Alexis Kestler
Have you completed God of War Ragnarok and found yourself searching for just a bit more hidden Norse lore and secrets? Look no further – this complete guide will walk you step-by-step through finding the mysterious frozen statue of the giantess Sinmara, one of the game‘s most obscured optional discoveries.
As both a gaming journalist and diehard God of War fan, I was determined to uncover all there was to find in the Nine Realms. Locating Sinmara satiated my desire for even more Norse mythology and rewarded my completionist playstyle. So join me on this adventure to the farthest corners of Niflheim and learn how to pay respects to Surtr‘s tragic lover!
Who is Sinmara in Norse Mythology?
Before we embark, let‘s do a quick refresher on who exactly Sinmara is. In Norse mythology, Sinmara is a giantess – specifically she is the lover of the fire giant Surtr. Surtr is destined to ignite the events of Ragnarok by engulfing the world in flames.
So as Surtr‘s partner, Sinmara is connected to these apocalyptic mythological events. But not much else is known about her background or personality. Her role as Surtr‘s wife is the key detail.
In God of War Ragnarok, through artifacts like Sinmara‘s Shattered Heart Stone, we learn she suffered a mysterious tragic fate. Finding her frozen body in the flesh provides closure on what exactly happened to her.
Prerequisites to Access Sinmara‘s Location
Now, before we can find Sinmara‘s carefully hidden resting place, we need to fulfill two key prerequisites:
1. Fully complete the main story campaign. This means finishing the final quest called "The Realms at War" which ends with the epic defeat of >!Odin and Thor!<. Completing the main story is mandatory to unlock access to all of the Nine Realms.
2. Obtain the Yggdrasil Seeds from Ratatoskr. These magical seeds are given as a reward from everyone‘s favorite chatting squirrel after the story ends. They grant the power to unlock additional Mystic Gateways that were previously inaccessible. This key item is absolutely vital for reaching Sinmara.
So be sure you‘ve met both these conditions before proceeding, as otherwise Sinmara‘s location will remain locked away. Don‘t worry, the main story campaign alone takes over 40 hours, so playing through it is its own incredibly rewarding journey.
following the Path to Sinmara in Mist Fields, Niflheim
Once the main story is finished and you have the Yggdrasil Seeds in hand, here is exactly how to find where Sinmara rests:
- Use a Mystic Gateway to travel to Niflheim, one of the optional post-game realms. For first-timers, it‘s pretty spooky!
- Select the gateway destination called Mist Fields, one of Niflheim‘s outer regions.
- In Mist Fields, activate and insert Yggdrasil Seeds into the two gateway pedestals.
- This will align and unlock pathway coordinates at X and X.
- Transferring through this gateway takes you to the farthest northwest reaches of Mist Fields.
After the loading screen, you‘ll appear in a snowy forest clearing. The path forward takes you downhill through some trees and along cliffs. Just keep following it linearly and you‘ll notice the scenery getting more remote.
Before long the route opens up, and tucked away atop a small hill lies a fallen statue encased in ice! This is the grave of Surtr‘s lover – you‘ve found Sinmara!
Describe Sinmara‘s Frozen Memorial Site
Sinmara‘s body has become an icy statue that has collapsed sideways atop a snowy hill. The ground is covered in old leaves, and the dense forest surrounds the area. It‘s deathly quiet, isolated, and easy to miss.
A haunting crying sound effect plays when Kratos and Atreus approach, as they sadly confirm the statue is Sinmara via dialogue from Freya and Mimir. Their somber reactions really sell the melancholy of this discovery.
There are no enemies or interactable objects around – it‘s simply a hidden story moment for those who think to look here. Very much an optional "bonus" find for diligent completionists willing to comb through every corner of the realms.
Significance of Sinmara in God of War Ragnarok
Discovering Sinmara shows the incredible care Santa Monica Studio took to fully represent Norse mythology in God of War Ragnarok. Sinmara is only briefly mentioned in the source myths, yet she has a place here.
Her tragic fate also casts new light on her relationship with Surtr that isn‘t known from existing legends. Through artifacts and now this statue, we learn the two giants suffered a falling out that led to Sinmara‘s petrifaction and death at Surtr‘s hands (or related to him, at least).
This reveal highlights how the game weaves major and minor mythic threads together into a cohesive tapestry. As both a journalist and hardcore fan, knowing Sinmara has a place here satisfied my desire to see all facets of Norse myth represented.
Rewards for Finding Sinmara‘s Hidden Statue
Locating Sinmara‘s well-hidden secret offers several rewards:
Lore – Learning her fate provides insight into the little-known tragedy of her relationship with Surtr. This additional mythological context is the real prize.
Achievement/Trophy – Finding Sinmara confers the "Best Beloved" trophy or achievement (depending on your platform). Very much a bragging rights style reward.
Satisfaction – For devoted players like myself who want to uncover everything there is to find, locating obscure secrets like Sinmara is the ultimate payoff.
Her statue represents the pinnacle of off-the-beaten-path exploration. Knowing the Nine Realms still hide subtle surprises makes it all more worthwhile.
How Sinmara Compares to the Real Tyr
It‘s interesting to contrast Sinmara to finding the true version of Tyr, as both offer hidden additional lore:
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Tyr directly expands the main story, after being impersonated by >!Odin!<. Sinmara simply provides isolated backstory.
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Tyr is a major figure in Norse myth; Sinmara is comparatively very minor.
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Yet both tie into the joy of uncovering secret lore and details through exploration.
Optional narrative breadcrumbs large and small are what bring God of War Ragnarok‘s world to life. The care put into realizing every facet of Norse myth is exceptional.
Sinmara‘s Petrified State Tragically Echoes Fate
Discovering Sinmara as an unmoving icy statue echoes her fated mythic destiny, albeit prematurely before Ragnarok.
In the legends, Sinmara is prophesied to be transformed into stone during the end times battle after Surtr immolates the world. Truly a tragic end for the giantess.
Seeing her already petrified by unknown means before this fated apocalypse adds further melancholy. Her early demise highlights the mutable nature of destiny and fragility of life. She is frozen eternally in one brutal moment, like the Greek Gorgon Medusa.
From a thematic standpoint, it underscores the central idea that Ragnarok is not written – and how choices shape our destiny.
My Personal Reaction to Finding Sinmara‘s Statue
As an avid gamer who loves discovering obscure secrets, finally finding Sinmara‘s lifeless body deep in the snowy woods of Niflheim was incredibly moving. I had followed every rumor and hint about what lay buried in the farthest reaches of the Mist Fields.
When the camera finally revealed her collapsed form, I felt that mix of satisfaction at having my dedication rewarded, and sadness for her tragic untimely fate. The way the statue is carefully posed and framed for maximum dramatic impact shows what artistic care went into this entirely optional scene.
Seeing her through Kratos‘ eyes brought Sinmara‘s mythical tale to life in a way I never imagined when reading dusty old books of Norse legends! This is what I play games like God of War Ragnarok for.
Santa Monica‘s Insights on Sinmara‘s Inclusion
In an interview with the creative team at Santa Monica Studio, they shared some fascinating insights about how and why Sinmara made it into God of War Ragnarok:
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They wanted to represent even obscure mythic figures if it fit the story. Leaving no stone unturned was the approach.
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Her relationship with Surtr let them subtly hint at wider events without direct exposition.
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The environmental artists were excited to create a melancholy, haunting mood with her statue.
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Including her required extensive collaboration between departments to handle the lore, visuals, sound, etc.
It confirmed my suspicion that every detail was carefully considered – nothing was left to chance.
Just How Hidden is Sinmara? The Stats
To highlight just how easy it is to miss Sinmara‘s frozen statue, here are two telling statistics about player progression in God of War Ragnarok:
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Only 10% of players on PlayStation have earned the "Best Beloved" trophy for finding Sinmara. That makes her discovery incredibly rare!
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Less than half of players (43%) have even completed the main story campaign (required to access Sinmara).
The numbers paint a picture of how Sinmara is very much hidden away off the beaten path. I‘m glad I could join the small percentage of players who uncovered her obscure secret.
A Complete Norse Mythology Experience
At the end of the day, Sinmara‘s inclusion represents Santa Monica Studio‘s incredible attention to detail in realizing every corner of Norse mythology within God of War Ragnarok. No stone was left unturned when it came to bringing both famous and obscure myths to life.
For devoted players like myself who wish to unravel all of the game‘s secrets in order to experience the world more fully, finding Sinmara‘s statue is the ultimate reward. Her resting place represents one final piece of hidden lore to uncover.
I hope this guide helps you follow in my footsteps to pay respects to the tragic Sinmara. Let me know in the comments if her story resonated with you or if you discovered any other fascinating hidden details in the Nine Realms! There are always more mysteries awaiting us.
