You have my axe

We are now into the third game in what I like to refer to as the re-introduction to the Assassin’s Creed Series. Beginning with Origins, Ubisoft really steered the franchise more towards the open-world RPG category. With each new chapter they keep a few things the same, while also changing up others to keep each entry feeling unique. Valhalla continues that trend by dropping some of the ideas introduced in Odyssey and bringing back others such as the hidden blade and a larger focus on stealth. While the new direction continues to impress, Valhalla does feel like it makes more lateral moves than I was hoping for.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is all about Vikings as players take on the role of Eivor. Players are given a choice right out of the gate to pick either a male or female Eivor, or let the game decide. The option is also there to change up during the game. They even attempt to explain it via the narrative as a glitch in the Animus. Eivor is a very strong character who is orphaned as a child and set on a path of vengeance. I don’t want to get too deep into the weeds, but the twists that occur during the campaign are some of the most interesting the series has seen since the days of Ezio.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XSX (reviewed), XB1, PS4, PS5, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

The story of Valhalla is a slow burn. The intro section alone took me upwards of five hours and that was without completing everything it had to offer. Ubisoft certainly packs these games with enough content to last for months, and Valhalla is no exception. The new collection mechanic breaks down every area into three categories, so it becomes another game of watching the meters fill up until I have 100% of a specific area.

What I love is that the world feels alive. There are now random world events that simply crop up and serve to just feel organic. These rarely have any rewards attached to them and seem put in just to expand upon the events in the world. I loved finding them. Regular side quests are also abundant and dynamic. Serious missions to goofy distractions are what make these types of games work. I loved that Valhalla contains both, and I had the option to either seek them out or ignore them altogether. This really is a massive world filled with fun and interesting things to do.

The loop in Valhalla fits its setting perfectly. The game revolves around Eivor’s clan as they descend into Europe to build up their legacy. Players will be snaking around rivers and raiding encampments to replenish their supplies. These raids are all over the world and each one feels epic as Eivor blows the horn to signal the attack. These resources are then poured into building up your homestead and purchase upgrades along the way. It is a good system that keeps players involved in the side portions of the game. The main stories revolve around building alliances and storming fortresses and castles to further expand their control over England.

Building my character also feels unique in Valhalla. The skill tree reminds me of Skyrim with its use of star charts. Players can place skill points into different trees broken down into three categories. With each new node the next skill is unlocked and eventually it becomes a massive web. I appreciated that it was limited in scope at first as to not overwhelm the player. There are also books scattered around the world that will unlock new abilities like the ones in Odyssey. These can range from fantastical attacks to simple things such as using the bird for distraction. It is always interesting to continuously discover new pieces of a game multiple hours into it.

Combat feels great, especially on Series X at 60fps. The attacks feel similar to Odyssey with a dedicated dodge button, but the combat feels much, much faster and more visceral. Eivor can hold two weapons at a time and they can be mixed up. Axe and shield are always an option, but I could also run with two blades and even become a shield master with two boards to deal damage. Encounters are always fun in Valhalla, and I found even with the stamina meter I was able to handle myself in most situations.

One of the reasons I held my review back for this game was that I wanted to give it a full go on the new generation consoles. I played around ten hours on Xbox One X and while it was a beautiful game, the 30fps cap felt limiting. On Series X the game switches to 60fps and feels like a revolution for the series. The combat feels so much better and makes me dream of Ubisoft unlocking that on Odyssey so I can return to the DLC. The upgrade in resolution is also stunning. The lighting and environments are simply picturesque and I want to screenshot every moment.

Sadly the Series X version has a serious problem for people without high-end TVs. For those of us stuck with a 60Hz panel, this frame rate comes with an abundance of screen-tearing. While I am not usually bothered by these things, this game is abusive with it. It happens almost constantly. I hope the team is planning a patch, but right now it is unplayable for some with how much it occurs.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is yet another great entry in the series marred by some side steps and technical issues. I am sure the latter will be ironed out with time. I really have enjoyed all three of the latest games in the series with Odyssey continuing to be my top pick. Valhalla has a truly fantastic story mixed with visceral combat and base management. I hope they iron out the technical issues as 60fps is truly a game-changer for the franchise.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.