God of War: Ragnarokis one of the most anticipated games right now, both because of the series' long-standing success and because it will be the second and final chapter in the new saga. Norse-based video games have been enjoying quite a bit of momentum, with titles likeValheimandTribes of Midgardfinding their spots among other giants, andGod of WarNorse saga is just as successful. WithRagnarok’s new trailer, however, many were quick to criticize Santa Monica Studio’s decisions concerning theappearance of Angrboda and Thor.
Regarding Thor, the main thing that has players upset is the Norse god is portrayed with a power belly, which is very different from how the MCU’s Thor looks. The comparison was an immediate one for many, stating thatGod of War: Ragnarok’s Thor is too fat and doesn’t fit with the game’s aesthetics and the general idea that people have of the god of thunder. Others were prone to defend Thor’s appearance, though, and that shows maybe it’s time to move away from unrealistic body standards in video games.
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Why Unrealistic Body Standard Hurt Character Customization and Inclusivity
Thor having a power belly is the sign of a strong man, according to powerlifter Darren McCormac, who added that the Norse god as designed by Santa Monica Studio could be considered thepeak of male performance. Others said this version of Thor is much more appropriate compared to what the god’s representation is in the original myths, but the community turned him into a meme because of expected body types in modern culture, even in gaming. This logic can be very dangerous, as it fosters the idea that people who don’t meet the expectations placed on their bodies should inherently be ashamed of that.
Then, it doesn’t help that video games have the tendency of featuring pre-made protagonists or customizable ones that still don’t try to break the mold. Manycharacter creatorsoffer all sorts of options to players, with different hairstyles and a plethora of minor and major details alike, but often they fail to portray different body types. A character’s body type is rarely one of those options, which is limiting in terms of creativity and inclusivity but also happens to perpetuate a negative mindset.
Oftentimes, thecharacter customization processpresents players with a bunch of choices, and yet their characters are almost forced to have perfect bodies for males and females alike. Including different body types would help break taboos around the subject by making all of them feel natural, and it would also send a positive message to all players. Not everyone can meet the current body standards, and allowing players to choose their preferred body type in video games could help to move away from a binary view of things as well.
Gender identities may vary, both in real life and in video games. Thus, imposing the classic question of, “Are you a boy or a girl?” may not lead to a straightforward answer, because there is much more going on within the spectrum. The same goes for body types, whereas there is no such thing as “fat” or “chiseled,” rather there are a lot of different shades between those broader terms. Ultimately,Thor being designed the way he is inGod of War: Ragnarockmay even add to the imagery of the character from what other media show, and that can be a good thing because it means seeing the world from a different point of view.
God of War: Ragnarokis set to release in 2022 for PS4 and PS5.
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