Daddy Issues – The Last of Us
Inspirations God of War Takes From Other Big Games
Fatherhood is the central theme of God of War. Over the course of the game, we see Kratos struggling with his feelings towards his son Atreus, wanting to show him more affection but afraid to reveal more about his past life. There are several games which have tackled the issues that often come with fatherhood, but there are a few which are a cut above the rest. The Last of Us is the prime example here despite the fact that the central characters Joel and Ellie aren’t related at all. Over the course of the game, Joel struggles to teach Ellie how to survive in a deadly world, fearing that he may lose her like he did his own daughter. God of War portrays a similar dynamic, with Kratos forgoing affection and emotion, doing everything in his power to keep his son safe, even if it means he grows up to resent him.
God of War’s Creative Director Cory Barlog has been vocal in interviews that his own experiences of being a father heavily influenced the direction of the game’s story, something which is very clear from the outset. There’s no doubt that The Last of Us influenced God of War’s approach to Kratos and Atreus’ relationship, resulting in an accurate and grounded representation of a father-child dynamic.
