Character models aren’t especially impressive compared to the likes of The Last of Us 2 or Ghost of Tsushima.
Even on the Pro, there are a lot of blurry textures and texture pop-in that mar what is otherwise a vibrant and lush world.
I reviewed the game playing on a PS4 Pro, and I could not count the number of times I wished I was experiencing the game on a PS5 or a high-end PC. The world itself can be beautiful at times, but it’s never been more clear to me that the PS4/Xbox One generation needs to end as it has been playing through Valhalla. If you’re simply looking for a huge game this winter to dive into, Valhalla certainly fits that bill. I don’t see what purpose hiding all of these skills serves from a gameplay perspective, and it’d be nice to see Ubisoft make a change in a later update.ĭid I mention how big England is? Vahalla is a gigantic game – perhaps too big – and filled with things to gather or interesting side quests to complete. There are plenty of interesting skills and abilities tucked away in this system, but stumbling upon them will come down to luck. This means that unless you’re using a guide, you can’t plan your character ahead of time. Most skills are hidden, and to uncover new paths, you’ll have to fill in an entire section before the next section is revealed. The issue with the system is that players can’t see the entire grid at the start. If you’ve played Final Fantasy X, Valhalla‘s skill system looks similar to a giant Sphere Grid, with branching paths you can follow in any direction. Instead of a the typical leveling system, Valhalla assigns you a power level based on how many skill points you’ve spent in a newly designed skill screen. The combat system is fairly simple as the game begins, and gains a bit more depth as you unlock new abilities in the skill tree or discover abilities through hidden books of knowledge in the game world. Enemies in raids are often slow to react or just stand around waiting to be attacked. That will be disappointing for some fans of the series, and also presents an issue, as the enemy AI in siege battles is not particularly sharp. There are assassination missions that you’ll play, but stealth is not the main focus of the game. You’re a Viking, after all, and you’ll spend much of your time raiding settlements, or taking part in grand battles with local armies alongside your clan members. Strangely, though, you won’t often feel like an Assassin. This is an Assassin’s Creed game, through and through. There are towers to climb and synchronize, hidden pieces of gear to discover, and minigames to play. You’ll “pledge” yourself to one of those territories, and set off to try and form an alliance with the Viking leader in that area. The colossal map in Valhalla is broken down into several sections, each appropriate for a different power level as you progress. You can then construct a variety of shops and buildings, which will provide you with additional quests or gameplay systems (such as fishing or shipbuilding). Once you settle in England, you’ll need to raid local monasteries for supplies and raw materials to get your town running. There’s also a city-building aspect to the game. I won’t spoil the story here, but it’s a solid narrative filled with some very entertaining side characters.
Interestingly, Valhalla allows you to switch the gender of your character at any time, so you can get both experiences without having to start the game over. You can choose to play as a male or female Eivor, or to “let the animus decide,” which I did. Along with your brother, Sigurd, you’ll gradually expand your territory across the four kingdoms of England, forming alliances with other Danes and raiding as you go. You play as Eivor, a Norse killing machine and occasional poet who leaves Norway to establish the Raven Clan in England. Does Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, a Viking tale set in 9th century England, live up to the hype? That answer will differ among long-time fans of the series, but one thing is clear: You’re going to have a much better experience with Valhalla on the new generation of consoles.
Assassin’s Creed has been one of the biggest franchises in gaming for more than a decade, but Ubisoft has raised the bar significantly for its flagship title with its last two releases, Origins and Odyssey.