Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Worth It? Gameplay Review

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a new game in the series that follows the pattern of the previous two games making you wonder, is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it? There is a lot to discuss before deciding. It has a big open world like the previous game in the series and RPG mechanics that makes it different than the old games in the series.

Valhalla is similar to both Origins and Odyssey but yet different in some ways. It is similar to Origins while still have features of Odyssey, in a sense, it is trying to use better aspects from both. The progression system has been revamped and players have to get used to it. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a long game with a decent amount of content that can take a long time to complete. The quality of the content is questionable but the massiveness of its world and content is undeniable.

The game is good for both old fans of the series and newcomers. There are some references to the lore from the previous games of the series but they don’t have an impact on the story. The game is trying to improve this RPG concept of the new Assassin’s Creed game but it has its ups and downs. Combat is still similar to these new types of games in the series and even improves certain aspects of it. The game is also a good showcase for the new-gen consoles even though it is a cross-gen game. All this makes you wonder, is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it?

Premise

The plot of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is darker with some gritty decisions. You play Eivor which can be either male or female depending on the choice of players. There are also choices of making slight changes to their appearances. The plot is darker and some of the decisions you take are dark as well. It is a Viking story where you play as one of the ferocious warriors that dream of making life better. The game starts in Norway with some of the most amazing sceneries. You can feel the Viking vibe from both the story and the portrayal of characters.

The main quest revolves around the organization controlling the world from the shadows. It starts as a revenge story but gradually expands to other aspects. A few hours into the game and the story will start to extend beyond that. You will start a new life in England as you make alliances and take more lands. Eivor receives visions that are a major part of the story. The bonded brother of Eivor plays a major role in the plot. The story plays a major role in making the game closer to Vikings. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it? To you for its premise? Well, there is more to it.

Feel Like the Viking

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla starts from Norway and then you will make your way to England. It has one of the most beautiful settings with vibrant colors and amazing sceneries. UBI Soft is always better at making games with amazing settings even if their games are full of glitches at launch. Valhalla was no different but updates have made it much better. Rays of sunlight through trees, or breaking of dawn and every other environmental effect is quite good.

Voice acting on the main character is pretty decent. There are different nationalities in the game giving it a more Viking vibe. Dans, Saxons, Norse are part of the story with emphasis on Norse Mythology, Christianity, and Paganism are also part of it. It shows how everyone is different in both religious beliefs and lifestyles. You get to become an Assassin in a strange way and have to build a network of alliances around England. As Viking, you will also be raiding monasteries, churches, and settlements. The plot and setting of the game make you feel like a Viking. is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it to you based on the Viking setting? Let’s discuss more.

 

Missions

There are different kinds of missions in the game. There are story missions, side activities, open-world events, raids, and castle assaults. Castle assaults share a lot of similarities with For Honor. In castle attack activities you have to launch an assault on a castle and take it down. You have to break the defenses of the castle to take it down.

Though out the story missions you will make a network of alliances in England and become Assassin in a strange way. You will pledge to someone in the region then meet people or a king and start conquering an area. Most of the discussion is about taking more land and killing people. There is no life to these activities whatsoever. Your decisions can change the final outcome of the game.

The game also shares some attachments with the lore of the previous Assassin’s Creed game. This attachment to the lore of previous games is new to these new types of Assassin’s Creed games. The conquest of England is related to side activities. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it? for its missions structure.

 

 

Combat

Combat is a major aspect of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla even though it is not a combat-driven game. You can smash through enemies with ease but a certain type of enemies would make it a little harder to do so. Dual weapon-wielding is a major edition to Assassin’s Creed game and Valhalla makes it extremely versatile. You can dual wield any type of weapon including two shields. Combining different weapons will have different outcomes and effects. The game wants you to experiment with different weapons which is a good thing. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it? For its combat. There is more to the game.

Animations also vary based on the weapon you are using. Some animations are good but others, not so much. Smashes are satisfying but they can feel awkward if they don’t connect with the enemies properly. The finishing animation is good and it feels satisfying the way Eivor finishes off enemies. The AI of enemies is not so good and sometimes they won’t even strike unless you attack. Camera angels can also get in the way during combat. It can get too far which can hide the character from you, making it frustrating.

The Varied Combat

In the first couple of hours, the combat is bland but it becomes more varied as you get more moves. It seems like a hack & slash game in the first couple of hours. Eventually, things will change as you have more moves at your disposal. The only way to get new moves is through finding the book of knowledge. To find these books you have to explore the map. It makes exploration rewarding so if you do not explore then you will not get new moves. Even if you explore but not thoroughly then will still miss a lot of moves. Book will be marked on the map and are tied to side quests. You have to investigate and talk to different people to get their location. Without new moves, combat is repeatable and boring.

This time there is stealth in the Assassin’s Creed game. Origins and Odyssey took the game far away from stealth but Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is bringing it closer again to some extent. The stealth is not as comprehensive as the older Assassin’s Creed game but it’s there. You can thin enemy numbers by taking them down one by one. There is social stealth so you can get in a group of people, branches, etc. to hide. The game does not go crazy with stealth but at least there is an option.

Some of the discoveries are organic and you will get these abilities just by playing missions. However, if you want the most of it then you will need to explore. The combat and abilities make you feel like a ferocious Viking warrior. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it for the way combat works? Let’s discuss some more before reaching the conclusion.

 

Customization

Different weapons types have different animations. Even each version of a weapon is different than the other. The way a weapon works depends on which weapon it is not just class. Two shorts swords can be different than each other if their versions are different. The game won’t bombard you with a large number of weapons and gear. There is a limited number of weapons and gear in the game but each one is unique. You can just upgrade a weapon without having to worry about getting the same weapon of a higher level. Weapon upgrades are not wasted since each weapon is unique. There is no weapon and gear RNG which makes each weapon a desirable choice.  You have to upgrade weapons without having to worry about the same weapon of a different caliber.

There is also a skill tree that is complicated and takes some time to understand. You have to spend points on an ability just to see what abilities are in the branch of a skill tree. Once the abilities of the branch are revealed, then you can start working on them. The problem is that you won’t know the future of the branch so your point might be wasted if the abilities revealed are not to your liking. Most of these abilities are passive upgrades as they only get new moves/abilities through exploration as explained in the combat section. You can use runes in the rune slots and you can also change items cosmetically.

General Gameplay

There are some new mechanics in the game that are new to the franchise. These mechanics bring new gameplay elements similar to how Assassin’s Creed 3 brought ships to the game. The game is long and it can take you a lot of time to complete it. There are also a lot of fillers in the game which might burn you out before you even reach the end. To top it all off a lot of activities are highly reputable but you have to complete them for progression. There is always something going on the map, wherever you are. These activities could be nothing more than picking a stash or killing enemies but it is there. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it for its general gameplay? There is still more to it.

The game had a lot of bugs in the beginning but they are almost gone after many updates. Every aspect of the game is detailed and the map is filled with different activates even if activities are repeatable. There are mini-games, world events, and other things like that. These activities will keep you busy even if they are nothing more than a means to make the world seem more lively. It is a long experience but how good it is, also depends on your personal preference. Despite all its shortcomings, it makes you feel like a Viking. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla perfectly recreates the life of ferocious Vikings and makes you feel like one of them.

Settlement and Raids

This time you have a home that also serves as a settlement. Every aspect of this settlement is upgradable which unlocks new gameplay mechanics. Upgrading settlement will unlock more customization that offers cosmetic options and gameplay advantages. To upgrade the settlement you have to bring resources which can be used to make new buildings and facilities. Making a new building will unlock more options as mentioned earlier.

You can make barracks that will let you customize different aspects of soldiers and companions. Making a weapon shop will let you customize and trade weapons. The dock will let you customize different aspects of your boat. A hunting shop will let you hunt legendry animals. There is also a trading post and so. The point is that each building has a meaning and it makes the settlement an important part of the game. Certain buildings can even unlock generic activities, hunting legendry animals being one of them. There is a lot of customization option making gameplay more varied.

Raids are an important part of the game as they will grant you the resources you need to upgrade settlement. Raids can get you most of the resources that you would need for upgrades. To get the raid started you have to reach a raid location which can be a town or village. Once you are at the location then you have to blow the horn. The raid will start as you decent on the settlement with crew members from the ship. Once there, you will start looting the town to get all the supplies, resources, and treasure. Raiding shows the brutality of Viking attacks. Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth it to you? Let’s discuss the verdict.

Verdict

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a big game and good enters into the series. The idea of Viking is amazing which something that has never been seen before. It walks a good line between fiction and history. The ferocity of Vikings is shown realistically and resembles a lot with the Vikings in other mediums. You can still slay enemies, ride hose, use the boat, and so on. The progression system is different and it takes some time to get used to. The quest and loot system is good since it does not constantly bombard you with new items.

Valhalla is a great addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise that tries to improve on the concept of the previous two games. The idea of raids and settlement is new to the franchise. It might evolve the series even further just like Assassin’s Creed 3’s ship mechanics changed the series. The game has its flaws but at the same time, it feels like a fresh take on the franchise.

Now let’s answer the question “Is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla worth It?” If you are a longtime fan of the series then the game is a good catch. If you want to try an Assassin’s Creed game then Valhalla might be a good start. In case you are interested in these new types of Assassin’s Creed games, then it can still be a good catch. If you want to play a game with a realistic portrayal of Viking then it could be the game for you. It is a good game for both new and old players if they are willing to try this new type of game in the series.