Ubisoft’s popular series, Assassin’s Creed has had a 23-game run, but Assassin’s Creed Valhalla easily sits on top of my all-time favorites list. It takes the already fascinating RPG elements of the previous games and turns them into something spectacular. Not once did I step on the slippery peels in the previous instalments, and levelling up was a lot easier. Now, you don’t have to waste some precious time before getting on the next quest. 

Even more outstanding is the storytelling in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The story remains malleable throughout a playthrough, turning here and there to reflect the decisions you make. In previous instalments, the impact of your choices was rarely palpable. Now, you have your character’s relationship with other characters well-defined, with every decision and action linking in an incredible way. The fact that you are always at the center of very critical decisions puts the storyline right in your hand.

A Compelling Story

Nothing drives a game better than its story, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla does well to highlight that. You play as Eivor, the main character of a game, with a brother named Sigurd. The game takes the stage in old England during the Vikings’ invasion. Sigurd, your brother, is the heir of the throne of Norway but faces a life-defining obstacle. King Harald unifies Norway, and Sigurd either pledges allegiance or leave. He opts for the latter as he isn’t ready to throw away his desire to be a king.

He pulls most members of his clan, and Eivor out of Norway and sets them on the path to England. You can play Eivor has either a male or a female. Interestingly, you can switch between both at any time in the game. The fact that gender isn’t cut in stone right from the beginning gives you the flexibility to test and enjoy the thrill of playing as both. Regardless of which you play as the story’s progression remains the same.

My base was Ravensthorpe which began as a small settlement but grew as the game progresses. I had to continually pull resources and erect new structures to give my home base some flesh. It served as by port-of-call after every mission or quest. With the expansion of my settlement came new game characters, quests, and some love – If I gave it some time. In the process of helping Petra find her lost brother, we brewed some hot romance. The character’s development is outstanding and livid.

However, some characters are just as dry as a dead log. Yet, it’s impressive how Assassin’s Creed Valhalla allows my character to relate with other characters. Most side quests had to do with helping people in my clan. That’s a clear departure from the arrangements in Odyssey, for example, where strangers formed the crux of the folks you performed tasks for. It felt a lot more satisfying helping a clansman settle a quarrel or find a missing person. The way every one of these stories come together at the end is just amazing.

Besides building a compelling relationship with your clan, a huge part of the story deals with your relationship with those outside your settlement. England is a new territory for you and your brother, and you guys have to find a foot in it. To do that, you have to build alliances with other Viking tribes in the area. The Alliance Map is at the center of this all, allowing you to select the part of England you want to explore, and then engaging in various quests to enter the good books of the sect in the area. The arrangement may look disjointed at the beginning, but everything comes together as you move from one chapter to another.

A revived rivalry

At the base of everything that happens in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the rivalry between two cult groups that has stretched the entire series. What Valhalla does differently is making the meta-narrative enthralling in a way you just have to look out for more. However, there are times when you have cutscenes that throw you off your feet: an ally switching sides in the middle of war reveal the mole they’ve been all the while.

Raiding still forms an integral part of the game, but some shallowness about it doesn’t sit well. For example, you could raid Christian monasteries and burn everything to the ground. But kill one of the clergies, and you could be on your way out of the game. I could never understand why it was okay to burn everything else and even slaughter guards, but the clergymen were untouchable. It seems, however, that the game intentionally shields some aspects of the very history it banks on. 

The issue with raiding, however, is easily forgivable when you look at the game’s fascinating combat. The features have seen some improvements when you compare to Odyssey’s. Now, you can carry two weapons at a time, allowing you to switch your fighting style and deplore unique moves during combat. Imagine being able to wield two spears at the same time, or a spear in one hand and a battle-ax in another. The combinations are endless and it’s simply thrilling exploring them. 

Then you look at the ways you finish an enemy, and it’s just wow! Bury your battle-ax in the guy’s face, and take his head off with a punch. Get him powerless on the ground and pierce his heart with his own spear. You have so many options – just like you’d expect in a Vikings game.

It’s taken Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed several releases to clinch a seat amongst the most-loved RPGs. Over the years, we’ve seen several transitions and changes, but some features remain Ancient of Days. Stealth, for example, has remained some antiquated piece the game can neither remodel nor throw away. However, Valhalla is a true testament to the game’s evolution. It does away with the arbitrary storytelling, sloppiness, and improves on so many aspects. Therefore, it’s very easy to overlook the areas where the game misses it. What you have here is a 60-hour-long pack of intrigue.