God of War Explained: Why Atreus Was So Sick All The Time
Throughout most of God of War, particularly the first part of the game, Kratos’ son Atreus is portrayed as weak and ill with a mysterious sickness. But once the young boy realizes he has powers like his father, Atreus is all of a sudden able to take care of himself, and from that point, his sickness is never mentioned again.
[Warning: Spoilers for God of War below]
In the game, Kratos and Atreus must take the ashes of their deceased wife and mother, Faye, to the highest point in all the realms, which happens to be a mountain in Jotunheim. The father and son duo travel throughout multiple realms throughout their journey to the land of the giants, and they are forced to ward off many foes that they encounter along the way before they’re finally successful.
God of War’s ending isn’t only significant because they’re finally able to get closure and say good-bye to Faye. It’s also important because it reveals important details about Atreus’ identity, and in doing so, also explains how he would become so sick.
At first glance, it may appear as though God of War didn’t properly address what was making the boy sick. But there is an explanation. For the majority of the game, Kratos is haunted by his past. He’s afraid to tell his son what he did to his own family before coming to the Norse universe, and as such, this also prevents him from telling Atreus what he truly is — half God. By the end of the game, however, Kratos can see how much holding back the truth is harming his son.
Not only was it making Atreus defiant, and pushing the father and son away from each other, but it was physically taking a toll on the boy. Since Atreus couldn’t understand his powers, he wasn’t able to control them. He also believed he was a mortal and had come to despise the Gods, not realizing he was one of them. The inner turmoil and lack of ability to control his powers made them overwhelming, particularly when he started feeling enraged, causing the boy to feel “sick.” Kratos, on the other hand, was trained as a Spartan in childhood. This means he would’ve had the proper training on how to control his powers, particularly his Spartan rage, and not become sick like his son did. Players will notice that once Kratos tells Atreus where he comes from, the boy no longer feels sick, but is rather able to tap into his godly powers when the moment calls for it.
When Kratos and Atreus finally get to Jotunheim, with Atreus now fully aware of who his father is, it’s revealed that he’s not half God, half-mortal like was believed. Rather, it becomes clear to the father and son that Faye was actually a giant, making Atreus half God, half Giant. It’s also revealed in God of War's ending that the giants call Atreus by the name "Loki," which Kratos said his mother originally wanted to call him, thereby solidifying Atreus’ place in Norse mythology and paving the way for future installments in the game. So, while Atreus’ sickness may be perplexing for the majority of God of War, the game does provide an explanation that ties into the boy’s secret identity.