God of War games have been a constant over the past decade, especially for PlayStation, and the series has never been more relevant than it is right now, following the critical success of its latest game. Through all its installments, God of War's protagonist Kratos has undergone a bit of transformation as well. With more than a dozen appearances in games, the Ghost of Sparta has played roles that range from sensational to silly.
God of War's first game came out in 2005 on PlayStation 2. Since then, there have been many sequels showcasing Kratos' superpowered strength and hack-and-slash action. Outside of the world of Greek mythology, Kratos has made guest appearances in everything from LittleBigPlanet to Mortal Kombat. As you can see in the video, he's even been spotted playing golf and racing around in a go-kart.
But Kratos' biggest change has been in the latest God of War. While the character has, traditionally, been a big hulking death machine on a mission and not much more, he has transformed into a multi-dimensional protagonist in the latest entry. Kratos is now a father, with his son Atreus by his side. He is as violent and powerful as ever, but now must be a teacher and set a positive example for his son. As the game progresses, the player gets sucked more and more into their relationship, with Kratos' story showing more complexity than ever.
In GameSpot's God of War review, Peter Brown gave the game a 9/10, praising it for its portrayal of Kratos and his evolution. "Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve," he wrote. "Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come."