History Awesome / GodOfWarRagnarok

* In Valhalla, it is possible to reach the throne room without dying before the first exit. While all you get is additional dialogue on the way there that you won't hear on any run afterwards, it does provide a decent challege for players.

** It crosses over into [[NightmareFuel/GodOfWarRagnarok Nightmare Fuel]], but watching Kratos unleash the smallest part of the God of War That Was and slam Heimdall's face to the ground before choking him to death is, thanks to the Aesir's smugness and vicious taunting and threatening of Atreus, ''deeply satisfying'' on some level.

* Though it has a tragic ending, Brok SpottingTheThread and giving Odin-as-Tyr a tongue-lashing that angers him so much that it causes the plotting king of Asgard to ruin his own plans by revealing himself and killing Brok out of rage. Most impressive about this feat is that not even Mimir, the world's smartest man, or Freya, who was ''married'' to him for a number of years and saw first-hand his two-faced manipulative nature, could figure out that Odin was impersonating Tyr, while Brok figures it out based entirely on his own intuition, pointing out that Tyr not only very conveniently has a back entrance to Asgard, but also that he suddenly calls Atreus 'Loki', a name nobody else in Kratos' group uses. When you think about it, [[SpannerInTheWorks Brok]] is the only reason Kratos and his allies are even able to defeat Odin ''at all'' by preventing the latter from pulling off his quiet XanatosGambit and then [[NiceJobFixingItVillain fully motivating all of them to start Ragnarok with his death]], and he even gets to FaceDeathWithDignity in the end. Hell of a way to go...

** Special mention must be brought to HOW Kratos manages to hit Heimdall. As pointed out in [[https://www.reddit.com/r/GodofWarRagnarok/comments/z4nxqv/spoilers_why_kratos_was_able_to_hit_a_certain_boss/ this post on reddit]] [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Kratos is testing Heimdall's reflexes each time he stuns him]]: first he goes for strong, sweeping attacks that Heimdall dodges; then switching to closer, fast attacks that Heimdall actually has to block. Finally, on the third attempt, Kratos sticks with the close, fast attacks, but mixes things up with a counter to Heimdall's block, catching the smug Aesir off-guard. The reason why this works? [[ExperiencedProtagonist Kratos is a highly trained warrior who's been in more battles than Heimdall can imagine.]] He never stood a chance.

** The reason why Odin had to act so quickly, bringing up the fake way into Asgard and attempting to get some privacy to escape? It was to get the Mask away. And he doesn't even get ''that'' by the tense scene's end. He's holding it up, cocky and assured, as his ravens swirl around him to carry their master away, and Kratos expertly throws his spear to ''snag the mask's eyehole and pin it to the wall, '''just''' before Odin vanishes''. One can only imagine the look on Odin's face back at Asgard as he processes the prize he was ''just'' holding is now gone. To make it even better, said spear is the ''Draupnir Spear'', blessed by Brok. The dwarf is still messing with Odin, even as he goes to his death.

* During Ragnarok, Thor proves why he's Odin's right hand warrior. Despite the fact that he's been excessively drinking, Thor shows that he's still Asgard's greatest warrior and the God of Thunder and Strength worthy of being feared by the Giants. He defeats Jormungandr in a visually stunning battle by ''sending the Jotunn back in time'' with a single blow from his hammer! Straight after having manipulated lightning strikes to hit him. He immediately follows this up with a destructive battle with Kratos without any signs of fatigue, with both combatants now fighting for real.
** Thor gave Kratos such a hard time the first time they fought primarily because Kratos only had access to the Guardian Shield, the Leviathan Axe, and his fists, and was actively trying his best to avoid giving into a blind rage, whereas Thor may have not been allowed to kill him, but he sure as hell didn't give him any kid's gloves either, only really letting up when Kratos starts showing dangers of dying. But in this second fight, Kratos can now bring to bear the full extent of his arsenal of available weapons and tactics in a fight and is aware that he has to take Thor seriously. By expertly transitioning between the weapons he has as well as unarmed combat, Kratos overcomes Thor in a protracted smackdown, calmly and effectively handling Thor's furious assault and managing to deliver numerous hits as well as swiftly reverse the few shots Thor gained on him and use it to his advantage. When he was the Ghost of Sparta, Kratos' adaptability in a fight and willingness to use the environment around him were arguably his greatest assets, and here, he puts that same versatility to use to counter Thor's [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer singular, but powerful]], fighting style.

** The fact that Kratos is able to manifest the Blade of Olympus alone further solidifies his status as the unquestionable WorldsStrongestMan. While Zeus needed a ''lot'' of time and focus to create that blade and he also channeled the powers of "both the Heavens and the Earth", Kratos just replicates all that power through the ''sheer power of his rage fueling his memories''. Repeat, Kratos essentially makes the weapon that ''ended a war between god-like beings'' with no need for external sources, and it's as formidable as it was back when Kratos previously used it, gameplay wise. After two whole games spent of Kratos holding himself back from showing off too much, you ''finally'' get to see what he would have been capable of through his sheer raw power, and the fact that Legacy is ''the'' longest Spartan Rage option around only further solidifies that Kratos can keep up such power without issue if he really wants to. Also, Legacy is capable of ''parrying unblockable attacks''. See that ugly red ring that normally says "dodge or die"? Time it right like always and it won't even matter, with the Blade of Olympus bouncing the blow away as a [[SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound deeply satisfying metallic chime]] rings out.

* When Kratos goes against Valhalla's rules, it decides to drop them off mid air, with their demise and one way ticket to hell as their punishment. When it really looks like it's the end, Sigrun comes in clutch and grabs them both, despite her not even supposed to be in Valhalla to begin with. She manages to fight through the scorching pain and teleports the three of them back to safety. Sigrun is badly burned, but she would heal within time, but her actions saved both Kratos and Mimir from a permanent end, in a way, paying back the two for saving her and her sister's fate from the previous game as well.

* In Valhalla, it is possible to reach the throne room without dying before the first exit, while all you get is additional dialogue on the way there that you won't hear on any run afterwards, it does provide a decent challege for players.

* In the previous game, Atreus' first words upon learning that he's a God is to ask if he can turn into an animal. A moment later it's "You sure I can't turn into a wolf?" In ''Ragnarök'', Atreus gets his wish. Granted, he struggles to control it at first and his first transformations are involuntary following following moments of personal distress, but after spending a little time with Angrboda in Ironwood, he starts getting better at controlling it and it ultimately becomes his version of Kratos' rage meter: Atreus will turn into a vicious wolf to utterly trash his enemies and it's glorious to behold. Later, his control has gotten so good he even transforms into a wolf just to have a fun race with Angrboda who's riding a magic fox. He later uses the bear form at the end of the duo's fight with the Valkyries Hrist and Mist to utterly lethal effect. And during the final battle in Asgard, Atreus transforms into a bear once more to save Sindri, and you're given full control of the beast for one fight, using sledgehammer paw swipes to send Einherjar flying while their weapons bounce harmlessly off his hide.

** The fact that Kratos is able to manifest the Blade of Olympus alone further solidifies his status as the unquestionable WorldsStrongestMan. While Zeus needed a ''lot'' of time and focus to create that blade and he also channeled the powers of "both the Heavens and the Earth", Kratos just replicates all that power through the ''sheer power of his rage fueling his memories''. Repeat, Kratos essentially makes the weapon that ''ended a war between god-like beings'' with no need for external sources, and it's as formidable as it was back when Kratos previously used it, gameplay wise. After two whole games spent of Kratos holding himself back from showing off too much, you ''finally'' get to see what he would have been capable of through his sheer raw power, and the fact that Legacy is ''the'' longest Spartan Rage option around only further solidifies that Kratos can keep up such power without issue if he really wants to. Also, Legacy is capable of ''parrying unblockable attacks''. See that ugly red ring that normally says "dodge or die"? Time it right like always and it won't even matter, with the Blade of Olympus bouncing the blow away as a [[MostWonderfulSound deeply satisfying metallic chime]] rings out.

** The fact that Kratos is able to manifest the Blade of Olympus alone further solidifies his status as the unquestionable WorldsStrongestMan. While Zeus needed a ''lot'' of time and focus to create that blade and he also channeled the powers of "both the Heavens and the Earth", Kratos just replicates all that power through the ''sheer power of his rage fueling his memories''. Repeat, Kratos essentially makes the weapon that ''ended a war between god-like beings'' with no need for external sources, and it's as formidable as it was back when Kratos previously used it, gameplay wise. After two whole games spent of Kratos holding himself back from showing off too much, you ''finally'' get to see what he would have been capable of through his sheer raw power, and the fact that Legacy is ''the'' longest Spartan Rage option around only further solidifies that Kratos can keep up such power without issue if he really wants to. Also, Legacy is capable of ''parrying unblockable attacks''. See that ugly red ring? Time it right like always and it won't even matter.

** The fact that Kratos is able to manifest the Blade of Olympus alone further solidifies his status as the unquestionable WorldsStrongestMan. While Zeus needed a ''lot'' of time and focus to create that blade and he also channeled the powers of "both the Heavens and the Earth", Kratos just replicates all that power through the ''sheer power of his rage fueling his memories''. Repeat, Kratos essentially makes the weapon that ''ended a war between god-like beings'' with no need for external sources, and it's as formidable as it was back when Kratos previously used it, gameplay wise. After two whole games spent of Kratos holding himself back from showing off too much, you ''finally'' get to see what he would have been capable of through his sheer raw power, and the fact that Legacy is ''the'' longest Spartan Rage option around only further solidifies that Kratos can keep up such power without issue if he really wants to.

** How Thor starts the fight. When Odin implicitly gives him the greenlight, Thor chuckles, gets up from his seat, and seems to take a step away from the table. Then he says, "'Bout time," [[SummonToHand immediately calls Mjolnir]] with a BadassFingersnap, and ''sends Kratos flying into the atmosphere'', the Spartan barely having time to grab his axe. As Kratos scrabbles against the Hammer, Thor catches up to him, now full of vigor an menace, telling the Ghost of Sparta that he's going to exact a blood payment for his family.

-->'''Kratos''': You put him last, even in death!\\

* Kratos' battle with "Bjorn", an utterly massive bear (that's actually a transformed Atreus). After getting overpowered by the beast, Kratos awakens his Spartan rage to send the beast back. When both rise to their feet, the bear roars at Kratos, and he ''roars back''.
* In the previous game, Atreus' first words upon learning that he's a God is to ask if he can turn into an animal. A moment later it's "You sure I can't turn into a wolf?" In ''Ragnarok'', Atreus gets his wish. Granted, he struggles to control it at first and his first transformations are involuntary, but after spending a little time with Angrboda in Ironwood, he starts getting better at controlling it and it ultimately becomes his version of Kratos' rage meter: Atreus will turn into a vicious wolf to utterly trash his enemies and it's glorious to behold. Later, his control has gotten so good he even transforms into a wolf just to have a fun race with Angrboda who's riding a magic fox. He later uses the bear form at the end of the duo's fight with the Valkyries Hrist and Mist to utterly lethal effect. And during the final battle in Asgard, Atreus transforms into a bear once more to save Sindri, and you're given full control of the beast for one fight, using sledgehammer paw swipes to send Einherjar flying while their weapons bounce harmlessly off his hide.
* After Atreus has spent [[HopelessBossFight a whole fight being knocked about in the mud]] by Heimdall ([[NonchalantDodge who's been dodging or parrying every last one of his attacks]]), they both hear a crack of thunder, and then Thor tells Heimdall to cut it out. Heimdall acts like the same smug bastard who's been giving Atreus his tour through Asgard, asking Thor what he could do to stop him. The GodOfThunder only needs seven words:
-->'''Thor''': Look into my eyes. ''You tell me.''\\
'''Heimdall''': ''{visibly rattled}'' ...You are a sick man.

* The forging of the Draupnir Spear, where The Lady, a mermaid underwater, takes the self-duplicating ring, a spear tip and a drop of godly blood from Kratos and mixes it all together into a brand new God-killing weapon. She doesn't even need a hammer or anvil like Brok or Sindri would, as Brok said earlier, it's not the form of something that matters, but its nature.

* Heimdall's boss battle (after killing his mount) starts with him taunting Kratos' every move, dodging attacks from the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos and Draupnir Spear alike... until Kratos manages to stun him enough times to actually ''punch the untouchable Aesir god across the face''. Heimdall's [[OhCrap reaction]] says it all:

** Special mention must be brought to HOW Kratos manages to hit Heimdall. As pointed out in [[https://www.reddit.com/r/GodofWarRagnarok/comments/z4nxqv/spoilers_why_kratos_was_able_to_hit_a_certain_boss/ this post on reddit]] [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Kratos is testing Heimdall's reflexes each time he stuns him]], first going for strong, sweeping attacks that Heimdall dodges, then switching to close, fast attacks that Heimdall actually has to block. Finally, on the third attempt, Kratos sticks with the close, fast attacks, but mixes things up with a counter to Heimdall's block, catching the smug Aesir off-guard. The reason why this works? [[ExperiencedProtagonist Kratos is a highly trained warrior who's been in more battles than Heimdall can imagine.]] He never stood a chance.

** Whatever you have to say about Odin, it's very impressive how flawlessly he pulled off his deception. ''Not a single person'' saw through it (and even when Brok finally caught on, it was already too late) and bear in mind the room was full of people who have every reason to hate and mistrust the All-Father and ALL of whom know of his true nature; Mimir, the Smartest Man Alive (and who's constantly reminding everyone how talented a liar Odin is) was none the wiser, his ex-wife and nemesis Freya never once caught on and Atreus, no stranger to lies himself, never once saw "Tyr" as anything but the former god of war. Even '''Kratos''', ''the'' most untrusting, observant and reserved person you'd ever meet, fully admits to being completely fooled by it.
** When Odin mocks Kratos for not bartering for peace sooner, Kratos bites back with another BadassBoast:

** The reason why Odin had to act so quickly, bringing up the fake way into Asgard and attempting to get some privacy to escape? It was to get the Mask away. And he doesn't even get ''that'' by the tense scene's end. He's holding it up, cocky and assured, as his ravens swirl around him to carry their master away, and Kratos expertly throws his spear to ''snag the mask's eyehole and pin it to the wall, '''just''' before Odin vanishes''. One can only imagine the look on Odin's face back at Asgard as he processes the prize he was ''just'' holding is now gone. To make it even better, said spear is the ''Draupnir Spear'', forged by Brok. The dwarf is still messing with Odin even beyond death.

'''Kratos:''' And so are we... when an animal is wounded, it must stop the bleeding. Or it will die. We have been wounded. And this... this is a distraction.

** There's also the end of his fights, which involve Tyr doing a PunchCatch on Kratos and then explicitly yielding to him. In other words, even when you beat Tyr, you haven't really ''beaten Tyr;'' he's only stopping the spar because he respects Kratos enough to do so, implying that in a life or death struggle he could go further.
* The initial ending of ''Valhalla''. Kratos finally opens the door behind Tyr...and sees his younger self sitting on Ares' throne. He laments how self-destructive, selfish and horrible his actions were and how he isn't sure he is fit to be a better example of a god to the realms. But then he remembers Pandora and her words about "hope", having resonated within him after so many years. He embraces being able to become something better and ultimately accepts his new role but not as a God of War...but a God of Hope.

* In Valhalla, it is possible to reach the throne room without dying before the first exit, while all you get is additionally dialogue on the way there that you won't hear on any run afterwards, it does provide a decent challege for players.

* The initial ending of ''Valhalla''. Kratos finally opens the door behind Tyr...and sees his younger self sitting on Ares' throne. He laments how self-destructive, selfish and horrible his actions were and how he isn't sure he is fit to be a better example of a god to the realms. But then he remembers Pandora and her words about "hope", having resonated within him after so many years. He embraces being able to become something better and ultimately accepts his new role but not as a God of War...but a God of Hope.

* The initial ending of ''Valhalla''. Kratos finally opens the door behind Tyr...and sees his younger self sitting on Ares' throne. He laments how self-destructive, selfish and horrible his actions were and how he isn't sure he is fit to be a better example of a god to the realms. But then he remembers Pandora and her were words about "hope", having resonated within him after so many years. He ultimately accepts his new role, not as a God of War...but a God of Hope.

** There's also the end of his fights, which involve Tyr doing a PunchCatch on Kratos and then explicitly yielding to him. In other words, even when you beat Tyr, you haven't really ''beaten Tyr;'' he's only stopping the spar because he respects Kratos enough to do so, implying that in a life or death struggle he could go further.

* The final boss at the end of a run in Valhalla, and the one who invited Kratos there, is none other than Týr. After spending the entire main game being portrayed as a pacifist by Odin, the Norse God of War proves he is just as worthy of the title as Kratos himself. Each time you defeat him, Týr will add new weapons and attacks to his arsenal until he is [[MultiMeleeMaster weilding four different weapons at once]], all of the elements, and a wide variety of ranged and magical attacks.