The cloth map included in the Collector’s Edition of God of War Ragnarök contains some significant story and lore details. The upcoming sequel to 2018’s God of War will see Kratos and Atreus embark on a new journey to locate Tyr, the deposed Norse God of War, and attempt to prevent the world-shattering event known as Ragnarök. Developer Santa Monica Studio recently revealed the God of War Ragnarok release date as November 9, and the announcement came along with some fascinating new information.
God of War Ragnarok is set to end the franchise’s Norse saga as Kratos and Atreus meet their destiny and the Norse world comes to an end. The game will see the Nine Realms fall into chaos following the death of Baldr and three prophesied years of Fimbulwinter. In an effort to stave off Ragnarok, and the subsequent end of the Norse world, Kratos and Atreus will ask for the help of the powerful and beloved god Tyr. The dynamic duo will also face off against Thor, the ruthless Norse God of Thunder, and their former ally Freya. Santa Monica Studio has revealed few God of War Ragnarok story details, but new information has recently come to light via the release date announcement.
God of War Ragnarok’s release date announcement was accompanied by a new cinematic trailer for the highly-anticipated sequel. This trailer sees Kratos and Atreus face off against a horde of vicious Draugr before Kratos is flung from a mountain. The video ends with Kratos and Atreus in a dramatic standoff with Fenrir, a massive wolf destined in Norse mythology to bite off Tyr’s hand and kill Odin during Ragnarok. The release date announcement also led to the reveal of the God of War Ragnarok Collector’s Edition, which comes with a number of exciting extras like dwarven dice and Vanir figurines. The God of War Ragnarok Collector’s Edition includes a 1:1 scale replica of Mjolnir, too, but the most fascinating inclusion may be the cloth map of Yggdrasil and the Nine Realms.
God of War Ragnarok’s Map Reveals All Nine Realms
2018’s God of War brought players to a fascinating adaptation of Norse mythology, allowing them to explore six of the legendary Nine Realms. Most of the journey takes place on Midgard, the earthly realm that sits at the center of the world tree Yggdrasil. However, Kratos and Atreus are also dragged into the elven world of Alfheim and the realm of the dead Helheim during their epic quest to reach the highest peak in the realms. Two other realms, Muspelheim and Niflheim, can also be visited to engage in completely optional side content. While each of the Nine Realms available in God of War was unique and memorable, Ragnarok will up the ante by letting players visit all nine of these fantastic locations.
Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War Ragnarok will bring Kratos and Atreus to all Nine Realms, and the game’s Collector’s Edition map gives fans their first glimpse at several new locations. The dwarven realm of Svartelfheim, briefly glimpsed in a gameplay trailer last year, is covered with rivers and mountains. The Collector’s Edition map also features underground mines, however, hinting that players will delve below ground too. The forested realm of Vanaheim, home to the mystical Vanir gods, is also featured on the map. The cloth map notably depicts huts, which could represent the sea god Njord’s legendary hut Noatun. God of War Ragnarok’s Collector’s Edition map also features Asgard, the magical kingdom that houses the Aesir gods like Thor and Odin. God of War Ragnarok has teased Odin, likely to appear as its final antagonist, and it seems inevitable that the game’s final showdown will take place within Asgard’s massive walls beyond the Bifrost.
The God of War Ragnarok Map Includes Key Norse Figures
2018’s God of War introduced players to a colorful cast of legendary Norse figures that help Kratos and Atreus on their journey. The twin dwarf blacksmiths Brok and Sindri keep the duo well-armed while the decapitated wiseman Mimir provides insight into the Norse world, with all three of these characters injecting humanity and humor into the story. The powerful Vanir goddess Freya, meanwhile, serves as both a valuable ally and future foe for the protagonists. God of War also has a cast of villains pulled from Norse myth, like the invincible Baldr and Thor’s sons Magni and Modi.
New mythical characters in God of War Ragnarok have been teased in the past, but the Collector’s Edition cloth map hints at a number of key figures that the game will likely introduce. The map’s illustration of Muspelheim, for example, seems to portray the unstoppable fire giant Surtr. This iconic figure is destined to destroy Asgard during Ragnarok, so it is extremely likely that Kratos and Atreus will encounter him in the game as either enemy or ally. Skol and Hati, the wolves who chase the sun and the moon before devouring them come Ragnarok, are also depicted in the sky about Alfheim. The map’s inclusion of Ratatoskr, a squirrel who resides within the trunk of Yggdrasil, also suggests that the creature may play a role in God of War Ragnarok after appearing as a humorous summon in the previous game.
God of War Ragnarok’s Cloth Map Teases Some Monstrous Bosses
While the game received immense praise for its gameplay and story, boss fights in God of War were criticized by many. Many of title’s boss fights were epic, including the final brawl with Baldr, but they were few and far between. Only a handful of unique boss fights are present, with most minibosses taking the form of either trolls or ancient golems. Game director Cory Barlog even addressed this criticism after the game launched, explaining that time constraints forced Santa Monica to cut bosses that had been planned for inclusion.
Based on the Collector’s Edition map, it seems that God of War Ragnarok will fix the previous game’s boss issue by introducing massive monsters to fight. The game has teased or outright confirmed antagonists like Thor, Odin, Freya and Fenrir, and the cloth map includes other Norse creatures that Kratos and Atreus are likely to face in Ragnarok, rectifying one of God of War‘s big issues of repetition. The lower right of the map seems to depict Nidhogg, a massive dragon who chews on Yggdrasil’s roots, wrapped around the compass. Helheim’s illustration also prominently depicts Hraesvelgr, a massive eagle who was featured in 2018’s God of War but never fought, alongside Hel’s hound Garmr. Another dragon seems to fly above Asgard on the map, though its identity is hard to guess.
The cloth map included in the God of War Ragnarok Collector’s Edition seems to tease a truly massive adventure awaiting Kratos and Atreus. The duo will travel to all of the Nine Realms, including the impenetrable fortress of Asgard, while encountering a cast of new and returning mythological characters. The map also seems to tease a number of monstrous bosses, so God of War Ragnarök will hopefully succeed in fixing its predecessor’s greatest weakness.
About The Author
