God of War

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to The Other Castle.

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The Other Castle, I'm Andrea.

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And my name is Tom.

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And we do the plot, lore, and more behind video games.

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And if this is your first time listening to us, you can go to our website, theothercastlepodcast.com.

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That's theothercastlepodcast.com.

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Over there, we have all sorts of links to our Discord, to our Patreon, which for just $2 a month.

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You can catch our monthly show, The Other Castle's side quests.

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Side quests, and this is the last episode of the season.

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So if you wanna keep listening to new Other Castle, or if you wanna get in the archives of stuff we haven't posted publicly, you can check it out over there.

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Yes, you can, because every month we will be doing new episodes over there as well.

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It's gonna be fun.

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It is fun.

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It stays fun.

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It's good shit.

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You know what else is good?

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We're bullying you on the Discord to get a lower back tattoo.

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Yeah, you need to really stop encouraging bullying.

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Why?

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It's not fun or easy.

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On my end, it feels very fun and very easy.

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But aside from bullying, we are also actively taking suggestions for games we can do next season for you.

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After this, we are going to be quiet for a little bit while we catch up on games, write out more episodes and provide more for you.

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But there are more episodes coming after this.

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So stay subscribed, stay tuned.

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And if you have an idea for something you want to hear us talk about, put it on the Discord.

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Yeah, this week's episode, God of War, was requested so many times.

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Oh my goodness, people have requested this so many damn times.

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Am I not reading that fucking Discord channel enough?

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We get a lot of requests.

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Fuck, I get tagged in the horror ones a lot.

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So maybe it's just that you're getting tagged in specific ones and I'm not, but okay, I'm excited.

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I haven't touched any of the God of War franchise.

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That's fair.

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It is kind of the quintessential dude game.

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Aside from Guy Game, obviously.

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Yeah, right.

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Ooh, Guy Game, that is a dangerous one to talk about.

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Legally, yeah.

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Yeah.

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Well, God of War is released by Sony-owned Santa Monica Studios.

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Where are they located?

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Finland.

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Oh!

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Great.

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No, Southern California.

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God of War is an alpha male energy hack and slash beat them up that revolutionized gaming in 2005 when it debuted on the PlayStation 2.

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This was like a Mountain Dude dude era.

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Oh, very much so.

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A Mountain Dude era.

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Yeah, it was Spike TV, that whole thing.

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Art director on the first game, Cory Barlog, went on to be the lead director and writer for 2 and 3, earning him a writing BAFTA for part 2.

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Oh, damn, I love a BAFTA.

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Yeah, right, you really do.

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After that, he went off to become a dad and kind of took a little sabbatical for a couple years.

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He returned to the studio full time after being away.

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Santa Monica Studios was ready to get back into God of War and decided a reboot would be the best approach as it had been a few years since the previous title.

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Cory had come back from his time off a different person, really.

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He's a dad now.

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Yeah, that's actually it.

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Becoming a father had changed him.

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It does that, you know.

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We're at this stage in our life where our friends are popping him out and...

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Yeah.

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They are different people.

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And that is fascinating to see someone evolve.

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Yeah, definitely.

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You're like, I've seen you do so many drugs.

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Yeah.

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Well, this made him soften up and see the world very differently.

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Everyone began to notice this change and thought, wouldn't it be wild if Kratos went through the same change?

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Now, that's got to put a lot of pressure on him.

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Knowing this story so intimately, there are wards lining his walls about how he tells it and everyone going, what if it was you?

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And he goes, I mean, I can't always thought it was me.

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Yeah, right.

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But now that you're pointing it out, I guess, you know, that's wild.

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And also for the team to know him so intimately to see these, not necessarily an idiosyncrasy that he develops, but just how he's evolved as a person under these new circumstances.

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Yeah, but this guy definitely looks a lot more like me than he does Kratos.

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I didn't assume it was the physical alignment of this writer for video games.

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You know, that's being a little bodious, I guess.

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He could be ripped.

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I don't fucking know him.

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I just assume he's not a God of War.

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Yeah, he's definitely not.

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But they all started to ask the question, what would it look like if the God of War was allowed to have the family he never got to experience?

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Sony had barely won the PlayStation 3's console generation war and was determined to dominate the competition with the PlayStation 4.

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So they invested heavily in their exclusive studios, pumping money into Santa Monica, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch and the like.

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Not really, Bend, but it's fine.

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Well, it gave them all resources they would need to make the next big splash in gaming, like mocap studios and the latest and greatest technology available.

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I'll give it to them.

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Their investment really paid off.

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The idea to fund the studios in this way led Sony to make some other decisions that really hurt a ton of people as well, unfortunately.

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Oh, shit.

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It's something that we've seen the repercussions from ever since.

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All their studios were to become single game producers.

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No more working on multiple titles at once.

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Singular focus allowed for more detail, but fewer risks.

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So a brand new IP that Santa Monica Studios had been working on was canceled in favor of God of War.

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You know, I know God of War is a big favorite for a lot of people, but it does kind of suck when you see an entire game get scrapped.

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It does suck, yeah, because a lot of people did lose their jobs.

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But the people who survived the layoff were actually kind of stoked, as most of them had grown up playing the God of War games and were now old enough to make one themselves.

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Oh, I love that.

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Being a sequel intended to act also as a reboot, they aged Kratos quite a bit.

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Like in the Scream movies.

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With him being a god, he likely ages differently, so I'm not sure how long after the original series it is.

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But if he was a human, he would be about 25 to 30 years older than he appeared in the original games.

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Okay, cool.

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Since he was no longer going to be a young man, they couldn't cast Terrence Carson to play Kratos, as he had voiced Kratos in all the previous games.

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And has a young man's voice.

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Yeah.

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Instead, they went with an actor named Christopher Judge.

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A king named Christopher Judge.

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Christopher Judge is fucking cool as shit.

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Christopher Judge has voiced a character we've featured on the show once before, actually.

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Oh, really?

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He voiced D-Mob in Def Jam Fight for New York.

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Shut the fuck up.

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So our second episode ever.

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I really sat here and was like, maybe he's in the PlayStation exclusive network and he knows all the other casting directors that...

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No.

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Fuck you.

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He knew Snoop Dogg.

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Well, that's fucking cool as shit, too.

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I'm not gonna lie.

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Otherwise, he's been a regular character actor in TV and movies over the years, given his very distinct appearance and voice.

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He's very handsome.

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Yeah.

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He also stands in intimidating 6'3.

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He's 6'3?

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Yeah, and he's equally as wide.

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That's like he's a big man.

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Yeah, but made of pure muscle.

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Yeah.

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For the son of Kratos, they hired child actor Sonny Soljic.

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The two of them bonded very quickly, making for great chemistry between the two characters.

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That's such a good chemistry bond to nail.

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Oh, yeah, they took them out, like, hiking in the woods and stuff like that just to give them an actual sense of being out there.

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Oh, that's cool.

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This led to a DICE Award for Christopher Judge for his portrayal of Kratos in the game, as well as a BAFTA nomination, losing to co-star Jeremy Davies, who plays the character of Balder.

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Now, this is especially interesting because I know the year this came out, and this was an insane fucking year for gaming.

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Out fucking rages.

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But I think it had a lot to do with this investment that Sonny had made.

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Mm-hmm, that's true.

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Rounding out the cast is Danielle Bezutti, a very regular TV and film supporting actress, playing the Witch of the Woods, who was also nominated for a BAFTA for her work in this game.

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Fuck yeah.

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To open the E3 2016 Sony Showcase, the team at Santa Monica Studios revealed the game with Corey Barlog, live playing a demo of the game's opening 10 minutes on stage.

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Oh, that's cool.

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Along with an orchestra live scoring the gameplay.

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That's even fucking cooler.

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Holy shit.

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This was all led by the game's composer, Bear McCreery.

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The audience and YouTube reaction channels simultaneously losing their collective shit at the reveal of Old Man Kratos.

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Oh my god, it's a returning character that's beloved.

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It's a live playthrough, which is technically very difficult to pull off.

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Oh yeah.

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Based on the compatibility and just being able to make sure that that runs correctly.

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The first time you're even letting people know this is working, and then have it live scored is so fucking cool.

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Oh, there's video of it.

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It is an incredible moment.

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The reason they lost their shit is because despite being called simply God of War, this was not the first game in the series, nor was it an origin story for Kratos.

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It's technically the seventh.

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Oh.

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As there are a couple non-numbered titles as well.

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And it's following the events of God of War 3, taking place decades later, facing Nordic gods instead of Grecian gods.

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Did they swap what kind of gods he is?

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No, they do not swap which kind of god he is.

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He just goes to a new world where there are different gods.

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Oh shit, that's cool.

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So he could go into the Neil Gaiman American gods world.

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I think he's a little bit a part of that.

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I love that.

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Very cool.

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Sadly, the series as a whole had lost its luster over the years, and people felt that they were ready to see Kratos retire.

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But then they saw a version of Kratos they weren't expecting, and suddenly everyone was back in.

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Irony being now he's the age to retire.

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Yeah, right?

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You could play 2018's God of War without ever playing any of the other games in the series and almost fully understand it.

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Because full disclosure, this is the only game in the God of War franchise that I've actually played, and I was able to follow along fine with only the absolute minimal knowledge of the series.

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You managed to not play any of the other entries, though?

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I didn't because, again, like I said, it was very heavy dude alpha male energy.

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That's not your energy.

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That's not me.

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Yeah, that didn't call to me or draw me.

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You're like, what's going on with Max and Life is Strange?

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Yeah.

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Yeah, those kinds of games didn't exist either.

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But that would have been your energy.

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That totally would have been.

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So I think it's important to give you all at least some minimal knowledge of where Kratos began in the first game, and then ultimately left off at the end of God of War III, the last in the main series.

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Perfect.

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So here's a previously on, where I'm not going to go through the entire series, just the parts that are relevant to the story I'm about to tell.

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So, in the beginning.

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Oh my god.

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Zeus, the god of gods, heard a prophecy which stated that his heir would one day kill him.

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The prophecy described the heir as having red markings on his face.

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Zeus had fucked a lot of women in his time as a god.

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Slut era, go off.

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So he had more kids than Nick Cannon running around.

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Oh, Jesus Christ.

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He sent two of his children, Athena and Ares, both being gods of war, to find this heir.

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This led them to a village in Sparta, where they found two young brothers and bastard sons of Zeus named Deimos and Kratos.

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One of them had a red birthmark across his face, so they kidnapped the boy.

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The other tried to rescue the kidnapped one, but was easily smacked the side by Ares, leaving a massive scar across the face of young Kratos.

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Oh, they beefed it.

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They really beefed it.

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Kratos watched as Deimos was carried off by Ares and Athena since they believed the prophecy to be about him, not realizing they just created the one to fulfill it.

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Kratos would go on to tattoo his body with the same red birthmark his brother had to honor him.

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Oh, I kind of love when people do that on Reddit, like in the subreddit made me smile.

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Sometimes a parent will get the same birthmark as their kid.

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Yeah.

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But this is a really fucked up version of that.

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This is the god version.

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Yeah.

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Kratos grew into adulthood and in his early 20s married a woman named Lysandra.

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He settled down?

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He did.

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They then had a daughter named Calliope together.

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Calliope came down with a plague disease, setting Kratos out to find a cure.

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During his search, he angered an army of barbarians who threatened to descend on Sparta.

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Fearing losing to the barbarians, Kratos called out to the god Ares, offering himself as a servant if he would help the Spartans win.

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Ares answered, wiping out the barbarians effortlessly.

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Oh shit.

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As a sign of Kratos' servitude, Ares bound a weapon to him called the Blades of Chaos.

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Two identical short swords connected to Kratos' arms by red hot chains that will never loosen themselves until he's released from servitude.

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Ares used Kratos for a long time as his weapon of war, but always felt he was holding back, not wanting to lose his life because of his wife and daughter.

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One day, Ares sent Kratos on a mission to destroy a heretic's church.

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Kratos went in and murdered everyone in the room, but unbeknownst to him, his wife and daughter were there as well.

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You dumb dumb.

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Ares expected this to break Kratos, making him fully his slave.

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Instead, it enraged Kratos, turning him against his master.

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Hell yeah.

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Vowing to find a way to break from these chains.

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For good measure, Ares went on to stain the skin of Kratos pale white with the ashes of his dead wife and daughter.

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Oh my god.

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I thought that was an aesthetic choice.

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No.

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There's lore behind his...

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Oh my god, that sucks.

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Yeah, this was a reminder of what he lost every time he looked in his reflection.

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You know, we have technology now to put ashes in like tree saplings.

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Right.

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A gem.

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Yeah, you can get pressed into a diamond and be like, this is grandpa.

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This is a way more fucked up way to use ashes.

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Yeah, it really is, right?

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Well, his ashy skin gave him the nickname the Ghost of Sparta.

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After ten years of servitude, Kratos asked the goddess Athena for help.

00:15:04.465 --> 00:15:12.145
She told Kratos that if he can kill Ares, she'd remove the memories of killing his family from his mind, giving him the peace he so craved.

00:15:13.305 --> 00:15:17.905
Kratos is like, sick, I get revenge, and I don't have to remember killing my family.

00:15:18.045 --> 00:15:18.545
Hell yeah.

00:15:18.685 --> 00:15:19.225
Win-win.

00:15:19.245 --> 00:15:26.685
At the end of the first game, saw Kratos killing Ares once and for all, after having killed a bunch of other gods to get there.

00:15:27.505 --> 00:15:33.225
Athena doesn't keep her promise though, saying Kratos is a murder machine and doesn't deserve to forget that.

00:15:33.565 --> 00:15:34.245
Oh my god.

00:15:35.185 --> 00:15:39.465
Kratos figured that since he wouldn't be allowed to forget, he'd take matter into his own hands.

00:15:40.745 --> 00:15:43.985
He then took a step off a mountain cliff, plunging to his demise.

00:15:44.305 --> 00:15:44.945
Oh, fuck.

00:15:45.685 --> 00:15:47.805
But the gods had other plans for Kratos.

00:15:48.805 --> 00:15:52.405
They stopped his fall and told him that there was now an opening with Ares dead.

00:15:53.185 --> 00:15:55.365
Mount Olympus needed a new god of war.

00:15:55.825 --> 00:15:56.505
Fuck off.

00:15:56.985 --> 00:15:58.425
Wait, that's so funny.

00:15:59.725 --> 00:16:03.045
He's like, this is the opposite of my goal right now.

00:16:04.445 --> 00:16:06.985
Yeah, they then offered Kratos the position.

00:16:07.245 --> 00:16:09.945
It's not really an offer where you could say no though, right?

00:16:09.965 --> 00:16:10.945
Not really, no.

00:16:10.985 --> 00:16:13.365
Yeah, you're more being voluntold you're a god.

00:16:14.345 --> 00:16:20.325
As the new god of war, Kratos became ruthless, taking out lesser gods who pissed him off or lied to him.

00:16:20.785 --> 00:16:22.065
What does he have to lose?

00:16:22.225 --> 00:16:23.005
Exactly.

00:16:23.205 --> 00:16:25.985
He tried to unalive himself, he got promoted.

00:16:26.005 --> 00:16:31.205
You know, there's a very unclear path to what his life will lead to.

00:16:32.025 --> 00:16:35.305
Well, this made Zeus and some of the other big name gods get nervous.

00:16:36.185 --> 00:16:42.085
Worried that Kratos was going to turn on them eventually, as the rumor was going around that Kratos had a hatred for all gods.

00:16:42.985 --> 00:16:47.385
Zeus orchestrated Kratos' death, eventually stabbing him with a god-killing sword.

00:16:48.545 --> 00:16:51.665
Kratos went to the underworld, but crawled his way back out of it.

00:16:52.905 --> 00:16:56.685
He went on to find a device that would allow him to travel to the moment Zeus killed him.

00:16:57.845 --> 00:17:02.565
After watching Zeus stab him, Kratos ran up, knocking the sword out of his hands.

00:17:03.445 --> 00:17:07.045
He then grabbed it himself and charged at Zeus, ready to run him through.

00:17:08.245 --> 00:17:11.285
Then Athena appeared in front of Zeus, taking the stab herself.

00:17:12.785 --> 00:17:17.725
Her dying words explaining that if Zeus dies, all of Olympus goes down with him.

00:17:18.445 --> 00:17:20.705
I think that's a motivator for Kratos, though.

00:17:20.905 --> 00:17:22.265
He doesn't really give a fuck.

00:17:22.325 --> 00:17:25.285
Yeah, Kratos looked into her dying eyes and said, Good.

00:17:25.385 --> 00:17:27.945
Hell yeah, Kratos is so fucking cool.

00:17:28.505 --> 00:17:36.545
This ultimately led to a final battle between Kratos and Zeus after Kratos killed his way up Mount Olympus, murdering every single god and titan in his path.

00:17:37.405 --> 00:17:41.605
Kratos finally killed Zeus, beating him with his bare hands to death.

00:17:42.505 --> 00:17:44.025
Oh, that's so fucking cool.

00:17:44.745 --> 00:17:48.605
Athena's ghost returned to Kratos, offering him the chance to forget.

00:17:49.865 --> 00:17:51.145
But Kratos had a different idea.

00:17:52.025 --> 00:17:55.085
He took the sword and then drove it into his own stomach.

00:17:55.425 --> 00:17:58.085
He's like, I'm gonna forget everything.

00:17:58.285 --> 00:18:00.165
I'm going to the long sleep, bitch.

00:18:01.165 --> 00:18:05.445
Athena removed the sword from him, saying he doesn't get to go out that way.

00:18:07.465 --> 00:18:09.165
Then just left him there to bleed out.

00:18:09.285 --> 00:18:10.125
Oh, my God.

00:18:10.385 --> 00:18:11.985
So it's not a feel good game.

00:18:12.185 --> 00:18:13.145
No, not at all.

00:18:13.165 --> 00:18:14.445
No, they do not have good endings.

00:18:15.245 --> 00:18:26.425
The game concluded with a shot of a trail of blood leading away from the final battle, indicating that Kratos went off to start a new god-free existence, which is where we'll pick up for the 2018 game.

00:18:27.545 --> 00:18:29.785
Wow, that's fucking wild.

00:18:30.505 --> 00:18:32.605
And you have to remember that going into this game.

00:18:32.645 --> 00:18:33.345
Yeah, right.

00:18:33.365 --> 00:18:38.285
Or at least have some memory to piece together some of the other parts of it.

00:18:38.825 --> 00:18:39.145
Right.

00:18:39.165 --> 00:18:41.725
Well, the game was designed so you could just pick it up.

00:18:41.845 --> 00:18:42.365
Gotcha.

00:18:42.705 --> 00:18:43.445
But this helps.

00:18:44.425 --> 00:18:48.985
It does, because God of War grew with its audience in a way no other game has.

00:18:49.205 --> 00:18:50.145
Into fatherhood?

00:18:50.285 --> 00:18:54.725
Yeah, not even the Mario series can say that has grown the way the God of War one did.

00:18:55.245 --> 00:19:00.605
We don't like to think about the world where Mario fucks and can have kids, you know?

00:19:00.625 --> 00:19:01.185
That's fair.

00:19:01.185 --> 00:19:03.145
That's not a thought any of us want to explore.

00:19:03.765 --> 00:19:08.245
Well, the character Kratos was an outlet for teens and 20-somethings in the early thousands.

00:19:09.145 --> 00:19:12.905
Angry at those in charge, unleashing his rage and vanquishing his enemies.

00:19:14.065 --> 00:19:19.825
Now he's representing them in their 30s and 40s, as many of those same gamers have become parents themselves.

00:19:20.025 --> 00:19:21.585
This is an allegory for pop punk.

00:19:21.745 --> 00:19:24.725
Yeah, for pop punk, but like, pop is in dad.

00:19:25.485 --> 00:19:26.585
Shut the fuck up.

00:19:27.645 --> 00:19:29.505
Are you gonna do dad jokes during this?

00:19:29.505 --> 00:19:30.665
I might as well, right?

00:19:33.645 --> 00:19:36.825
They were once again able to relate to Kratos and his struggles.

00:19:37.825 --> 00:19:40.645
The series has always been about fathers and sons.

00:19:41.645 --> 00:19:46.085
Only this time, the sons have become the fathers, and it's a whole new world to explore.

00:19:46.905 --> 00:19:53.065
The game ultimately released on April 18th, 2018 to near-perfect scores across the board.

00:19:54.105 --> 00:19:56.265
Kratos was back, and better than ever.

00:19:57.345 --> 00:19:59.065
Many declaring it their personal goat.

00:20:00.925 --> 00:20:05.685
To date, it has sold about 25 million copies.

00:20:05.905 --> 00:20:06.625
Wow!

00:20:07.185 --> 00:20:14.205
Spawning at least one true sequel, as well as books and other media, including an often-rumored but yet-to-be-produced movie.

00:20:16.345 --> 00:20:18.885
It's time to deal with your pent-up rage and daddy issues, Goombas.

00:20:18.965 --> 00:20:19.505
Oh, God.

00:20:19.765 --> 00:20:22.745
Because this is Dad of Boy.

00:20:22.785 --> 00:20:23.125
Sorry.

00:20:23.865 --> 00:20:25.285
God of War.

00:20:25.305 --> 00:20:26.645
God damn it.

00:20:29.565 --> 00:20:32.065
The game opens on Kratos, the God of War.

00:20:33.085 --> 00:20:34.985
He's approaching a tree with his war axe.

00:20:36.085 --> 00:20:40.365
Instead of chopping the tree, he kneels down in front of it, holding his hand out gently.

00:20:41.485 --> 00:20:45.225
On the bark, you can see a golden-yellow handprint and blazoned upon it.

00:20:46.545 --> 00:20:48.165
Kratos isn't looking at the handprint.

00:20:48.605 --> 00:20:51.085
He's staring at the tree itself with a stern look in his eye.

00:20:52.325 --> 00:20:58.025
But his hand betrays that sternness as it caresses the tree gently, sliding over the handprint as it does.

00:20:59.205 --> 00:21:02.965
Closing his eyes, he puts his forehead to the tree, as if in prayer.

00:21:04.005 --> 00:21:07.685
He opens his eyes and stands, wielding the axe, readying to strike.

00:21:08.845 --> 00:21:11.065
You're given the prompt to swing the Leviathan axe.

00:21:12.045 --> 00:21:17.745
Taking control of Kratos, you chop the tree just below the handprint, yelling out in anger as you do.

00:21:19.045 --> 00:21:22.525
After it falls, you approach it, bending down to pick it up.

00:21:22.745 --> 00:21:26.945
There's nothing more dad-coded than, like, cutting trees and dealing with lumber.

00:21:27.005 --> 00:21:28.425
Right, and yelling while you do it.

00:21:30.005 --> 00:21:36.065
As you lean forward, the blood-stained white cloth bands wrapped around your left arm begin to unravel.

00:21:37.225 --> 00:21:40.365
You look down, defeated by this simple problem.

00:21:41.785 --> 00:21:50.605
You begin rewrapping the bands when the voice of a young boy, about 11 pushing 12, says that he found some while holding up a bushel of berries.

00:21:50.785 --> 00:21:51.945
Is he going to be puberty?

00:21:53.565 --> 00:21:56.585
He's, like, 11 or 12, so his voice isn't cracking yet.

00:21:57.505 --> 00:22:01.185
Yeah, and, like, because he was played by a real child, he's got the voice of a child.

00:22:01.465 --> 00:22:03.885
Oh, but he's not, like, hey, Kratos!

00:22:04.085 --> 00:22:06.725
No, no, they got him just before puberty.

00:22:06.745 --> 00:22:07.625
That's fucking great.

00:22:07.625 --> 00:22:10.345
That would be a horrible artistic decision.

00:22:10.565 --> 00:22:12.705
Oh, God, that would be so hard to, like, control, too.

00:22:13.465 --> 00:22:16.725
You tell the boy to get in the boat, tightening the bands on your left arm.

00:22:17.165 --> 00:22:22.785
He complies, and you bend down, lifting a 12-foot chunk of the felled 200-year-old tree with ease.

00:22:24.165 --> 00:22:32.185
Looking at the tree trunk, which is larger than the rowboat the two of you are here with, the boy sarcastically asks if you still want him to hook it up to the boat.

00:22:32.785 --> 00:22:37.665
You tie a rope around the tree, and then toss it in the calm river where it bobs up and down, floating.

00:22:38.725 --> 00:22:41.665
You throw the rope to the boy and tell him to tie it to the little knob on the stern.

00:22:42.965 --> 00:22:48.185
You climb in, pick up the oar, and begin to row, towing the massive trunk behind you.

00:22:48.985 --> 00:22:56.725
As you row, the opening credits begin to crawl, and the boy asks you a million questions as kids on a road trip with their dad tend to do.

00:22:56.745 --> 00:22:57.545
Are we there yet?

00:22:58.185 --> 00:22:59.165
No, he never does that one.

00:23:01.185 --> 00:23:05.125
He tells you that the forest feels different than it used to, asking why.

00:23:06.105 --> 00:23:09.405
You explain that the world is different now, so things are going to change.

00:23:09.945 --> 00:23:11.145
Stop worrying about it so much.

00:23:11.465 --> 00:23:12.245
Can we get Froyo?

00:23:14.665 --> 00:23:21.745
After a short ride, you pull up to a small dock, where you tie up the boat and pull the tree out of the water, lifting it onto your shoulder.

00:23:22.805 --> 00:23:25.745
You follow the boy up a hill to a large old hunting lodge.

00:23:26.765 --> 00:23:29.385
You put the trunk down saying, that was the last.

00:23:30.585 --> 00:23:34.105
The boy goes off on his own while you begin cutting the tree down into smaller bits.

00:23:35.185 --> 00:23:37.305
The camera follows the boy as he enters the lodge.

00:23:38.305 --> 00:23:41.765
The interior is dark, with the exception being a spotlight in the center.

00:23:42.905 --> 00:23:46.725
It's highlighting a body wrapped in burlap, covered in flowers and candles.

00:23:47.805 --> 00:23:58.585
The boy lights some of the surrounding candles with his own, saying, low there do I see my mother, low there do I see my father, low there do they call to me.

00:24:00.145 --> 00:24:06.905
He lays his head down over the body in prayer, repeating, low there do they call to me, softly to himself.

00:24:07.885 --> 00:24:13.745
The boy turns around, your imposing silhouette fills the doorway, black on the blinding light of the outside.

00:24:15.185 --> 00:24:16.425
You walk forward toward the body.

00:24:17.445 --> 00:24:19.345
The boy wipes away a tear, saying it's ready.

00:24:20.965 --> 00:24:24.565
You lift the remains of your late wife, telling her to find her way home.

00:24:25.965 --> 00:24:33.265
You carry her outside, where you see a pile of freshly chopped tree trunks, stacked neatly in a way that looks almost like a bed.

00:24:34.725 --> 00:24:38.565
You lay the body down gently, her favorite knife laying on her chest.

00:24:39.705 --> 00:24:43.365
Then kneel beside the pyre, striking a flint with your Leviathan Axe.

00:24:44.665 --> 00:24:49.545
Sparks ignite, and a fire begins, slowly spreading across the many logs.

00:24:51.325 --> 00:24:54.045
The boy runs toward the now burning body and grabs the knife.

00:24:55.045 --> 00:24:59.185
It's already red hot, and he drops it, instantly scarring his hand.

00:25:00.005 --> 00:25:02.645
You bend down, picking up a handful of snow as you do.

00:25:03.725 --> 00:25:09.905
Placing the snowball in his hand, you tell him that it was once her knife, and now it's his, having earned it.

00:25:10.385 --> 00:25:12.025
You ask if she taught him how to hunt.

00:25:12.885 --> 00:25:14.525
He says that he learned what she knew.

00:25:15.825 --> 00:25:16.685
You tell him to show you.

00:25:17.545 --> 00:25:18.385
He asks, now?

00:25:19.245 --> 00:25:20.325
You say, now.

00:25:21.365 --> 00:25:22.785
We're kind of in the middle of something.

00:25:24.005 --> 00:25:28.005
I guess we can go find a rabbit while my mom is like being cremated in front of us.

00:25:28.225 --> 00:25:30.185
Yeah, I don't know if you've ever smelled a burning body.

00:25:30.205 --> 00:25:31.145
It is not a great smell.

00:25:31.185 --> 00:25:32.785
Maybe that's actually why he's trying to get away.

00:25:32.805 --> 00:25:34.745
Yeah, he does not want his kid remembering that smell.

00:25:34.925 --> 00:25:35.585
Fair enough.

00:25:36.205 --> 00:25:39.785
Running off and then back with a bow and arrow, he asks what we're hunting.

00:25:40.565 --> 00:25:42.725
You tell him you're hunting deer.

00:25:43.545 --> 00:25:47.325
He asks which direction, and you tell him in the direction of deer.

00:25:50.205 --> 00:25:51.705
They have perfect chemistry.

00:25:52.345 --> 00:25:53.305
Already, right?

00:25:53.325 --> 00:25:54.385
I love them so much.

00:25:54.925 --> 00:25:58.485
He's like, okay, let's go this way, I guess.

00:25:58.965 --> 00:26:02.325
Then runs off while you give your final goodbye to the boy's mother.

00:26:03.345 --> 00:26:08.005
You follow Atreus as he tracks a deer, picking up footprints and signs of wildlife along the way.

00:26:08.985 --> 00:26:14.345
Rounding a corner, the two of you see a gigantic, ten-point stag standing eight feet tall.

00:26:15.285 --> 00:26:16.965
Eight feet is too big for a deer.

00:26:17.265 --> 00:26:18.965
That's too big for any animal.

00:26:19.005 --> 00:26:20.285
I don't trust that shit.

00:26:21.325 --> 00:26:24.185
The antler is glowing a brilliant electric blue.

00:26:24.325 --> 00:26:25.325
That sounds pretty, though.

00:26:26.165 --> 00:26:29.285
It runs at the sight of the two of you, and Atreus takes off after it.

00:26:30.205 --> 00:26:37.385
You remind him that he's hunting deer, not chasing them, and the two of you slow down, resuming a more methodical approach to hunting.

00:26:38.165 --> 00:26:44.105
He asks why you're making him hunt a deer, and you explain that you need to make sure he's fit for the journey the two of you are about to take.

00:26:44.265 --> 00:26:45.665
Because I love venison.

00:26:46.445 --> 00:26:47.425
Who doesn't, right?

00:26:47.585 --> 00:26:48.385
I'm not a big fan.

00:26:49.425 --> 00:26:51.865
He asks if you're heading to the mountain, and you tell him.

00:26:52.305 --> 00:26:53.385
Only if you can make it there.

00:26:54.505 --> 00:26:56.905
You get to know your weapon a little bit as you clear obstacles.

00:26:57.725 --> 00:27:01.885
It's basically Mjolnir, as you can throw it, and it'll come back to you if you hold your hand out.

00:27:03.105 --> 00:27:10.205
Rounding another corner, Atreus sees the deer once more, and quickly fires off a shot, missing by a mile.

00:27:11.045 --> 00:27:18.065
The deer runs off scared, and you charge at Atreus, snatching the bow out of his hand, yell asking, what is wrong with you?

00:27:18.285 --> 00:27:19.845
It's so dad.

00:27:20.605 --> 00:27:21.765
Oh, it's so dad.

00:27:21.785 --> 00:27:22.665
That was triggering.

00:27:22.705 --> 00:27:23.245
Jesus.

00:27:24.005 --> 00:27:30.985
Seeing the scared and disappointed look in your son's face, you calm yourself a bit and explain that now the deer's guard is up.

00:27:31.185 --> 00:27:34.165
And I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.

00:27:35.345 --> 00:27:38.325
Yeah, you never fire until you have it dead to rights.

00:27:39.505 --> 00:27:43.585
He apologizes, and you tell him, don't be sorry, be better.

00:27:46.385 --> 00:27:48.685
I'm going to call my dad after this.

00:27:48.685 --> 00:27:50.885
Oh, this is the daddy issues game, I'm telling you.

00:27:52.645 --> 00:27:58.825
Atreus reaches out for his bow, but you hold it back, repeating, find it.

00:27:59.725 --> 00:28:01.885
He runs off, hunting the deer once more.

00:28:02.885 --> 00:28:05.005
He tracks the deer to a large, ancient building.

00:28:06.025 --> 00:28:09.185
Atreus tells you that his mom says never to go into that temple.

00:28:10.145 --> 00:28:13.725
You tell him that we do what we please as you open the door inside.

00:28:13.885 --> 00:28:14.185
Hmm.

00:28:15.165 --> 00:28:18.445
Finally, within shooting range, the boy asks for his bow.

00:28:19.505 --> 00:28:22.245
He aims, and you actually take control of the bow as he does.

00:28:22.605 --> 00:28:23.205
That's cool.

00:28:23.745 --> 00:28:26.985
Firing, you hit the deer in the heart, watching it topple instantly.

00:28:28.425 --> 00:28:33.885
Running up to the deer, you see that it's not quite dead yet, and tell Atreus to pull out his knife.

00:28:35.225 --> 00:28:37.865
He goes to hand it to you, but you tell him to finish what he started.

00:28:39.145 --> 00:28:42.285
Atreus puts the knife to the deer's throat, but can't do it.

00:28:43.985 --> 00:28:50.325
You put your hand over his, guiding him forward, slipping the knife into its neck, killing it quickly.

00:28:52.045 --> 00:28:58.065
Atreus takes in his first kill, when the hand of a 30-foot troll grasps around the body of the deer.

00:28:58.705 --> 00:29:02.365
Oh, that was our deer first of all.

00:29:02.385 --> 00:29:04.125
Also, that's too big.

00:29:04.145 --> 00:29:05.185
I don't like it.

00:29:05.425 --> 00:29:07.805
No, 30 feet is, we thought 8 feet was big.

00:29:08.005 --> 00:29:09.385
This is 30 feet.

00:29:09.585 --> 00:29:12.245
Is Kratos low-key a short king?

00:29:12.785 --> 00:29:15.945
No, Kratos himself is like 7 feet tall.

00:29:15.965 --> 00:29:18.345
But like, relatively, he's smaller than a deer.

00:29:18.545 --> 00:29:20.345
And he's smaller than a 30-foot troll.

00:29:20.365 --> 00:29:21.985
Like, a deer is a woodland creature.

00:29:21.985 --> 00:29:22.365
Yeah.

00:29:22.885 --> 00:29:23.725
That's a small man.

00:29:24.165 --> 00:29:25.525
Compared to a deer, okay, yes.

00:29:27.385 --> 00:29:31.885
Atreus tries to hit the hand that's larger than him, and it tosses him to the side.

00:29:33.005 --> 00:29:37.165
You pull your axe as Atreus runs up to your side, asking if we're really gonna fight that thing.

00:29:37.685 --> 00:29:39.085
I don't see an alternative.

00:29:39.265 --> 00:29:47.725
You tell him that you are, and it kicks off your first battle with your preteen sidekick, teaching you the controls of the complex two-character battle system.

00:29:48.325 --> 00:29:57.045
After a fight that concludes with you snapping the neck of the troll, Atreus runs up to the dead body and starts stabbing it repeatedly, going, yeah, that's what I thought.

00:29:57.605 --> 00:29:59.305
He's like teabagging it and shit.

00:29:59.325 --> 00:30:00.845
Yeah, he's like, you think I'm scared of you?

00:30:01.385 --> 00:30:08.825
He's just unleashing the feelings buried inside of him, trying to cope with his mother's death and realizing his emotionally absent father is all he has left.

00:30:09.165 --> 00:30:11.005
Oh, yeah, that's a lot.

00:30:11.785 --> 00:30:14.445
You pull him back and tell him he's not ready for this journey.

00:30:15.105 --> 00:30:20.105
He says, he killed a deer and a troll, but he's still not ready?

00:30:20.825 --> 00:30:23.765
You ignore his pleading, telling him that you two are going home.

00:30:25.045 --> 00:30:27.545
He protests, but you tell him not to speak on the matter again.

00:30:28.645 --> 00:30:31.125
Along the way, you fight creatures called draugrs.

00:30:31.625 --> 00:30:32.345
Draugrs?

00:30:32.685 --> 00:30:37.445
They're an undead type creature that have a bit more awareness than a zombie.

00:30:38.125 --> 00:30:39.345
It's a super zombie?

00:30:39.805 --> 00:30:41.005
Yeah, kind of a super zombie.

00:30:41.925 --> 00:30:48.125
Sony loved green lighting games where a middle-aged man fights the undead with a teen sidekick.

00:30:48.285 --> 00:30:49.505
Really did, right?

00:30:49.525 --> 00:30:53.325
This was their figuring out shit with my dad era.

00:30:53.945 --> 00:30:57.645
There's so many games like this that came out right around the same time.

00:30:57.745 --> 00:31:02.645
I feel like you can probably trace this to Sony's HR being like, what if we included therapy in our health plan?

00:31:03.445 --> 00:31:06.285
And then everyone came back to work and was like, you guys, I have an idea.

00:31:06.905 --> 00:31:09.605
It's actually a story about family.

00:31:10.185 --> 00:31:15.085
I was going to say, I want to know about the orgy that happened that got everybody fucking pregnant at the same time.

00:31:15.085 --> 00:31:16.265
It's not an orgy.

00:31:16.285 --> 00:31:23.185
They all independently got this journey, and then they all went to therapy because it finally got accepted by their health insurance.

00:31:24.005 --> 00:31:24.905
They unionized.

00:31:24.925 --> 00:31:26.165
Yeah, it's a benefits thing.

00:31:26.325 --> 00:31:28.585
That's why all these games are like this.

00:31:29.745 --> 00:31:32.445
Well, Atreus says, it's weird that you're encountering them here.

00:31:32.985 --> 00:31:35.145
He's never heard of them coming through these parts.

00:31:36.545 --> 00:31:43.045
Back at the cabin, you tell the boy to wait for you inside, while you head over to the now pile of ashes that was once the love of your life.

00:31:44.525 --> 00:31:46.885
You squat beside it, the embers still glowing.

00:31:47.885 --> 00:31:52.025
Pulling out a leather pouch, you scoop a couple handfuls of ash and pour them into it.

00:31:53.365 --> 00:31:58.785
Back inside, you explain that Atreus had lost his temper, and that's why he said he's not ready.

00:31:59.965 --> 00:32:03.705
Atreus says, You're mad all the time.

00:32:05.145 --> 00:32:07.445
I learned it from watching you.

00:32:08.325 --> 00:32:16.685
You tell him that anger during a fight can be used as a weapon, but it can also cause a person to be reckless if they don't learn how to harness that anger first.

00:32:17.685 --> 00:32:21.225
Bury those fucking feelings, then let them out on an enemy.

00:32:21.965 --> 00:32:24.365
But don't waste it on a dead body.

00:32:26.025 --> 00:32:31.625
Something that you're not bringing up at all that Atreus is, is the fact that he hasn't been sick in a long time now.

00:32:32.905 --> 00:32:37.685
Even when he brings it up seemingly out of nowhere, you don't respond to it and pretend you didn't hear him.

00:32:39.085 --> 00:32:40.765
We all have the same dad, huh?

00:32:44.445 --> 00:32:47.065
Oh goodness, it's just so fucking triggering, isn't it?

00:32:48.525 --> 00:32:56.545
Like, I have an American father, so like, yeah, I think we all have the same general shared American dad thing.

00:32:56.565 --> 00:32:58.005
I think they all do this, right?

00:32:58.005 --> 00:32:59.465
This feels very universal.

00:33:00.105 --> 00:33:02.285
Well, you decide to give Atreus a simple test.

00:33:02.965 --> 00:33:05.465
You hold up both hands at him and tell him to hit you.

00:33:06.565 --> 00:33:09.125
From one foot away, Atreus thinks this will be simple.

00:33:10.145 --> 00:33:13.025
Every punch he throws, you swat with the other hand easily.

00:33:14.185 --> 00:33:19.745
Atreus gets pissed, throwing a punch wildly, missing your hand, sending him tumbling to the ground.

00:33:19.945 --> 00:33:20.525
Oh, buddy.

00:33:20.945 --> 00:33:24.945
You're like, see, you can't control your anger even a little bit.

00:33:26.285 --> 00:33:28.425
The conversation is interrupted by the house shaking.

00:33:29.045 --> 00:33:32.745
A voice rings out that he knows who and what you are.

00:33:33.905 --> 00:33:38.925
Atreus asks who, what, when, where, why, and you tell him to shut up and get in the basement.

00:33:39.065 --> 00:33:40.585
Kids always have so many questions.

00:33:41.225 --> 00:33:43.905
He's all, but you said never to go down to the basement.

00:33:45.105 --> 00:33:50.865
After he's under the house, you go to answer the door, as you have no idea whose caller could possibly be.

00:33:51.605 --> 00:34:02.165
Outside is a shirtless stranger with a Gen Z mullet, a golden blonde beard adorned with beads like Jack Sparrow, skinny strong and covered in black and gray Nordic tattoos.

00:34:02.405 --> 00:34:03.905
Sounds like the Q Anon shaman.

00:34:04.325 --> 00:34:05.445
Yeah, a little bit like him.

00:34:05.465 --> 00:34:06.205
Oh no.

00:34:07.065 --> 00:34:12.345
You tower over him by a head, and he takes you in, saying he expected you to be bigger.

00:34:12.605 --> 00:34:13.805
See, he's a short king.

00:34:14.905 --> 00:34:15.705
It's relative.

00:34:15.725 --> 00:34:17.045
They have different standards there.

00:34:17.065 --> 00:34:18.725
6'3 might not be a big boy.

00:34:19.325 --> 00:34:22.585
The stranger is being vague, saying, you know why he's here.

00:34:23.025 --> 00:34:24.385
You're a long way from home.

00:34:24.765 --> 00:34:26.945
Why did you set up your home here kind of stuff?

00:34:28.085 --> 00:34:31.225
You tell him to get off your property, and he punches you in the face.

00:34:32.445 --> 00:34:35.185
You tell the stranger he does not want to do this.

00:34:36.285 --> 00:34:38.165
But he continues to punch you repeatedly.

00:34:39.905 --> 00:34:46.065
You catch his hand with your massive paw, bending his arm backwards, crushing his fist in your hand.

00:34:47.325 --> 00:34:53.405
The stranger says, finally, as you punch him in the stomach, sending him flying back 20 feet.

00:34:54.825 --> 00:34:57.625
You approach him, struggling to get back up from the punch.

00:34:58.665 --> 00:34:59.945
You tell him he should have listened.

00:35:00.865 --> 00:35:03.925
The man says, fine, my turn.

00:35:05.065 --> 00:35:09.945
He springs up with incredible speed, uppercutting you square in the jaw.

00:35:10.005 --> 00:35:10.805
Oh, shit.

00:35:11.325 --> 00:35:17.145
You fly 30 feet in the air, up and over your house, landing hard on the rocky ground below.

00:35:17.165 --> 00:35:17.565
Oof.

00:35:18.445 --> 00:35:21.745
The stranger tells you that you should have never come to Midgard.

00:35:23.285 --> 00:35:27.605
After a bunch of all-out brawling, he asks, who are you trying to hide?

00:35:28.845 --> 00:35:30.165
Who are you afraid I'm gonna find?

00:35:31.385 --> 00:35:33.665
Then he promises to find out after he's done.

00:35:34.245 --> 00:35:35.385
This enrages you.

00:35:35.745 --> 00:35:38.905
You beat the stranger down, leaving him struggling to stand.

00:35:39.965 --> 00:35:45.945
You go to a massive stone monument, and you topple it down on top of him, pancaking the stranger beneath it.

00:35:45.985 --> 00:35:46.565
Fuck yeah.

00:35:47.345 --> 00:35:50.625
You walk off, limping from the fight back toward the cabin.

00:35:51.965 --> 00:35:54.285
From behind you hear, is that all?

00:35:55.505 --> 00:35:59.425
You turn around to see the stone monument flying through the air right at your face.

00:35:59.905 --> 00:36:01.305
Wait, this dude's kind of awesome.

00:36:01.805 --> 00:36:05.025
You're still Kratos, so you smash the stone to pieces effortlessly.

00:36:06.105 --> 00:36:11.145
The stranger tells you that he just had a message from Odin, but you came out all pissy and started a fight.

00:36:11.965 --> 00:36:14.585
He starts laughing, saying you don't even know the best part.

00:36:15.385 --> 00:36:17.225
He can't feel any of this.

00:36:17.745 --> 00:36:19.005
Oh, he's on PCP!

00:36:21.525 --> 00:36:22.885
That actually explains a lot.

00:36:23.845 --> 00:36:26.985
The two of you continue destroying the forest, beating on each other.

00:36:27.545 --> 00:36:33.605
This game is pretty QTE heavy once you get to certain points in a fight, sometimes triggering long cutscenes.

00:36:34.845 --> 00:36:39.965
Eventually, you overtake the stranger, holding him in a headlock, slowly choking him out.

00:36:41.245 --> 00:36:44.005
He says that of everyone he's ever faced.

00:36:44.765 --> 00:36:49.585
He hoped you would finally make him feel something, but you didn't.

00:36:50.265 --> 00:36:54.865
With that, you snap the stranger's neck and toss him down a nearby ravine.

00:36:55.805 --> 00:37:00.245
Not even a cool guy line like, feel this, just silence.

00:37:00.485 --> 00:37:02.505
He's so fucking over it.

00:37:02.525 --> 00:37:06.225
He's like, I came around in the decade of Mountain Dew, bitch.

00:37:06.645 --> 00:37:08.125
I don't need the last word anymore.

00:37:08.145 --> 00:37:09.485
That's what my therapist taught me.

00:37:10.765 --> 00:37:12.505
Oh God, Kratos never went to therapy.

00:37:12.565 --> 00:37:13.425
But the writers did.

00:37:14.425 --> 00:37:18.485
As you hobble back to the cabin, you speak to the heavens talking to your late wife.

00:37:19.645 --> 00:37:21.125
You ask who that man was.

00:37:21.965 --> 00:37:23.485
Did he really know who you were?

00:37:24.525 --> 00:37:25.645
Did he know your past?

00:37:26.705 --> 00:37:27.625
And what about the boy?

00:37:28.605 --> 00:37:31.085
He's far too weak to carry her ashes to the top of the mountain.

00:37:32.185 --> 00:37:36.165
Your biggest worry though, is that you won't be strong enough to do it either.

00:37:37.005 --> 00:37:37.745
Not without her.

00:37:39.465 --> 00:37:41.885
Regardless, none of it matters anymore.

00:37:42.705 --> 00:37:44.965
This place is clearly not safe any longer.

00:37:45.825 --> 00:37:50.245
So you pull Atreus up out of the basement and tell him to gather his shit, you leave now.

00:37:51.185 --> 00:37:56.585
He manages to whine still, even though he just got his way, wondering why suddenly he's good enough to go.

00:37:57.465 --> 00:37:58.805
You tell him to shut up and pack.

00:38:00.005 --> 00:38:06.025
The two of you embark on your journey up the mountain, doing all the things PlayStation exclusives of that generation were famous for doing.

00:38:06.205 --> 00:38:10.245
Do you wiggle sideways through a ravine of rocks and shit?

00:38:10.245 --> 00:38:11.365
Oh, absolutely.

00:38:11.525 --> 00:38:13.165
Oh, classic Sony move.

00:38:13.205 --> 00:38:16.965
Shimmy across narrow ledges, climb cliff sides.

00:38:17.165 --> 00:38:18.805
Just a bunch of Nathan Drake shit.

00:38:18.825 --> 00:38:19.925
Yeah, all the classics.

00:38:21.365 --> 00:38:23.765
Atreus asks what the stranger wanted with you.

00:38:24.405 --> 00:38:26.665
You're just a dude who lives in the forest.

00:38:27.145 --> 00:38:28.005
You're a nobody.

00:38:29.085 --> 00:38:33.345
Indicating that Atreus has no clue who his father truly is.

00:38:33.805 --> 00:38:35.705
My dad's just a mean dude.

00:38:36.985 --> 00:38:39.625
Along the way, you instill some more life lessons.

00:38:40.385 --> 00:38:42.765
Like how to kill people without feeling bad about it.

00:38:44.085 --> 00:38:48.005
Saying you have to forget that they're human, that they have lives and families.

00:38:49.005 --> 00:38:52.665
You have to forget all that, because they're gonna forget it about you.

00:38:53.045 --> 00:38:53.425
Ooh.

00:38:54.385 --> 00:38:56.905
Atreus wants to know about the dangers you'll face along the way.

00:38:57.665 --> 00:38:59.965
And you tell him that it's not the dangers you know about.

00:39:00.545 --> 00:39:02.905
It's the ones you don't that are the biggest problem.

00:39:03.565 --> 00:39:05.085
So try not to worry about it too much.

00:39:06.005 --> 00:39:08.565
Danger will come, and we'll face it when it does.

00:39:10.205 --> 00:39:15.005
The two of you climb up over a ledge, giving you a grand reveal worthy of a Bioshot.

00:39:15.805 --> 00:39:18.285
Of the vast forest and mountain ranges before you.

00:39:19.305 --> 00:39:24.905
Looking out at the expanse, Atreus says that the magic barrier that keeps the drawgers out appears to be down.

00:39:25.665 --> 00:39:27.625
Which explains why they're showing up lately.

00:39:28.925 --> 00:39:35.565
Then he turns to you and changes gears entirely, asking why mom hand marked the trees that were to be used for her funeral pyre.

00:39:35.705 --> 00:39:37.425
He's such an 11 year old boy.

00:39:37.445 --> 00:39:40.145
Hey dad, there's a hole in the fence.

00:39:40.165 --> 00:39:41.825
Can you explain mom's will to me?

00:39:43.025 --> 00:39:46.205
Just changing gears just out of nowhere, right?

00:39:46.265 --> 00:39:46.685
Yeah.

00:39:47.385 --> 00:39:50.145
You don't tell him, but you actually know the reason now.

00:39:50.905 --> 00:39:53.965
The trees were more than the ones she wanted for her funeral pyre.

00:39:54.825 --> 00:39:58.905
They were creating a protection spell around the forest, keeping danger out.

00:39:59.965 --> 00:40:06.045
By making you chop down those trees, it removed that protection, forcing you on your adventure.

00:40:06.985 --> 00:40:08.865
She's still pulling the strings.

00:40:08.885 --> 00:40:10.105
Even from beyond the grave.

00:40:11.585 --> 00:40:14.865
Along the way, you find a stone with some writing in a strange language.

00:40:15.725 --> 00:40:18.785
Atreus says it's Yotar, and that he can read it.

00:40:19.265 --> 00:40:21.605
His mom taught him the languages she herself knew.

00:40:22.685 --> 00:40:24.565
Language has actually always come easy to him.

00:40:24.825 --> 00:40:27.565
The words just kind of translate themselves in his head, you know?

00:40:28.945 --> 00:40:32.605
And when you don't know anything different, everything about your life seems normal.

00:40:34.005 --> 00:40:34.965
He is a little sheltered.

00:40:34.985 --> 00:40:36.965
They clearly live far away from everyone else.

00:40:37.005 --> 00:40:37.785
Very much so.

00:40:38.425 --> 00:40:43.645
For some, it's finding out other families use the dishwasher as a dishwasher and not a drying rack.

00:40:43.665 --> 00:40:46.065
Okay, why are you coming from me like this?

00:40:46.325 --> 00:40:48.105
I mentioned I have an American dad.

00:40:49.005 --> 00:40:50.505
My mother's not from America.

00:40:50.525 --> 00:40:51.385
Nope, she is not.

00:40:51.405 --> 00:40:53.365
She's from the Philippines.

00:40:54.065 --> 00:40:58.005
I didn't know how to use a dishwasher until my 20s, because we don't do that.

00:40:58.045 --> 00:40:59.445
The hands are the dishwashers.

00:40:59.505 --> 00:41:02.205
You know how the water comes out of the sink and the soap comes out of the ball?

00:41:02.225 --> 00:41:03.625
That's how you wash a fucking dish.

00:41:03.945 --> 00:41:06.785
And I moved in my first apartment and was like, I don't know what the fuck that machine is.

00:41:07.165 --> 00:41:08.385
I've never seen that.

00:41:09.625 --> 00:41:10.985
My parents have a beautiful house now.

00:41:11.005 --> 00:41:12.145
They still have a dishwasher.

00:41:12.325 --> 00:41:13.045
Never used it.

00:41:13.045 --> 00:41:15.925
I think my dad runs it once a year to make sure it works.

00:41:17.485 --> 00:41:19.965
I'm still mesmerized by the dishwasher.

00:41:19.985 --> 00:41:25.305
Anyway, that's a fun, cultural, biracial moment with Andrea, I guess.

00:41:25.905 --> 00:41:30.885
We all have the same American dad if you have an American dad, especially if he's Irish and won't accept having feelings.

00:41:31.825 --> 00:41:34.905
Clearly, because I am in a tizzy over this.

00:41:35.525 --> 00:41:39.445
But yeah, if you don't have an American mom, you don't know how to use the dishwasher.

00:41:40.065 --> 00:41:42.725
Well, Atreus is just experiencing the god version of that.

00:41:42.865 --> 00:41:45.745
And his dishwasher is being able to understand languages.

00:41:47.365 --> 00:41:48.485
It's much cooler than mine.

00:41:49.365 --> 00:41:51.805
Along the way, you get ambushed by some humans.

00:41:52.605 --> 00:41:54.665
They are cannibals looking for a meal.

00:41:54.685 --> 00:41:55.885
Oh, fun.

00:41:56.165 --> 00:41:57.805
Atreus is like, what the fuck?

00:41:57.825 --> 00:41:58.685
They want to eat me?

00:41:59.545 --> 00:42:01.965
You're like, yeah, so go hide and I'll deal with this.

00:42:03.945 --> 00:42:06.525
You deal with it, but Atreus gets grabbed by one.

00:42:06.825 --> 00:42:08.105
Oh no, he wanted a snack.

00:42:08.505 --> 00:42:10.405
He lifts the boy, carrying him off.

00:42:11.205 --> 00:42:16.345
Atreus kicks and squirms, and eventually drives his mother's knife into the man's neck, killing him.

00:42:16.425 --> 00:42:16.925
Good.

00:42:17.525 --> 00:42:20.925
He drops Atreus, then lands right on top of him lifeless.

00:42:22.105 --> 00:42:27.865
You lift the cannibal off him, revealing Atreus underneath, shaking, having just killed his first human.

00:42:28.185 --> 00:42:30.305
Oh, it's been a big day for him.

00:42:30.325 --> 00:42:32.705
Oh, and he is immediately in shock.

00:42:33.685 --> 00:42:35.645
You hold his face in your hands while he cries.

00:42:36.585 --> 00:42:39.445
You tell him to bottle it up, save it for when he needs it.

00:42:40.185 --> 00:42:47.085
Which is now, because the men you just killed begin rising from the dead as draugrs, and round two of the fight begins.

00:42:47.325 --> 00:42:49.705
The draugr pipeline is that quick?

00:42:49.745 --> 00:42:50.445
So fast.

00:42:50.445 --> 00:42:51.365
Holy shit.

00:42:51.965 --> 00:42:54.485
You hand Atreus his knife back so he can take your side.

00:42:55.645 --> 00:42:59.125
After you kill the zombie cannibals, the two of you continue on your journey.

00:43:00.085 --> 00:43:03.065
Eventually, you encounter a merchant on a wide and sturdy bridge.

00:43:04.205 --> 00:43:07.505
He has blue skin looking like Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy.

00:43:08.785 --> 00:43:18.885
His beast, a gigantic, gray, camel-looking creature carrying all his wares, including an actively burning barbecue pit, is laying down.

00:43:20.305 --> 00:43:26.265
In a gruff and unplaceable accent, he says, this slow-eyed cock-lump won't get up.

00:43:26.385 --> 00:43:27.245
Cock-lump?

00:43:27.865 --> 00:43:30.905
Atreus says there's something in the trees ahead that she's scared of.

00:43:31.825 --> 00:43:34.765
Atreus suggests that you throw your axe in that direction to chase it off.

00:43:35.565 --> 00:43:36.425
For the cock-lump?

00:43:36.925 --> 00:43:39.945
You try it, and it works, causing the cock-lump to stand.

00:43:40.125 --> 00:43:40.705
Oh, my God.

00:43:41.525 --> 00:43:44.385
The blue man is impressed, saying the boy was pretty smart.

00:43:45.465 --> 00:43:51.945
Atreus asks for the cock-lump's name, and the man says that she's never asked for his, so he's never bothered to ask for hers.

00:43:52.125 --> 00:43:54.005
They've never exchanged pleasantries.

00:43:54.705 --> 00:43:58.125
Atreus is like, Okay, then, what's your name?

00:43:58.925 --> 00:44:00.745
And the blue man answers, Brock.

00:44:01.825 --> 00:44:06.665
He's having trouble getting his cock-lump moving, so Atreus goes up to it and says something in a foreign tongue.

00:44:07.345 --> 00:44:08.645
The cock-lump starts moving.

00:44:09.145 --> 00:44:11.305
Brock matches your stride to have a chat with you.

00:44:12.125 --> 00:44:17.425
He says you probably won't believe him, but the Leviathan Axe you carry, he made it.

00:44:18.705 --> 00:44:19.905
Well, he and his brother did.

00:44:21.225 --> 00:44:27.005
He tells you that if you ever need to repair or upgrade it, don't take it to anyone but him or his brother.

00:44:27.645 --> 00:44:29.245
Other blacksmiths will just fuck it up.

00:44:30.465 --> 00:44:33.305
It's a nice way to weasel in that game mechanic.

00:44:33.325 --> 00:44:35.725
I'm like, you can upgrade your fucking axe.

00:44:36.465 --> 00:44:40.525
Well, as a sign of good faith, he offers to upgrade your axe right now for free.

00:44:42.145 --> 00:44:43.925
You turn and walk away saying he's right.

00:44:44.345 --> 00:44:45.185
You don't believe him.

00:44:46.505 --> 00:44:50.545
Brock runs up to his steed while telling you to look at the handle of the axe for an engraving.

00:44:51.285 --> 00:44:52.525
It's his and his brother's mark.

00:44:53.405 --> 00:44:56.845
He brings over an iron rod saying that it's half the branding iron.

00:44:57.085 --> 00:44:58.225
His brother has the other.

00:44:59.385 --> 00:45:01.145
With this proof, you say, very well.

00:45:01.705 --> 00:45:02.645
I expect improvement.

00:45:03.685 --> 00:45:06.725
Handing over your axe to the little blue man, he upgrades it for you.

00:45:07.905 --> 00:45:11.865
You'll see him again along your journey because as you said, he's going to be the shopkeeper in the upgrade shop.

00:45:12.985 --> 00:45:15.525
The two of you continue on your journey toward the base of the mountain.

00:45:15.985 --> 00:45:20.705
When you come upon some wild boar tracks, you decide it's time for another hunting lesson.

00:45:21.585 --> 00:45:24.545
Atreus tracks the boar, eventually shooting it with an arrow.

00:45:25.485 --> 00:45:30.625
But the boar has some magic protecting it, and it tears ass out of there with the arrow stuck in its side.

00:45:30.645 --> 00:45:31.765
That's so annoying.

00:45:32.385 --> 00:45:37.905
Atreus takes off after it into a mist-covered rock formation, dropping his knife immediately.

00:45:37.925 --> 00:45:38.945
God damn it, dude.

00:45:39.345 --> 00:45:41.285
You pick it up, shaking your head in disappointment.

00:45:42.605 --> 00:45:47.165
You lose track of him, his voice echoing off the rock walls sending you down wrong paths.

00:45:48.425 --> 00:45:51.425
Eventually, you hear him apologizing profusely.

00:45:52.545 --> 00:45:55.025
You find him in a clearing kneeling over the wild boar.

00:45:56.085 --> 00:45:59.505
A brunette-haired woman with a big sword and fur cape is there with him.

00:46:00.825 --> 00:46:04.225
Atreus says he never would have shot him if he knew he belonged to someone.

00:46:05.325 --> 00:46:07.825
She says the boar doesn't belong to anyone.

00:46:08.225 --> 00:46:08.705
He's a friend.

00:46:09.625 --> 00:46:10.945
Oh, that's even sadder.

00:46:11.905 --> 00:46:15.185
You approach, telling her that the boy acted on your orders.

00:46:16.145 --> 00:46:16.885
She says, fine.

00:46:17.185 --> 00:46:20.925
Then you hold the blood gushing out of him while I fix this shit and save his life.

00:46:22.185 --> 00:46:23.885
He's the last of his kind.

00:46:24.065 --> 00:46:24.245
Oh.

00:46:24.545 --> 00:46:25.905
And you decided to shoot him?

00:46:26.965 --> 00:46:28.705
She asks if you needed food or something.

00:46:29.285 --> 00:46:32.805
And Atreus says, uh, it was target practice.

00:46:32.925 --> 00:46:36.245
We actually just killed this gigantic fucking deer earlier.

00:46:36.625 --> 00:46:39.325
I've got like 80 pounds of venison in my backpack right now.

00:46:39.905 --> 00:46:44.165
Pissed off, she rubs her hands together and they begin to glow golden and sparkly.

00:46:45.065 --> 00:46:50.345
She makes you hold the wound closed tightly, then puts her hand over the wound chanting in a strange tongue.

00:46:51.345 --> 00:46:54.765
Atreus is all, no way, you're a witch.

00:46:56.105 --> 00:47:01.685
The boar stabilizes, and she says she needs to get him back to her place where he can rest and heal up some more.

00:47:02.485 --> 00:47:09.065
The witch tells you to carry the boar and leads, casting spells to remove parts of the rocks and vines that block the path along the way.

00:47:10.405 --> 00:47:18.545
On the way, Atreus tells the witch about his mom dying, and that her last wish was to have her ashes spread on the highest peak in all the realms.

00:47:19.665 --> 00:47:22.065
You quiet him from spilling too much tea to a stranger.

00:47:23.245 --> 00:47:24.445
You arrive at your destination.

00:47:25.205 --> 00:47:28.745
A tall, wide tree in a large clearing of the forest.

00:47:29.925 --> 00:47:32.365
Atreus is like, cool, you live in a tree?

00:47:32.385 --> 00:47:33.465
I mean, that is pretty cool.

00:47:34.285 --> 00:47:36.785
She says, no, not in it, under it.

00:47:37.425 --> 00:47:39.425
Oh, that's not as cool, that sounds kind of gross.

00:47:39.885 --> 00:47:44.985
The witch yells something out, and the ground around the tree rises into the air.

00:47:45.005 --> 00:47:45.905
This got cool again.

00:47:46.105 --> 00:47:48.625
As it is on the back of a colossal tortoise.

00:47:49.925 --> 00:47:53.105
It's like in Detective Pikachu when the oversized tortera rise up.

00:47:53.365 --> 00:47:54.005
Oh, yes!

00:47:54.725 --> 00:48:02.245
Sure enough, there's a house under the stomach of the tortera, and you enter it, laying the board down and holding it as it writhes in pain.

00:48:03.785 --> 00:48:06.845
She sends Atreus off to find some herbs nearby to help in the healing.

00:48:07.805 --> 00:48:10.865
It's just a cover, as she needs to have a private word with you.

00:48:12.125 --> 00:48:14.145
The witch says she knows you're a god.

00:48:15.025 --> 00:48:20.005
She also knows you're not a god from this realm, and that your kid knows nothing about it.

00:48:20.705 --> 00:48:23.325
Okay, so she read you to filth immediately.

00:48:23.345 --> 00:48:24.985
So fucking fast, right?

00:48:25.005 --> 00:48:27.965
All you've said was, I told him to kill it, my bad.

00:48:29.305 --> 00:48:32.825
And she clocked that entire fucking situation top to bottom.

00:48:33.345 --> 00:48:41.965
She says it's not her business, but she knows from experience, the gods of this realm do not like competition, even if they don't pose a threat.

00:48:42.045 --> 00:48:44.105
You know, she's really making it her business, though.

00:48:44.125 --> 00:48:48.525
She's like, I'm not saying, but I'm just saying, nobody's gonna like you.

00:48:48.525 --> 00:48:52.245
You're not from here, you're an exchange god, and we don't like that.

00:48:52.265 --> 00:48:54.345
An exchange god, that's so good.

00:48:55.925 --> 00:48:58.305
She sends you out to gather some herbs as well.

00:48:59.045 --> 00:49:01.205
You walk away all, gather some herbs?

00:49:01.625 --> 00:49:03.465
I'm the fucking god of war.

00:49:05.645 --> 00:49:08.405
Outside, you join Atreus who is struggling to pull up a plant.

00:49:09.105 --> 00:49:11.125
You hand him his knife asking if this would help.

00:49:12.085 --> 00:49:13.745
Atreus can't believe he lost it.

00:49:14.565 --> 00:49:18.045
Not only that, he hadn't even realized he'd lost it.

00:49:19.845 --> 00:49:22.785
You return with the herbs, and the witch takes them thanking you.

00:49:23.905 --> 00:49:25.325
She says you need to be on your way.

00:49:26.225 --> 00:49:32.745
With another magic word, the tortera lays back down, and the house descends into an underground cavern.

00:49:33.025 --> 00:49:33.225
Oh!

00:49:33.865 --> 00:49:36.965
She says there's a river here that will lead you safely out of the woods.

00:49:37.965 --> 00:49:40.045
The witch tells you two to come back anytime.

00:49:40.705 --> 00:49:43.605
The two of you get in a small rowboat, and you paddle out of the cave.

00:49:44.665 --> 00:49:50.465
Atreus says that after all that time being sick, he never thought he'd be out on an adventure like this.

00:49:50.665 --> 00:49:52.065
Was he a make-a-wish kid?

00:49:52.085 --> 00:49:53.225
Ooh, maybe, yeah.

00:49:54.265 --> 00:49:56.785
You tell him his illness was not his fault.

00:49:57.805 --> 00:49:58.665
He says he knows.

00:49:58.985 --> 00:50:00.065
It just sucks.

00:50:00.825 --> 00:50:05.925
He felt like it was never going to end and that it was just going to be his life from here out.

00:50:06.225 --> 00:50:08.505
This is hitting me in the bones in a weird way.

00:50:08.625 --> 00:50:09.365
I know.

00:50:09.385 --> 00:50:11.405
I knew this part would probably hurt you a little bit.

00:50:12.925 --> 00:50:17.065
Exiting the cave system, Atreus shouts out, It's Thor!

00:50:18.205 --> 00:50:23.025
A looming statue, wielding the mighty Mjolnir, rises up out of the water from its waist.

00:50:23.325 --> 00:50:26.005
It would have been so great if he was just like, Oh, there's Chris Hemsworth.

00:50:27.085 --> 00:50:28.425
I know that's not going to happen.

00:50:28.945 --> 00:50:32.605
Atreus loved listening to his mom tell stories of the Nordic gods.

00:50:34.005 --> 00:50:37.365
You ask if he remembers her mentioning a god who can't feel pain.

00:50:38.245 --> 00:50:39.745
He says, That sounds like Balder.

00:50:40.605 --> 00:50:42.045
He has a gate in another video game.

00:50:42.705 --> 00:50:43.465
He's three of them.

00:50:44.265 --> 00:50:47.885
He's the son of Odin and Frigg, making him Thor's brother.

00:50:48.685 --> 00:50:52.485
You find a monument in the center of the acres-wide lake that you rode out onto.

00:50:53.405 --> 00:50:55.625
There's some runes on it that Atreus can read.

00:50:56.545 --> 00:51:03.445
He translates, saying that in order to awaken the cradle of the world, you must throw your arms into the lake.

00:51:04.885 --> 00:51:08.565
Since your Leviathan Axe has auto-return, you toss it in the water.

00:51:10.005 --> 00:51:13.405
You hold your hand out to retrieve it, and nothing happens.

00:51:13.645 --> 00:51:15.065
Oh no, you lost your shit.

00:51:15.825 --> 00:51:19.825
Suddenly, the whole of the lake begins to ripple, and waves start to form.

00:51:20.745 --> 00:51:24.885
You ask what the hell is happening, and Atreus says the serpent of the world is rising.

00:51:25.265 --> 00:51:26.205
Obviously.

00:51:26.905 --> 00:51:33.725
A mountain rises out of the water, and opens its 50-foot eye right in front of you.

00:51:34.185 --> 00:51:36.105
This sounds so fucking cool.

00:51:36.505 --> 00:51:47.145
With the eyeball alone being 50 feet tall, the snake that it's attached to is so fucking large, I have literally nothing to compare it to.

00:51:48.785 --> 00:51:50.185
But it's a big motherfucking snake.

00:51:50.245 --> 00:51:50.905
Totally.

00:51:51.725 --> 00:51:55.865
It bends its head down toward you, spitting your axe back onto your tiny wooden boat.

00:51:56.805 --> 00:51:58.345
You tell Atreus not to panic.

00:51:59.065 --> 00:52:00.465
Atreus says, why would I?

00:52:00.485 --> 00:52:01.525
This is awesome.

00:52:01.605 --> 00:52:03.605
All the kids at home school are going to be so jealous.

00:52:03.745 --> 00:52:04.665
At home school.

00:52:06.905 --> 00:52:12.805
Well, the snake is so large, Atreus says legend has it, the serpent wraps itself around the entire planet.

00:52:14.325 --> 00:52:19.985
The serpent begins to speak in a deep, guttural language, one not even Atreus can understand.

00:52:20.945 --> 00:52:26.685
He says that Mom always said the serpent is friendly, so whatever it's saying probably isn't threatening.

00:52:27.305 --> 00:52:35.365
Whatever it said, it finishes speaking, lifting itself high up into the surrounding mountains, settling into it as if it were part of the range itself.

00:52:37.025 --> 00:52:41.385
The serpent having left the lake, the water level lowers significantly.

00:52:42.385 --> 00:52:49.485
The statue of Thor, no longer in waist-deep water, stands tall and proud, now with ten yards of additional leg.

00:52:50.845 --> 00:52:55.165
The monument in the center of the lake turns out to be the top of another statue entirely.

00:52:56.085 --> 00:53:01.845
Atreus looks around, pointing out the new surroundings, which includes beaches and buildings that weren't there before.

00:53:02.705 --> 00:53:09.105
There's a large temple structure that runs through the center of the lake as well, with an ending right at the base of the mountain you're here to climb.

00:53:10.285 --> 00:53:11.985
You go to the temple to look around some more.

00:53:12.825 --> 00:53:17.885
As soon as you reach the top, you hear the voice of Brock ring out, welcoming you to his new shop.

00:53:19.065 --> 00:53:20.045
He's on the move.

00:53:20.065 --> 00:53:21.125
He's an entrepreneur.

00:53:21.145 --> 00:53:22.125
He's got pop-ups.

00:53:22.145 --> 00:53:22.805
I love him.

00:53:22.965 --> 00:53:25.185
Atreus asks how he got there so fast.

00:53:25.585 --> 00:53:27.665
Brock says, none of your fucking business.

00:53:27.785 --> 00:53:28.465
Now get in here.

00:53:33.065 --> 00:53:35.385
And he really does say, none of your fucking business.

00:53:35.385 --> 00:53:36.265
I love him.

00:53:36.325 --> 00:53:37.685
Fuck yeah, Brock.

00:53:38.225 --> 00:53:39.945
He invites you inside the temple itself.

00:53:40.825 --> 00:53:42.645
Inside, he has set up a nice little store.

00:53:43.465 --> 00:53:47.845
He gives you a magic relic that will let you teleport to him from different places around the world.

00:53:48.245 --> 00:53:49.805
It's this game's fast travel system.

00:53:50.105 --> 00:53:51.305
That's how Brock gets around.

00:53:51.345 --> 00:53:51.985
Exactly.

00:53:52.865 --> 00:53:56.005
Exiting the temple out into a grassy area at the base of the mountain.

00:53:56.585 --> 00:53:59.305
The two of you encounter a man with pale gray skin.

00:54:00.485 --> 00:54:06.425
He too recognizes your axe, saying, it's one of ours, but it wasn't commissioned for you.

00:54:07.285 --> 00:54:13.165
The woman who had it made was a kind and gentle woman, and he's prepared to defend her honor if need be.

00:54:13.185 --> 00:54:15.565
Because you're a big beefy beef boy.

00:54:15.925 --> 00:54:19.225
Yeah, he then puts up his dukes while preemptively flinching.

00:54:19.745 --> 00:54:20.445
Oh, honey.

00:54:21.205 --> 00:54:24.945
Atreus tells him that it was his mother's, and she left it to you when she died.

00:54:25.565 --> 00:54:30.085
The man feels bad, saying Faye was a fierce warrior and a good woman.

00:54:31.085 --> 00:54:38.745
He says that if you want your ax to get a real upgrade, to let him fix it up for you, as he's Brock's much more talented brother, Sindri.

00:54:39.645 --> 00:54:42.485
So they're just constantly going back and forth through you.

00:54:42.605 --> 00:54:44.625
Oh yeah, you are the middle man entirely.

00:54:44.885 --> 00:54:47.045
I love that this isn't just a father-son thing.

00:54:47.065 --> 00:54:52.745
It's just all kinds of male familial dynamics of like, and this is why brothers are always annoying with each other too.

00:54:53.065 --> 00:54:53.845
Oh, fully.

00:54:53.865 --> 00:54:55.905
It is just all the different male dynamics.

00:54:56.065 --> 00:54:58.985
He's like, boy is an only child, obviously.

00:54:59.065 --> 00:54:59.385
Right.

00:54:59.685 --> 00:55:03.965
So that's a whole fucking, that's a whole thing by itself.

00:55:04.105 --> 00:55:04.605
I get it.

00:55:05.245 --> 00:55:10.165
You hand Sindri your axe, telling him to upgrade only, no undoing his brother's work.

00:55:11.785 --> 00:55:14.585
The two of you make it to the mountain and begin your trek upward.

00:55:15.585 --> 00:55:18.925
The road is long, and the two of you learn many lessons along the way.

00:55:19.785 --> 00:55:20.425
The end.

00:55:21.445 --> 00:55:21.665
Oh.

00:55:21.905 --> 00:55:22.725
No, I'm just fucking with you.

00:55:22.785 --> 00:55:23.465
I figured.

00:55:23.545 --> 00:55:28.025
You follow the one path and are eventually stopped by a thick black smoke covering the way forward.

00:55:29.205 --> 00:55:32.305
The two of you attempt to approach it, but you find that you can't.

00:55:33.225 --> 00:55:34.165
There's a magic to it.

00:55:35.325 --> 00:55:37.565
Atreus says, I wish the witch was here.

00:55:38.705 --> 00:55:41.045
The witch says, she can't move the black breath anyway.

00:55:41.885 --> 00:55:43.745
You turn around and she's just standing there.

00:55:44.545 --> 00:55:45.325
You rang.

00:55:45.805 --> 00:55:48.825
She points up the mountain where you can see a face carved into the side of it.

00:55:49.605 --> 00:55:52.485
Oozing from the mouth is the black breath that blocks the trail.

00:55:53.465 --> 00:55:56.825
Only the pure light of Alfheim can penetrate the darkness.

00:55:57.905 --> 00:56:00.405
The light of Alfheim is in another realm entirely.

00:56:01.005 --> 00:56:08.585
She then tells the story of how the serpent came to be here in this lake, seeing as the surrounding infrastructure was clearly built for a different water level.

00:56:09.645 --> 00:56:13.185
The witch says that Thor and the serpent battled the day the serpent arrived.

00:56:14.245 --> 00:56:18.065
The fight was a draw, and Thor went home, leaving the serpent here.

00:56:19.145 --> 00:56:23.065
It eventually grew and grew until it wrapped itself around all of Midgard.

00:56:24.105 --> 00:56:28.245
The language it speaks being a dead tongue that nobody understands today.

00:56:28.705 --> 00:56:34.365
The temple here is a monument to a warrior named Tyr, a peace bringer to the nine realms.

00:56:35.365 --> 00:56:41.865
Every race contributed to the building of this temple, ushering in a very brief era of peace among the nine realms.

00:56:42.145 --> 00:56:42.965
That's beautiful.

00:56:43.505 --> 00:56:52.705
It has a special feature in that someone insanely strong could turn the entire temple like a giant clock hand through some gears located at its base.

00:56:53.665 --> 00:56:58.745
Since it runs the length of the lake, it's essentially a giant movable bridge.

00:56:59.005 --> 00:56:59.425
Wow.

00:57:00.385 --> 00:57:02.005
You happen to be insanely strong.

00:57:02.345 --> 00:57:02.885
That works.

00:57:02.965 --> 00:57:06.645
So you move the bridge, impressing the fuck out of your young son.

00:57:07.285 --> 00:57:08.785
My dad can move a bridge.

00:57:09.165 --> 00:57:13.325
When you finish, he asks if it hurt your back, and you reassure him that your back is fine.

00:57:13.745 --> 00:57:14.445
You're lying.

00:57:14.605 --> 00:57:18.025
Every person over 30 has back issues.

00:57:18.045 --> 00:57:20.025
Yeah, every part of him is hurting.

00:57:20.925 --> 00:57:22.885
You could sneeze and throw that shit out, Kratos.

00:57:22.905 --> 00:57:23.785
Don't lie to your kid.

00:57:24.645 --> 00:57:27.565
At the center of the monument is the Realm Transport Room.

00:57:28.445 --> 00:57:34.665
Here you find the white crystalline roots of the World Tree, the object that keeps the nine realms connected.

00:57:35.845 --> 00:57:40.585
This room allows you to travel to any of them, as long as you have the right key and permissions.

00:57:41.525 --> 00:57:44.265
The key being a device called the Bifrost.

00:57:45.725 --> 00:57:50.365
You use the Bifrost, and a 3D model of the lake rises up out of the center of the tree.

00:57:51.385 --> 00:57:55.425
The witch says that the Lake of Nine has realm towers spread across its edges.

00:57:56.465 --> 00:58:00.725
To reach each realm, you must turn the bridge to connect it to that tower.

00:58:01.645 --> 00:58:04.585
The tower for Jotunheim is missing entirely.

00:58:05.725 --> 00:58:11.985
The giants of Jotunheim somehow made it and themselves vanish a hundred years earlier.

00:58:12.905 --> 00:58:14.985
Nobody's really sure how or why.

00:58:15.645 --> 00:58:20.345
She gives you the key for Alfheim, so you can get the light of Alfheim in order to remove the black breath.

00:58:21.485 --> 00:58:29.065
Transporting to Alfheim drains your Bifrost, and it has to be recharged with light, meaning you're stuck here until you get the light anyway.

00:58:30.185 --> 00:58:31.605
The witch is certain you'll be fine though.

00:58:32.765 --> 00:58:36.085
The three of you step through a door, entering a new world entirely.

00:58:36.905 --> 00:58:39.165
It's a bright, lush jungle world.

00:58:40.065 --> 00:58:42.245
The witch points in the distance, saying there's the light.

00:58:43.325 --> 00:58:46.485
She looks down at her hands and says, no, not yet.

00:58:47.605 --> 00:58:54.025
Her hands are quickly disintegrating, turning to dust that's being pulled back toward the door to the transportation room.

00:58:54.165 --> 00:58:54.845
Oh, shit!

00:58:55.465 --> 00:59:01.965
The rest of her gets dragged back against her will, and she tells you that in order to get the light, you must step into it.

00:59:02.445 --> 00:59:03.985
But whatever you do, don't!

00:59:04.445 --> 00:59:06.685
Then the door shuts, locking her away from you.

00:59:08.065 --> 00:59:08.665
Classic.

00:59:08.725 --> 00:59:10.025
Right, classic for a reason.

00:59:11.565 --> 00:59:15.745
The two of you head out to find that light, locating another small rowboat along the way.

00:59:16.825 --> 00:59:20.225
As you put the boat in the water, Atreus asks, what did you say?

00:59:21.585 --> 00:59:23.205
You tell him you didn't say anything.

00:59:24.225 --> 00:59:25.825
He shrugs it off and the two of you head out.

00:59:26.405 --> 00:59:27.245
Oh, no.

00:59:27.925 --> 00:59:31.005
A little further, Atreus says, what was that?

00:59:32.225 --> 00:59:34.385
Again, you tell him you said nothing.

00:59:35.765 --> 00:59:39.865
Then Atreus grabs the sides of his head and begins to cry out in pain.

00:59:40.225 --> 00:59:40.965
Oh, no.

00:59:41.445 --> 00:59:44.165
Saying, there's a bunch of voices speaking all at once.

00:59:44.205 --> 00:59:45.125
Don't you hear them?

00:59:46.425 --> 00:59:49.005
You don't and are understandably concerned.

00:59:49.105 --> 00:59:49.465
Right.

00:59:50.465 --> 00:59:57.485
Atreus calms down and says the voices are gone, and it sounded like they were screaming, like the sound of something evil.

00:59:58.345 --> 01:00:00.985
You arrive at the temple containing the light of Alfheim.

01:00:01.605 --> 01:00:04.305
You all just move on because you're like, well, we got here, so...

01:00:04.385 --> 01:00:06.685
Yeah, it stopped screaming, so what else are you going to do?

01:00:06.705 --> 01:00:07.045
Yeah.

01:00:08.065 --> 01:00:13.965
Alfheim is an elven realm, and they do not take kindly to strangers, attacking you along the way.

01:00:15.185 --> 01:00:22.525
After some puzzle solving, Atreus has another fit, saying the voices are less angry, this time asking for help.

01:00:23.685 --> 01:00:24.785
You tell him to ignore them.

01:00:25.805 --> 01:00:29.125
You're here for the light, and don't care for the tricks these elves are playing.

01:00:30.225 --> 01:00:32.265
He tells you that one of the voices was his mother.

01:00:33.185 --> 01:00:34.065
You tell him to stop.

01:00:34.625 --> 01:00:36.805
It's a deception, and to ignore it.

01:00:38.525 --> 01:00:46.465
The elves have already fought and won entire wars to obtain this light, so they send everything they have at the god of it.

01:00:47.745 --> 01:00:54.565
The light's source is deep inside of mine, reminiscent of the hollow creatures in the Gears variety of the Of War series.

01:00:55.925 --> 01:00:57.145
You fight your way to the source.

01:00:58.145 --> 01:01:01.225
A solid white beam of pure light erupts from a hole in the ground.

01:01:02.405 --> 01:01:06.445
Atreus approaches it, saying he can hear his mother singing inside the light.

01:01:07.645 --> 01:01:10.045
He reaches out, and the beam burns his hand.

01:01:11.225 --> 01:01:14.545
You stare into the light yourself, telling the boy to stay here.

01:01:15.685 --> 01:01:21.605
Just before stepping in, you hand him the Leviathan Axe, telling him only to use it as a last resort.

01:01:22.405 --> 01:01:23.325
It's not a gift.

01:01:23.985 --> 01:01:25.245
He's just holding on to it.

01:01:27.045 --> 01:01:28.125
But Atreus doesn't care.

01:01:28.385 --> 01:01:29.945
He's blown away that he gets to hold it.

01:01:30.665 --> 01:01:34.885
You force yourself into the light, stepping painfully into a new world.

01:01:35.985 --> 01:01:38.205
Inside, all color is gone.

01:01:39.305 --> 01:01:43.605
Your skin is black and gray, with just the faintest hints of sepia.

01:01:44.925 --> 01:01:49.485
A soft glowing light is seen in the distance, moving at a high speed so you chase after it.

01:01:50.845 --> 01:01:59.725
You can hear Atreus speaking from on high, complaining about you to his mom, saying that she left him here with you.

01:02:00.745 --> 01:02:01.965
He doesn't even know you.

01:02:02.505 --> 01:02:04.905
You were rarely ever home, always out hunting.

01:02:05.705 --> 01:02:10.205
When you were home, you sat grumpy in the corner yelling at cable news channels.

01:02:11.665 --> 01:02:14.685
I know that's not my dad, but I know that is a lot of dads.

01:02:16.045 --> 01:02:18.205
Just a lot of grumpy, quiet dads, right?

01:02:18.225 --> 01:02:18.885
Yeah.

01:02:19.185 --> 01:02:20.545
My dad's more of a giggler.

01:02:20.565 --> 01:02:21.565
He's not a grump, but...

01:02:21.585 --> 01:02:22.585
He is a giggler.

01:02:22.605 --> 01:02:23.505
I get it.

01:02:23.685 --> 01:02:26.625
No, my dad was a yell at cable news channel kind of dad.

01:02:27.645 --> 01:02:28.865
The goddamn media.

01:02:29.625 --> 01:02:31.925
You follow the light all the way to your hunting lodge.

01:02:32.805 --> 01:02:41.285
Inside, you find Atreus praying over his mother's body, saying that he does love you and that if you try, he'll try too.

01:02:42.565 --> 01:02:45.365
You exit the house and can see the light just up ahead.

01:02:46.485 --> 01:02:49.105
You approach it, getting closer and closer.

01:02:50.205 --> 01:02:58.005
Then you hear it, the singing Atreus was talking about, and you call out to your late wife Faye, but you're ripped back, pulled away from the light.

01:02:58.945 --> 01:03:03.005
You land hard on the ground back in the real world, Atreus having pulled you out.

01:03:03.185 --> 01:03:03.705
Oh shit.

01:03:04.145 --> 01:03:07.005
You rage at him, saying you were almost there.

01:03:07.905 --> 01:03:11.185
Atreus yells back, saying you were stuck and he saved you.

01:03:12.365 --> 01:03:14.645
You ask what he means, you've only been gone two minutes.

01:03:15.965 --> 01:03:16.865
Then you look around.

01:03:17.965 --> 01:03:22.505
There's over a dozen dead elves surrounding the area.

01:03:23.765 --> 01:03:27.865
Most of them, twice as large as you, let alone Atreus.

01:03:29.145 --> 01:03:32.485
Atreus shouts back that you've been gone for a really long time.

01:03:34.025 --> 01:03:36.065
You abandoned him again.

01:03:36.805 --> 01:03:39.345
Then when he saved you, you yelled at him.

01:03:40.185 --> 01:03:46.545
He storms off and you look around, upset with yourself, as you realize you were definitely in the wrong here.

01:03:46.885 --> 01:03:47.585
Yeah.

01:03:47.865 --> 01:03:49.985
And you can't admit you're wrong because you're a dad.

01:03:50.005 --> 01:03:50.765
Exactly.

01:03:50.785 --> 01:03:52.665
You're in a real pickle.

01:03:53.285 --> 01:03:56.645
But the Bifrost is recharged, having gone into the light.

01:03:56.985 --> 01:03:59.225
So the two of you head back to the room between realms.

01:04:00.225 --> 01:04:04.265
On the way back, Atreus asks if you heard Faye while you were inside the light.

01:04:05.305 --> 01:04:08.385
You lie and tell him you didn't, not wanting to give him false hope.

01:04:09.645 --> 01:04:11.285
He says it's not like you'd care anyway.

01:04:12.385 --> 01:04:16.985
You go off on him, telling him to mourn his way and you'll mourn your own way.

01:04:17.065 --> 01:04:19.525
Grief takes a lot of different faces.

01:04:19.625 --> 01:04:20.265
I get that.

01:04:20.305 --> 01:04:23.605
Yeah, don't confuse your silence for ambivalence.

01:04:23.905 --> 01:04:24.345
Yeah.

01:04:25.025 --> 01:04:27.005
He apologizes and you tell him it's okay.

01:04:28.025 --> 01:04:28.805
He doesn't know you.

01:04:29.725 --> 01:04:31.905
He doesn't know your ways or how you deal with things.

01:04:32.865 --> 01:04:36.625
This is all new for both of you, and you're just doing the best you can.

01:04:36.825 --> 01:04:40.785
And that's as close to an apology as you'll ever get from him.

01:04:40.845 --> 01:04:47.605
It's just an admission that he's not a great communicator and they have to figure out each other's quirks and shit.

01:04:47.765 --> 01:04:48.965
But at least he's willing to try.

01:04:48.985 --> 01:04:51.245
Yeah, and he's acknowledging where his weak points are.

01:04:51.265 --> 01:04:54.345
Well, back in Midgard, you return to the Black Breath.

01:04:55.205 --> 01:05:00.725
There, you unleash the light of Alfheim using the Bifrost, expelling the Black Breath once and for all.

01:05:01.325 --> 01:05:05.525
There's a temple door in the side of the mountain with the symbol of the giants of Jotunheim here.

01:05:06.105 --> 01:05:07.085
So the two of you enter.

01:05:07.645 --> 01:05:10.625
After some puzzles, you go into a tight cave system.

01:05:11.085 --> 01:05:14.185
You ask Atreus how giants could fit through these caves.

01:05:14.825 --> 01:05:17.005
Atreus explains that giants are just a race.

01:05:17.225 --> 01:05:18.685
They can be any size.

01:05:19.065 --> 01:05:19.445
Really?

01:05:19.705 --> 01:05:22.385
Some just have the ability to grow really large.

01:05:22.885 --> 01:05:23.625
Oh, interesting.

01:05:23.865 --> 01:05:25.485
But most are just people sized.

01:05:26.005 --> 01:05:26.285
Huh.

01:05:27.165 --> 01:05:36.545
In the heart of the mountain, you come out to a large cavernous mining facility, reaching high up into the mountain with a hole at the top, allowing in a small amount of sunlight.

01:05:37.645 --> 01:05:41.505
You tell Atreus that you two will climb up and out using some of the mining equipment.

01:05:42.465 --> 01:05:45.205
The equipment is broken, so the two of you run around and repair it.

01:05:45.645 --> 01:05:52.845
This part is very Last of Us Part 1, as you make Atreus climb up ledges, and you push carts around, solving environmental puzzles.

01:05:53.545 --> 01:05:56.765
You eventually make it onto an elevator that very slowly rises up.

01:05:57.485 --> 01:06:00.185
Suddenly, you're attacked by a rock dragon.

01:06:00.725 --> 01:06:02.225
Rock dragon!

01:06:03.565 --> 01:06:10.185
Now we saw a rock dragon in Alan Wake, where the dragon came to life through the work of metal.

01:06:10.205 --> 01:06:11.805
That was a rock and roll dragon.

01:06:11.845 --> 01:06:12.545
Is this different?

01:06:12.565 --> 01:06:13.925
Yes, this is a very different one.

01:06:13.945 --> 01:06:14.565
God damn it!

01:06:14.585 --> 01:06:16.205
It's a stone dragon, I guess you could say.

01:06:16.225 --> 01:06:17.845
Oh, very big hands.

01:06:19.345 --> 01:06:19.805
Yeah.

01:06:20.505 --> 01:06:21.805
Galaxy Quest, got it.

01:06:22.365 --> 01:06:27.525
After a QTE battle, the elevator crashes through a wall, and you find yourselves in a tunnel once more.

01:06:28.505 --> 01:06:32.645
Atreus starts asking a bunch of questions about dragons, talking a mile a second.

01:06:33.445 --> 01:06:36.565
He asks so many questions, you don't even have time to answer them.

01:06:37.385 --> 01:06:43.225
Eventually you say, boy, the air is very thin down here, so you need to stop talking or you're going to use all the oxygen.

01:06:46.445 --> 01:06:48.585
He's a little cunty.

01:06:49.305 --> 01:06:53.485
An 11-year-old boy just found out dragons exist and they can be made of rocks.

01:06:53.545 --> 01:06:55.485
I get why he's excited.

01:06:56.065 --> 01:06:58.205
But damn, Kratos is a little spicy.

01:06:58.325 --> 01:07:02.825
Well, very concerned for both your well-being, Atreus says, yes, sir, and stops asking questions.

01:07:03.005 --> 01:07:05.005
Smart, that's actually a really good dad move.

01:07:05.025 --> 01:07:08.985
Like, I'm in the car and all the windows are up, you guys can't take up all the oxygen, shut the fuck up.

01:07:09.125 --> 01:07:12.545
You're like, ah, damn, every dad knows this trick.

01:07:14.105 --> 01:07:19.625
You exit the tunnels out onto the mountainside where you see a dragon four times the size of the last one.

01:07:20.565 --> 01:07:24.285
He has Brock's brother, Sindri, cornered and is about to go in for the kill.

01:07:24.625 --> 01:07:26.265
That's our upgrade shop, no.

01:07:26.685 --> 01:07:35.125
Atreus makes you help out, kicking off another QTE fight where the two of you coordinate attacks to make a giant piece of mining equipment fall on his head and impale his skull.

01:07:36.305 --> 01:07:45.505
You leap off the dying dragon and watch it flail, landing with its jaw wide open and you standing between the top and the bottom as it lands sideways around you.

01:07:45.525 --> 01:07:55.805
I'm going to say something very redundant, but single player games are basically single person D&D, but this feels so D&D, like to the nth degree.

01:07:55.885 --> 01:07:58.385
Because of the literal dragons and dungeons?

01:07:58.885 --> 01:07:59.265
Yes.

01:07:59.365 --> 01:07:59.705
Okay.

01:08:00.825 --> 01:08:03.225
I think that's what sparked the idea.

01:08:03.405 --> 01:08:06.085
Yeah, my brain works very linearly.

01:08:06.105 --> 01:08:07.285
Like, okay, fine.

01:08:08.545 --> 01:08:09.565
But it's fucking cool.

01:08:10.285 --> 01:08:15.285
You shrug it off and walk over to Sindri's shop, which is 10 feet away and now open for business.

01:08:15.745 --> 01:08:18.165
Well, he's not going to pass up a customer opportunity.

01:08:18.185 --> 01:08:19.745
This boy is about his bag.

01:08:20.945 --> 01:08:24.585
This scene really feels like Red Dead Redemption 2 when Arthur saves Sean.

01:08:25.325 --> 01:08:26.785
Sindri's like, you saved me.

01:08:27.045 --> 01:08:28.465
You're a good man, Kratos.

01:08:29.005 --> 01:08:31.525
You tell him that you were just passing through when the dragon was in the way.

01:08:31.665 --> 01:08:32.265
Nothing more.

01:08:32.925 --> 01:08:35.625
And if Atreus had made me, I would have let you die right here.

01:08:36.025 --> 01:08:37.125
Yeah, exactly.

01:08:37.145 --> 01:08:37.485
Right?

01:08:38.305 --> 01:08:39.285
He says, whatever.

01:08:39.305 --> 01:08:40.605
I know you're a good person.

01:08:40.745 --> 01:08:43.145
And then offers an upgrade for Atreus' bow and arrow.

01:08:43.725 --> 01:08:48.145
The two of you continue on, and Atreus starts to comment on just how far the two of you have come.

01:08:48.925 --> 01:08:52.245
From hunting a single deer to slaying a fucking dragon.

01:08:52.265 --> 01:08:55.005
And for Kratos, it's been like a day or two.

01:08:55.225 --> 01:08:56.905
For Atreus, it's been a couple months.

01:08:59.185 --> 01:09:03.765
You tell him that we win because we are disciplined, not because we are better than them.

01:09:04.665 --> 01:09:07.665
He's like, yeah, but it still feels good to be strong.

01:09:08.565 --> 01:09:10.605
Honestly, you can't help but agree.

01:09:11.925 --> 01:09:15.105
While climbing up a cliffside, you hear some voices coming from the top.

01:09:16.125 --> 01:09:20.745
Atreus says he recognizes the voice of Baldr, Thor's brother whose neck you snapped.

01:09:21.105 --> 01:09:21.845
Oh shit.

01:09:22.245 --> 01:09:25.265
As you climb, you are able to get a peek at what's going on.

01:09:26.585 --> 01:09:31.285
Baldr is there with Thor's two sons, Magni and Modi.

01:09:32.185 --> 01:09:35.325
They're talking to someone that you can't see as they're being blocked by a tree.

01:09:36.165 --> 01:09:37.925
They're asking the person where they can find you.

01:09:38.685 --> 01:09:40.905
The person they're asking is all, how the fuck should I know?

01:09:41.505 --> 01:09:43.745
Your dad imprisoned me here and I haven't seen them.

01:09:44.985 --> 01:09:51.545
He tells Baldr and the others to fuck off, while Modi threatening to take this person's other eye if they find out he's been lying.

01:09:51.645 --> 01:09:51.945
Oof.

01:09:52.965 --> 01:09:55.185
After they leave, you approach the tree.

01:09:56.445 --> 01:09:57.785
A man is growing out of it.

01:09:58.085 --> 01:10:00.145
A man is growing out of it?

01:10:00.545 --> 01:10:04.085
I guess more accurately, the tree has grown around the man.

01:10:04.165 --> 01:10:05.005
What the fuck?

01:10:05.865 --> 01:10:08.565
He sees you approach, saying someone was just looking for you.

01:10:09.645 --> 01:10:15.185
You send the boy away to make sure the others actually took off, mostly so you can chat with the tree man alone.

01:10:16.445 --> 01:10:22.025
As you get closer, the man becomes more clear, with little horns growing out of his tattooed bald forehead.

01:10:23.045 --> 01:10:27.005
He has a chest-length gray beard, and there's moss growing on areas of his skin.

01:10:27.325 --> 01:10:28.105
Oh, that's creepy.

01:10:28.525 --> 01:10:31.065
He kind of sounds like a hippie.

01:10:31.805 --> 01:10:32.605
A tree person?

01:10:32.765 --> 01:10:41.445
Yeah, but like also alternative, he's got the horn implants and some skull tattoos, like maybe he's at a fish show, you know, whatever.

01:10:42.845 --> 01:10:47.045
After Atreus is out of earshot, he says, that boy doesn't know what you are, does he?

01:10:48.065 --> 01:10:50.125
You tell him that you intend to keep it that way.

01:10:50.685 --> 01:10:54.545
This has been very obvious for everyone they've interacted with so far.

01:10:54.565 --> 01:10:56.805
Literally everyone calls him out on this.

01:10:56.825 --> 01:10:58.925
And immediately too, it's hello, how are you?

01:10:58.945 --> 01:11:00.165
Why are you lying to the child?

01:11:02.025 --> 01:11:03.365
And he's like, can you shut up?

01:11:03.385 --> 01:11:05.245
I'm trying to keep lying to this child.

01:11:06.525 --> 01:11:18.005
He introduces himself as Mimir, the knower of all things and the smartest man alive, with the answer to every question, which explains why Balder was here asking him where you are.

01:11:19.105 --> 01:11:21.365
You ask why the son of Odin is hunting you.

01:11:22.365 --> 01:11:26.225
Mimir stares at you and then goes, okay, so I don't know everything.

01:11:27.065 --> 01:11:31.205
I mean, he did admittedly just tell the other guy, I don't know where the fuck that guy is.

01:11:31.445 --> 01:11:33.545
So he's got most answers.

01:11:34.505 --> 01:11:36.985
Atreus returns and tells Mimir about your quest.

01:11:37.685 --> 01:11:42.405
You two are trying to reach the highest peak in the nine realms in order to spread Faye's ashes.

01:11:43.665 --> 01:11:45.965
Mimir is all, so what are you doing here?

01:11:46.785 --> 01:11:48.325
The tallest peak isn't in Midgard.

01:11:48.785 --> 01:11:50.725
It's in Jotunheim, the land of the giants.

01:11:52.085 --> 01:11:55.185
Both of you are all, are you shitting me?

01:11:56.785 --> 01:12:03.085
There's no way Faye meant for you to travel to a realm that's been inaccessible for a millennia.

01:12:04.345 --> 01:12:12.265
Mimir says that all doors to Jotunheim have been destroyed, but there is a nearby secret gateway, the only one left actually.

01:12:13.165 --> 01:12:14.005
That's convenient.

01:12:14.485 --> 01:12:18.105
If you find a special rune, you could use that gateway to get there.

01:12:19.145 --> 01:12:24.665
Problem being, only giants have the runes, and there are no more giants left in any of the nine realms.

01:12:25.485 --> 01:12:26.945
So good luck finding one.

01:12:27.825 --> 01:12:31.745
Fortunately for you, he happens to know where the only rune left is located.

01:12:32.085 --> 01:12:34.965
The issue is, he's stuck inside this tree.

01:12:36.705 --> 01:12:40.365
As you can see by my current predicament, I am unable to go there.

01:12:41.145 --> 01:12:45.765
Odin cast a spell that makes it impossible for his body to be removed from the tree.

01:12:46.825 --> 01:12:49.085
Thing is, he doesn't need his body.

01:12:49.545 --> 01:12:50.445
He just needs his head.

01:12:51.565 --> 01:12:56.185
He tells you to chop it off, then to bring it to someone who knows old magic.

01:12:57.205 --> 01:12:59.705
They should be able to reanimate his decapitated head.

01:13:00.205 --> 01:13:01.885
Then he'll be able to guide your way.

01:13:02.385 --> 01:13:03.145
Super simple.

01:13:03.505 --> 01:13:09.005
You tell him about the witch, and he says that if she practices the old magics, she'd be worth a try at the very least.

01:13:09.705 --> 01:13:10.865
Like, what else is he doing?

01:13:11.185 --> 01:13:13.905
Let's either take the shot or stay here for eternity.

01:13:14.545 --> 01:13:15.725
So we might as well roll the dice.

01:13:16.165 --> 01:13:21.445
Odin comes by literally every single day and tortures him in a new way.

01:13:21.985 --> 01:13:24.205
He finds new ways to do things every day?

01:13:24.265 --> 01:13:27.665
He says there is no limit to his creativity.

01:13:28.065 --> 01:13:28.925
That's impressive.

01:13:29.545 --> 01:13:33.745
Even if resurrecting his head doesn't work, he would at least be free of Odin's torment.

01:13:33.905 --> 01:13:34.985
You could at least kill me.

01:13:35.005 --> 01:13:36.965
That's like the nicest thing you could do right now.

01:13:36.985 --> 01:13:37.625
Yeah, right?

01:13:38.605 --> 01:13:41.645
Atreus says he can't watch this and goes off to distract himself.

01:13:41.765 --> 01:13:42.785
He doesn't like blood.

01:13:43.305 --> 01:13:50.925
Mimir tells you, just in case this is the last time you speak, the longer you wait to tell that boy his true nature, the worse it's going to be.

01:13:51.885 --> 01:13:53.925
You say, I'm going to cut off your head now.

01:13:56.025 --> 01:13:57.605
Why is Kratos sometimes funny?

01:13:59.765 --> 01:14:02.225
I don't know, but he is really funny.

01:14:02.245 --> 01:14:05.825
This whole game was way funnier than I was ever prepared for it to be.

01:14:07.365 --> 01:14:14.005
With an effortless swing of your axe, you decapitate the tree man, his single-eyed head landing on the ground with a thud.

01:14:15.105 --> 01:14:20.965
Using a rope, you fashion a sling so you can hook the head onto your belt, like he's Nick in Lollipop Chainsaw.

01:14:21.745 --> 01:14:27.905
You and Atreus head back down the mountain, with the boy dancing around excited that you'll be going to the lost realm of Jotunheim.

01:14:28.865 --> 01:14:33.745
You, on the other hand, find the fact that you need to find a lost realm to be quite the inconvenience.

01:14:35.625 --> 01:14:41.565
On the way back, Atreus asks, if the witch can't bring Mimir back to life, can he keep the head?

01:14:42.085 --> 01:14:42.905
For what?

01:14:43.165 --> 01:14:46.245
You tell him no, but he can feed it to the fish.

01:14:46.605 --> 01:14:49.365
Okay, honestly, that's a good compromise.

01:14:49.445 --> 01:14:51.725
Yeah, because, you know, every game has fishing.

01:14:52.125 --> 01:14:52.905
Shut the fuck up.

01:14:53.945 --> 01:14:55.405
You approach the tortera once again.

01:14:56.065 --> 01:14:58.125
Atreus says, hey, Charlie, is the witch home?

01:14:59.125 --> 01:15:00.905
You ask him why you're calling him Charlie.

01:15:01.605 --> 01:15:04.525
He says it was the name that came to him when he started talking to the tortoise.

01:15:05.945 --> 01:15:07.745
You head inside the house where you find the witch.

01:15:08.765 --> 01:15:12.905
She hugs Atreus, who is happy to see she survived getting sucked out of the Elfheim realm.

01:15:13.305 --> 01:15:14.805
They're just old friends now.

01:15:15.765 --> 01:15:19.125
Then he very casually asks, can you bring a head back to life?

01:15:20.285 --> 01:15:21.865
She says she needs more context.

01:15:23.325 --> 01:15:24.865
So you hold Mimir's head out at her.

01:15:25.785 --> 01:15:29.145
She looks at Mimir in shock, asking if you have any idea who that is.

01:15:29.745 --> 01:15:34.945
You tell her that you killed him on his request, and that he told you to bring him to her to resurrect.

01:15:35.865 --> 01:15:39.105
Which isn't exactly how that convo went down, but sure, Kratos.

01:15:39.145 --> 01:15:40.005
It's close enough.

01:15:40.025 --> 01:15:42.345
And like, the witch is just the quirky aunt.

01:15:42.365 --> 01:15:44.645
He doesn't feel like getting into it with her, you know?

01:15:44.665 --> 01:15:46.765
Yeah, he doesn't want to explain the whole situation.

01:15:47.985 --> 01:15:54.765
The witch says she hasn't practiced the old magics in a very long time, but manages to whip up the ingredients in about four seconds.

01:15:55.105 --> 01:15:55.705
She's prepared.

01:15:56.185 --> 01:16:01.725
She shoves a bunch of shit in Mimir's mouth, then tells you to drown it in the potion she has roasting on the open fire.

01:16:02.385 --> 01:16:07.145
Somehow, fully prepared to cast this what should be a very complex spell.

01:16:08.965 --> 01:16:13.825
When you pull the head out of the potion, Mimir spits all the stuff out of his mouth, alive and awake.

01:16:14.845 --> 01:16:17.465
The witch asks if Mimir is there and can understand her.

01:16:18.525 --> 01:16:21.265
He confirms, and she spits in his face.

01:16:21.645 --> 01:16:23.365
Oh shit, they have some history.

01:16:23.605 --> 01:16:26.565
He says, ah, Freya, nice to see you too.

01:16:27.645 --> 01:16:33.645
Addressing you, Mimir says, if I had known the witch you were talking about was Freya, he wouldn't have asked you to go to her.

01:16:33.785 --> 01:16:34.465
Oh shit.

01:16:35.085 --> 01:16:36.645
Atreus goes, no way.

01:16:37.205 --> 01:16:38.945
The goddess, Freya?

01:16:39.585 --> 01:16:42.825
Mimir goes, oh, you guys didn't know that's who she was either.

01:16:43.625 --> 01:16:46.665
They thought she was just some quirky goth bitch that wanted to hang out.

01:16:46.745 --> 01:16:48.485
Yeah, he's like, alright, I guess that's fair.

01:16:49.505 --> 01:16:54.225
Freya says that once Odin finds out where she is, he will bring hell with him.

01:16:55.045 --> 01:16:57.465
You confront Freya about hiding the fact she's a god.

01:16:57.785 --> 01:16:59.545
She's like, you're one to talk.

01:17:00.965 --> 01:17:03.965
And Kratos does the no, no, no, no, don't say that shit.

01:17:04.425 --> 01:17:06.745
Kind of gives her the big eyes of like, come on, man.

01:17:07.065 --> 01:17:10.625
Well, yeah, this pisses you off because how dare she call out your hypocrisy.

01:17:11.305 --> 01:17:14.225
You tell Atreus that you're leaving, punching the door on your way out.

01:17:16.645 --> 01:17:20.525
Atreus asks what the big deal is, and you tell him that she lied.

01:17:21.605 --> 01:17:26.665
Mimir, who's back on your hip, alive now, says that some people just value their privacy.

01:17:27.665 --> 01:17:33.325
You tell him that when you want his opinion, you'll ask for it, which I'm sure he'll heed for the rest of the game.

01:17:34.885 --> 01:17:39.465
Mimir tells you that the serpent of the world happens to be an animal giant from Jotunheim.

01:17:40.325 --> 01:17:43.045
He can also speak the ancient language the serpent speaks.

01:17:44.285 --> 01:17:52.765
Since Mimir is the knower of all things, you and Atreus ask him questions about the surrounding areas, as well as why Odin sent Balder after you two.

01:17:54.045 --> 01:18:00.725
Unfortunately, dying has kind of scrambled Mimir's brain, and it's taking some time to come back online fully, causing him to have brain farts.

01:18:01.125 --> 01:18:04.225
Oh, he's like, just kind of saying some silly shit and going, no, that's not right.

01:18:04.245 --> 01:18:07.965
Yeah, every once in a while, or he's just like, I don't remember, actually.

01:18:07.985 --> 01:18:09.265
And then he's like, has to think about it.

01:18:10.405 --> 01:18:14.485
Out in the center of the lake, you signal to the serpent, and he rises up from the mountain range.

01:18:15.605 --> 01:18:20.445
It sees the Thor statue and decides to eat his old enemy, chomping the rock into pebbles.

01:18:21.285 --> 01:18:25.385
He's been looking at it for a while, and today he's like, today's the fucking day.

01:18:26.145 --> 01:18:27.205
If you guys insist.

01:18:28.165 --> 01:18:31.185
After eating Thor, the serpent lowers its head close to you.

01:18:32.045 --> 01:18:39.825
After billowing at one another for a few minutes, Namir says that he told the serpent your tale, that the serpent knows your pain, and wants to help you.

01:18:40.985 --> 01:18:47.825
Using its head, the serpent pushes the temple to line up with the realm you'll need to travel to, in order to get what you'll need to travel to Jotunheim.

01:18:47.845 --> 01:18:52.845
Namir explains that you need to find the rune and memorize the design on it.

01:18:53.605 --> 01:19:01.545
Then, using a magic chisel, which you'll also need to find, carve the rune design into the last remaining door to Jotunheim.

01:19:02.465 --> 01:19:08.265
Honestly, if you're a fan of Nordic history, you should absolutely listen in on Namir's conversations throughout the game.

01:19:08.625 --> 01:19:13.305
He's constantly giving history lessons about wars between the gods and their relationships to one another.

01:19:13.405 --> 01:19:14.545
That's actually really cool.

01:19:14.645 --> 01:19:17.845
It's a lot like how Hades had a ton of accurate Greek god mythology.

01:19:18.165 --> 01:19:20.265
This game does that with Norse god mythology.

01:19:20.485 --> 01:19:25.785
And it's coming out of a disembodied head just giving you impromptu podcasts on shit.

01:19:25.805 --> 01:19:26.405
Yeah, right?

01:19:26.425 --> 01:19:27.405
That's fucking sick.

01:19:27.985 --> 01:19:30.245
You head to an area called Thaumur's Corpse.

01:19:31.245 --> 01:19:38.305
Here, you find the corpse of a monolithic giant, laying on the ground, blending into the surrounding snowy mountainside.

01:19:39.405 --> 01:19:42.025
You approach the head, which is buried in a frozen lake.

01:19:42.985 --> 01:19:49.585
The mirror says that not even Thor with his hammer could break through this ice, as the magic chisel you're looking for is under it.

01:19:50.645 --> 01:19:52.505
Thinking about Thor's hammer gives you an idea.

01:19:53.605 --> 01:19:56.745
Near the fallen giant is the fallen giant's war hammer.

01:19:57.345 --> 01:20:02.325
It's a mallet fit for a giant of its size, and it's stuck at an angle over the ice.

01:20:03.485 --> 01:20:06.605
You want to make it fall onto the ice to get it to break through.

01:20:07.745 --> 01:20:11.125
You get to the top of the hammer, puzzle-solving and wall-climbing your way up.

01:20:11.665 --> 01:20:14.765
You cause it to begin tipping, and Atreus asks what you should do.

01:20:15.545 --> 01:20:18.085
You tell him that you should jump on and ride it down.

01:20:18.785 --> 01:20:20.305
Let's do the fun thing, kiddo.

01:20:21.045 --> 01:20:25.365
The two of you hang on for dear life as it falls the hundred or so feet to the ice below.

01:20:26.305 --> 01:20:29.225
You tell Atreus not to panic, and he says, Why would I?

01:20:29.665 --> 01:20:30.725
This is awesome!

01:20:30.865 --> 01:20:32.525
He's eleven, come on!

01:20:34.225 --> 01:20:38.485
The hammer breaks through the ice, tossing the both of you to the ground of the empty cave below.

01:20:39.485 --> 01:20:42.265
Mimir says, You two are cracked, you know that?

01:20:43.285 --> 01:20:45.305
Which you just smirk and chuckle to yourself about it.

01:20:46.425 --> 01:20:50.565
You can see the magic chisel that you'll need to carve the rune down the tunnel and head toward it.

01:20:51.445 --> 01:20:55.885
When you're just about to get to the chisel, two men land down in front of you.

01:20:56.925 --> 01:20:58.305
Magni and Modi.

01:20:58.465 --> 01:20:59.945
Oh god damn it, baby Thor's.

01:21:00.045 --> 01:21:01.025
Sons of Thor.

01:21:02.045 --> 01:21:06.385
They're here to stop you, having heard you may or may not be trying to get to Jotunheim.

01:21:06.745 --> 01:21:10.005
Do you think they're a little pissed that the snake ate their dad's statue?

01:21:10.685 --> 01:21:13.105
If they've seen it, yeah, they'd probably be a little upset about that one.

01:21:14.525 --> 01:21:16.965
Honestly, this is probably one of the hardest fights in the game.

01:21:17.285 --> 01:21:17.525
Oh.

01:21:17.765 --> 01:21:21.665
This is like a From Software, Souls-like level difficulty fight.

01:21:21.845 --> 01:21:25.425
Oh shit, so they just went real hard for this one.

01:21:25.445 --> 01:21:31.465
Just this fight, and it's mostly because you have to finish them off at pretty much the exact same time.

01:21:31.905 --> 01:21:35.985
Oh, do they re-energize each other, support each other in a way where you do have to time it out?

01:21:36.045 --> 01:21:37.925
Yeah, you can't beat one than the other.

01:21:37.945 --> 01:21:40.945
You have to do them both at the same damn time.

01:21:40.965 --> 01:21:42.005
That's a mind bender.

01:21:42.025 --> 01:21:42.665
Fuck me.

01:21:43.105 --> 01:21:47.325
The fight ends with a cutscene that has you burying your axe in Magni's face.

01:21:47.845 --> 01:21:49.005
Hell yeah.

01:21:49.365 --> 01:21:53.585
Modi looks on in horror as his older brother's head gets split in two.

01:21:54.565 --> 01:21:59.165
Atreus starts bombarding him with arrows, causing Modi to run off, saying, You'll pay for this.

01:22:00.285 --> 01:22:03.785
After the fight, Atreus collapses in a coughing fit.

01:22:04.825 --> 01:22:08.625
You put your hand to his forehead, saying the sickness has returned, and he has a fever.

01:22:09.905 --> 01:22:11.345
Atreus insists he's fine.

01:22:11.625 --> 01:22:13.045
It's not the sickness coming back.

01:22:13.945 --> 01:22:16.845
You grab his hand, noticing it's covered in blood that he coughed up.

01:22:18.325 --> 01:22:21.285
Atreus rips his hand out of yours, angry with you for being right.

01:22:22.025 --> 01:22:23.585
Does he have tuberculosis?

01:22:24.105 --> 01:22:26.825
Honestly, we are never really going to find out what this is.

01:22:27.225 --> 01:22:29.085
It sounds like tuberculosis.

01:22:29.105 --> 01:22:29.685
A little bit.

01:22:30.325 --> 01:22:34.445
Mimir says that with that cough and the blood, he needs to go see Freya.

01:22:35.385 --> 01:22:37.825
You have raised Atreus not to trust gods.

01:22:38.445 --> 01:22:44.465
And with the new information that Freya is one, Atreus does not want to go to her, even if it means she can help.

01:22:45.385 --> 01:22:48.725
You obtain the magic chisel, then set off to find the rune you'll need next.

01:22:49.805 --> 01:22:54.105
On the way, Atreus questions you how it's possible that you just killed a god.

01:22:54.665 --> 01:22:59.805
Even if he was a relatively younger, less experienced god, Magni was still a god.

01:23:00.945 --> 01:23:03.665
Myr says, yeah, that wasn't a great idea.

01:23:07.045 --> 01:23:09.285
Baseline, don't piss off the gods.

01:23:09.885 --> 01:23:15.145
Even in self-defense, this is going to piss off Thor and by proxy all of Asgard.

01:23:15.245 --> 01:23:16.145
The whole thing.

01:23:16.865 --> 01:23:20.565
Atreus is coughing worse than Arthur Morgan an hour before his death.

01:23:20.905 --> 01:23:22.045
See, I think it's tuberculosis.

01:23:22.625 --> 01:23:25.045
Still insisting that he's fine, making you continue.

01:23:25.385 --> 01:23:29.645
Kratos could have played this to be like, save your energy, stop asking me goddamn questions.

01:23:29.665 --> 01:23:30.065
Yeah.

01:23:30.945 --> 01:23:31.685
I've heard that.

01:23:32.665 --> 01:23:37.925
Back at the temple, Atreus says that you've taught him so much, he wants to teach you something.

01:23:38.905 --> 01:23:42.645
So he takes you to the sand basin where he carves runes into and opens doors.

01:23:42.865 --> 01:23:45.925
Just open mouth coughing on everything while he's doing it.

01:23:46.505 --> 01:23:48.565
Explaining how the language he's writing works.

01:23:49.445 --> 01:23:52.325
You tell him to stop, and he apologizes for going so fast.

01:23:53.085 --> 01:23:54.005
You say it's not that.

01:23:54.945 --> 01:23:55.925
Do you smell something?

01:23:56.945 --> 01:24:01.245
Atreus says, yeah, it smells like rain?

01:24:02.525 --> 01:24:04.385
A lightning bolt comes crashing down.

01:24:04.665 --> 01:24:05.485
Oh no.

01:24:05.565 --> 01:24:08.165
Blasting between you two, sending you both to the ground.

01:24:08.825 --> 01:24:12.165
Modi comes in, shooting lightning directly at you with his mace.

01:24:12.965 --> 01:24:19.485
He's mad because now everyone's going to think he became worthy of Thor's hammer because his brother died.

01:24:20.085 --> 01:24:29.845
When he actually earned the right on his own, meaning his biggest issue after his brother died, is that he doesn't want to look like a fucking nepo baby.

01:24:29.985 --> 01:24:30.865
Oh my God.

01:24:31.045 --> 01:24:33.685
There are other things to worry about.

01:24:34.865 --> 01:24:40.165
Killing the person who killed his brother will show everyone that he deserves the right to wield it.

01:24:40.465 --> 01:24:43.505
I kind of follow his logic, unfortunately, but go on.

01:24:43.925 --> 01:24:46.905
Atreus charges at Modi, swinging his knife wildly.

01:24:47.765 --> 01:24:52.905
Modi says that Atreus is going to be his new brother after he kills his stupid father first.

01:24:53.005 --> 01:24:54.225
That's not how that works.

01:24:54.305 --> 01:24:56.085
And then goes and takes care of his mother.

01:24:56.325 --> 01:24:57.485
What the fuck, man?

01:24:58.125 --> 01:25:00.365
Atreus rages, screaming out.

01:25:01.185 --> 01:25:03.645
Suddenly his chest bursts into flames.

01:25:04.105 --> 01:25:04.325
Oh.

01:25:04.605 --> 01:25:09.285
Causing him to instantly pass out, dropping to the ground as the flames extinguish.

01:25:10.105 --> 01:25:11.745
So that's where the fever was coming from.

01:25:11.845 --> 01:25:14.665
Yeah, Modi laughs, saying it looks like he broke him.

01:25:15.205 --> 01:25:17.565
I mean, he did explode, basically.

01:25:17.865 --> 01:25:19.465
He's not wrong on that read.

01:25:19.725 --> 01:25:22.505
This sends you into a Spartan dad rage.

01:25:22.885 --> 01:25:32.745
You scream out in fury, and even with Modi pushing a billion watts of electricity through your body, you flex, causing your forearms to burst into flames.

01:25:32.925 --> 01:25:35.725
You flex into flames?

01:25:35.985 --> 01:25:39.085
You grab Modi's mace, tossing it to the side.

01:25:39.845 --> 01:25:44.105
With your flaming fists of rage, you punch Modi hard in the stomach.

01:25:44.305 --> 01:25:44.905
Fuck yeah.

01:25:45.325 --> 01:25:48.025
He bends over, the wind fully knocked out of him.

01:25:48.765 --> 01:25:52.685
He backs out of the room crying, saying, I'll get you next time, Spider-Man.

01:25:53.405 --> 01:25:55.645
After one punch he's over it?

01:25:56.045 --> 01:25:57.645
Kratos is one punch, man.

01:25:57.665 --> 01:25:58.725
That's fucking sick.

01:25:59.045 --> 01:26:00.505
I've never been punched in the stomach.

01:26:01.105 --> 01:26:02.585
Okay, I've been punched in the stomach once.

01:26:02.745 --> 01:26:03.145
Really?

01:26:03.165 --> 01:26:04.445
Yeah, by my dad.

01:26:05.085 --> 01:26:06.225
Is your dad Kratos?

01:26:06.305 --> 01:26:07.485
No, my dad's not Kratos.

01:26:07.505 --> 01:26:10.885
He was just really mad because I was 15 years old, and I got arrested for drinking.

01:26:13.185 --> 01:26:14.345
You kind of deserved it.

01:26:16.625 --> 01:26:17.625
So you're Kratos.

01:26:17.645 --> 01:26:19.705
We've all had Kratos as our father, clearly.

01:26:20.245 --> 01:26:28.285
Mine is withholding and refuses to admit any wrong, and is just, he's not a grouch, but he's a giggly little weirdo.

01:26:28.525 --> 01:26:30.165
Your dad will punch someone in the stomach.

01:26:30.185 --> 01:26:34.945
Yeah, he punched me, and then he tied me up and made me sleep on the tile floor and be like, that's what prison would be like.

01:26:35.225 --> 01:26:35.845
Prison?

01:26:36.945 --> 01:26:41.285
I know, it was a little overreacting, but I'll tell you what, I did not get in trouble for drinking ever again.

01:26:41.305 --> 01:26:42.605
You never got caught after that?

01:26:42.625 --> 01:26:42.865
Nope.

01:26:43.925 --> 01:26:44.665
There you go.

01:26:44.925 --> 01:26:47.525
Well, you run to Atreus, pale and limp on the floor.

01:26:48.025 --> 01:26:48.945
From exploding.

01:26:49.245 --> 01:26:51.325
Mimir tells you to haul ass back to Freya.

01:26:51.565 --> 01:26:53.025
She's the only one who can help.

01:26:54.005 --> 01:26:56.645
You take your boat through the underground cave entrance to her home.

01:26:57.305 --> 01:26:59.705
You pound on Freya's door, demanding she open.

01:27:00.625 --> 01:27:04.525
There's no answer, and you continue to kick the door, yelling at her to open up.

01:27:05.585 --> 01:27:07.965
She says back, I'm still a god, you know.

01:27:08.725 --> 01:27:11.165
You tell her that the boy has fallen ill and needs her help.

01:27:12.005 --> 01:27:15.165
At that, the door flies open, and Freya tells you to bring him right in.

01:27:15.765 --> 01:27:17.485
I love Freya's relationship with Atreus.

01:27:17.505 --> 01:27:22.585
She's so immediately like, big sister, I must protect him, but I kind of fucking hate Kratos.

01:27:24.025 --> 01:27:27.045
Is there any chemistry between her and Kratos?

01:27:27.105 --> 01:27:28.265
None whatsoever.

01:27:28.365 --> 01:27:30.025
See, Kratos is her brother-in-law.

01:27:30.045 --> 01:27:33.245
She's like, you are not even a being that exists.

01:27:33.265 --> 01:27:35.285
You just happen to be in the same room as me a lot.

01:27:35.625 --> 01:27:38.845
I don't care for you, but your kid, damn, I love your kid.

01:27:38.945 --> 01:27:42.325
Yeah, no, she fully loves Atreus, really doesn't care for Kratos.

01:27:42.685 --> 01:27:43.665
That's really funny.

01:27:44.185 --> 01:27:48.785
She said that it's the god part of him that's causing this to happen, as his mother wasn't one.

01:27:49.645 --> 01:27:53.505
Realizing this is basically your fault, you say you'll do anything.

01:27:54.445 --> 01:27:58.165
She tells you that you need the heart of a Helheim demon if you want to cure him.

01:27:59.025 --> 01:28:00.105
There's just one problem.

01:28:00.945 --> 01:28:02.705
Your Leviathan Axe is a frost weapon.

01:28:03.525 --> 01:28:09.085
It will be mostly useless in Helheim, as Helheim is essentially hell frozen over.

01:28:09.645 --> 01:28:09.845
Oh.

01:28:10.785 --> 01:28:16.045
Every creature there is immune to frost weapons, so you're going to need a different weapon.

01:28:16.885 --> 01:28:19.085
You tell her that you will have to return home.

01:28:19.945 --> 01:28:23.125
You'll need to dig up a past that you'd sworn to leave buried.

01:28:24.345 --> 01:28:30.965
She says, whatever, I don't care about your past, and your son is your future, so go deal with whatever you need to and get the weapon.

01:28:31.205 --> 01:28:34.665
She said, I don't give a shit which one of your tool sheds your shits in.

01:28:34.685 --> 01:28:35.865
Go get it, dude.

01:28:36.425 --> 01:28:39.945
I don't care about the emotional impact that you have with your other weapons.

01:28:40.045 --> 01:28:41.925
Yeah, fix your kid.

01:28:42.685 --> 01:28:45.445
She lends you a magic boat to take you home without the need to paddle.

01:28:46.305 --> 01:28:48.705
You get in the boat and ride off into a rainstorm.

01:28:49.705 --> 01:28:53.745
You are contemplative during your journey, as the storm rages inside and out.

01:28:54.705 --> 01:28:57.145
You have a vision of a dead goddess on your boat with you.

01:28:58.105 --> 01:29:01.785
You look at her and say, Athena with pure contempt.

01:29:02.085 --> 01:29:02.725
Oh shit!

01:29:03.505 --> 01:29:06.145
The ghost vanishes, leaving you to your thoughts.

01:29:07.705 --> 01:29:09.505
The boat docks itself nearby your home.

01:29:10.425 --> 01:29:12.985
Your old cabin is overrun with the undead draugrs.

01:29:14.005 --> 01:29:18.525
After clearing them out, you head to the basement door where you had Atreus hide earlier.

01:29:20.045 --> 01:29:25.965
With lightning crashing all around, you reach in, pulling out a leather-wrapped package.

01:29:27.365 --> 01:29:34.645
You lay it down, then glance at your arms, still wrapped in blood-stained medical bandages since the very beginning of the game.

01:29:36.165 --> 01:29:47.225
You unwrap the package, revealing two ancient and gnarly-looking short swords, identical to each other, made of thick metal and jagged edges.

01:29:48.185 --> 01:30:03.145
You begin wrapping a chain around each of your arms, and Athena's silhouette appears in the doorway, saying that you've tried to put your past behind you, you've tried to change your title, husband, father, provider.

01:30:04.125 --> 01:30:08.425
But the truth is, deep down, you're a monster.

01:30:09.905 --> 01:30:17.945
You finish wrapping the chains around your wrists and forearms, then stand holding the twin blades, both of them on fire from an unseen force.

01:30:18.905 --> 01:30:24.045
You look at her saying, I know, but I'm your monster no longer.

01:30:25.345 --> 01:30:27.645
That's so fucking cool.

01:30:29.105 --> 01:30:33.105
It's the moment of just when I think I'm out, they bring me back in.

01:30:33.265 --> 01:30:34.405
Oh, it's so good.

01:30:34.425 --> 01:30:41.365
And without the context of knowing, that was his like hell bound fucking soul giving moment and shit.

01:30:41.525 --> 01:30:43.225
That's so fucking cool.

01:30:43.245 --> 01:30:47.045
Yeah, this moment doesn't work as well if you don't know where Kratos came from.

01:30:47.085 --> 01:30:49.685
So when you got to this point in the game, you're like, cool.

01:30:50.025 --> 01:30:51.025
I kind of was, yeah.

01:30:51.645 --> 01:30:53.185
Bracelet swords, whatever.

01:30:53.425 --> 01:30:54.985
I understand the impact now.

01:30:55.165 --> 01:30:57.765
This ghost bitch is teasing me about my wrist swords.

01:30:58.845 --> 01:31:05.925
I don't know why she's being so rude about it or why I couldn't, I don't know, pick up a different sword because the sword boys are following us around on the map.

01:31:06.645 --> 01:31:07.685
They make weapons.

01:31:07.705 --> 01:31:08.905
Why can't I ask them?

01:31:08.925 --> 01:31:12.785
You know, I feel like there's some logic questions you'd have without the context.

01:31:12.805 --> 01:31:15.365
But damn, with the context, this is cool as fuck.

01:31:16.185 --> 01:31:23.565
You walk through a ghost out into your snowy front yard where a horde of draugrs await for you to reacquaint yourself with the Blades of Chaos.

01:31:24.605 --> 01:31:33.685
Outside, you decimate the draugrs, swinging the blades around your head by the attached chains, taking to your old friends like they'd been there the whole time.

01:31:35.325 --> 01:31:37.945
After the fight, Mimir is all, I knew you were Greek.

01:31:40.085 --> 01:31:41.145
That's a weird call.

01:31:41.565 --> 01:31:43.385
He goes, Athena was a dead giveaway.

01:31:44.845 --> 01:31:49.385
On your way back to the transportation room, you stop off at Brock's shop to stock up on supplies.

01:31:49.705 --> 01:31:55.245
Or where you know where you could have just bought a different weapon if you don't have the context and don't care for this scene.

01:31:55.465 --> 01:31:59.765
Actually, when he sees the blades of chaos, he asks if they're a family heirloom or something.

01:32:00.785 --> 01:32:03.945
You say no, and they never will be either.

01:32:05.805 --> 01:32:07.485
And don't get this shit twisted.

01:32:08.145 --> 01:32:12.105
Brock says he made Mjolnir, and those blades?

01:32:12.825 --> 01:32:13.765
They're something special.

01:32:15.045 --> 01:32:17.765
You just huff, indicating you're not going to talk about it any further.

01:32:18.765 --> 01:32:22.185
Brock offers to come along with you, sad to hear that Atreus has fallen sick.

01:32:23.045 --> 01:32:27.305
You tell him that you need him to keep upgrading your weapons, so you don't want him to risk his life.

01:32:28.445 --> 01:32:33.185
In Helheim, you begin your journey through the land of the dead toward the demon you need to kill.

01:32:34.105 --> 01:32:38.965
The fire from your blades of chaos, being the only flame that has ever burned in this realm.

01:32:40.485 --> 01:32:48.305
As you travel through Helheim, Mimir gives you some history lessons, explaining that Helheim is a place for bad people after they die.

01:32:49.165 --> 01:32:53.005
Criminals, traitors, old people, those sorts of souls.

01:32:53.105 --> 01:32:54.225
That's a little ageist.

01:32:54.825 --> 01:32:59.165
Well, he says, how courageous could you have possibly been if you made it to old age?

01:32:59.645 --> 01:33:00.125
Dude!

01:33:01.945 --> 01:33:09.585
I guess this is a Valhalla equals heaven kind of structure, but it's kind of mean, like, hey, what if I have flat feet, you know?

01:33:10.045 --> 01:33:14.705
Well, speaking of Valhalla, it actually isn't its own realm the way Helheim is.

01:33:15.425 --> 01:33:18.765
It's a part of Midgard, and that's where the good people go when they die.

01:33:19.065 --> 01:33:19.265
Oh!

01:33:19.505 --> 01:33:21.865
That's where the heroes, righteous and the courageous go.

01:33:22.965 --> 01:33:26.125
The demon you need to kill is the gatekeeper to Helheim.

01:33:26.845 --> 01:33:29.245
He makes sure that only the dead enter.

01:33:30.145 --> 01:33:32.525
Since you're not dead, he attacks you.

01:33:33.405 --> 01:33:38.645
Your blades of chaos make quick work of him, allowing you to cut his chest open, ripping out its glowing heart.

01:33:38.945 --> 01:33:39.165
Ah!

01:33:39.645 --> 01:33:41.365
You collect it and say, Let's go.

01:33:42.785 --> 01:33:44.745
Suddenly, you hear your name.

01:33:46.005 --> 01:33:49.325
It's coming from a deep voice, deeper than yours even.

01:33:50.125 --> 01:33:51.265
I can't even fathom.

01:33:51.785 --> 01:33:53.505
Mimir says, Zeus?

01:33:53.905 --> 01:33:54.805
Oh, no.

01:33:55.065 --> 01:33:57.085
You say, My father.

01:33:58.565 --> 01:33:59.745
Why is he here in Helheim?

01:33:59.765 --> 01:34:01.525
That's literally impossible.

01:34:01.665 --> 01:34:02.765
Well, he's an old guy.

01:34:02.785 --> 01:34:04.885
Mimir says it's just an illusion.

01:34:05.805 --> 01:34:07.985
Helheim tortures people with their past.

01:34:08.665 --> 01:34:10.265
It's all part of the magic of this place.

01:34:11.465 --> 01:34:16.965
Don't worry about your daddy issues because you are the source of someone else's right now, and they still need your help.

01:34:18.245 --> 01:34:21.125
Put your own shit with grandpa aside and help your son.

01:34:21.885 --> 01:34:23.065
This is just therapy.

01:34:23.065 --> 01:34:23.845
I love it.

01:34:24.345 --> 01:34:30.925
On your way back, Mimir wants to know more about the whole Zeus is your dad thing, but you brush him off not wanting to talk about it.

01:34:31.065 --> 01:34:34.465
And it's so common for Zeus to be someone's dad, like you said, I'm sure.

01:34:34.885 --> 01:34:37.245
He's met a couple of your half-siblings here and there.

01:34:37.265 --> 01:34:39.305
He's just like, why the fuck is Zeus fucking so much?

01:34:39.325 --> 01:34:40.965
He was the Jengis Khan of that era.

01:34:40.985 --> 01:34:43.185
Yeah, everyone's like 2% Zeus.

01:34:43.785 --> 01:34:48.585
Suddenly he goes, Oh my gods, you're the ghost of Sparta, aren't you?

01:34:49.485 --> 01:34:51.325
Son of Zeus hates gods.

01:34:51.825 --> 01:34:52.665
It's all adding up.

01:34:53.665 --> 01:34:58.725
You tell him never to call you that again, and to keep his mouth shut about it around the boy.

01:34:58.745 --> 01:35:02.405
Mimir scolds you for the way you've handled this whole situation.

01:35:03.365 --> 01:35:08.905
You hate gods, openly, and you teach your son to also hate all gods.

01:35:09.745 --> 01:35:20.645
What you're not telling him is that he is also a god, and when he finds out, which he will, he's going to make the realization that hating all gods includes hating him as well.

01:35:21.905 --> 01:35:24.625
You need to get ahead of this so he doesn't ever feel that way.

01:35:25.605 --> 01:35:29.845
He promises not to say anything, but he very much encourages you to do so.

01:35:30.145 --> 01:35:34.065
For the love of fuck, you have to tell your son who he is.

01:35:34.205 --> 01:35:37.905
There's also some commentary about being biracial that's hitting me in the bones too here.

01:35:38.525 --> 01:35:41.905
This is way more close to home than I ever expected it to be.

01:35:42.785 --> 01:35:43.985
It's just fascinating.

01:35:44.085 --> 01:35:47.025
Literally every person is telling him, just tell your fucking son.

01:35:47.225 --> 01:35:49.045
And he's like, nah.

01:35:49.065 --> 01:35:49.805
But what if I don't?

01:35:50.665 --> 01:35:51.465
I'm Kratos.

01:35:51.605 --> 01:35:52.825
I don't want to.

01:35:54.965 --> 01:35:57.985
Back at Freya's house, Atreus is gray.

01:35:58.145 --> 01:35:59.085
He's so pale.

01:36:00.245 --> 01:36:04.065
You hand over the heart of the demon, and Freya quickly gets to work making an antidote.

01:36:04.845 --> 01:36:09.125
She explains that his recovery from this will pretty much reveal to him that he's a god.

01:36:10.065 --> 01:36:13.425
It will literally be the only explanation for how he survived.

01:36:13.685 --> 01:36:16.105
So you might as well fucking say it, bro.

01:36:16.685 --> 01:36:18.745
She tells you that she also has a son.

01:36:19.605 --> 01:36:22.305
On the day of his birth, his death was foretold.

01:36:23.265 --> 01:36:25.145
Which like, isn't all of ours, but anyway.

01:36:25.625 --> 01:36:26.825
That's kind of the point, man.

01:36:27.365 --> 01:36:32.365
She became a helicopter mom, never letting her son do anything, holding him back his entire life.

01:36:33.485 --> 01:36:39.385
He grew to resent her, and when he finally had enough and left, he never came back.

01:36:39.885 --> 01:36:42.285
Freya warns you not to make the same mistake.

01:36:43.645 --> 01:36:45.345
You stand taking in what she said.

01:36:46.585 --> 01:36:49.325
Finally you admit, the boy isn't sick.

01:36:50.285 --> 01:36:50.745
He's cursed.

01:36:51.885 --> 01:36:53.025
Oh shit!

01:36:53.245 --> 01:36:57.925
But before you can explain, Atreus wakes up, asking you not to leave without him.

01:36:59.125 --> 01:37:04.725
You promise and he gets up, almost instantly fully healed, ready to go saying that it won't happen again.

01:37:05.985 --> 01:37:07.665
Freya talks a bit about her past here.

01:37:08.645 --> 01:37:13.605
She was married to Odin, but really didn't care for the way he does things, so she left him.

01:37:14.725 --> 01:37:17.685
He cursed her, making it impossible for her to leave Midgard.

01:37:18.445 --> 01:37:23.345
Which sucks for her, because she's not from Midgard, so she can't even return to her actual home.

01:37:25.165 --> 01:37:29.125
Before heading out, Freya notices that the strap for Atreus' quiver had torn.

01:37:29.885 --> 01:37:35.565
She snaps the head off an enchanted arrow, saying it's made with the power of mistletoe, a wicked substance.

01:37:35.825 --> 01:37:36.705
That makes you kiss?

01:37:37.165 --> 01:37:41.665
You know, I don't know why it's so evil she doesn't really go into it, she just really fucking hates mistletoe.

01:37:41.685 --> 01:37:42.805
Maybe she hates kissing.

01:37:42.905 --> 01:37:43.785
Yeah, maybe that might be it.

01:37:44.665 --> 01:37:46.745
So it's better to use it to repair the strap anyway.

01:37:47.385 --> 01:37:54.185
After Atreus is ready to go, the two of you head out, your destination being the temple in the lake to find the rune that you'll need to go to Jotunheim.

01:37:54.985 --> 01:37:58.845
You ask what you need to do to get into the temple, just to test Atreus' memory.

01:37:59.705 --> 01:38:01.525
He gets really moody and goes, I don't know.

01:38:02.165 --> 01:38:04.785
Mimir tries to help, suggesting starting by finding a boat.

01:38:05.585 --> 01:38:07.625
Atreus goes, yeah, sure, whatever.

01:38:08.205 --> 01:38:10.125
Oh, now he's angsty!

01:38:10.385 --> 01:38:12.765
You find a boat and call Atreus out for being weird.

01:38:13.505 --> 01:38:17.445
You tell him that you know he heard the conversation with Freya, so let's talk about it.

01:38:18.605 --> 01:38:20.665
Atreus calls you out for saying he's cursed.

01:38:21.725 --> 01:38:24.945
He says he knows he's not the kid you wanted, but he is the kid you have.

01:38:26.625 --> 01:38:29.825
You tell him that there's still so much he doesn't know or understand.

01:38:30.585 --> 01:38:33.725
He snaps back, whatever, at least now I know the truth.

01:38:34.645 --> 01:38:36.605
Ugh, that sucks.

01:38:37.185 --> 01:38:38.285
You say, the truth?

01:38:39.465 --> 01:38:39.805
Fine.

01:38:41.285 --> 01:38:42.525
I am a god, boy.

01:38:43.565 --> 01:38:46.825
I was born a god, and that means you were too.

01:38:47.605 --> 01:38:47.985
Good!

01:38:48.145 --> 01:38:50.025
He finally told him the fucking truth!

01:38:50.465 --> 01:38:54.725
Every single person he's met is like, why the fuck won't you just say this very simple thing to your child?

01:38:54.865 --> 01:38:55.345
And he did!

01:38:55.565 --> 01:38:55.985
Good!

01:38:56.905 --> 01:39:02.305
You say, I'm a god not just from a different realm, but a different world entirely.

01:39:03.365 --> 01:39:10.625
You tell him that you moved to this realm to live as a normal man, because you hate all gods, and wanted to shed your own godhood.

01:39:11.585 --> 01:39:17.565
But the truth is, no matter how much you try to hide it, you are one, and so is he.

01:39:18.485 --> 01:39:22.165
After a silence, you ask if he has anything to say to this information.

01:39:22.385 --> 01:39:24.265
Yeah, you're being very vulnerable right now.

01:39:24.745 --> 01:39:32.985
Atreus, who has been sitting there silently, taking this all in, stands up and asks, um, can I turn into an animal?

01:39:36.065 --> 01:39:38.825
I love Atreus so fucking much.

01:39:39.725 --> 01:39:44.245
When they go out to hunt deer and shit, he's like playing 20 fucking questions.

01:39:44.525 --> 01:39:45.685
Like, what kind of tree is that?

01:39:45.705 --> 01:39:46.585
Where are we going?

01:39:46.665 --> 01:39:48.425
What time do you think Nightfall is coming?

01:39:48.445 --> 01:39:49.545
What do you want to have for dinner?

01:39:50.625 --> 01:39:55.765
He finds out he's part god, and he's like, the first thing I want to know.

01:39:56.125 --> 01:39:57.185
Can I turn into an animal?

01:39:57.205 --> 01:39:58.025
Can I be an animal?

01:39:58.825 --> 01:40:01.745
You think about it earnestly and say, no?

01:40:02.545 --> 01:40:03.585
No, I don't think so.

01:40:03.645 --> 01:40:05.605
But like, not super confidently.

01:40:06.085 --> 01:40:10.185
You're like, probably not, but if you do, it'll just be surprising.

01:40:10.745 --> 01:40:13.025
Atreus keeps repeating, I'm a god.

01:40:13.685 --> 01:40:14.985
Then he'll ask a question.

01:40:16.105 --> 01:40:18.505
He asks about mom, wondering if she was one too.

01:40:19.065 --> 01:40:22.845
You tell him no, she was immortal, but she knew the truth about you.

01:40:23.365 --> 01:40:25.405
He wants to know why you took so long to tell him.

01:40:26.465 --> 01:40:28.945
You bend down, looking at him with care in your eyes.

01:40:30.045 --> 01:40:33.385
You tell him that you didn't tell him to protect him.

01:40:34.345 --> 01:40:37.565
The life of a god is full of anguish and tragedy.

01:40:38.565 --> 01:40:39.585
That's the curse.

01:40:41.165 --> 01:40:44.265
Atreus keeps listing superpowers, asking if he has them.

01:40:44.725 --> 01:40:45.365
Can I fly?

01:40:45.385 --> 01:40:47.205
Yeah, he does.

01:40:47.225 --> 01:40:48.265
Can I turn invisible?

01:40:48.825 --> 01:40:52.125
Literally, just go through the superhero list, he's asking about it.

01:40:52.145 --> 01:40:54.225
Can I shoot spiderwebs?

01:40:54.865 --> 01:40:55.885
Am I the green lantern?

01:40:56.065 --> 01:40:59.905
You tell him that you're not really sure what kind of ways his godhood will manifest.

01:41:00.925 --> 01:41:05.545
Mimir reminds him that he's already amazing with languages, and can basically talk to animals.

01:41:06.085 --> 01:41:07.685
That sounds pretty godlike to him.

01:41:07.885 --> 01:41:10.605
Yeah, that speaks with animals is a D&D thing you can do.

01:41:10.625 --> 01:41:11.325
Yeah, right?

01:41:12.385 --> 01:41:15.325
Atreus wonders if Baldur knows, and that's why he's after you.

01:41:16.145 --> 01:41:19.845
You remind him that you've never seen Baldur until he showed up at your house that day.

01:41:20.525 --> 01:41:22.905
No reason for him to know anything about either of you.

01:41:24.125 --> 01:41:28.805
Arriving back at the temple, Mimir tells you that the rune is in a place called Tears Vault.

01:41:29.845 --> 01:41:34.325
It's in the depths of the temple, so you take an elevator-like platform very slowly down.

01:41:35.505 --> 01:41:40.765
Atreus is still completely blown away about being a god, saying some pretty concerning things.

01:41:41.885 --> 01:41:44.965
Such as the fact he wishes he knew he was a god back in Alfheim.

01:41:45.425 --> 01:41:47.465
He wouldn't have felt bad for killing so many elves.

01:41:48.185 --> 01:41:48.645
What?

01:41:48.985 --> 01:41:52.945
Yeah, Mimir's like, whoa, that's the wrong message to take from this.

01:41:52.985 --> 01:41:55.645
Yeah, you should still have guilt for taking lives, buddy.

01:41:56.045 --> 01:41:58.225
Atreus says that they were there on god business.

01:41:58.445 --> 01:41:59.765
They should have gotten out of the way.

01:42:00.185 --> 01:42:01.365
Oh no, he's a cop.

01:42:01.525 --> 01:42:03.605
It's their fault for fucking with two gods.

01:42:03.785 --> 01:42:04.705
Oh my god.

01:42:04.825 --> 01:42:08.645
Atreus, you've been a god for half an hour.

01:42:08.665 --> 01:42:09.565
Right.

01:42:09.945 --> 01:42:12.385
The turn is so fast on Atreus.

01:42:12.405 --> 01:42:14.145
It just immediately to his head.

01:42:14.325 --> 01:42:14.985
Oh no.

01:42:15.105 --> 01:42:22.785
Without saying it directly, Mimir reminds Atreus that with great power comes great responsibility.

01:42:22.805 --> 01:42:24.325
I knew how that ended.

01:42:24.505 --> 01:42:25.125
I love it.

01:42:25.325 --> 01:42:29.345
He uses the god that this temple was built to honor, Tyr, as an example.

01:42:30.345 --> 01:42:34.125
He was a god of war, but he fought only for peace.

01:42:35.145 --> 01:42:43.045
As a result, people loved him because he wielded his god powers responsibly, using them to stop wars, not start them.

01:42:44.525 --> 01:42:47.465
Atreus is like, wait, there are good gods?

01:42:48.745 --> 01:42:52.345
Mimir admits that it's rare, like really fucking rare.

01:42:53.585 --> 01:42:57.185
But yes, there are a couple gods you could consider to be good.

01:42:57.445 --> 01:42:58.485
He's doing the right thing.

01:42:58.505 --> 01:43:02.045
He's like, you have this power, but let's look at some positive role models.

01:43:02.065 --> 01:43:02.525
Yeah.

01:43:03.625 --> 01:43:04.665
Maybe not your dad.

01:43:05.245 --> 01:43:10.425
Atreus says that Tyr traveled to so many places that he had otherwise never heard of.

01:43:11.285 --> 01:43:15.325
Mimir tells him that Tyr believed that travel was the ultimate way to enlightenment.

01:43:15.925 --> 01:43:18.685
You meet people of different cultures and backgrounds.

01:43:19.045 --> 01:43:20.105
You learn from them.

01:43:20.425 --> 01:43:22.465
You share your gathered knowledge with them as well.

01:43:23.205 --> 01:43:26.065
Always encouraging building bridges and preventing problems.

01:43:26.285 --> 01:43:27.585
Anthony Bourdain, yes.

01:43:28.625 --> 01:43:31.745
Tyr vanished, helping the giants escape Odin's wrath.

01:43:32.605 --> 01:43:36.145
Fought to have gone to Jotunheim with them, helping them hide it from Odin's sight.

01:43:36.885 --> 01:43:43.325
Finally, inside Tyr's vault, you see the things he's collected on his many journeys across different worlds and realms.

01:43:44.525 --> 01:43:49.085
You immediately see some Greek artifacts and beeline for a bottle with a cork in it.

01:43:50.165 --> 01:43:53.065
You uncork it, smelling the Grecian wine inside it.

01:43:54.185 --> 01:44:00.365
When you pull the bottle away from your nose, a vase with a drawing of you is revealed on a nearby shelf.

01:44:00.865 --> 01:44:02.565
Oh, no, your old merch.

01:44:03.025 --> 01:44:08.965
You pick it up, looking at the image of yourself, holding your chaos blades, covered in blood.

01:44:10.545 --> 01:44:13.665
Atreus comes hobbling over with an Egyptian mask covering his face.

01:44:14.885 --> 01:44:16.125
He's just being silly.

01:44:16.145 --> 01:44:18.605
He's like, look at this little hat I found, Eddie.

01:44:19.025 --> 01:44:20.445
And he asks you what you're looking at.

01:44:21.005 --> 01:44:24.865
You throw the vase down, shattering it, saying it's a distraction, nothing more.

01:44:25.485 --> 01:44:26.005
Let's go.

01:44:26.545 --> 01:44:32.405
Don't we all feel like that when we get the time hop notifications of like, look what you posted in 2007.

01:44:32.425 --> 01:44:33.385
Shut the fuck up.

01:44:33.405 --> 01:44:33.945
This is distracting.

01:44:34.225 --> 01:44:35.425
Don't fucking remind me.

01:44:36.025 --> 01:44:37.045
I missed my hair.

01:44:37.565 --> 01:44:44.105
Taking the helmet off, Atreus looks down, seeing the image of his father preserved on a perfectly broken piece of the vase.

01:44:45.245 --> 01:44:48.525
Not bringing it up, he joins you by your side as you look for the rune.

01:44:49.705 --> 01:44:53.605
He tells you that while you may hate being a god, it doesn't mean he has to.

01:44:54.365 --> 01:44:56.605
So he wants you to tell him the truth going forward.

01:44:57.665 --> 01:45:00.485
He asks once again, what was up with that vase?

01:45:01.705 --> 01:45:04.565
You tell him that your failings are not for his concern.

01:45:05.785 --> 01:45:10.445
And he accepts this as kind of an apology, because at least you admitted you failed at something.

01:45:10.845 --> 01:45:12.785
Haha, technicality, dad!

01:45:13.565 --> 01:45:18.545
Atreus starts to think that this whole mission that his mom sent you on was on purpose.

01:45:19.305 --> 01:45:21.365
To force you to teach him about his true nature.

01:45:22.725 --> 01:45:25.405
While looking for the rune, you solve a series of puzzles.

01:45:26.305 --> 01:45:27.965
One of which turns into a death trap.

01:45:29.085 --> 01:45:31.305
Atreus uses his knife to break the death trap.

01:45:31.945 --> 01:45:34.465
But it also mangles his knife in the process.

01:45:35.625 --> 01:45:38.925
He's sad, but proud of himself for saving both your lives.

01:45:39.585 --> 01:45:44.205
Because when he asked you for help, you said you truly had no idea what to do.

01:45:45.685 --> 01:45:49.065
When you finally find the rune, you kneel down by Atreus' side.

01:45:50.145 --> 01:45:54.045
You tell him that on the day he was born, you made two knives.

01:45:54.685 --> 01:45:58.365
Made from a mix of metals of your home world and your new one.

01:45:59.365 --> 01:46:03.705
One was for you, and the other was for him, for the day he was ready.

01:46:04.845 --> 01:46:08.725
You hand him a knife, telling him that today, he's ready.

01:46:10.245 --> 01:46:12.705
Wait, this is his first beer with his dad moment.

01:46:12.725 --> 01:46:13.765
This is really cool.

01:46:14.245 --> 01:46:14.885
Hold on to that.

01:46:15.785 --> 01:46:18.525
He says, so I'm a man now, like you?

01:46:19.605 --> 01:46:20.405
You say no.

01:46:21.465 --> 01:46:22.325
We are far greater.

01:46:23.325 --> 01:46:26.145
And our responsibility is far greater as a result.

01:46:27.345 --> 01:46:29.825
You must be better than me.

01:46:31.005 --> 01:46:34.545
You make him promise, and he says he will be better.

01:46:34.725 --> 01:46:36.965
That's all a dad wants for his kids.

01:46:37.885 --> 01:46:42.225
Using his new knife, Atreus frees the rune from the power of a possessed mask.

01:46:43.085 --> 01:46:45.225
The rune's design is carved onto a black stone.

01:46:46.005 --> 01:46:55.645
When Atreus picks it up, the symbol glows golden, stretching across the stone, down Atreus' arm, across his chest, the tips of the fingers on his other hand.

01:46:56.725 --> 01:47:00.205
The stone crumbles in his hands, and you ask him if he memorized it.

01:47:01.285 --> 01:47:04.725
He promises that he has, watching the glow on his arms fade away.

01:47:06.225 --> 01:47:08.885
When you are attacked by the legendary Grendel.

01:47:09.325 --> 01:47:09.985
Grendel?

01:47:10.345 --> 01:47:12.685
Joined by his brother, Other Grendel.

01:47:12.885 --> 01:47:13.945
I thought you'd say Wendel.

01:47:13.965 --> 01:47:14.745
I don't know why.

01:47:15.985 --> 01:47:17.845
No, Grendel comes from fucking Beowulf.

01:47:18.185 --> 01:47:18.785
Oh, shit.

01:47:19.425 --> 01:47:23.685
They're the protectors of the vault, but the two of you handled them better than Bigby Wolf handled one of them.

01:47:23.785 --> 01:47:25.065
That's where I know that name.

01:47:25.085 --> 01:47:25.685
Thank you.

01:47:26.645 --> 01:47:28.605
It's like, who the fuck is this guy in Beowulf?

01:47:29.125 --> 01:47:32.305
Atreus is like, psh, no problem for a couple gods.

01:47:32.405 --> 01:47:34.205
I'm a god now, motherfucker.

01:47:34.225 --> 01:47:35.105
Puny trolls.

01:47:36.005 --> 01:47:37.645
You're like, I've beaten bigger.

01:47:39.265 --> 01:47:46.985
On the elevator ride back up, you sit the boy down for another father-son bonding moment, as Atreus reminds you that your adventure is about to be over.

01:47:48.105 --> 01:47:54.365
Now that you've had one bonding moment, you want that rush of feeling needed and looked up to by another living being even more.

01:47:55.365 --> 01:48:00.305
You pull out the bottle of Grecian wine you found earlier, telling him it comes from the island of Lemnos.

01:48:01.245 --> 01:48:06.525
He smells it, saying it smells like rotten eggs, asking if it's still good.

01:48:07.425 --> 01:48:08.285
You say, probably.

01:48:08.545 --> 01:48:09.105
Now drink.

01:48:10.785 --> 01:48:13.565
Drink this morning breath brew, like, let's go.

01:48:13.585 --> 01:48:15.685
He takes a sip, almost puking.

01:48:16.585 --> 01:48:20.545
You chug the rest of it, then toss the bottle, shattering it on the ground like a frat boy.

01:48:20.825 --> 01:48:22.205
This is such dad shit.

01:48:22.225 --> 01:48:22.745
I love it.

01:48:22.745 --> 01:48:23.825
Well, it's Greek life, you know.

01:48:26.465 --> 01:48:29.365
Atreus asks why you left your home and gave up being a god.

01:48:30.305 --> 01:48:33.145
You tell him you gave it up because all gods are bad.

01:48:34.205 --> 01:48:35.965
Atreus says, but Tyr was a good one.

01:48:36.825 --> 01:48:38.005
And you're a good one, too.

01:48:38.825 --> 01:48:41.585
You've only ever killed people who deserve it, right?

01:48:42.265 --> 01:48:45.465
No, you used to have a half-sister.

01:48:46.125 --> 01:48:46.965
Sorry, kiddo.

01:48:47.445 --> 01:48:53.425
Well, you lie and say yes, but Mimir interjects saying, who's to say who deserves it and who doesn't?

01:48:53.785 --> 01:48:58.185
He really wants to um-actually you, but is like, this guy could kill me again.

01:48:58.805 --> 01:49:02.945
Atreus is all, only gods can judge you, and we're gods.

01:49:04.065 --> 01:49:05.865
Where is he getting all this shit from?

01:49:06.005 --> 01:49:09.825
So yeah, we literally are the ones who say who deserves it or not.

01:49:11.085 --> 01:49:12.205
I love the confidence.

01:49:12.645 --> 01:49:14.985
Mimir says, well, you do sound like your father.

01:49:15.205 --> 01:49:15.725
Oh no.

01:49:16.545 --> 01:49:18.705
He set the temple bridge to take you back to the mountain.

01:49:19.505 --> 01:49:21.225
Atreus says, we are gods.

01:49:21.585 --> 01:49:26.985
We go where we want, we do what we want, so let's go to the lost realm of Jotunheim.

01:49:27.545 --> 01:49:30.085
This went immediately to his head, it's so great.

01:49:30.105 --> 01:49:32.845
Fully to his head, he is such a cocky shit.

01:49:32.945 --> 01:49:36.605
I really, really hated Atreus during this section of the game.

01:49:36.625 --> 01:49:36.905
Really?

01:49:36.925 --> 01:49:39.085
Because he is a very sweet boy in the first act.

01:49:39.105 --> 01:49:43.465
He is, and he is such a little fucking shit for this part.

01:49:43.705 --> 01:49:47.685
You need to beg it back to the tree where you met Mimir first, as that's where the gateway is.

01:49:48.645 --> 01:49:51.605
Atreus is excited to tell Brock and Sindri about being a god.

01:49:52.545 --> 01:49:58.625
You tell him that while you are no longer hiding it from him, it's still his responsibility to hide it from others.

01:49:59.805 --> 01:50:00.885
He thinks that's stupid.

01:50:01.405 --> 01:50:03.465
You shouldn't lie to your friends about who you are.

01:50:04.405 --> 01:50:06.285
If they're actually your friends, it won't matter to them.

01:50:07.045 --> 01:50:09.265
But whatever, he promises to keep the secret.

01:50:10.525 --> 01:50:13.545
As soon as you next see Sindri, Atreus goes, can I tell him, Dad?

01:50:17.225 --> 01:50:23.845
The kid who does a 23andMe and thinks he's related to someone famous is like, this is my personality, you know?

01:50:23.865 --> 01:50:26.605
Like, I am a descendant of Genghis Khan.

01:50:26.625 --> 01:50:27.725
First of all, get in line.

01:50:27.745 --> 01:50:30.045
Second of all, what's that doing for you?

01:50:30.065 --> 01:50:31.005
Calm down.

01:50:32.825 --> 01:50:36.285
You tell him, no, but Sindri's interest has peaked.

01:50:37.105 --> 01:50:39.225
You tell him it's family stuff, don't worry about it.

01:50:41.465 --> 01:50:44.905
Sindri is like, oh, don't get me started on family stuff.

01:50:46.025 --> 01:50:47.925
Atreus gets angry and says, oh, what?

01:50:47.945 --> 01:50:51.665
Let me guess, your brother isn't as good of a blacksmith as you, and he's a jerk.

01:50:52.425 --> 01:50:55.065
Sindri's like, well, yeah.

01:50:55.225 --> 01:50:57.165
Also, you're being kind of a jerk right now.

01:50:57.185 --> 01:50:57.945
What the fuck?

01:50:58.205 --> 01:51:02.325
Atreus bursts out in anger, the sky turning dark, a storm brewing.

01:51:02.765 --> 01:51:03.485
Oh, no.

01:51:03.665 --> 01:51:08.305
He says he's sick of these tiny little problems and doesn't want to hear about them anymore.

01:51:09.005 --> 01:51:09.805
My brother sucks.

01:51:10.185 --> 01:51:10.805
Get over it.

01:51:10.985 --> 01:51:12.085
Oh, my gosh.

01:51:12.285 --> 01:51:13.645
Sindri's like, damn.

01:51:14.445 --> 01:51:15.325
First off, scene.

01:51:16.785 --> 01:51:17.845
Fine, I get it.

01:51:17.865 --> 01:51:18.925
I'll shut up about my brother.

01:51:20.145 --> 01:51:23.905
Later on your way up, you ask why he was being such a jerk to Sindri.

01:51:24.665 --> 01:51:27.245
He says that you're also sick of hearing about their family problems.

01:51:28.185 --> 01:51:32.525
You agree, but that it's also not a good idea to make unnecessary enemies.

01:51:33.785 --> 01:51:35.825
Atreus tells you that it's more important to be honest.

01:51:35.845 --> 01:51:36.985
Fuck their feelings about it.

01:51:37.365 --> 01:51:37.945
Oh, no.

01:51:38.085 --> 01:51:40.165
You tell him his mother would disagree.

01:51:41.425 --> 01:51:42.285
He snaps back.

01:51:42.525 --> 01:51:43.565
She wasn't a god.

01:51:45.225 --> 01:51:46.525
I hate Atreus.

01:51:46.705 --> 01:51:47.705
Oh, no.

01:51:48.225 --> 01:51:48.965
What the fuck?

01:51:48.985 --> 01:51:50.725
I want to hit this child.

01:51:50.985 --> 01:51:51.505
Damn.

01:51:51.705 --> 01:51:58.885
Oh, after saying that, he has the audacity to ask if he can carry her ashes the rest of the way.

01:51:58.965 --> 01:52:01.025
And you're like, absolutely fucking not.

01:52:01.045 --> 01:52:05.545
You tell him that after the way he just spoke about her, why the fuck would he want to?

01:52:06.645 --> 01:52:07.625
He says it's the truth.

01:52:07.645 --> 01:52:08.565
She wasn't a god.

01:52:09.285 --> 01:52:14.025
You tell him that she was better than any god, and you would do well to honor her for that fact.

01:52:14.085 --> 01:52:14.925
Hell, yeah.

01:52:15.925 --> 01:52:18.645
Being 12, Atreus starts to get deep.

01:52:19.345 --> 01:52:20.065
Oh, no.

01:52:20.465 --> 01:52:23.665
You're saying that it makes perfect sense why Odin is after you.

01:52:24.325 --> 01:52:28.625
You're a threat to him, because obviously you could beat him and every other god.

01:52:29.345 --> 01:52:31.445
You're one of the good gods, clearly.

01:52:31.925 --> 01:52:33.405
The good guys always win.

01:52:34.165 --> 01:52:35.085
You always win.

01:52:35.625 --> 01:52:37.325
Hence, you're the good guy.

01:52:38.205 --> 01:52:39.525
Odin's clearly an asshole.

01:52:39.545 --> 01:52:40.585
Look what he did to Mimir.

01:52:41.565 --> 01:52:44.805
Then he drove out the giants, forcing them to retreat to Jotunheim.

01:52:45.545 --> 01:52:47.505
Besides, he already killed one of Thor's sons.

01:52:48.045 --> 01:52:49.605
The rest will probably be just as easy.

01:52:50.985 --> 01:52:55.645
You get to the temple door in the side of the mountain that was once covered by the black breath earlier in the game.

01:52:56.765 --> 01:52:59.425
Just inside is Thor's living son, Modi.

01:53:00.485 --> 01:53:03.085
He's been beaten to within an inch of his life.

01:53:04.245 --> 01:53:08.305
He says that his father blamed him for the death of his brother and did this to him.

01:53:09.605 --> 01:53:12.005
Atreus tells him to fuck off or he'll finish the job.

01:53:12.485 --> 01:53:17.005
Which, honestly, I could finish the job with how little strength Modi has left.

01:53:17.025 --> 01:53:17.785
It doesn't take a lot.

01:53:17.805 --> 01:53:18.705
That's not a flex.

01:53:19.085 --> 01:53:21.565
He falls to the ground, unable to even stand.

01:53:22.445 --> 01:53:25.705
You tell Atreus, no, he's no longer a threat.

01:53:27.005 --> 01:53:30.785
Atreus says he deserves it for talking shit on his mom earlier during that last fight.

01:53:31.805 --> 01:53:34.185
You tell him that's not a good enough reason to kill somebody.

01:53:35.085 --> 01:53:36.585
Atreus says, we're gods.

01:53:37.105 --> 01:53:38.105
We do what we want.

01:53:39.605 --> 01:53:40.645
Modi can't help it.

01:53:41.185 --> 01:53:44.285
He says, that's what I said to your mother right before I gave it to her.

01:53:47.025 --> 01:53:50.285
Atreus drives his knife into Modi's throat.

01:53:50.725 --> 01:53:52.785
I can kind of see why that time.

01:53:52.925 --> 01:53:55.765
Modi falls down, choking on his own blood.

01:53:56.625 --> 01:54:01.085
Pulling the knife out, Atreus casually says, this knife is way better than mother's.

01:54:01.305 --> 01:54:01.985
Oh my gosh.

01:54:02.385 --> 01:54:06.885
Atreus kicks Modi's body over a cliff, and you grab him furious.

01:54:07.065 --> 01:54:09.425
Because like, you are way out of control, kiddo.

01:54:09.685 --> 01:54:14.685
You scold him for deliberately disobeying you by killing when you didn't need to.

01:54:15.625 --> 01:54:19.565
Atreus says, you've literally been teaching him to kill this entire journey.

01:54:20.585 --> 01:54:24.245
You tell him that as a god, you have a target on your back at all times.

01:54:24.865 --> 01:54:30.845
You need to know how to kill in defense, but only in defense, never as an indulgence.

01:54:32.105 --> 01:54:34.865
You tell him that there are consequences to killing a god.

01:54:35.785 --> 01:54:37.385
He goes, what would you even know about it?

01:54:38.465 --> 01:54:43.245
You stand tall, towering over him, and say, watch your tone, boy.

01:54:44.545 --> 01:54:46.105
He whatever's you and stomps off.

01:54:47.505 --> 01:54:51.585
A while later, you compliment his shooting after a short fight, and he says, oh, you mean me?

01:54:52.045 --> 01:54:53.225
I thought you didn't like my tone.

01:54:56.065 --> 01:54:58.085
You tell him he's not listening to you at all.

01:54:58.765 --> 01:55:03.645
He argues that he's done literally everything you've told him to do, every step of this trip.

01:55:04.245 --> 01:55:07.325
All he's asked for is honesty in return, and you still refuse to give it to him.

01:55:08.105 --> 01:55:09.345
Where'd you get the flaming swords, dad?

01:55:10.265 --> 01:55:11.185
Why were you hiding them?

01:55:11.985 --> 01:55:14.065
How do you know there are consequences to killing a god, dad?

01:55:14.665 --> 01:55:15.985
Did you kill a god with those blades?

01:55:17.225 --> 01:55:20.205
You answer none of his questions, ashamed of the answers.

01:55:22.325 --> 01:55:27.265
Finally, back at the gateway to Jotunheim, you use the magic chisel to carve out the design from the rune.

01:55:28.325 --> 01:55:33.465
The gateway reveals a portal that leads to a bridge, going toward the tallest peak in the nine realms.

01:55:34.525 --> 01:55:39.625
From your back hip, Namir congratulates you on opening the doorway to the lost realm of Jotunheim.

01:55:40.685 --> 01:55:42.945
Then he says, Oh shit, look out!

01:55:44.085 --> 01:55:47.485
Baldur smashes into you, driving a spike through your stomach.

01:55:47.645 --> 01:55:48.885
Motherfucker!

01:55:49.105 --> 01:55:50.185
Asking if you missed him.

01:55:51.285 --> 01:55:57.445
You tell Atreus to cross the bridge, but he ignores your order, shooting arrows point blank into Baldur's back and neck.

01:55:58.445 --> 01:56:04.045
Baldur is unfazed by the arrows, and yanks them out laughing like they're nerf darts.

01:56:05.665 --> 01:56:09.245
As the two of you fight, you end up smashing the gateway to Jotunheim.

01:56:10.045 --> 01:56:16.165
Atreus loses it, and you tell him to go and hide, as you don't want him to see what you're about to do.

01:56:17.405 --> 01:56:21.025
Baldur goads Atreus, saying, run along and let daddy handle this.

01:56:21.945 --> 01:56:29.145
Atreus charges at Baldur, but you hold him back, while also holding in your guts from having yanked out that stone spike during the rumble.

01:56:30.725 --> 01:56:33.345
Atreus demands that you let him handle this.

01:56:34.485 --> 01:56:38.045
Throughout the game, Atreus was upgrading his bow and arrow while you were upgrading your weapons.

01:56:38.945 --> 01:56:43.505
He shoots a lightning charged arrow at you, landing it just above where the spike had gone through.

01:56:44.585 --> 01:56:47.905
You drop to your knees in agony while also getting electrocuted.

01:56:48.825 --> 01:56:52.925
Baldur is cracking up, saying he thought his family was fucked up.

01:56:53.865 --> 01:56:55.485
He's like, y'all are messy.

01:56:55.965 --> 01:56:59.645
Atreus leaps in the air at Baldur, driving his knife into Baldur's shoulder.

01:57:00.505 --> 01:57:02.545
Baldur laughs, yanking the blade out.

01:57:03.225 --> 01:57:08.005
Then he asks Atreus to hold onto it for him, shoving it into the same shoulder of Atreus.

01:57:08.085 --> 01:57:09.805
Oh, that's a hard line.

01:57:09.905 --> 01:57:11.105
Oh, it's so good.

01:57:12.165 --> 01:57:16.685
He then picks up the boy, puts him under his arm, and leaps off the side of the mountain.

01:57:16.865 --> 01:57:19.385
Just steals the child and jumps away.

01:57:19.845 --> 01:57:24.505
Seeing this, you rip the arrow out and charge after them, diving off the mountain behind.

01:57:25.445 --> 01:57:27.385
Through the fog, you see nothing below you.

01:57:28.125 --> 01:57:34.445
Then, out of nowhere, the tail of an armored dragon comes into view, and you grab and hang on for dear life.

01:57:34.485 --> 01:57:35.165
Oh, shit.

01:57:36.025 --> 01:57:38.045
Balder is on the neck, riding in a saddle.

01:57:38.885 --> 01:57:43.605
The dragon is outrageously large, like the ending of How to Train Your Dragon big.

01:57:44.425 --> 01:57:46.365
Balder ties Atreus onto the saddle.

01:57:46.825 --> 01:57:49.765
Then the two of you QTE battle it out on the back of the dragon.

01:57:50.505 --> 01:57:53.765
You manage to kick Balder off the dragon, sending him flying off with a scream.

01:57:55.025 --> 01:57:57.425
You crawl to Atreus and begin to untie him.

01:57:58.465 --> 01:58:04.605
Out of nowhere, Balder comes flying in and punches you, sending you soaring off the dragon instead.

01:58:05.985 --> 01:58:11.885
You drive both your swords into the wing of the dragon, slicing it into three pieces lengthwise.

01:58:13.045 --> 01:58:18.205
You fall off the dragon and brace for impact, landing on the floor of the temple, just shy of a superhero landing.

01:58:19.145 --> 01:58:23.805
You watch the dragon crash land just on the other side of the temple and sprint to the landing site.

01:58:24.465 --> 01:58:30.445
As you burst through the doors of the temple, Brock is in his shop and asks, If you're here, who the hell is operating the transport room right now?

01:58:30.845 --> 01:58:33.105
Also, why do you have a pop up in the middle of this battle?

01:58:33.125 --> 01:58:35.925
Yeah, that's just where he's always been.

01:58:36.425 --> 01:58:41.025
It's still like, you see the dragon flying around, maybe you take a lunch.

01:58:41.225 --> 01:58:41.765
Go hide.

01:58:41.845 --> 01:58:42.245
Yeah.

01:58:42.665 --> 01:58:51.005
You bust into the transport room and find Balder just finishing putting coordinates into the machine, saying that all of Asgard is going to come crashing down on you.

01:58:51.605 --> 01:58:53.825
His motive's still very unclear to us.

01:58:54.905 --> 01:58:59.485
You try to stop the machine from doing whatever it is he's doing by using the Bifrost to deactivate it.

01:59:00.385 --> 01:59:07.205
Since you're a living hammer, everything looks like a nail to you, and you take the Bifrost and start hitting the machine with it like an ape.

01:59:07.565 --> 01:59:08.645
Hell yeah.

01:59:09.085 --> 01:59:15.705
The Bifrost causes a portal to open, sucking Atreus through, followed by Balder, who is yelling back, What did you do?

01:59:16.685 --> 01:59:20.365
With no other choice, you let go of the machine, following after them.

01:59:21.385 --> 01:59:25.125
You grab Atreus as the two of you crash into the side of some ice covered ruins.

01:59:25.925 --> 01:59:27.465
You're in Helheim once again.

01:59:28.605 --> 01:59:36.645
You grab Atreus by the arm, forcefully telling him that you are father, he is boy, and that he is not acting like himself lately.

01:59:36.765 --> 01:59:37.205
Facts!

01:59:37.345 --> 01:59:39.045
He needs to calm the fuck down.

01:59:39.305 --> 01:59:41.385
This is literal hell.

01:59:42.205 --> 01:59:49.105
Not only that, Atreus got all of you sent there when he shot you on that mountainside, so he doesn't get to have an opinion anymore.

01:59:50.105 --> 01:59:59.005
Like any child after scolding, even a godchild, Atreus finally shuts the fuck up, realizes he is in the wrong here, and needs to listen.

01:59:59.825 --> 02:00:02.645
It's time for Atreus to deal with his daddy issues here in Hel.

02:00:03.665 --> 02:00:10.685
He watches as a ghostly shadow version of himself kills Modi, then is like, is that what I looked like?

02:00:11.705 --> 02:00:12.505
That couldn't have been me.

02:00:13.865 --> 02:00:16.485
Freaked out by the honest reflection Hel is presenting him with.

02:00:17.345 --> 02:00:23.285
The worst kind of hell, being wrong, knowing it, then being forced to relive it.

02:00:24.445 --> 02:00:29.525
While working your way back to the temple, you come across Baldr, dealing with his version of hell.

02:00:30.605 --> 02:00:33.705
He doesn't have daddy issues, he has mommy issues.

02:00:34.725 --> 02:00:37.805
You find out that Freya is Baldr's mother.

02:00:38.245 --> 02:00:39.165
Oh shit.

02:00:39.585 --> 02:00:42.685
She's also the reason he can't feel pain or die.

02:00:43.145 --> 02:00:46.945
She cast a powerful spell over him to protect him from all harm.

02:00:48.045 --> 02:00:49.145
But it had side effects.

02:00:50.165 --> 02:00:51.765
It's not that he can't feel pain.

02:00:52.805 --> 02:00:54.245
He can't feel anything.

02:00:54.885 --> 02:00:55.105
Oh.

02:00:55.425 --> 02:00:57.105
He can't taste anything.

02:00:58.005 --> 02:01:00.325
His dick doesn't even feel it when he's fucking.

02:01:00.965 --> 02:01:01.745
He brings that up?

02:01:01.885 --> 02:01:03.145
He does bring that up to his mom.

02:01:03.505 --> 02:01:03.845
Huh.

02:01:04.545 --> 02:01:10.625
She just insists she made the right decision for his own protection, saying that someday he'll thank her.

02:01:11.745 --> 02:01:15.065
You ask Mimir why he never told you that Freya was Baldur's mother.

02:01:15.685 --> 02:01:18.345
He says that it must have slipped his mind when he got his head cut off.

02:01:18.765 --> 02:01:22.105
He also is a bit of the cheater's answer of, well, you didn't ask.

02:01:22.125 --> 02:01:22.785
Yeah, right.

02:01:23.665 --> 02:01:24.945
Why didn't you tell me you kissed her?

02:01:24.985 --> 02:01:25.745
You didn't ask.

02:01:25.785 --> 02:01:26.925
What the fuck, man?

02:01:27.605 --> 02:01:28.885
Okay, that is not from our experience.

02:01:28.905 --> 02:01:29.965
I know, that's nothing you've done.

02:01:31.125 --> 02:01:32.505
But it's, you know, it's the trope.

02:01:33.385 --> 02:01:37.545
You sneak past him as he yells at his past self for not killing his mother then and there.

02:01:38.825 --> 02:01:43.365
You find and steal a boat, a real one this time, like a big ass pirate ship style boat.

02:01:43.565 --> 02:01:44.205
Hell yeah.

02:01:44.545 --> 02:01:46.105
The plan is to take it to the temple.

02:01:46.925 --> 02:01:50.325
The problem is that it's at the top of a waterfall and you're at the bottom.

02:01:50.885 --> 02:01:53.325
Atreus mentions a flying ship that one of the realms had built.

02:01:54.125 --> 02:01:56.945
Lomir says something that sounds like Snulfhilflshmir.

02:01:57.185 --> 02:01:58.065
No, you nailed that.

02:01:58.105 --> 02:01:58.625
Oh, thank you.

02:01:58.865 --> 02:02:02.725
Honestly, it's a Nordic word that has like a bunch of umlauts and all sorts of foreign letters in it.

02:02:03.245 --> 02:02:06.785
He's like, yeah, that boat can fly, but that's not this boat.

02:02:07.925 --> 02:02:09.045
That don't help us here though.

02:02:09.545 --> 02:02:13.545
As it turns out, yes, it is Snuffleupagus and it can fly.

02:02:14.725 --> 02:02:17.765
You get into some sky battles, winning them with your boy by your side.

02:02:18.845 --> 02:02:23.025
After the battle, it's finally your turn to deal with your daddy issues.

02:02:23.205 --> 02:02:24.025
Oh no.

02:02:24.305 --> 02:02:26.605
Causing all new ones for Atreus in the process.

02:02:26.685 --> 02:02:32.065
He's like, now I gotta deal with your fucking generational trauma on top of my brand new trauma.

02:02:32.385 --> 02:02:34.125
I just got this trauma, man.

02:02:34.725 --> 02:02:41.965
You both watch as a ghost version of your past self confronts your father, Zeus, and beats him to death with his bare hands.

02:02:43.045 --> 02:02:46.205
You stare at the scene, scared of what your son is witnessing.

02:02:47.325 --> 02:02:52.005
But Atreus steps through the ghosts and grabs you, telling you that you need to snap out of it.

02:02:52.885 --> 02:02:55.105
You ask him if he understands what he just saw.

02:02:55.885 --> 02:03:02.025
Atreus says, yeah, but look, you turn around just in time to see your ship crash into a statue.

02:03:02.925 --> 02:03:11.725
I like that Atreus is like, yes, this is very traumatic and super fucked up, and we will talk about it, but I need you to get your shit together.

02:03:12.705 --> 02:03:18.305
You go flying off the boat, bracing for impact, landing inside a temple, but not the one you're looking for.

02:03:19.105 --> 02:03:20.865
It's Odin's secret stash.

02:03:21.305 --> 02:03:22.125
Oh, fun.

02:03:22.285 --> 02:03:26.245
He hides the really dark shit down here from his conquests around the Nine Realms.

02:03:26.365 --> 02:03:27.345
It's the dark web.

02:03:27.765 --> 02:03:34.205
You find an ancient hieroglyph depicting Tyr walking across an invisible bridge, like in The Last Crusade.

02:03:34.965 --> 02:03:38.285
There are symbols written around the glyph, each from different worlds.

02:03:39.385 --> 02:03:43.385
Atreus asks what they mean, and you respond, war.

02:03:44.405 --> 02:03:49.725
As you look at the omega symbol in one of the corners, saying you know that one all too well.

02:03:51.045 --> 02:03:57.225
Mimir says that Tyr had the same gift of knowledge that Mimir has, meaning he had the same kind of eyes.

02:03:58.465 --> 02:04:01.545
Mimir is able to see parts of this glyph that other people can't.

02:04:02.645 --> 02:04:09.905
It reveals another secret entrance to Jotunheim, which this other secret entrance still needs a key.

02:04:10.065 --> 02:04:10.685
Obviously.

02:04:10.785 --> 02:04:13.725
So you decide to visit Brock to see if he can help you out in that department.

02:04:14.805 --> 02:04:19.005
On the way back to the temple, you want to talk to Atreus about what he saw in your memory.

02:04:19.965 --> 02:04:23.985
He denies having seen it at all, changing the subject pretty much immediately.

02:04:24.205 --> 02:04:27.645
He's like, I really don't have the bandwidth to talk about grandpa right now.

02:04:29.145 --> 02:04:32.945
Finally at Helheim's temple, you use the Bifrost to return to Midgard.

02:04:33.805 --> 02:04:39.325
You ask Mimir for info on Balder, and his answers sound like a poorly written Wikipedia article.

02:04:39.645 --> 02:04:39.865
Oh.

02:04:40.345 --> 02:04:44.045
You realize that he must be bewitched to not talk about Balder.

02:04:44.805 --> 02:04:45.065
Oh.

02:04:45.585 --> 02:04:48.745
Mimir says, that's been the case ever since he discovered Balder's weakness.

02:04:49.645 --> 02:04:51.325
Atreus goes, wait, there's a weakness?

02:04:52.125 --> 02:04:56.825
Then Mimir slips into the Wiki article speak once again, saying Balder has no known weaknesses.

02:04:56.885 --> 02:04:57.805
God damn it.

02:04:58.505 --> 02:05:02.345
Knowing that there is a weakness, you assure them both that you will find it.

02:05:03.505 --> 02:05:07.065
You arrive at Brock's shop, showing him a picture of the key you're going to need.

02:05:07.565 --> 02:05:08.745
You ask if he's able to make it.

02:05:09.685 --> 02:05:14.425
He scoffs, saying he would never lower himself to making something so insignificant.

02:05:15.145 --> 02:05:18.445
He only makes weapons and occasional armor with spikes on it.

02:05:20.205 --> 02:05:24.965
However, he has an air of worry, like he actually couldn't make what you're asking.

02:05:26.005 --> 02:05:28.385
He says his tools would break on something that intricate.

02:05:29.345 --> 02:05:32.345
From nowhere, a voice says, then shingle it.

02:05:33.325 --> 02:05:35.885
It's Sindri, here to help you in your hour of need.

02:05:37.085 --> 02:05:41.805
The two brothers go back and forth with blacksmithing lingo, discussing the requirements to make the key.

02:05:42.725 --> 02:05:46.565
Now excited to work with his brother once again, Brock gets to work making it.

02:05:47.765 --> 02:05:48.845
Sindri is like, hold up.

02:05:49.505 --> 02:05:51.865
You're willing to make something other than a weapon?

02:05:52.925 --> 02:05:55.245
Brock goes, what, I'm not allowed to have character development?

02:05:56.445 --> 02:05:57.585
They love each other.

02:05:58.005 --> 02:06:01.865
They get to work making the key, engraving it with their newly rejoined branding iron.

02:06:02.285 --> 02:06:03.785
Oh, it's a collab.

02:06:04.345 --> 02:06:09.285
Atreus smiles as he picks up the key, saying it's just really nice to see the two brothers love each other again.

02:06:10.145 --> 02:06:13.765
Then he points at the branding, saying that it's slightly different from their old one.

02:06:14.845 --> 02:06:17.445
Brock says, that's what happens when you fix something that was broken.

02:06:18.105 --> 02:06:21.625
It won't ever be the same, but that doesn't mean it can't still do the job.

02:06:22.305 --> 02:06:25.525
And that's totally not a metaphor for this game being rebooted.

02:06:27.825 --> 02:06:29.905
Now get out of here and save the world or some shit.

02:06:31.085 --> 02:06:34.825
You follow Amir's instructions to the other secret entrance to Jotunheim.

02:06:35.605 --> 02:06:37.325
It's here in the temple, fortunately.

02:06:37.745 --> 02:06:40.425
The thing is, the door needed to be accessible to giants.

02:06:41.185 --> 02:06:45.925
Maybe not all giants like the serpent sized, but they still needed space for the pretty big guys.

02:06:46.585 --> 02:06:49.005
So they built it underneath the temple.

02:06:50.245 --> 02:06:52.505
You find a room that is built upside down.

02:06:53.405 --> 02:06:55.125
You rock around and feel a ground move.

02:06:55.965 --> 02:07:00.565
You find an edge to the floor and lift it, revealing that the ground on which you're standing is on an axle.

02:07:01.665 --> 02:07:07.685
You basically kick into video game logic and say, the room has the ability to be flipped, which means we should flip the room.

02:07:07.885 --> 02:07:08.225
Yeah.

02:07:08.765 --> 02:07:12.165
Amir's like, yeah, why build that feature if you don't want to use it?

02:07:12.305 --> 02:07:12.805
Fully.

02:07:13.045 --> 02:07:16.825
But also, what if you're not supposed to flip a temple upside down?

02:07:17.065 --> 02:07:18.185
He's not in a video game.

02:07:18.205 --> 02:07:18.625
We are.

02:07:18.645 --> 02:07:18.985
Shut up.

02:07:19.385 --> 02:07:22.305
Yeah, you're the fucking god of war, so you flip the fucking temple.

02:07:23.225 --> 02:07:27.865
Of course, you were right, and you realize you need to climb up pretty high to get to an entrance you can get through.

02:07:28.725 --> 02:07:32.825
You get help from both Atreus and Amir, assisting you in your puzzle-solving along the way.

02:07:33.565 --> 02:07:36.285
Sometimes to an annoying degree, but you manage to get your shit done.

02:07:37.505 --> 02:07:44.365
Atreus tells Amir that this is Tyr's true test, to see if you can all work together as a team to overcome all these obstacles.

02:07:44.725 --> 02:07:47.485
He's really checked his ego since his dad yelled at him.

02:07:47.485 --> 02:07:48.265
Oh, fully.

02:07:48.285 --> 02:07:49.005
This is great.

02:07:49.085 --> 02:07:51.105
He's like, I fought with you, dad.

02:07:51.685 --> 02:07:53.105
Brock and Sindri were fighting.

02:07:53.525 --> 02:07:54.945
Amir and Freya were fighting.

02:07:55.425 --> 02:07:58.925
But when it came down to it, you all overcame your issues and worked together.

02:07:59.905 --> 02:08:02.285
Now we're steps away from accomplishing our goal.

02:08:02.485 --> 02:08:03.085
Yeah.

02:08:03.525 --> 02:08:04.805
Amir's like, wow.

02:08:05.525 --> 02:08:07.965
The boy got over that angsty phase with a quickness.

02:08:08.565 --> 02:08:11.625
The emo bangs just retracted back into his hairline.

02:08:11.645 --> 02:08:13.085
He's like, I got this, I'm cool now.

02:08:13.085 --> 02:08:15.105
Yeah, he's all philosophical and shit now.

02:08:15.325 --> 02:08:15.865
That's what's up.

02:08:16.005 --> 02:08:20.945
Honestly, poor Atreus has to experience all of adolescence over the course of a week.

02:08:22.525 --> 02:08:23.525
Oh, poor guy.

02:08:23.585 --> 02:08:27.085
With his fuck you dad phase ending as suddenly as it started.

02:08:27.205 --> 02:08:27.845
I love that.

02:08:28.565 --> 02:08:35.525
Now he's much softer and more positive, trying to learn from Tyr, remembering that he was considered by many to be a good god.

02:08:36.245 --> 02:08:40.525
He thought his dad was a good god, which is why he was trying to emulate him.

02:08:41.465 --> 02:08:46.845
Now he knows that his dad is also a god of war, but doesn't act the same way Tyr did.

02:08:47.705 --> 02:08:56.525
Remembering that his father told him to be better than him, he's now set his sights on being like Tyr, a god of war who only fights for peace.

02:08:56.825 --> 02:08:57.365
Good.

02:08:58.485 --> 02:09:05.445
Arriving in the double-hidden underground upside down secret within a secret temple, you find an artifact under extreme protection.

02:09:06.445 --> 02:09:08.785
Retrieving it, Mimir asks to see it.

02:09:09.785 --> 02:09:11.205
He's astonished by what it is.

02:09:12.005 --> 02:09:13.565
He was under the impression it wasn't real.

02:09:14.625 --> 02:09:15.985
It's called the Unity Stone.

02:09:16.885 --> 02:09:20.385
It explains how Tyr was able to travel between realms and worlds.

02:09:21.485 --> 02:09:24.465
You remember Tyr holding this device in that hieroglyph from earlier.

02:09:25.345 --> 02:09:30.065
You finally piece together what must be done, and tell Atreus and Mimir your plan.

02:09:31.485 --> 02:09:34.185
Throughout the game, there's been that fast travel system.

02:09:34.865 --> 02:09:38.085
Little gateways that open up after you complete a section of the map or story.

02:09:38.845 --> 02:09:44.165
When you open one, you are taken to another place in space-time called the Realm Between Realms.

02:09:44.805 --> 02:09:47.725
It's an astral plane location floating in nothingness.

02:09:48.005 --> 02:09:49.485
Yeah, we just went over one last week.

02:09:49.925 --> 02:09:50.805
Yeah, we did, right?

02:09:50.825 --> 02:09:52.245
We do, a lot of games have these.

02:09:52.245 --> 02:09:52.605
Yeah.

02:09:53.205 --> 02:09:55.485
It's basically a playable loading screen.

02:09:55.925 --> 02:09:56.665
Cool.

02:09:56.925 --> 02:09:59.445
It has paths to different gateways around the map.

02:10:00.265 --> 02:10:06.465
You realize that the secret path is where the Jotunheim gateway should be in the Realm Between Realms.

02:10:07.465 --> 02:10:11.745
You jump off the edge of infinity, hoping you're right about how you interpreted the hieroglyph.

02:10:12.825 --> 02:10:15.445
Mimir wishes you all luck, saying it's been fun.

02:10:16.225 --> 02:10:20.165
You say have faith, head, as you step off into the void.

02:10:21.245 --> 02:10:23.645
You fall quickly down into a gray nothing fog.

02:10:24.325 --> 02:10:28.185
Light flies past your eyes, as your vision blurs from the speed and force.

02:10:29.585 --> 02:10:32.385
Finally, you land with a boom, but unharmed.

02:10:33.305 --> 02:10:35.865
Mimir wonders how he can be nauseous without a stomach.

02:10:37.785 --> 02:10:43.325
Atreus points off in the distance, indicating a tower, excited that you were right and there's something down here.

02:10:44.405 --> 02:10:45.965
You go inside where you find a plinth.

02:10:46.385 --> 02:10:50.045
In the center is an indentation that perfectly matches the Unity Stone.

02:10:50.465 --> 02:10:51.825
So you slide it into the slot.

02:10:52.705 --> 02:10:54.205
The plinth lowers into the ground.

02:10:54.825 --> 02:11:02.765
Mimir says that the tower itself seems to be absorbing the power of the stone, giving the building the same characteristics that allow for inner realm travel.

02:11:03.305 --> 02:11:08.885
The building you're in travels through the realms like an elevator, each floor unleashing the enemy from that region on you.

02:11:09.745 --> 02:11:13.585
You've only visited five of the nine realms so far, so it's not too many floors.

02:11:14.525 --> 02:11:22.465
Ending on Midgard, you open the door to this building that's a new addition to the temple, confident that this will allow you to travel to Jotunheim.

02:11:23.605 --> 02:11:25.045
You activate the transportation room.

02:11:25.705 --> 02:11:26.825
Mimir says it's no use.

02:11:27.265 --> 02:11:29.965
Tyr used his eyes to refract the energy.

02:11:30.905 --> 02:11:31.105
Oh.

02:11:32.025 --> 02:11:39.365
Yes, Mimir has the same eyes, but one was removed by Odin specifically to keep him from being able to refract the energy.

02:11:39.885 --> 02:11:41.765
Odin and his missing eye shit.

02:11:41.785 --> 02:11:44.865
Like, it's a little on the nose, you know?

02:11:45.245 --> 02:11:46.125
It's a little on the eye.

02:11:46.145 --> 02:11:46.925
Hey.

02:11:47.905 --> 02:11:52.945
You ask Mimir what happened to his other eye, and he says he's not sure what Odin did with it.

02:11:53.765 --> 02:11:57.205
Maybe Brock and Sindri would know, having done work for Odin so many times.

02:11:57.945 --> 02:12:02.245
Brock says he remembers being asked to build a statue with a secret compartment for Odin.

02:12:03.065 --> 02:12:07.965
He turned down the job because it wasn't a weapon, but knows it did get commissioned by someone.

02:12:08.805 --> 02:12:10.525
It's that giant Thor statue outside.

02:12:11.265 --> 02:12:12.505
The one that the snake ate?

02:12:13.645 --> 02:12:14.285
Oh no.

02:12:14.445 --> 02:12:16.465
The eye is inside the statue's eye socket.

02:12:17.365 --> 02:12:18.205
Inside the snake?

02:12:18.385 --> 02:12:22.145
You're like, shit, the Thor statue that the serpent ate, thanks.

02:12:22.725 --> 02:12:23.205
Now what?

02:12:23.345 --> 02:12:24.705
Now we go inside the snake.

02:12:25.405 --> 02:12:29.265
You decide to go speak with the serpent to see if maybe it came out the other end?

02:12:29.385 --> 02:12:30.385
Okay, you know what?

02:12:31.325 --> 02:12:36.065
You had the right thought process, because I jumped to go inside of the snake.

02:12:36.505 --> 02:12:42.005
Yeah, you might as well just ask the snake politely if he's passed an eyeball recently.

02:12:42.325 --> 02:12:47.045
You summon the serpent, and it tells you that digestion for him is extremely slow.

02:12:47.825 --> 02:12:50.145
So you're welcome to go inside and look around for it.

02:12:50.405 --> 02:12:51.365
That sucks.

02:12:52.045 --> 02:12:53.085
So you're gonna get your wish.

02:12:53.585 --> 02:12:58.565
I mean, now I regret it, but I did win out in this situation, I guess.

02:12:59.165 --> 02:13:01.145
Atreus asks if you're really going inside.

02:13:01.745 --> 02:13:03.165
You tell him he doesn't have to come.

02:13:03.525 --> 02:13:05.345
He goes, oh no, this is awesome.

02:13:05.365 --> 02:13:06.205
I'm totally going.

02:13:06.225 --> 02:13:08.605
I'm fully gonna go treasure hunting inside a snake.

02:13:08.625 --> 02:13:09.985
Are you fucking kidding me, dad?

02:13:10.585 --> 02:13:15.445
The serpent lowers its head into the water and you paddle your rowboat into its gaping maw.

02:13:15.765 --> 02:13:16.205
Bleh.

02:13:16.965 --> 02:13:20.045
Atreus says he's never been inside another creature's stomach before.

02:13:20.385 --> 02:13:20.785
Have you?

02:13:21.525 --> 02:13:24.265
You say not one that wasn't trying to eat you.

02:13:25.205 --> 02:13:25.825
Oh no.

02:13:26.525 --> 02:13:29.085
Mimir's like, of course you've been inside something before.

02:13:29.105 --> 02:13:32.125
Hey, that's how he's a daddy now.

02:13:32.145 --> 02:13:32.965
Oh wow.

02:13:34.145 --> 02:13:38.825
It's like Monstro's belly in here as you search through wreckage and shit looking for the missing eye.

02:13:39.805 --> 02:13:44.045
You eventually find it, shoving it into Mimir's empty eye socket, un-lubricated.

02:13:45.865 --> 02:13:47.085
What is wrong with you?

02:13:48.685 --> 02:13:53.925
I feel like you kind of gave me shit for making the sex joke 10 seconds ago and then you dropped that shit.

02:13:53.965 --> 02:13:55.145
I'm sorry, I have to.

02:13:55.185 --> 02:13:55.805
No, you don't.

02:13:56.705 --> 02:14:00.105
Atreus is like, nothing can stop us from getting to Jotunheim now.

02:14:00.125 --> 02:14:03.445
Mimir's like, you little dipshit, why'd you have to say that?

02:14:04.585 --> 02:14:06.225
You definitely just jinxed us, buddy.

02:14:06.565 --> 02:14:09.405
Suddenly, the serpent shakes violently.

02:14:10.645 --> 02:14:14.545
A wave of water forces you forward as the serpent vomits you up.

02:14:14.925 --> 02:14:15.165
Ew!

02:14:15.585 --> 02:14:19.505
You go flying through the air, landing ungracefully on the sandy beach below.

02:14:20.565 --> 02:14:25.605
The two of you watch as the world serpent sputters and falls over limp onto the mountainside.

02:14:25.725 --> 02:14:26.225
Oh, no!

02:14:26.825 --> 02:14:28.785
Atreus wonders if it was something the two of you did.

02:14:29.625 --> 02:14:30.485
You say, no.

02:14:31.105 --> 02:14:32.925
This is something much more sinister.

02:14:34.445 --> 02:14:37.725
An eagle flies into the scene and magically transforms into Freya.

02:14:38.845 --> 02:14:41.265
Atreus looks to you and asks if we're still trusting her.

02:14:42.225 --> 02:14:45.625
You tell him that you will trust her, but need to keep your distance.

02:14:47.225 --> 02:14:49.105
She says that she's looking for her son, Balder.

02:14:49.425 --> 02:14:50.945
He's been rumored to be in Midgard.

02:14:52.185 --> 02:14:54.885
Atreus asks, when was the last time she saw him?

02:14:55.845 --> 02:15:01.325
And she bends down like a kindergarten teacher to say that she hasn't seen him since before Atreus was even born.

02:15:01.865 --> 02:15:08.025
You very obviously keep yourself between Freya and Atreus, and she questions your apprehension.

02:15:09.365 --> 02:15:15.565
Atreus points to the nearby frozen lake and says, there, up from the water, Balder comes walking out.

02:15:16.065 --> 02:15:18.125
Atreus solves problems.

02:15:18.405 --> 02:15:19.165
Constantly, right?

02:15:19.185 --> 02:15:19.825
He's always looking around.

02:15:20.605 --> 02:15:22.005
Yeah, he's on his toes.

02:15:22.025 --> 02:15:25.465
Freya's like, I haven't seen my son in fucking 12 years.

02:15:25.485 --> 02:15:28.085
And Atreus goes, he's right fucking there.

02:15:29.245 --> 02:15:32.785
He says he knew hurting the big snake would bring you two out in the open.

02:15:33.845 --> 02:15:36.845
Seeing Freya though, makes him stop in his tracks.

02:15:38.225 --> 02:15:46.725
She apologizes for the spell she cast on him, saying she knows how he must feel, which poor choice of words, given the extent of the spell.

02:15:46.925 --> 02:15:47.605
Not great.

02:15:48.145 --> 02:15:56.665
This poor choice pisses off Balder, who literally can't feel anything, saying that he's waited a hundred years for this moment.

02:15:57.765 --> 02:16:01.765
Balder steps forward, ready to do unspeakable harm to his mother.

02:16:02.905 --> 02:16:07.365
You stand between them, telling Balder that the path of vengeance is a dead end.

02:16:08.125 --> 02:16:10.985
He will not find peace there, you know from experience.

02:16:11.445 --> 02:16:15.185
Yeah, if anything Kratos can relate, he's like, I killed my dad.

02:16:15.205 --> 02:16:18.545
It gave me nothing but trauma that now I have to give to my kids.

02:16:18.965 --> 02:16:21.705
So you're kind of just fucking up future generations.

02:16:21.725 --> 02:16:22.545
You can stop this.

02:16:23.585 --> 02:16:27.905
This kicks off a fight between the two of you, this time with Atreus by your side.

02:16:29.185 --> 02:16:33.885
Freya uses her magic from the sidelines to try and stop the fight, working against both of you.

02:16:35.005 --> 02:16:37.705
Eventually she uses her power to tie you up with vines.

02:16:38.625 --> 02:16:41.625
She attempts the same on Balder, but he escapes and approaches you.

02:16:42.745 --> 02:16:45.665
Atreus stands between you and Balder, threatening him.

02:16:46.845 --> 02:16:49.065
Balder tells him to move if he knows what's good for him.

02:16:50.225 --> 02:16:53.425
Atreus refuses, ready to stand and fight for his father.

02:16:54.665 --> 02:16:56.965
Balder says, if you insist.

02:16:58.065 --> 02:17:03.185
Then winds up and punches Atreus in the stomach with everything he has.

02:17:03.425 --> 02:17:04.025
Oh no.

02:17:05.025 --> 02:17:16.745
The spell holding you releases, and you dive for Atreus as he falls to the ground, shaking and bleeding, as the punch was so hard it broke the skin through his clothing.

02:17:17.625 --> 02:17:19.025
Oh, fuck.

02:17:19.725 --> 02:17:24.725
With the wind knocked out of him, he can't even catch his breath fully, gasping for air.

02:17:24.885 --> 02:17:25.925
Holy shit.

02:17:26.845 --> 02:17:29.525
Atreus finally starts to breathe, coughing.

02:17:30.465 --> 02:17:33.285
Then he says, not my blood.

02:17:33.505 --> 02:17:33.885
What?

02:17:34.825 --> 02:17:39.985
You look over at Balder, and see that he has the tip of an arrow sticking through his fist.

02:17:40.285 --> 02:17:41.165
Oh shit.

02:17:41.465 --> 02:17:45.085
It's the arrowhead that Freya gave to Atreus to fix his quiver strap.

02:17:45.845 --> 02:17:49.165
Enchanted with mistletoe, which she described as being wicked.

02:17:50.705 --> 02:17:57.185
Balder stares at the enchanted arrow in his hand as blue light spreads across his heavily tattooed body.

02:17:58.345 --> 02:18:01.605
He starts laughing, saying he can feel the arrow.

02:18:02.685 --> 02:18:03.805
He can feel everything.

02:18:05.865 --> 02:18:08.565
Atreus fixes problems.

02:18:09.465 --> 02:18:15.725
Well, Freya sees that the two of you are about to fight again, and she uses her power to stop the fight wrapping Balder up with vines.

02:18:16.845 --> 02:18:24.965
Then from behind her, the dead giant that forms the mountain range stands, controlled by Freya herself.

02:18:24.985 --> 02:18:25.865
Holy shit.

02:18:26.365 --> 02:18:33.445
He reaches down and grabs the two of you, cupping you in its hand, but not crushing you like you would with like a bug you want to catch but not kill.

02:18:34.905 --> 02:18:38.545
He drops you off in a boss fight arena, where Balder comes at you once more.

02:18:39.745 --> 02:18:41.745
This time, he's finally mortal.

02:18:42.905 --> 02:18:49.845
Freya uses the giant to try and disrupt the fight, dropping its hands and hammered down on the arena, blocking the two of you from fighting.

02:18:50.805 --> 02:18:54.725
You try to explain that Balder intends to kill her, but she doesn't care.

02:18:55.605 --> 02:18:58.685
It's her son, and she'd gladly lay down her life to protect him.

02:19:00.325 --> 02:19:06.765
Balder has the time of his life during this fight, as it's the first time he's felt anything in 100 years.

02:19:08.125 --> 02:19:12.925
In an attempt to stop the fight, Freya has the giant drive a spike into the ground.

02:19:13.945 --> 02:19:19.865
Seeing this as an opportunity to reach his mother, Balder begins to climb the spike, so you and Atreus follow.

02:19:20.985 --> 02:19:25.605
The giant lifts the spike into the air, and the two of you fight it out 300 feet off the ground.

02:19:25.645 --> 02:19:26.925
That's so fucking cool.

02:19:27.285 --> 02:19:30.305
You grab Balder, diving off the spike together.

02:19:31.305 --> 02:19:36.665
Atreus jumps after you, unleashing arrows into Balder while the three of you fall to the ground.

02:19:37.785 --> 02:19:40.725
Being gods, crash landing is just a minor inconvenience.

02:19:41.665 --> 02:19:46.585
But Balder gets the upper hand in the crash, mounts you, and starts to choke you out.

02:19:47.845 --> 02:19:52.645
Atreus leaps on his back and wraps his bow around Balder's neck, choking him in response.

02:19:53.945 --> 02:19:56.925
Balder releases one hand from you to grab Atreus by the throat.

02:19:57.945 --> 02:20:02.285
You grab Balder by his, resulting in all three of you getting choked out.

02:20:04.305 --> 02:20:09.545
Laughing maniacally, Balder says that he's never felt more alive than he does right now.

02:20:10.585 --> 02:20:25.705
Your Spartan rage takes over, allowing you and Atreus to break free from the hold, both of you kicking his ass, sending you into the final round of the fight, resulting in a QTE moment that has you and Atreus going back and forth, whooping the shit out of Balder.

02:20:26.665 --> 02:20:34.625
You mount him and begin punching, over and over, both of you turning more and more red from the blood pouring from Balder's face.

02:20:35.945 --> 02:20:42.425
Freya makes the giant blow a gale of wind from its mouth, slowly freezing the area, stopping you from killing Balder.

02:20:43.605 --> 02:20:47.625
Atreus says he has an idea and starts making some guttural sounds.

02:20:49.025 --> 02:20:55.305
The serpent of the world rises up and latches its mouth to the face of the giant, snapping its neck.

02:20:55.905 --> 02:20:57.325
That's the coolest fucking thing.

02:20:57.565 --> 02:20:58.665
Oh, it's so good.

02:20:59.045 --> 02:21:02.285
It's just two giants, like they take up the entire fucking screen.

02:21:02.325 --> 02:21:03.165
Hell yeah.

02:21:03.425 --> 02:21:05.245
And this kills the giant once again.

02:21:06.385 --> 02:21:08.465
You get thrown and land nearby Balder.

02:21:09.365 --> 02:21:12.885
You mount him once more, your hands quickly finding his neck.

02:21:13.965 --> 02:21:15.765
He's begging you to finish him.

02:21:16.965 --> 02:21:20.265
Freya is on the ground nearby, and she begs you not to.

02:21:21.605 --> 02:21:24.965
Then Atreus walks up saying, He's beaten, father.

02:21:25.805 --> 02:21:26.925
He's no longer a threat.

02:21:29.005 --> 02:21:31.585
Having finally learned the lesson, he failed with Modi.

02:21:32.825 --> 02:21:39.185
You look into Balder's eyes and tell him that he will not come for you or your family ever again.

02:21:40.145 --> 02:21:41.565
He will not touch Freya.

02:21:42.425 --> 02:21:45.065
Freya spits back angrily, I don't need you to protect me.

02:21:46.845 --> 02:21:52.005
Completely over this fucked up family, you stand letting Balder go.

02:21:53.405 --> 02:21:57.725
Balder gets up and starts talking shit to his mom again, because of course he does.

02:21:57.885 --> 02:21:58.245
Yeah.

02:21:58.885 --> 02:22:01.565
Saying he will never forgive her what she did to him.

02:22:02.545 --> 02:22:08.745
She says, fine, if seeing me dead is the only thing that will make you happy, then here I am.

02:22:09.745 --> 02:22:10.505
Finish the job.

02:22:10.845 --> 02:22:11.745
Oh shit!

02:22:12.765 --> 02:22:16.525
He approaches her crying, then grabs her by the throat.

02:22:17.825 --> 02:22:21.805
Watching this all play out, Atreus begs you to stop this from happening.

02:22:23.005 --> 02:22:28.085
Freya looks into her son's eyes as she struggles to find breath, telling him she loves him.

02:22:29.585 --> 02:22:32.165
You come up behind Balder, putting him in a headlock.

02:22:33.125 --> 02:22:36.145
You tell him the cycle of violence ends here.

02:22:36.445 --> 02:22:37.265
Hell yeah!

02:22:37.285 --> 02:22:41.465
See, Kratos is a product of fucking therapy.

02:22:42.525 --> 02:22:44.665
Kratos is using his toolkit.

02:22:44.685 --> 02:22:46.585
He is emotionally regulating.

02:22:46.605 --> 02:22:50.385
He is identifying bad patterns that he has the power to break.

02:22:50.645 --> 02:22:53.205
Fuck yeah, Kratos, and fuck yeah, therapy.

02:22:54.045 --> 02:22:58.865
Clearly, Balder hasn't learned anything, and honestly, likely never will.

02:22:59.905 --> 02:23:03.565
You grab the side of his head, then twist it until it snaps.

02:23:04.845 --> 02:23:09.745
Sending Balder's eyes rolling into the back of his head as he finally dies.

02:23:11.405 --> 02:23:15.325
Freya crawls over to him, saying, my dear boy, no.

02:23:16.185 --> 02:23:17.945
You tell her that he chose this fate.

02:23:19.205 --> 02:23:27.045
Freya says that she will rain down every agony, every violation imaginable upon you.

02:23:27.465 --> 02:23:29.765
This happens to Kratos every 10 years or so.

02:23:29.865 --> 02:23:35.445
Someone swears to the skies they're going to ruin everything, and he's like, I, yeah, bet.

02:23:35.465 --> 02:23:36.945
He's like, join the fucking line.

02:23:37.625 --> 02:23:43.525
She promises to parade your dead and rotting corpse through the streets of Helheim for what you've done here today.

02:23:43.545 --> 02:23:46.365
He's like, okay, there's a fucking wait list.

02:23:47.165 --> 02:23:51.645
She calls you an animal, passing on your cruelty to every living being.

02:23:51.705 --> 02:23:54.505
This isn't even the meanest thing someone's called him in this game.

02:23:54.525 --> 02:23:56.885
He got called a monster like a while ago.

02:23:57.385 --> 02:24:00.985
You tell her that if she thinks that, then she doesn't know you at all.

02:24:02.085 --> 02:24:03.625
She responds, I know enough.

02:24:04.365 --> 02:24:04.965
Does he?

02:24:06.285 --> 02:24:12.965
Without turning to look at him, you say, boy, I come from a land called Sparta.

02:24:14.245 --> 02:24:21.945
I sold my soul to a god, and then proceeded to kill many who deserved it, but also many who did not.

02:24:23.365 --> 02:24:27.825
Turning to face him, you tell Atreus that you killed your own father.

02:24:29.265 --> 02:24:31.725
Atreus asks if this is how it is for every god.

02:24:32.585 --> 02:24:39.065
Sons killing their mothers, their fathers, just to turn around and receive the same fate for themselves?

02:24:40.885 --> 02:24:42.585
You tell them that the two of you have a choice.

02:24:43.605 --> 02:24:45.365
You don't have to live that same life.

02:24:46.365 --> 02:24:48.525
It's our choices that define us.

02:24:48.985 --> 02:24:49.765
Hell yeah.

02:24:50.385 --> 02:24:52.705
You can always grow and become better.

02:24:53.765 --> 02:24:56.565
We must be better than those who came before us.

02:24:56.845 --> 02:24:58.165
I fucking love Kratos.

02:24:59.065 --> 02:25:03.045
Freya carries Baldur's body away, staring daggers at you as she does.

02:25:04.245 --> 02:25:07.225
Mimir says, I guess we're the bad guys now, huh?

02:25:08.165 --> 02:25:09.105
Are we the baddies?

02:25:09.545 --> 02:25:12.245
You say that in her eyes, yes.

02:25:13.265 --> 02:25:16.445
Right now, she isn't able to make the choice to be better.

02:25:18.045 --> 02:25:23.625
Atreus has a hard time understanding, wondering why such a nice person became evil.

02:25:24.965 --> 02:25:27.825
Mimir explains that she didn't become evil.

02:25:28.885 --> 02:25:29.925
She lost her son.

02:25:30.225 --> 02:25:30.785
Yeah.

02:25:31.005 --> 02:25:34.705
The death of a child is not something a parent can get over easily, if ever.

02:25:35.445 --> 02:25:37.625
You can't blame her for the way she reacted.

02:25:38.085 --> 02:25:40.065
Just be ready for it when her wrath comes.

02:25:41.345 --> 02:25:46.805
You even tell Atreus that you would gladly allow him to kill you if it meant he would live.

02:25:48.125 --> 02:25:50.425
It's a feeling only a parent can understand.

02:25:51.765 --> 02:25:58.825
In the meantime, you have Atreus' mother to honor still, so you head back to the temple where you can travel to Jotunheim.

02:25:59.525 --> 02:26:06.885
Using Mimir's restored eyes, you open the gateway to Jotunheim, wondering how far you'll be from the mountaintop when you pass through.

02:26:08.185 --> 02:26:16.585
Just before walking through the gate, Mimir stops you, saying that you don't want a rotting head with you for this moment, and asks to be left behind.

02:26:16.605 --> 02:26:19.365
I think I'm going to fuck up the aesthetic, so...

02:26:20.525 --> 02:26:22.145
throw me on that hat rack over there.

02:26:22.165 --> 02:26:26.305
Well, you're like, what should I do with you when Brock and Sindri show up?

02:26:27.005 --> 02:26:30.905
They say they didn't want to miss this monumental moment of seeing Jotunheim open again.

02:26:31.805 --> 02:26:34.005
Vamir's like, oh god, please don't leave me with them.

02:26:35.365 --> 02:26:40.545
But beggars can't be choosers, and you toss the head to the brothers who promise to take care of Vamir while you're gone.

02:26:41.585 --> 02:26:43.405
You turn to Atreus and ask if he's ready.

02:26:44.525 --> 02:26:49.845
Through the gateway is a set of stone steps, leading to the peak of the tallest point in the nine realms.

02:26:51.005 --> 02:26:53.385
You climb and climb, the light becoming brighter.

02:26:54.605 --> 02:26:57.865
At the summit, you see the peak just a little further ahead.

02:26:59.005 --> 02:27:08.045
You stop a moment and begin taking off the bandages that have been wrapped around your arms since the start of the game, saying you no longer need to hide the scars beneath them.

02:27:08.725 --> 02:27:13.145
Unwrapping, you can see the many marks left by the chains from your blades of chaos.

02:27:14.645 --> 02:27:18.685
You take a moment to enjoy the air on your skin for the first time in ages.

02:27:20.365 --> 02:27:22.845
Atreus fully interrupts the moment going, Can we go now?

02:27:23.645 --> 02:27:24.305
Are we there yet?

02:27:24.405 --> 02:27:24.905
Are we done?

02:27:26.225 --> 02:27:27.145
Can we get sandwiches?

02:27:27.505 --> 02:27:28.285
I want ice cream.

02:27:29.085 --> 02:27:32.265
Knowing the boy doesn't understand, you end your moment early.

02:27:33.545 --> 02:27:41.665
Kneeling down to his level, you pull the satchel of ashes from your pocket and hand them to Atreus, telling him he can carry her the rest of the way.

02:27:43.305 --> 02:27:48.925
Before reaching the peak, you have to pass through a temple, honoring the giants who gave their lives to seal away Jotunheim.

02:27:50.065 --> 02:27:51.225
Atreus is confused.

02:27:52.185 --> 02:27:55.425
In a memorial like this, he usually can hear the voices of the dead.

02:27:56.445 --> 02:27:57.705
But this place is silent.

02:27:58.805 --> 02:28:00.065
Why would Faye send you here?

02:28:01.685 --> 02:28:03.905
In the temple, you find a hieroglyph.

02:28:05.065 --> 02:28:10.805
In it, you see Faye holding the Leviathan Axe, talking to a bunch of giants.

02:28:12.325 --> 02:28:17.725
Next to it is an image of you and Atreus, meeting the serpent of the world for the first time.

02:28:18.905 --> 02:28:19.885
Which doesn't make sense.

02:28:19.985 --> 02:28:21.785
This was clearly carved ages ago.

02:28:22.525 --> 02:28:27.805
Continuing through the cave, you find your entire adventure depicted up to the fight with Balder.

02:28:29.005 --> 02:28:33.045
Atreus is like, why is our story here?

02:28:33.405 --> 02:28:35.705
You say, this isn't our story.

02:28:36.525 --> 02:28:37.325
This is yours.

02:28:39.005 --> 02:28:42.825
Clearly, I wasn't the only parent with secrets.

02:28:43.545 --> 02:28:47.805
You both realize this is why she sent you here.

02:28:48.625 --> 02:28:51.805
This is the real reason she wanted her ashes spread here.

02:28:52.905 --> 02:28:55.545
She wanted both of you to know the truth.

02:28:56.465 --> 02:28:58.125
A truth you didn't even know was a secret.

02:28:59.165 --> 02:29:00.385
Atreus pieces it together.

02:29:01.665 --> 02:29:05.345
Faye was a giant, which means he's also a giant.

02:29:06.565 --> 02:29:07.605
A god giant.

02:29:08.625 --> 02:29:09.645
Whoa.

02:29:09.965 --> 02:29:12.605
Baldr was never after you at all.

02:29:13.525 --> 02:29:15.965
He was after her, not knowing she died.

02:29:16.505 --> 02:29:17.205
Oh, shit.

02:29:17.525 --> 02:29:27.465
Odin was tracking the last giant in Midgard, never realizing that the last one is now Atreus.

02:29:28.245 --> 02:29:31.565
And the entire time, Kratos made it about himself.

02:29:32.065 --> 02:29:32.845
All about himself.

02:29:33.145 --> 02:29:34.345
Oh, my God.

02:29:34.605 --> 02:29:37.285
He is fully Wolverine in the first X-Men movie.

02:29:37.305 --> 02:29:39.605
I was just like, this is all because of me.

02:29:39.625 --> 02:29:40.265
Who the fuck?

02:29:40.285 --> 02:29:41.105
You just got here.

02:29:41.125 --> 02:29:42.125
What the fuck are you talking about?

02:29:42.145 --> 02:29:42.885
This is about Rogue.

02:29:42.905 --> 02:29:43.965
This has nothing to do with you.

02:29:45.785 --> 02:29:47.965
You have main character syndrome.

02:29:48.425 --> 02:29:49.165
And you know what?

02:29:49.565 --> 02:29:50.645
So did Kratos.

02:29:52.005 --> 02:29:55.465
Atreus stops looking at the glyphs that come after the Baldr fight.

02:29:56.405 --> 02:30:02.025
But you can't help but glance, seeing an image of you lying in Atreus' lap, seemingly dead.

02:30:02.565 --> 02:30:03.085
Oh, no.

02:30:03.485 --> 02:30:14.665
Atreus wants to finish the mission and heads out to the mountain peak to spread his giantess Mother's ashes, realizing now that this was her home realm and wanted her final resting place to be here.

02:30:15.445 --> 02:30:15.705
Oh.

02:30:16.285 --> 02:30:23.705
Near the peak, you know you're on the right track, as you see a golden handprint, just like the one that marked the trees for her funeral pyre.

02:30:25.085 --> 02:30:32.165
Looking out from the peak of the highest mountain, you can see the bodies of slain giants turned into mountains, littering the view.

02:30:33.625 --> 02:30:38.425
You both reach into the satchel of ashes, releasing them to the wind as they glow and spread.

02:30:39.325 --> 02:30:46.245
You say your final goodbyes, and it traces, damn, all the giants really are dead and gone, even in their home world.

02:30:47.625 --> 02:30:49.225
Odin really did wipe them out.

02:30:50.325 --> 02:30:51.325
What an asshole.

02:30:51.465 --> 02:30:52.785
Yeah, what the fuck?

02:30:53.385 --> 02:30:58.965
Leaving the peak, Atreus says there's just one thing he doesn't understand from the hieroglyphs on the wall.

02:31:00.265 --> 02:31:04.805
The giants, and by default his own mother, gave him a different name.

02:31:06.305 --> 02:31:08.385
They refer to him as Loki.

02:31:08.685 --> 02:31:09.585
Shut the fuck up.

02:31:10.265 --> 02:31:14.405
You tell him that was the name Faye had always wanted to give him, but you convince her to go with Atreus.

02:31:15.825 --> 02:31:19.245
It must have been the name she told the giants she would name him before coming to Midgard.

02:31:19.605 --> 02:31:20.545
Oh shit.

02:31:20.625 --> 02:31:22.025
But that's a question for another game.

02:31:23.725 --> 02:31:26.045
The two of you descend the peak as the credits roll.

02:31:26.825 --> 02:31:28.745
You tell Atreus why you picked that name.

02:31:29.945 --> 02:31:32.005
He was named after a great Spartan warrior.

02:31:32.665 --> 02:31:33.605
All Spartans are great.

02:31:33.745 --> 02:31:36.525
Especially John 117, the Master Chief of Spartan.

02:31:39.445 --> 02:31:40.685
The greatest of them all, right?

02:31:40.865 --> 02:31:41.505
Absolutely.

02:31:41.685 --> 02:31:45.525
But Atreus, he always kept a smile on his face, even in the worst of times.

02:31:46.785 --> 02:31:49.745
He was a reminder that even warriors have humanity.

02:31:50.825 --> 02:31:57.685
He ended up sacrificing himself in battle, and it turned the tide, allowing for a Spartan victory, saving many lives in the process.

02:31:59.025 --> 02:32:04.125
Atreus goes, Wow, you finally told a good story and Mimir wasn't here for it.

02:32:06.585 --> 02:32:08.245
He's got a little of his dad's spice.

02:32:08.265 --> 02:32:08.885
I love it.

02:32:09.245 --> 02:32:11.425
The boy says, Loki's a weird name anyway.

02:32:11.705 --> 02:32:12.905
He's glad you went with Atreus.

02:32:14.445 --> 02:32:19.965
After picking up Mimir, who was abandoned by the brothers after they started fighting over how to make a better sling for the head.

02:32:20.265 --> 02:32:20.665
Stop.

02:32:20.685 --> 02:32:22.585
Was he just like on a rock by himself?

02:32:22.605 --> 02:32:23.705
He was just on the ground.

02:32:23.945 --> 02:32:25.205
They left him on the ground.

02:32:25.225 --> 02:32:27.725
They didn't even like hang him in a tree like an ornament.

02:32:28.065 --> 02:32:30.305
Just left him on the ground in front of the door.

02:32:31.525 --> 02:32:33.025
Juliet would never.

02:32:33.785 --> 02:32:34.225
Right.

02:32:36.365 --> 02:32:37.805
Nick would never get treated this way.

02:32:37.825 --> 02:32:38.645
Absolutely.

02:32:39.465 --> 02:32:44.105
Both you and Atreus settle into your beds, ready for a long nap after a grand adventure.

02:32:44.945 --> 02:32:50.105
You close your eyes, and the words, years later, scroll across the black screen.

02:32:50.165 --> 02:32:50.805
Oh, shit.

02:32:51.225 --> 02:32:52.205
This is post credits?

02:32:52.625 --> 02:32:54.205
It's kind of more of a mid credits scene.

02:32:56.365 --> 02:33:00.405
You are in bed and are awakened by the sound of lightning crashing through the house.

02:33:00.545 --> 02:33:01.325
God damn it.

02:33:01.625 --> 02:33:05.385
You tell the boy to grab his bow while you grab your axe and run out the door.

02:33:06.365 --> 02:33:11.165
Outside is a man draped in a cloak, lightning striking all around him.

02:33:12.165 --> 02:33:14.465
You yell out, demanding they identify themselves.

02:33:15.465 --> 02:33:21.225
The man moves his cloak slightly, revealing the legendary mule near, sparkling with electricity.

02:33:21.445 --> 02:33:22.225
Daddy's home.

02:33:22.425 --> 02:33:23.645
The screen cuts to black.

02:33:24.685 --> 02:33:25.245
The end.

02:33:26.345 --> 02:33:27.405
What happens on the next one?

02:33:27.565 --> 02:33:28.085
I don't know.

02:33:28.105 --> 02:33:28.805
I never played it.

02:33:28.825 --> 02:33:29.665
Okay, can you?

02:33:29.685 --> 02:33:30.705
Okay, I'm going to have to.

02:33:30.725 --> 02:33:33.085
This was fucking great.

02:33:33.125 --> 02:33:33.905
I loved it.

02:33:33.965 --> 02:33:36.045
Yeah, that was God of War.

02:33:36.145 --> 02:33:40.585
I kind of want to play it now, even though it's fully spoiled for me.

02:33:40.605 --> 02:33:41.345
It's pretty hard.

02:33:41.365 --> 02:33:42.145
I'm not going to lie.

02:33:42.165 --> 02:33:44.125
It is a tough game in terms of combat.

02:33:44.145 --> 02:33:45.145
Okay, good to know.

02:33:45.165 --> 02:33:46.845
Like it's up there with like Ghost of Tsushima.

02:33:46.885 --> 02:33:48.185
So like sit down and play it.

02:33:48.205 --> 02:33:48.785
Don't like.

02:33:48.805 --> 02:33:49.225
Definitely.

02:33:49.245 --> 02:33:50.845
This is not a second screen game.

02:33:51.105 --> 02:33:51.905
No, no, no.

02:33:51.925 --> 02:33:52.845
You need to be paying attention.

02:33:52.865 --> 02:33:53.345
Got you.

02:33:53.365 --> 02:33:56.565
Thank you for the warning, because you know how my little lizard brain works.

02:33:56.765 --> 02:33:58.385
Holy shit, that was so much fun.

02:33:58.445 --> 02:33:59.845
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

02:33:59.865 --> 02:34:03.525
I'm so glad to get that behind us, because I one time promised that we would never do this game.

02:34:03.765 --> 02:34:04.585
We say that.

02:34:04.825 --> 02:34:05.565
So many times.

02:34:05.585 --> 02:34:06.905
All the fucking time.

02:34:06.925 --> 02:34:09.065
We'll never do Detroit Become Human.

02:34:09.145 --> 02:34:11.925
There's no way to do GTA V.

02:34:11.945 --> 02:34:12.845
Go fuck yourself.

02:34:12.865 --> 02:34:15.525
Every time we say that, we end up having to commit to it.

02:34:15.545 --> 02:34:20.065
Yeah, if we say we're definitely not going to do it, it's basically us promising it's probably going to happen someday.

02:34:20.265 --> 02:34:22.305
It's probably not foreshadowing.

02:34:22.325 --> 02:34:24.505
There you go.

02:34:24.745 --> 02:34:25.665
God damn.

02:34:25.845 --> 02:34:27.605
And not a single generator.

02:34:28.105 --> 02:34:30.125
Not one goddamn generator.

02:34:30.145 --> 02:34:30.945
Are you so happy?

02:34:31.785 --> 02:34:34.425
It was barely fishing, like I said, there was fishing.

02:34:34.445 --> 02:34:35.425
There really wasn't fishing.

02:34:35.425 --> 02:34:36.045
Good for you.

02:34:36.065 --> 02:34:37.505
He just mentioned fishing.

02:34:38.205 --> 02:34:42.125
And that is the end of season eight of The Other Castle.

02:34:42.145 --> 02:34:42.845
Oh my God.

02:34:42.865 --> 02:34:44.765
That's also the end of season eight.

02:34:44.925 --> 02:34:46.685
Way to go, Andrea.

02:34:46.705 --> 02:34:48.825
This was such a fantastic season.

02:34:48.845 --> 02:34:49.445
You're right.

02:34:49.465 --> 02:34:50.265
And I did it.

02:34:50.265 --> 02:34:51.525
You did it indeed.

02:34:53.065 --> 02:34:54.865
That was so much fucking fun.

02:34:55.385 --> 02:35:05.785
And we will be taking a month or two ish off to play some games, get some more episodes ready for you, and then we'll be back with season nine very, very soon.

02:35:05.805 --> 02:35:14.165
But in the meantime, just so you keep getting updates and when we release stuff, please be sure to like and subscribe so you get alerts when we have more stuff coming out.

02:35:14.345 --> 02:35:17.145
Yes, you can always go to our website, theothercastlepodcast.com.

02:35:17.165 --> 02:35:19.085
That's the othercastlepodcast.com.

02:35:19.205 --> 02:35:24.825
Over there, we also have a link to our Patreon where if you miss us, you can still listen to us every month over there.

02:35:25.065 --> 02:35:27.705
For just $2 a month, we also have a seven day free trial.

02:35:28.585 --> 02:35:43.905
We also just really want to shout out the people who are part of our Patreon, starting with Ari, BigCatPDX, Chase, Alfredo, Michael, Micolaj, Tomas, Amber, BerserkPanda, Andrew, Damien, that chonky boy.

02:35:43.925 --> 02:35:44.985
I love saying your name.

02:35:45.885 --> 02:35:54.665
AJ, Paul, Omar, Aaron, Cerise, Molly, Unuseful, Krisha, MollyMock, Jackie, Jacob and Ellen.

02:35:55.025 --> 02:35:56.785
Thank you all so much for listening.

02:35:57.125 --> 02:35:59.425
Thank you all for this amazing season.

02:35:59.865 --> 02:36:03.345
Thank you all just for listening in general and telling other people to listen to.

02:36:03.365 --> 02:36:04.605
Yeah, this has been fabulous.

02:36:04.625 --> 02:36:05.565
Thank you all so much.

02:36:05.585 --> 02:36:06.745
We had a great time.

02:36:06.805 --> 02:36:08.205
We look forward to making more.

02:36:08.405 --> 02:36:14.525
And if you want to chat with us, if you want to send us funny videos of Kratos, you know, you can do that on our Discord.

02:36:14.685 --> 02:36:19.065
That's all linked below, and it's linked on our website, theothercastlepodcast.com.

02:36:19.105 --> 02:36:21.625
One last time, that's theothercastlepodcast.com.

02:36:21.645 --> 02:36:25.085
The Pavlovian thing of saying the website twice is really getting to you.

02:36:25.205 --> 02:36:25.805
Every time.

02:36:25.825 --> 02:36:26.005
I love it.

02:36:27.465 --> 02:36:29.025
So thank you all very much.

02:36:29.045 --> 02:36:34.845
We have more coming, and if you miss us, check out the Patreon for a free week and hang out if you feel like it.

02:36:34.865 --> 02:36:36.265
Hang out with us on Discord.

02:36:36.285 --> 02:36:37.065
We are around.

02:36:37.085 --> 02:36:39.005
We love you, and we are very grateful.

02:36:39.205 --> 02:36:41.645
Yes, we are very much already looking forward to coming back.

02:36:42.385 --> 02:36:45.945
Anyway, Goombas, in the meantime, this is Tom and Andrea reminding you.

02:36:45.985 --> 02:36:46.985
Go to therapy.

02:36:47.085 --> 02:36:49.245
Break generational fucking curses.

02:36:49.945 --> 02:36:51.745
And don't skip the cutscenes.

02:36:53.065 --> 02:36:54.705
Bye, boy.