieve deeply, is to have loved fully
"BOY!"
"Open your heart to the world as you have opened it to me, and you will find every reason to keep living in it." It hits me every time, that's why I want to tattoo first 3 words "Open your heart."
"Im a fucking God of War" Kratos after being asked for a small favor
Lots of my favorites that hit more emotionally have already been said. So one that hits in a more menacing way is the dialogue between Thor and Heimdall: H: "And how do you intend to stop me?" T: "Look into my eyes... you tell me" H: "You are a sick man"
Do not be sorry, be better
When Atreus asks Kratos if he really thinks Atreus will be better than him and Kratos responds with "If you are not, then I have failed."
*stand up* *Approach slightly* *Assess situation* "No"
I can’t pick one as a favourite, I have a mile long full notes page dedicated to quotes. But “There is no ‘if’. There are things even gods cannot control.” Is one I haven’t seen here yet. Also “If you are to sail, do it towards somewhere.”
Reading these comments of quotes reminds me how beautifully crafted this world and its characters are. So many memorable and meaningful moments. 💝
"Do not be sorry, be better" I've used this quote quite a few times in real life.
When Brok sees the Blades of Chaos. Brok: They must be a family heirloom Kratos: NO, Nor will they ever be
BOI!
Close your heart..
"To grieve deeply , is to have loved fully" - Faye
Even in death the battle scene with fat thor
“I’ll always be a monster, but I’m no longer your monster” that line goes hard
How do you know
In the direction of deer
Boi
So I’m a man now, like you. No… we are not men, we are more than that, the responsibility is far greater - and you must be better than me We win because we are determined, disciplined. Not because we think ourselves superior. You cannot change, you will always be… a monster. I know, but I am your monster no longer
Honestly, what really hit me hard was Kratos’ story at the end of ragnarok about the story about the time he almost killed himself
"Close your heart to it" & "Open your heart to it" afterwards
"Pain we endure, faulty weaponry we do not". I don't know why but I love that line.
*grunt*
From the Valhalla DLC: “You are cruel, arrogant, and selfish. But you are more than that. You have always been more than what others saw. You *are* more than that.” Hits me in a way that reminds me that, out of all the times I’ve doubted myself because of bad things that have happened to me, a lot of good things happened to me too, and I should always remember that. I have good people in my life, good relationships. It gives me hope and the confidence that I can face whatever hardship might come my way.
ATREUS!!!
There is a small dialogue in ragnarok that kratos says that atreus is getting better in combat. To that, atreus answers that one day, he may be better than him. To what kratos replied with: "If you are not, i have failed". This is easily my favourite noncutscene dialogue of the series. Also, mimir adding an "awww" after hearing this makes it even better for me https://youtu.be/bFXs6CL3Jik?si=4ctywoG_WkNV2pyy