In 2018, the God of War franchise received a bit of a makeover. Instead of putting the spotlight on ancient Greek mythology, the pendulum shifted to Norse legends. Kratos and Atreus (aptly known as “boy” by his father), make their journey across Midgard and various other famous places in Norse mythology.
It is no secret that this version of God of War was impressive and that the settings were larger than life. That imagination started somewhere. Today, it’s time to take a look at some of the concept art that inspired the awesome world of God of War.
10 The Knight On Fire
This is one impressive piece of art. There are many times during God of War where Kratos is nowhere near the most massive guy in the room. However, this instance takes the cake. One cannot help but feel awe, and a blend of fear imagining a huge invisible soldier submerging from the deep blue sea. Abe Taraky, concept artist for the game, put this sharp image together. It really brings this amazing setting of the game to life. It’s abstract, weird, and embodies everything the development team was going for.
9 The Draugr?
Jose’ Cabrera took the reigns with this one. This image looks like a depiction of what would become the Draugr, enemies that passed away but never stopped fighting. These enemies kind of resemble the White Walkers of Game of Thrones. The oppressive snow and the “closed in” feeling is spot-on here. Not to mention, it’s interesting to see Atreus as a blondie (maybe all that lightning got to him).
8 The Serpent
Here, we have an early look at the World Serpent, which is a creature that is pivotal to Kratos and Atreus’ journey within the game. Here, Stephen Oakley gives us a side shot of the colossal monster.
It’s pretty cool that much of the creature’s original design wasn’t changed, which shows that the idea was a solid one. One couldn’t imagine this guy looking any different than he did in the game.
7 Journey Through The Fall
God of War has some incredible environmental design. However, much of the game does happen in areas that are covered in snow. Nevertheless, in this excellent graphic by Annis Naeem, we see Kratos surrounded by an exceptional shot of the fall leaves. The level of detail, the vibrant colors, and the shining of the light is outstanding. It’s easy to see how this game ended up with the impressive settings that it did.
6 The Big Freeze
God of War’s frozen areas are so well-designed that you can feel the frigid temperatures through the television screen. Luke Berliner, the lead environmental concept artist on this game, did a fantastic job bringing this frozen wasteland to life. This area is so massive, and the way it is designed is meant to make the player feel small and isolated. Kratos and Atreus are barely even visible in this image. For most of the game, players see things from their perspective, and this image is a reminder of what these characters actually faced during their journey.
5 In The Water
This image brings home how massive this game truly is. From the detailed tree bark to the small flame illuminating Kratos’ face, one can see that these guys have a tremendous journey still ahead of them. Again, it is insane how complete the concept art ideas were before the game was developed.
Many of the sets—this one included—look very similar to the final product. Images like this one further add to Kratos’ and Atreus’ story. This image is so spot-on that one can see this included as a mural in a Scandinavian country.
4 The Drummer
Unfortunately, when developers create a game, everything doesn’t always make it onto the final cut. This proposed enemy, the Drummer, was one of those things. This guy was slated to be an enemy in Vanaheim—a realm that was also cut from the game (except for one small scene with Freya). Developers weren’t sure how he would fit into the rest of the game, so they scrapped him. It is interesting to think about what this enemy would have brought to the game.
3 A Closer Look At Vanaheim
Only viewable from Freya’s view in the finished game, players were not given a complete look into this mystery land. However, gamers can finally get one here from Mark Castanon. This one looks like a departure from the norm in this game. Most areas are very majestic and established. This one, as represented from the concept art, looks like a fantasyland. It has a whimsical feel that almost feels like Dr. Seuss was an inspiration. Hopefully, this land will end up in future games at some point.
2 The Helheim Eagle
Imagine walking into your local forest and seeing this thing making its way toward you. A collection of artists worked on this one. It is the Helheim Eagle trapped inside the center of the realm. The world of God of War has always encompassed a variety of mythological creatures.
The designs are always unique, creative, and an incredible fit into the environment. There is a layer of mystery about this one as you can barely make out any distinguishing features, but the sheer size lets you know that you don’t want to deal with this eagle.
1 Faye’s Funeral
This is a fitting one to end on. Here is a powerful and emotional look into Kratos and Atreus saying farewell to Faye. This is definitely earlier than the game as Atreus has some different features when compared to his final form in God of War. One of the coolest things about this image is the story behind it. The concept artist, Jose Cabrera, discusses how he created this image with the loss of his mother in mind. It’s a sobering image of one of the most pivotal moments in the game.
NEXT: 10 Magnificent Pieces Of God Of War Artwork
