WhenGod of War Ragnarokhopefully launches on PS5 and PS4 later this year, Kratos’ latest adventure will be the last one that’s set in Norse mythology. Instead of stretching out the saga into a trilogy likethe original Greek-themedGod of Wargames, Santa Monica Studio will seemingly turn its attention towards a brand-new pantheon. Even though there’s a long list of famous ancient religions that could be adapted quite nicely into aGod of Wargame, the stories of Polynesian mythology should be right at the very top of the studio’s shortlist.
While it remains to be seen which characters make it out alive at the end ofGod of War Ragnarok, it’s highly unlikely that the story will end there, regardless of the outcome. Ever since the launch of the originalGod of Warback on the PS2, the franchise has become one of the poster children for PlayStation. 2018’s soft-reboot sold nearly 20 million copies, even before its recent PC launch. Whether the inevitable next game stars Kratos, Atreus, or a brand-new protagonist, Polynesian mythology is too big of a prospect for the franchise to overlook.
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Polynesian Exposure
Having explored ancient Greek and Norse mythology over the course of eight console games, it’s high time that theGod of Warfranchise stretched its legs away from Europe. Even though there’s plenty of pantheons still to play with throughout the region, the proximity of the ancient civilizations to one another means there’s a lot of overlap between them.
Players only have to look at centaurs for example which appear, either directly or in a similar guise, in Greek, Roman, and Norse stories. There’s even beasts that resemble thehybrid creatures in Egyptian mythology, which is one of the other popular non-European candidates for setting. Perhaps the biggest reason that Polynesian mythology would be ideal over every other option is the simple fact that it would give Santa Monica Studio the chance to explore something completely new.
In recent years Polynesian culture has received a welcome increase in representation and exposure, thanks in-part to the release of Disney’s 2016 animated movieMoana. Within the heartwarming film, the titular protagonist rubs shoulders with several entities from Polynesian mythology; such as Maui the shape-shifting trickster and demigod. While that description actually bears a striking resemblance tothe Loki of Norse mythology, there hasn’t really been an uptake in Polynesian-themed video games that explore its mythology in the wake ofMoana’s success.
Sony also has history with Polynesian culture and mythology already that it could tap into during a futureGod of Warinstallment. Back during the PS2-era, the publisher’s San Diego Studio releasedThe Mark of KriandRise of Kasai, two cult classics that explored the pantheon and mythology in detail. While the story of Rau Utu remained on the fringes of the publisher’s lineup, it’s easy to envision an established franchise likeGod of Warfaring far better today. Right now there isn’t really anything elsewithin the PlayStation ecosystemthat has the look of Polynesian mythology either, which leaves the door conveniently open for Santa Monica Studio.
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Polynesian Mythology’s Potential
Most of the world’s mythologies are so old, likeGod of War Ragnarok’s Norse source material, that there’s often conflicting versions of the same stories and characters. This is especially true of the myths of Polynesians cultures, due to the sheer number of islands within the Pacific Ocean that have followed and adapted their teachings.
This phenomenon, in combination with a lack of competition in the gaming industry, would allow Santa Monica Studio to dive headfirst into Polynesian mythology with more freedom than most other religions. While there’s no doubt that the studio would remain faithful and respectful to Polynesian culture, not having to worry about tripping over another popular interpretation would likely encourage greater creativity.
Adapting Polynesian mythology into a single cohesive story, with plot points spread across multiple games, would be no easy feat. Unlike thepantheons of Norse and Greek history, which are largely built around their ultimate predestined demise, the stories of Polynesian mythology aren’t driven by the apocalypse. Instead, stories about how the gods created the Polynesian world, and their subsequent interactions with humanity, are far more prevalent than ones that lead to violence. The supernatural force known as Mana, which can be both good and evil, unifies many stories though and is said to be found within all individuals and objects. A narrative built around the concept and its corruption, could be a route for the studio that’s similar to the original trilogy’s Pandora’s Box plot.
Taking on a Polynesian-themed project afterRagnarokwould allow Santa Monica Studioto go in a number of potential directions because of its ambiguous nature. Introducing Kratos or Atreus to the pantheon for example, after their time in Asgard has probably gone sideways, could be the catalyst that sparks unrest amongst the Polynesian deities.
The recentGod of Warcomic book depicted a similar event when Kratos stumbled into Ancient Egypt, so it wouldn’t be hard to imagine a civil war breaking out in reaction to the Norse world’s collapse. Alternatively, a more grounded tale could be told through the eyes of a brand-new demigod, as they interact with popular figures like Maui and Ku, the Polynesian god of war.
Polynesian Creatures
Despite its runaway success, one of the few criticisms that was occasionally leveled at 2018’sGod of Warwas its lack of enemy diversity. Picking up the story afterRagnarok, within a mythology set on the other side of the world, would allow Santa Monica Studio to nullify this problem going forward. Thanks to the unique oceanic nature of Polynesian mythology, the pantheon of gods and beasts is packed full of characters that are unlike anything else seen in other religions. Many of which would allow the studio to subsequently create brand-new gameplay mechanics that haven’tfeatured in previousGod of Wargames.
Being a religion predominantly found within island-based communities ensures that a post-Ragnarok God of Wargame could lean into aquatic creatures like never before. Shark-like creatures known as Taniwha, mermaids, and 30ft weather-manipulating Mo’o lizards, would all expandGod of War’s established into new realms. When it comes to series’ trademark boss battles, Polynesian mythology is ripe for exploration in that department too. It’s a common occurrence within the pantheon, for gods, demigods, and beasts, to all be capable of transforming into other people. Naturally, this ability would lend itself well to the creation of interesting boss fights, whilst makinga PolynesianGod of Warunlike anything else playable right now.
God of War Ragnarokis scheduled to release this year on PS4 and PS5.
