History TearJerker / GodOfWarPS4

'''Freya:''' I will rain down ''every'' agony, ''every'' violation imaginable, upon you. I will parade your cold body from '''every''' corner of '''EVERY REALM,''' '''and FEED YOUR SOUL to THE VILEST FILTH IN HEL!''' '''''That is MY PROMISE.'''''\\

* The death of Baldur. Yes he was a jackass, yes he was insane.... but the way Kratos killed him you could just tell he sincerely hoped there was another way he could've stopped his insanity. Even his words about how the CycleOfRevenge has to end is rather sad. Then of course there's Freya's reaction... aka how ANY mother would react to seeing her son murdered, even if it was to save her life.

** Before Kratos kills Baldur he says "The cycle ends here". A [=YouTuber=] pointed out that this was a repeated line from Zeus in God of War 2, after he stabbed Kratos with the Blade of Olympus. Not only that but Kratos says the line sadly, as if he knows the consequences of killing Baldur and that he's put both himself and Atreus in a deadly position with the norse gods.

** The consequences of Kratos's decision makes this sadder. After that scene, Atreus becomes a lot more reckless, harsh, and even [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] at times, believing from Kratos's speech that as a god, he could do whatever he wanted, leading him to rip into Sindri [[DisproportionateRetribution to an unfair degree]] over continuing to hold grudges with Brok, killing Modi against Kratos's wishes, and ''even shooting Kratos with an arrow'' after the latter begs him to run away from Baldur after they get ambushed. Kratos does manage to make Atreus understand the damage that he caused during his Jerkass phase, and Atreus going into his Jerkass phase is hardly Kratos's fault. However, imagine the amount damage Kratos might've prevented if at the time, he was fully willing to tell his blood-stained story of his godhood, as a cautionary tale. Atreus probably would have better understood his responsibilities as a god earlier, and wouldn't have acted so harshly and insensitively. However, Kratos at that point was still hesitant to be ''that'' open with his son, and it sadly [[PoorCommunicationKills affects how Kratos communicates with him about his godhood]].

** The consequences of Kratos's decision make this scene even sadder. After that scene, Atreus becomes a lot more reckless, harsh, and even [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] at times, believing from Kratos's speech that as a god, he could do whatever he wanted, leading him to rip into Sindri [[DisproportionateRetribution to an unfair degree]] over continuing to hold grudges with Brok, killing Modi against Kratos's wishes, and ''even shooting Kratos with an arrow'' after the latter begs him to run away from Baldur after they get ambushed. Kratos does manage to make Atreus understand the damage that he caused during his Jerkass phase, and Atreus going into his Jerkass phase is hardly Kratos's fault. However, imagine the amount damage Kratos might've prevented if at the time, he was fully willing to tell his blood-stained story of his godhood, as a cautionary tale. Atreus probably would have better understood his responsibilities as a god earlier. However, Kratos at that point was still hesitant to be ''that'' open with his son, and it sadly [[PoorCommunicationKills affects how Kratos communicates with him about his godhood]].

* It’s heartbreaking to watch Atreus, the sweet and humble little boy, become increasingly and disturbingly cocky and downright rude after finding out he’s a God. At one point, he yells at Sindri for constantly talking about Brok and remarks “Yeah! We don't care about ''little people's'' '''''little problems!'''''” This leaves Sindri close to tears and Kratos absolutely stunned.
** If you go to buy stuff from Sindri right after, it's clear from what he says that Atreus basically completely broke the poor sensitive guy.

** The consequences of Kratos's decision make this scene even sadder. After that scene, Atreus becomes a lot more reckless, harsh, and even [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] at times, believing from Kratos's speech that as a god, he could do whatever he wanted, leading him to rip into Sindri [[DisproportionateRetribution to an unfair degree]] over continuing to hold grudges with Brok, killing Modi against Kratos's wishes, and ''even shooting Kratos with an arrow'' after the latter tries to beg him to run away from Baldur after they get ambushed. Kratos does manage to make Atreus understand the damage that he caused during his Jerkass phase, and Atreus going into his Jerkass phase is hardly Kratos's fault. However, imagine the amount damage Kratos might've prevented if at the time, he was fully willing to tell his blood-stained story of his godhood, as a cautionary tale. Atreus probably would have better understood his responsibilities as a god earlier. However, Kratos at that point was still hesitant to be ''that'' open with his son, and it sadly [[PoorCommunicationKills affects how Kratos communicates with him about his godhood]].

** When Kratos kills the gate keeper of Hel and pulls out his heart, the man just has this look that screams exhausted and/or remorseful as he carries out an action that in the past he would've done without a second thought. What usually would've been an epic moment in the past games is instead played off here as a somber moment for Kratos. Again, all done because he loves his son.

* Go ahead and get a game over to see what happens. Atreus' reaction to seeing his own father dying is gut-wrenching. Particularly if he yells "No! Don't leave me alone here!" which makes sure that you know that, god or not, you've abandoned your young son in the middle of a harsh wasteland filled with danger.

* When Atreus and Kratos discover the runes describing Atreus's destiny, Kratos correctly says it is Atreus's story. Atreus runs off arguing that Faye has never been wrong, and Kratos agrees. He is looking at the painting just revealed by a gust of wind, showing that Kratos will die in Atreus's arms. Given Atreus is Loki, it is not so subtly stated that Kratos's death will probably be the event that kicks off the beginning of Ragnarok. Much of Kratos's efforts are trying to prevent Atreus from going down the same dark path he himself went, and the fact that in life he manages to prevent it, his inevitable death will be the one that sees his own actions repeated.

** It gets worse. After pulling him out, it's revealed that Atreus had been waiting a "long, long time" for Kratos to come out. WordOfGod revealed that Atreus waited ''"at least a whole day"'' for Kratos while he was in there. And throughout that entire time, he had to fight off a horde of Dark Elves, while it's [[BadassAdorable incredibly badass that he pulled this off]], it is terrible to think that he was left to fend for himself a whole day. Atreus is understandably upset, especially at Kratos "leaving him again" after promising not to do so after the fight with The Stranger. Kratos, meanwhile, was completely unaware that he was gone for so long, because [[YearOutsideHourInside for him it felt like "only moments passed"]].

-->'''Kratos''': I'm sorry. I didn't know.

** Just to add a new angle to this is the lyrics when Kratos uncovers the Blades: [[spoiler: "Útlægr Gud Smán födur Von modur Und svídur Ger fortíd upp." In English: "Exiled god, Father’s shame, Mother’s hope, Wounds remain, Confront the past." Faye, being a Jotnar, knew what would happen to Atreus, but felt powerless to change anything because of her goal to defeat the Aesir.]]

* When Kratos and Atreus walk among the many objects collected by Tyr from around the world Kratos walks over to the table holding objects from Greece. At first he opens a wine bottle and seems to get lost in the scent (we find out later that it was a wine made on an island near Kratos' birthplace) which most likely made Kratos nostalgic if not a bit homesick. Then he sees a vase painted with the younger version of Kratos as the Ghost of Sparta, standing on a pile of bodies while screaming at the heavens. Kratos can only stare in silent horror as he examines it and you can almost feel his shame as he reflected on the man he was.
** And then Kratos smashes it before Atreus can get a good look at it (granted, he was wearing an Egyptian helmet that was far too big for him). And when Atreus sees one shard that depicted the image of Kratos standing over the bodies and screaming, he remains silent.

* The ending, when you discover that Faye was intentionally trying to activate Ragnarok through Aterus and Kratos, makes one [[WasItAllALie wonder]] if Faye even loved her husband and son, or was just using them to avenge her people by kick-starting the apocalypse.

* Meta:

** His two voice torments are just as tough to hear. The first one where he says "Such chaos. I will have much to do after I kill you.", and Atreus asks who it is. Kratos does not answer, but the deflecting statement he gives indicates he does not want to tell his son his past. The second one is even more gutwrenching, as Hel then has Kratos say "Face me father. It is time to end this." with Zeus replying "Yes my son, it is time." and a horrified Kratos says "'''No...'''", before Atreus asks if he knows who it is, while Kratos simply says "'''I... do not know...".

** His two voice torments are just as tough to hear. The first one where he says "Such chaos. I will have much to do after I kill you.", and Atreus asks who it is. Kratos does not answer, but the deflecting statement he gives indicates he does not want to tell his son his past. The second one is even more gutwrenching, as Hel then has Kratos say "Face me father. It is time to end this." with Zeus replying "Yes my son, it is time." and a shocked Kratos says no, before Atreus asks if he knows who it is, while Kratos simply says he does not know.

* The death of Baldur. Yes he was a jack ass, yes he was insane.... but the way Kratos killed him you could just tell he sincerely hoped there was another way he could've stopped his insanity. Even his words about how the CycleOfRevenge has to end is rather sad. Then of course there's Freya's reaction.... aka how ANY mother would react to seeing her son murdered even if it was to save her life.

-->'''Kratos''': This path you walk... vengeance. You will find no peace, I know.

-->'''Atreus''': So you'd let me kill you?
-->'''Kratos''': If it would mean that you lived. Yes.

-->'''Baldur''': [[FamousLastWords Snow...]]

--> '''Kratos:''' The cycle ends here. We must be better than this.

** As he retrieves his Blades, Athena's ghost taunts him from the doorway, giving him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech by mocking his attempts to change by being what he's not. The things she list fail to get a reaction from Kratos... except for when Athena lists "father." What probably twists the knife more is the implication that Kratos still hasn't fully forgiven himself for murdering Calliope and Lysandra, as that act alone, more than all his god-killing, is what truly defines him as a monster, and he is terrified that he will screw up worse with [[MyGreatestSecondChance Atreus]].
-->'''Athena''': There's '''nowhere''' you can hide, Spartan. Put as much distance between you and the truth as you want; it changes '''nothing'''. 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'''.
-->'''Kratos''': ..... I know... ...But I am '''your''' monster no longer.

-->'''Kratos''': I did this to him?

-->'''Atreus:''' You said I was cursed... You think I'm weak because I'm not like you. I know I was never what you wanted. But after all this, I thought... maybe things were different.
-->'''Kratos:''' You do not know everything, boy.
-->'''Atreus:''' No... but at least I know the truth now...
-->'''Kratos:''' The truth... The truth. ''I am a god, boy'', from another land far from here. When I came to these shores, I chose to live as a man. But the truth is...I was born a god. And so were you. ''(is met with silence)'' Boy? Have you nothing to say?
-->'''Atreus:''' I'm...Can I...turn into an animal?
-->'''Kratos:''' Can you turn into an animal? No...no, I do not think so.

** Behind-the-scenes footage shows that Creator/ChristopherJudge actually crying while filming this scene, and in interviews he speaks of going to a very dark and regretful place, as if speaking to his own children, for this scene. ''That'' is why this scene is so powerful and heartwrenching.

* Kratos spends much of the game keeping Atreus in the dark about his divine heritage to shield the boy from potential grief, but it's increasingly apparent that the primary reason is that he's afraid of the conversation. When he finally decides to come clear, Kratos has his back turned to the boy, bracing for impact. How does the boy react? Like a child would: he excitedly asks if Kratos could change into an animal. Kratos can only stare and parrot the question in disbelief, as if realizing how idiotic and pointless his secrecy is.

** The novel explains why Kratos kept the Blades of Chaos despite their painful history. He cannot be rid of them, '''at all''', the blades always find their back to him under the most contrived circumstances. For example, he tried to dump them in the ocean but the sea itself rejected them and destroyed his boat. He washed up ashore with the blades next to him. After this incident, he gave up and buried them beneath the floorboards as a forced reminder of his tragic history and destructive rage.

-->'''Kratos''': I know... ...But I am '''your''' monster no longer.

-->'''Athena''': There's '''nowhere''' you can hide, Spartan. Put as much distance between you and the truth as you want; it changes '''nothing'''! 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'''.

-->'''Athena''': There's ''nowhere'' you can hide, Spartan. Put as much distance between you and the truth as you want; it changes ''nothing''! 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.
-->'''Kratos''': I know. But I am ''your'' monster no longer.

** What makes it even more gut wrenching is that Kratos knows he has no choice but to do this or else Atreus will die of his illness. This is because Helheim negates all Norse magic, but the Blades of Chaos being Greek magic most certainly will activate. The fact that he's doing this out of love for his son doesn't make the pain of having to relive such a dark time in his life any easier. Also keep in mind these same Blades of Chaos he uses to save his son are stained with the blood of the family he slayed, in effect redeeming their purpose -- even if it took centuries for them to be used for the right reason.