The side missions featured withinGod of War Ragnarokare one of the game’s many strengths, as they make exploring the Nine Realms significantly more exciting. Though it is up for debate whether Santa Monica succeeded in its goal of craftingbetter side quests thanThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, they were certainly memorable, with players doing everything from freeing Hafgufas to learning more about Sigrun. However, the best optional content of all is undoubtedly The Crater and its associated quests.
Anyone who stumbles upon The Crater will likely be stunned by its size, as the area feels like an entire realm in its own right. By doubling the size of Vanaheim and bringing some exciting lore as well as a number of memorable fights, Santa Monica is able to deliver one of the very best locations inGod of War Ragnarok. However, all the spectacular content within The Crater is entirely missable, a brave move that needs to be appreciated.
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The Many Strengths of God of War Ragnarok’s Crater
When looking at The Crater, there is no shortage of content to praise. For starters, the storytelling within the area is brilliant. While players initially come to The Crater to save Birgir, a side character that players will think have died if they rush through the main story, the true star of the location is the frozen lightning bolt at its center. By completing a batch of quests to help some spirits pass on, players will put together additional backstory for Faye, learning that she battled Thor with theLeviathan Axe- information that is new to Kratos and the player alike.
Beyond the memorable lore, players will find several dragon fights throughout the region. All of these boss battles are entertaining, and while they are similar in their design, they never stop being fun. With dragons being left out of the main story, too, players getting to battle them via The Crater makes the encounters feel more special. The reward for defeating all of them is worthwhile, as not only do players get aPlayStation Trophy, but also a unique armor set. Another standout moment is the random encounters with The Huntress, which culminate in a proper boss fight.
The lore, boss fights, and quests all flow together naturally, with players unlocking morethings to do in The Crateras they progress through the different sections of the location. There is even an exclusive wishing well mechanic that rewards players with special armor and hacksilver to upgrade their other gear. Overall, The Crater is as polished and detailed as any main story location, with the level of quality not dipping in the slightest.
Why The Crater is So Risky
God of War Ragnarok’s Crater side content is risky for the same reason thatElden Ring’s optional locationsare. While it is exciting to stumble upon an expansive area that is completely detached from the main quest, with unique bosses and quests on offer, there is always a chance that a large portion of players will never experience it. Considering that The Crater is opened up after an intense story moment, many players may ignore Birgir’s dog and continue on to finish the game. Once the credits roll, they could stop playing, completely missing out on The Crater and the brilliant content featured within.
With The Crater continuing the story of Birgir, providing extra lore on Kratos’ wife Faye, and offering an awesome series of boss fights against some dragons, it is something that should not be missed. Though it is true that a lot of players will often do all that there is to do in a great game likeRagnarok, and positive word of mouth will ensure that more players know about The Crater, the fact that so much content is locked behind a missable side quest is a bold decision. Though surprises like this are incredible, and should not go away, it is worth acknowledging thatSanta Monicatook a big risk with The Crater. As such, it is yet another reason to praise the studio for its latest release.
God of War Ragnarokis available now on PS4 and PS5.
