Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the newest installment in the Assassin’s Creed series, was just released by Ubisoft on the 12th of November. Like its predecessors, Odyssey and Origin, Valhalla is also an open world rpg game. The game focuses on the massive recreation of a dark age England where you play as a Norse Viking named Eivor. The game showcases its amazing attention to detail and beautiful graphics, which is amplified if you play it on the new next-gen consoles.

The main story follows Eivor, their brother Sigurd, and the many friends and enemies they make along the way. The setting is immersive, taking the player from the frozen fjords of Norway to the beautiful fields of England. Their search for riches and glory in the magnificent landscape of England gives you a sadder and darker story than you’d expect., forcing the player to make difficult story choices and see favorite characters die. This is amplified by the amazing voice acting and the deliverance of the characters performances in their scenes, making the atmosphere tense and suspenseful. 

Gameplay is a massive improvement from the last game, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, with the inclusion of raids and even dismemberment in combat. But let’s be honest with ourselves: did we really believe there wouldn’t be any dismemberment in a viking themed game? Raids are when you attack random settlements for their wealth, which you can use to upgrade your own settlement, which in turn helps you progress naturally while you play. The combat feels gritty and satisfying, and with every swing of your weapon, whether it be an axe or a greatsword, you can feel the weight behind it when you strike something. 

Combat was not the only thing improved, as exploration has been massively revamped with even more interesting places to discover. You can explore everywhere, from the largest castle to the smallest ruin, and still find objects of interest, or even hidden secrets within them. Side quests have also been made more interesting, with side characters actually feeling alive instead of just being present for you to eventually stumble upon.

It isn’t all pretty, however. While you play, you’ll have to put up with the new progression system which is a bit lackluster, along with an astounding number of bugs, but the good in the game easily outweighs the bad. There are plenty of things to do, places to explore, and locations to discover in the vast open world of Valhalla.  

Overall the game is a very enjoyable experience and it is massive. There is so much you can do, and I bet that even when you think you’ve done everything, there’ll always be something else to discover and explore. The story is satisfying and interesting, keeping you engaged and wanting more, along with the addictive and challenging combat.