God of War is one of the most iconic franchises under the PlayStation Studios banner, and the developers know how to differentiate these popular deities from other popular adaptations. The gaming community anticipated the epic showdown between Kratos and Thor, and the developers did not disappoint.
Introducing a renowned figure like the God of Thunder could have been a daunting task, but fortunately, Santa Monica Studio figured out how to make their version of Thor stand out from more known adaptations like the live-action counterpart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Thor in God of War Ragnarok Is More Theatrical Than His Live-Action Counterpart
Santa Monica Studio knew comparisons would be drawn between the two versions of Thor and has greatly benefited from the success of the Avengers films, which established a strong following for Norse mythology. The Asgardian Gods in the Marvel Cinematic Universe were shown as protectors and righteous beings, while in the video game series, they are quite the opposite.
Odin is a tyrant and is feared rather than loved by the people of the Nine Realms. He treats his family as enforcers and will not hesitate to kill any of them, which is how Thor died the moment he rebelled in front of the God of War. Thor was a miserable drunk in the Norse Saga and was far more theatrical by snapping his fingers to recall his hammer for dramatic flair.
I kinda think it’s funny, but is it ever revealed why Thor snaps his fingers as like a way of calling his hammer?
byu/Ageless4 inGodofWar
Fans noticed that every time Thor would snap his fingers to recall his hammer when there were other instances where the hammer would naturally come back to him without snapping. Perhaps this is a creative choice made by the developers and it adds to his character by putting on a show whenever he commits a murder or does his father’s bidding.
Chris Hemsworth did an incredible job throughout his career. Marvel Studios wanted to put the God of Thunder on the map that would have people rallying and cheering for him as a hero more than a god and it skyrocketed the deity’s popularity.
The God of Thunder Treated His Hammer as a One Trick Pony in the God of War Franchise
The developers were likely worried that the fans would compare their Thor to the MCU, and they did, and the initial reaction was mixed but mostly positive. Some would argue that this iteration of God of Thunder is more accurate to the source material.
Thor used his hammer as a weapon and a toy for amusement, like how he resuscitated Kratos after beating him in a fight, which was hailed as one of the most epic moments in the Norse Saga. The God of Thunder could have used his gifts and abilities for good but was coerced by his father to abuse them.
Being different will allow the developers to make the character their own. The developers created a villainous character with a sad past, while the MCU gave the world a heroic adaptation.
The developers were right to stand out from other adaptations in every aspect possible. Thor is an interesting character with layers for creatives to exploit.
What are your thoughts about Thor’s habit in God of War? Let us know in the comments section below!
