TheAssassin’s Creedseries took a downturn after the release of Unity, only to experience a resurgence after Origins came around.Valhallais another epoch of sorts due to the game finishing off storylines that had been carried for some time. It also continues and expands upon theOdysseystyle of more open-ended gameplay with light RPG elements. For these reasons,Valhalla’s received ample judgment and critiques regarding ways this entry is considered good—and others in which it’s, well,notso great.
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Some points might well make this ambitious, yet somewhat divisive entry the best in the series—as it improves, refines, and expands on areas the earlier titles had introduced. In other matters,Valhallacould qualify as the worst released, due to the failure of the execution of vital features and a few odd quirks.
Updated February 5th, 2022 by Stephen LaGioia:When it comes to Ubisoft’s Viking epic Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the dynamic has changed somewhat following the various updates, tweaks, and additions since its release over a year ago. While a number of issues have been ironed out, the game still has its share of unique quirks and weaker areas that aren’t for everybody; even for some more oldschool fans.
At the same time, rotating events andmemorable DLC packs like Wrath of the Druidshave added even more intrigue and depth to this adventure. Theanticipated Dawn of Ragnaroklooks to further solidify Valhalla’s immortality with even more alluring content. As such, it seemed fitting to revisit this list and insert a few more ways in which the game is considered good—and ways it still lags behind.
14BEST: A Plethora Of DLC And Added Content
Not that it needed it, butValhallahas been augmented over the past year-plus with some of the deepest, most appealing DLC packs, events, and added material in the series. From the majesticWrath of the Druidsto the grandioseSiege of Paris, Ubisoft has kept fans busy with this ever-expanding Viking journey.
The studio’s also embraced one of the more enjoyable features in the game with a new mode; the rewarding (and free)River Raids. As such,Valhallabegins to feel more like a thriving, fluid virtual world, with season-specific events like thewinter-themed Yule Festival.These qualities make the game among the most evergreen in the franchise.
13WORST: Still Fairly Prominent Game Freezes And Bugs
Valhallacan be a marvel from a visual and technical standpoint, especially when enjoyed on the more capable Series X and PS5. Still, this great experience can be dampened somewhat by somewhat frequent technical blemishes. These range from painstakingly long load times (which even crop up on PS4Proand XboxOne X), graphical bugs, and game freezes.
Gamers have reported getting stuck in an area, or being unable to complete a particular quest, for instance. And while Ubisoft has made a point to iron out some of these issues, they’re still relatively prominent as compared to most olderACgames.
12BEST: Gorgeous Visuals
It’s hard to deny that when it comes to graphics,Valhallais second to none. Of course, visuals don’t make a great game on their own by any stretch. But in a period game that thrives on atmosphere and engrossing fans in the experience, having a sleek, detailed aesthetic goes a long way.
The lush, expansive locales ofValhallatruly manage to shine here—with detailed models, dynamic lighting, vast draw distances, and vibrant, crisp textures. All of these elements help set the scene for a memorable, cinematic experience.
11WORST: Synchronization Points Are A Degree More Pointless
One of the more appealing aspects and a staple feature ofAChas been the viewpoints or synchronization points, which help players in numerous ways (or used to). In earlier entries, these points proved crucial, as they’d uncover large swaths of the map, key items, and other points of interest, while granting fast travel points.
Valhalla’s version of these focal points is a mixed bag, to say the least. While it can be fun climbing the diverse range of elevated points, their significance has been whittled down quite a bit. In this game, they’re little more than fast travel hubs. Add this to the towering height of most and the whopping 70-plus points, and it can be tough to find the motivation to tackle these.
Then there’s the often-treacherous act of leaping from these lengthy points. Doing so can lead to a quick death, as missing the small stack of hay or water body can be easy to do.
10BEST: Combining Plotlines Of The Series
Rarely has theAssassin’s Creedseries chosen to bring together major plotlines over a decade prior to the current game.Valhalladoes just that, combining the Desmond Miles games with that of Layla Hassan’s. It’s a practice that hasn’t been seen before in the series. This has been repeated and furtheremphasized with the recent Crossover Stories event,which merges the universes ofValhallaandOdyssey.
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While most games might make one feel annoyed for storylines being left unresolved,Valhallasolidly addresses most lingering plot threads, while cleverly tying things together. If one wants to engage in a complete experience where the story is concerned,Valhallahas to be the best choice in the series.
9WORST: Little To No Originality
If anyone’s played either of Assassin’s Creed Origins or Odyssey,Valhallawon’t surprise them in the slightest. The game is a total copy of previous titles, right down to the gameplay and every other mechanics that come with it. It’s always a matter of time for the law of diminishing returns to kick in andValhallais that point.
Other than the story, there’s nothing here that one hasn’t seen before, with zero originality coming the player’s way and only a few blending of aspects in order to mask the fact that it’s a repeat of older mechanics. It’s hard not to judge the game for essentially doling out an expansion of previous titles.
8BEST: Balance In Land And Sea-Based Gameplay
Going forward, the series might just wellhave been changed for the betterwhere naval gameplay is concerned. As far back as Assassin’s Creed III, this aspect was something of a chore, mainly having to do with the uneven combat between ships.
Valhallabrings the best version of sea-based gameplay in the series, placing it in a more adventurous light by focusing on the exploration part of things rather than relentless combat that nobody enjoys. Players can relax while on the sea and choose to go on raid missions, bring a fine balance never seen before.
7WORST: The Horrible Eagle Vision
Easily one of the mostmaligned points of the newer gameshas to be the eagle vision. This was changed from the previous color-coded style to protagonists seeing through a literal eagle, which has been taken to the worst level inValhalla.
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Not only is there not even an eagle anymore—it’s a raven—but using this feature is now a frustrating chore that requires players to zero in on finding the location themselves. This achieves nothing since one would need to do that on foot anyway, making the eagle vision completely useless.
6BEST: Flexibility With Protagonist Choices
Due to some protagonists’ execution done right and others not quite so, fans generally have their own preferences overwho the best assassins have been.Valhallamanages to subvert this practice, bringing in two sides of the same protagonist by allowing us to switch between male or female at any point.
This prevents a sequence from feeling out of place, as one can even let the game decide which area suits the assassin’s particular gender. Effectively, all the bases are covered for a distinct and quality protagonist so that fans can be satisfied.
This is complemented by a fairly open-ended story arc, and the ability for Eivor to make various choices throughout the campaign. While the effects of these choices usually are small, it’s an effective way for players to project their own traits and tactics on the character, making it feel as if they’re in the game.
5WORST: Needless Side Missions
Most players won’t countValhallaamong the open-world games with the best side missions.Quite the opposite, as the title instead wastes quite a bit of time over menial tasks. In fact, it’s easy to get stuck in a playthrough because unclear side missions become mandatory or cryptic.
What’s worse is that these quests can interrupt and clash with the main story, forcing the player to go through with them in order to progress with the campaign. More often than not, the side missions have to do with collecting items from undesignated places, setting up for hours’ worth of time wastage. These more straightforward scavenger hunts and simple tasks are a stark contrast to the detail and depth found in most other areas of the game.
