10 God of War Bosses That Didnt Have to Go That Hard

The Hydra

“God of War” (2005)

 It’s hard to remember our expectations heading into the first game in the series. But it’s safe to say we weren’t expecting the opening boss to be so massive. The original game begins with Kratos taking on the Hydra at the request of Poseidon. He must deal with several smaller heads, attacking various ships, before taking on the main one. It feels like in any other game before this, a boss of this size would have been saved for later. But the Hydra kicks things off in spectacular fashion. Not only is it a strong set piece that sets the tone for the rest of the game, but it set a precedent going forward that “God of War” would open with larger-than-life clashes.

Charon

“God of War: Chains of Olympus” (2008)

One might not expect the humble ferryman of the dead to pack so much heat, but one would be wrong. When Charon refuses to give Kratos passage in “Chains of Olympus” on account of him still being alive, the two duke it out. What makes this fight so memorable is that Kratos loses, and Charon tosses him off his ship without a second thought. When Kratos returns for Round 2 later…well, Charon still goes hard. He teleports, uses a long-range scythe, and heals himself using special pillars until Kratos destroys them. Although he’s a mere servant to the Gods, Charon ends up providing the most unforgettable encounter in the game.

Sigrun

“God of War” (2018)

You could argue that, given she’s the Queen of all Valkyries, it’s befitting of her position that Sigrun goes so hard. Still, having fallen victim to her unblockable grabs and face stomps too many times to count, I can attest that she didn’t need to flex on us that much. Sigrun uses a combination of attacks and abilities seen in other Valkyrie fights that lead up to her. Which is to say, she knows a whole lot of ways to kill you. Despite some familiarity, she more than sets herself apart. In the years since her debut, she’s gained a worthy reputation for being an absolute pain to face as well as a standout moment of the game.

Colossus of Rhodes

“God of War II” (2007)

Next up in the category of gigantic opening bosses is the Colossus of Rhodes from “God of War II.” Brought to life by Zeus with Kratos’ own stolen power, this massive statue provides one Hell of an opening encounter. It goes a step beyond what made the Hydra so impressive in the first game. It’s once again a multi-phase battle, with Kratos cutting into various parts of the statue and using different parts of the city to his advantage. But at a certain point, the fight also takes Kratos inside the behemoth, where he must defend against enemies and rip the statue apart, bit by bit. The success of the first game meant a bigger, bolder sequel. And this was an incredible way to showcase what was to come.

Aegaeon the Hecatonchires

“God of War: Ascension” (2013)

 “Ascension” doesn’t get nearly as much love as most other entries in the series. That being said, the first boss is undeniably impressive. For breaking a blood oath with Zeus, Aegaeon the giant was tortured before having his body turned into an enormous prison, which is where Kratos begins the game. As he enacts his opening escape, the prison itself unleashes an onslaught, courtesy of some of the worst parasites you can imagine. The scope of this boss is unlike nearly anything else the series has to offer. It’s a remarkable use of space and setting, with the bug-like boss slithering about and the structures shaking with every movement. The pure awesome reaches its peak when parasites burst from Aegaeon’s face, creating one seriously disturbing set of chompers.

Cronos

“God of War III” (2010)

We’ve talked about a few gigantic foes throughout the series. And so Cronos the Titan finds himself in good company. Just like the rest of the set pieces disguised as enemies, Cronos produces the utmost spectacle. As we climb around the boss’ body, we’re treated to some remarkable violence, with Kratos cutting into Cronos and ripping off his fingernail. But more than anything, what impresses us is how viciously this boss goes down. Like the Colossus, the fight eventually takes Kratos inside, where he cuts himself free with the Blade of Olympus. He then drives a giant spike through Cronos’ chin and drives his sword through Crono’s forehead. It’s just as brutal as it all sounds. Maybe Kratos went a bit overboard with this one.

Ares

“God of War” (2005)

Like Sigrun, you could argue that the fight against Ares needed to go hard, since he’s the final boss of the original game. But there’s a reason he’s still remembered by fans all these years later: he goes above and beyond. The fight begins with Kratos growing to match Ares’ intimidating stature, though Ares has a variety of ranged attacks that make him a challenge. The second phase is where things get personal, as Ares attacks Kratos’ trauma, transporting him inside his damaged mind to defend his fallen family from evil copies of himself. Finally, the third phase gives Kratos a huge sword, forcing him to play defensively and use slow-swinging attacks to strike at the right moment. It’s a battle of endurance, and one that ends the first game on a phenomenal note.

The Stranger

“God of War” (2018)

Although not exactly the first boss in the game, Kratos’ first encounter with Baldur is where the story truly begins. And so, it doesn’t disappoint. Coerced into fighting when he doesn’t want to, Kratos and the player are surprised to find this Stranger packs quite a punch. Even though the fight occurs early on, it does a great job making you feel like you can’t win, in a thematic sense. The destruction caused as both combatants lay into each other is grand and awe-inspiring. But as the Stranger continually heals, shrugging off the death that Kratos tries to bring him, it becomes clear that we’ve become part of something much bigger than we know. And when the fight finally comes to an end, it’s hard not to sigh with relief.

Thor

“God of War Ragnarök” (2022)

Teased in the 2018 game, we expected the fight against Thor to go hard…just not this hard. Like the fight with Baldur, this battle is the second in the game, but marks a turning point into the overall plot. The fight is utterly bombastic, sending the two Gods barreling through the frozen Lake of Nine, and even destroying the statue of Tyr. There are a lot of cool moments, though two standouts are when Thor kills Kratos just to bring him back, and when Mjolnir and the Leviathan Ax form a frozen lightning bolt in the middle of the battlefield. Everything about this fight drops your jaw and gets your heart racing with excitement.

Poseidon

“God of War III” (2010)

 The first fight in the Greek climax remains one of the best in “God of War” history. As Kratos rides on Gaia’s back, scaling Mount Olympus, Poseidon meets them in ferocious battle, encasing himself inside a leviathan made of ocean and stone. Even knowing how the first two games began, a boss of this magnitude is still astounding. Poseidon unleashes watery tendrils to burrow into the Titan while electrifying his giant trident in order to deal with Kratos. The scale, spectacle, and brutality that comes when Kratos finally gets his hands on Poseidon; this is classic “God of War” firing on all cylinders. The game’s opening didn’t need to go this hard, but we are extremely glad that it did. Which “God of War” boss impressed you with their stunning feats of strength? Let us know in the comments! And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great gaming videos every day.