Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Why Was it So Divisive?

In the continuation of the RPG reboot that began with Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla transported players to 9th century England. This era was marked by vast forests, open farmlands, and scattered settlements. In this game, Vikings played dual roles as ruthless conquerors and pillagers, yet also fostered community growth.

In Valhalla, you assume the character of Eivor, a warrior who becomes kin to King Styrbjorn after their parents are cruelly murdered. As Sigurd’s sibling, Eivor and their clan depart from their homeland for fresh territories. The game’s story is influenced by the complex motivations of Vikings, creating challenges that span throughout Valhalla’s narrative. While the game offers good qualities such as engaging combat, appealing characters, and an immersive open world, it appears that the developers struggled to decide on the type of tale they wanted to narrate.

As a person without extensive historical knowledge, I’d like to share some intriguing insights I found during my research on the Vikings. Contrary to popular belief, there is a disagreement among historians regarding the true nature of the Vikings’ ferocity. While it’s undeniable they engaged in plundering settlements, it’s also worth mentioning that they often chose diplomacy over violence. They were known to live harmoniously alongside others, contributing to language development, and setting up new trade routes.

Independent of whether it’s factual or not, as Eivor’s commander in Valhalla, you engage in much combat. However, Vikings aren’t portrayed as wholly malevolent beings within the game. This ambiguity regarding historical accuracy is what some fans find problematic about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, as they argue that the developers’ pursuit of realism was criticized even before a single battle had been fought.

Players pointed out several concerns after the unveiling of Valhalla’s trailer. These included inaccurate weaponry, armor, shields, misrepresentation of Saxon culture, excessive romanticization of Viking wanderlust, and numerous other issues raised by those with a background in history. It’s important to remember that video games often combine historical facts with creative fiction for entertainment purposes.

Large weapons have been a frequent feature in games, making them easier to see on screen. Representing adversaries as excessively violent characters can often serve to justify one’s own aggressive actions within the game. However, developers sometimes sacrifice historical accuracy for gameplay, which has led to disagreement among gamers about where this trade-off is acceptable. While entertainment should always be a priority for developers, some players argue that the instances where developers prioritized gameplay over historical realism have been contentious.

Just like the lush English countryside, the setting in ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games is often meticulously done, and the depiction of 9th-century England in ‘Valhalla’ is no exception. However, it raises a question about whether this era was suitable for an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game. For one, the land was relatively flat during that time. It’s said that Anglo-Saxon settlers didn’t construct tall buildings, and the grand medieval castles we know today were yet to be built. Moreover, forests during this period were sparsely populated.

In less densely populated areas, where few events or exciting incidents occurred during gameplay exploration, the parkour and free-running aspects of the series took a back seat to traversing a broad open world. This choice was somewhat historically accurate but reduced much of what makes video games, especially the Assassin’s Creed series, enjoyable. Whether this approach appeals to players is subjective; it’s a topic that continues to divide opinions, as suggested by this feature.

In the new mainline installment of the Assassin’s Creed series, set during the Viking era, stealth mechanics have taken a back seat, although there is an increased emphasis on sneaking compared to the action-focused Origins and Odyssey. However, Eivor, who is not an assassin, possesses awkward and slow stealth abilities. While Eivor isn’t an assassin, they are taught certain tactics by the Hidden Ones (the Assassins before they had a specific name). These tactics include mastering the use of the provided blade and a method for blending in with the environment while in plain sight. Wearing a hood, a common tactic in the series, allows Eivor to sneak into crowded areas where Vikings are unwelcome or walk past guards without being noticed.

The stealth mechanisms in this game don’t fully ensure that stealth can be a consistent choice throughout play, and there’s also an issue where performing stealthy actions may not even work effectively. For instance, when trying to quietly eliminate a guard without any noise or being seen, it doesn’t always prevent the rest of the town from noticing Eivor. This illustrates a case where the developers seem to be struggling with two contrasting design approaches regarding stealth mechanics.

In an effort to reinstate stealth features that were missing from the two preceding games of Valhalla, they attempted to do so, but failed to fully realize them as an engaging gameplay option. Although the historical backdrop of Vikings traversing Europe during the Middle Ages is fascinating, it hasn’t managed to capture the essence of the Assassin’s Creed experience. While our review in 2020 commended it as a good open-world action adventure game, it was still somewhat unusual for a series known for its combination of stealth and parkour.

The vast open-world game, Valhalla, boasts an extensive campaign as well, but the length of the story has become a topic of discussion among gamers. With a playtime of approximately 60 hours, Eivor’s journey through medieval England can take some time to get engaging, and it may not be particularly gratifying to embark on or complete. Many even find that the game’s initial section in Norway is the most captivating part of Valhalla, with some arguing that the game loses steam once the clan settles in England. In essence, critics argue that Valhalla is overly long, and its storyline may not be unique or engaging enough to justify spending best part of three days to finish it. Moreover, the growing concern that many AAA titles, including Valhalla, are becoming excessively large has sparked a wider debate in the gaming community.

Intriguingly, the Kingdoms within Valhalla’s storyline added depth. These were segments of the nation ruled by kings, leaders, and noblemen, with Eivor and their clan determining the most effective strategy to form alliances with these Kingdoms. Whether through force or diplomacy, these Kingdoms served as a nuanced take on the typical mechanism for acquiring map sections. The option between conflict and dialogue – reminiscent of actual Viking tactics – ensured that accumulating land for the Viking cause never felt repetitive or tedious. Instead, each action held significance.

The side content in this game was excessive, and unfortunately, much of it outside the main storyline seemed to be a result of the developers reusing content excessively. Repetition was prevalent throughout, which made completing all the content feel like an arduous task that shouldn’t be necessary in video games. The collectibles were more streamlined compared to ‘Origins’ and ‘Odyssey’, but it leaves one questioning the purpose when engaging in various activities across the map becomes a repetitive grind for minimal rewards.

To put it simply, the game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla faced a dilemma that left players divided. The developers aimed for realism, yet they may have overstepped in some aspects while falling short in others. It appears that attention was paid meticulously to certain areas, but efforts were not equally distributed elsewhere. Despite being an exciting Viking adventure with many enthusiastic fans, Valhalla falls short of delivering a truly exceptional Assassin’s Creed experience.

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2025-02-27 20:41

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