The God of War series is now officially 20 years old and, to celebrate, Santa Monica Studio has added some new content to the franchise’s latest game, God of War: Ragnarok. On March 20, players on all platforms received a special Dark Odyssey cosmetic bundle as part of a free in-game update. This collection includes themed armor sets and costumes for some of the main characters in the game, including Kratos, Freya, and Atreus. It also contains weapon and shield skins, in addition to a fully black-and-gold cosmetic that completely changes Kratos’ appearance. Players are able to apply these new Dark Odyssey skins to any weapon attachment and shield rond in God of War: Ragnarok.
The Dark Odyssey cosmetics that Santa Monica Studio added to God of War: Ragnarok were inspired by a skin of the same name from God of War 2, which also featured the same black-and-gold color palette. In order to receive this skin, players had to beat the entirety of God of War 2 on the God Mode setting, which was the hardest difficulty in the game. God of War: Ragnarok‘s Dark Odyssey cosmetics aren’t locked behind any specific requirements like they were in God of War 2, but they do serve as a nostalgic reminder of an era in the series’ history when unique-looking skins like these were commonplace.
Related
Rumor: New God of War Greek Project Coming Out This Year
An insider reveals that there’s a new God of War project set for a release within 2025, and that it’s going to be revisiting Greek mythology.
The Bonus Costumes from the OG God of War Games Need to Make a Comeback
Players Can Unlock Special Costumes for Kratos in the Early God of War Games
The early God of War games, namely those that were part of the Greek Saga, had special bonus costumes that players could unlock for Kratos to wear. The majority of these costumes did not cost any real-world money, but they sometimes weren’t easy to obtain. In the original God of War (2005) on the PS2, players had to complete a special series of post-game levels called the Challenge of the Gods to unlock new costumes. Meanwhile, in God of War 2 (and most of the games that came after it), players could get certain skins either by finishing the game on any difficulty or by completing specific challenges.
Players could not switch between costumes whenever they felt like in the OG God of War games; instead, they could only select them at the start of a new playthrough.
Many of the special costumes from the original God of War games were both cool-looking and beneficial in battle. God of War: Chains of Olympus‘s infamous Spud of War costume, which made Kratos look like a giant walking potato, gave the titular God of War an infinite magic boost and a 4x armor stat increase. The Dark Odyssey skin from God of War 2, on the other hand, significantly increased the number of red orbs that Kratos could receive during combat, and it not only doubled the strength of his attacks, but halved his defense stats as well.
Since they’re more easily obtainable, the Dark Odyssey cosmetics in God of War: Ragnarok don’t have any special stat-boosting attributes like they did in God of War 2.
The Norse God of War Games Have Replaced Bonus Costumes With Unlockable Armor Sets
Although they’ve been a staple of the series for more than a decade, Santa Monica Studio has decided to abandon bonus costumes entirely with its recent Norse God of War games. While the newest entries in the series do feature some other unlockables that players can obtain after completing them, they’re not nearly as inventive. God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarok both contain some unique armor sets that can only be crafted during their respective New Game Plus modes, and even though they are rather useful, none of them look as distinct or as hilarious as the costumes from the Greek God of War games.
Future God of War Games Should Add Dark Odyssey-Style Rewards for Players Who Beat Them on the Highest Difficulty
God of War (2018) may not have any Dark Odyssey-style costumes, but it does contain some unique shield skins that can only be obtained by completing the game on the Give Me God of War difficulty setting, the most challenging mode in the game. Those who beat God of War: Ragnarok on this same setting, however, get absolutely nothing for their efforts. Hopefully, if Santa Monica Studio does bring unlockable cosmetics back in future God of War games, it won’t forget to add exclusive skins for beating the game on the hardest difficulty again.
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go
From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
- Released
-
November 9, 2022
- ESRB
-
M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language