10 Recent Video Game Openings NOBODY Saw Coming

Based on God of War's premise, it would've been easy to grab players' attention by kicking off each instalment with Kratos squaring off against a mythological monster or wicked deity.

But God of War: Ragnarok takes a more emotional route, opening with the titular god and his son mourning the death of Fenrir. This sets a somber tone from the get-go, and ties into the aftermath of the last game's epilogue.

While the pair are still grieving, Kratos is confronted by Fenrir's vengeful owner, Freya. The swelling tension shifts into awe and dread at the arrival of Odin the All-Father and his hammer-wielding son, Thor. Though this scene is exposition-heavy, it emphasises the dual gods aren't just generic villains but calculated antagonists who are directly tied to our hero's fate. The extensive dialogue is never boring, since it's obvious Kratos will be forced to face the mighty pair.

Sure enough, the god of thunder challenges Kratos afterwards, throwing players into a dramatic and deeply subversive battle. 

Although the introduction could've come across as overstuffed, it beautifully works as a tutorial, a boss fight, and a drastic turn in the narrative all at once.