Assassin's Creed Valhalla

 

In the present day, the unexplained strengthening of the Earth’s magnetic field poses a catastrophic threat. Seeking answers, former Abstergo Industries employee Layla Hassan uses the Animus to relive the memories of Eivor, a 9^th century Viking warrior who sets out with her adoptive brother/chieftain Sigurd to find a new home in England. They arrive to find a land torn between the remnants of the Danish Great Heathen Army and Saxon defenders led by Aelfred of Wessex and must navigate a series of regional alliances to stake their claim. Meanwhile, Sigurd’s new friend Basim, a member of the secretive Hidden Ones, warns of the threat posed by the equally clandestine Order of the Ancients while Eivor is haunted by visions of Odin trying to fight his destiny.

 

The latest entry in the long-running Assassin’s Creed series (available on PS4, PS5, XBox One, Xbox X/S, and PC), Valhalla uses familiar game mechanics to visit a less-familiar (relative to Ancient Greece or Rome) period in history. It boasts an engrossing – if at times confusing – story, a huge open world beautifully rendered, and tons of side content. Those not prepared for a substantial time sink will likely lose patience, but for the committed, the game pays unexpected dividends.

 

The inescapability of fate is a recurring theme here, and one that the game ultimately subverts. Eivor sometimes has the option of either charming or fighting their way out of difficult situations, and some of their decisions, be they dialogue options or killing vs. sparing defeated foes, have long-reaching consequences. So too does Valhalla challenge reverence for the Viking warrior culture. In order to be successful, Eivor must find allies among Saxons and Danes alike, and there are positive and negative representations of both. That said, the present-day segments seem superfluous, and the Assassins/Hidden Ones vs. Templars/Order of the Ancients conflict feels shoehorned in.

 

However, the awkward handling of series mythology doesn’t mean that this won’t play like an Assassin’s Creed game. You can still strike from the shadows with a hidden blade and perform leaps of faith from save points atop mountains and towers (take a moment to admire the breathtaking visuals before you do). The game’s combat – attack, dodge, block, parry – is familiar as well. It lacks the fluidity and versatility of Ghost of Tsushima’s stance system, but it is easy to pick up, and weapon and ability upgrades expand its potential.

 

Of course, there is plenty more to do here than dive and fight (and annoyingly scour the far reaches of the map for treasure chests). Valhalla lets you engage in everything from flyting (a poetic insult battle) to hunting and fishing to building up your settlement and bonding with members of your clan along the way. There are plenty of side quests as well, from battles with legendary foes to stranger-aiding World Events that range from funny to macabre to frustratingly pointless. At their best, these diversions offer sly nods to British lore: a visit to a certain forest in Snotinghamscire, for instance, lets you meet a familiar wealth redistributing archer.

 

All told, Valhalla is an ambitious game that offers a bit of everything – character development, an immersive setting, seemingly limitless activities – but demands nearly as much.