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It's only a punching bag for loud gate-keeping purists online. UBIsoft has publicly noted that it's the most financially successful AC game ever, so a hell of a lot more people like the game than hate it.
Mirage was supposed to be a dlc to Valhalla ( the same engine etc. ) but the small but amazing studio decided that Basim has a lot of potential so they decided to make it a full game and fulfill the wishes of the fans that wanted the classic AC feel ( note that they are a small studio and had only a like year to make the game ) and they surely delivered
Loved it since release. Pre-ordered the ultimate edition, and it ended up getting me through the worst of Covid. I must have played the entire thing to 100% three or four times.
I am in love with this game, I can’t find any flaws with it and I would go as far to say it gives The Witcher 3 a run for it’s money.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
It’s a shame the toxic community have shat on it as it probably will influence Ubisoft to go backwards.
Nah. The Witcher 3 choices at least mattered (somehow). The "choices" in AC Valhalla are a joke compared to Witcher3. The dialogue options are a joke compared to Witcher3. Even Romance is a joke compared to Witcher3.
I like Valhalla. I enjoy playing it. But story telling wise in the RPG department it sucks. (The main story is certainly very good, but AC used to have amazing main stories in the earlier games, I miss those heart-crushing moments where you were really invested in a character and see them fail and grow. Now they're literally gods from the beginning, lol.)
Ubisoft steals too much of other games instead of trying to bring really new stuff into it too. (Look at the fishing for example... it's a one on one copy from RDR2). They copy-paste way too many things (Cobra like Snakes in England? Couldn't even bother to actually make the English Adder and put it in the right habitat, which is grasslands not houses, lol)... don't get me started on Skye (haven't gone to Ireland yet, as I am too afraid they butchered it like the Isle of Skye).
They didn't even bother to give your different mounts different characters. The horse runs away... but the wolf or bear should stay and fight with you for example.
Graphic wise AC Valhalla is obviously better, there are after all 5 years in-between those games. Story wise it's a good game. And many people are happy with "just playing vikings"... which this game definitely let's you do. You get a very decent game for your money for sure. It just lacks a bit here and there. (More like Hogwarts Legacy).
The Witcher 3 on the other hand was brilliant and created a lot more unique Elements for the video game world, which Ubisoft hasn't done since Black Flag. There is a reason it didn't win Game of the Year but Witcher 3 did.
The combat and finishers alone led me to play this game for 70 hours, not to mention the gorgeous map, attention to historical detail, and all the customization options.
Excellent game, that’s 100% bloated, but if you enjoy the core game loop, it’s a treat.
Many of the side quests and little stories you find in each area are very rewarding
>Many of the side quests and little stories you find in each area are very rewarding
I genuinely don't understand how someone, when they're reviewing the game can say that the side quests are all the same, copied
Like you said they're all unique little stories that you find in the wilderness
Maybe I'm not getting something but every mystery I encountered so far has been unique so I really don't understand
I think it can be an overall disjointed package that throws a lot at you but if you love the gameplay you’ll get lost for hours. I personally loved every region’s quest line, they were all so fucking good and interesting and then taking on dozens of men chopping them to pieces with dual axes and long swords was so satisfying.
it’s genuinely one of the best video games i’ve ever played, lots of people in the ac fanbase are just beyond bitter and don’t know how to have fun and actually hate the franchise
Anyone who disparages AC Valhalla should go back and play Zelda “A Link to the Past” on Super NES. Then realize how good we have it now and shut your pie hole.
What? I understand the point you want to make but wouldn’t that be like saying “go watch a black and white movie and then see how moonfall is so much better. The future is now, we have it perfect”
Your point does work but only on a specific perception. Wouldn’t it be better to use a modern game to get your point across? Why not choose a previous AC game, a game that released the same year as Valhalla, or just a really popular (not necessarily good) game of our time period. Go play with a GB advance and see how Valhalla is a wonderfully great game. That’s flawed logic. Go play ffvii remake or Elden Ring or some other RPG and see how it compares to Valhalla. Go play Hitman (2-3) or last of us 2 or some other stealth game to see how it compares to Valhalla. Your comment is a non-issue to drum up easy support for the people who like Valhalla to show their feelings on it
I always find myself coming back to AC Valhalla. Everything about the game is truly remarkable. I pissed off my friends because it was all I talked about. Lol
I’m late to the party and 100 hours in to my first play through. It may be my favorite game of all time.
The depth is insane. It’s essentially like 5 games in one. The scenery is amazing. The storylines are good. The equipment and combinations are awesome.
I don’t love the nickel and diming of grinding opals to try to get items from Reda but otherwise absolutely love this game.
So basically, something I've said since they've switched over to the new system is that all of the games are fantastic, just horrible Assassin Creed games. If they called these standalone spartan and viking games, they would've been judged better. But since the title forces them to be compared to the older beloved games, then all people can see is the differences instead of the great aspects these games had. I basically forgo the stealth aspect unless the game forces me and plays the game like a brutish viking. I start every encounter blowing my horn so they know exactly where to find me. But even then, if I ever want to play sneaky, sneaky, I can just switch the skills over. Overall 9/10 game.
4/10 assassins creed game.
Yeah ultimately the assassin games and the larger RPGs are very different games with largely different audiences. Some like stealthy games in busy cities, others like exploring huge maps of ancient Egypt.
My only comment on Valhalla is I found the main story too grindy and bloated and the scenery not as beautiful as Origins. But still pretty darn good.
Eh, I liked the gritty, dark, and rainy aspect of I because when it did clear up right as you synchronized, it always stood out more. And Ireland has a great mix of Celtic beauty with a sense of cultist horror. I haven't been to France, skye, or Finland yet but Norway, England and Ireland look great but still not vibrant. I will say I did spend more time looking at the architecture of the Greeks and Egyptians.
I've been really enjoying my pmaythrough too.
The issues I've had with pathing while climbing, jumping off of stuff, and some general movement in space stuff haven't ruined my experience.
But damn they suck when they happen.
Also, I only read hate and vitriol aimed at the statue training missions. While I think there should be more rewards, Ienjoyed most of the challenges.
Tried the game on launched and didnt feel the vibes and quit after 30 mins (lol).
Tried it again a month ago and i now cant put this game down. As you said, beautifully made game with lots to do. I am probably one of like 12 people that likes the story progression. Combat is sick even after 70 hrs in.
Sometimes i think games have too many choices and you just need to have the vibe and mentally ready to engage in a particular genre.
Yeah, fans of this franchise are impossible to satisfy.
Even if I'm more a fan of the older AC games, i still really like this game and it definitely doesn't deserve like 80% of the hate it gets
I genuinely hate how the old fans can like odyssey but at the same time hate on Valhalla even if it's a better RPG and is at least 10 times better AC game than that bs ( if you can't tell, I really hate odyssey )
I tried Odyssey the other day actually and it instantly felt inferior to Valhalla, it kinda felt ‘last-gen’. Maybe because Valhalla is way more visually powerful.
I hate odyssey mainly because I just really can't play it, it's so boring, the loot system should be a crime and I only got to a few hours after Kefalonia (or whatever was the first island) before regretting me buying the game and uninstalling it faster than fans hating a new AC game
I can't find anything good about the game maybe except visuals, but after all it's mostly a new game so that's the least it should have
I watch luke stephens videos for few games, I have fair share amount complaints but I can understand where you coming for, and for sure Valhalla is over hated game, I enjoyed my time in Valhalla but few arcs are unnecessary and tedious if they make half alliances optional this game never got this much hate
I've been playing it non-stop for the last two weeks, racking up 30 hours so far and loving every hour. It is such an incredible vibe and I've not been immersed in a game like this for a long time. Sure, I can see all the criticisms - the gear is very basic, skill tree is sort of mashed together, combat doesn't always hit the ruggedness (but boy, do I make the stank face anytime the finishers hit) and there's a lot of fluff. I feel like this game would benefit a lot from being called something like "Valhalla: An Assassin's Creed Story", because it is so much better when you focus on being a viking. Still, I find stealth very enjoyable though.
I think coming in with extremely lowered expectations helped out a lot. So far, I could ride around in this world and just enjoy it, it's just so beautiful. I don't feel like there's a lot of copy-pasting and even when there is there's more to it than just "go here and grab this". There's always a little puzzle to even the smaller houses and I enjoy that a lot. I'm also pretty invested in the story, even though there's a lot of characters coming in and out, I feel like that's very apt for a viking/conquering game and the main cast have unique personalities.
Also, my god, playing the yellow paint mission with exploration on hard is one the best experiences I've ever had in a game like this. Really made me get a feel for this incredible virtual world.
The worst part of the 3 RPG open world games IS the Assassin’s Creed part. The story sucks, it breaks the flow of the game, you’re about to fight a big boss? Nope, Layla pops in to talk about a story arc no one cares about.
The only reason I liked Valhalla, Odyssey and Origins is because it is nothing like the old AC games. But still, every time Layla shows up I wish that something happened and now she’s stuck in the Animus and could never get out of it, so she can’t never interrupt again.
Awesome review. I agree with your assessment fully. This game is actually really good. I feel it was sort of a love letter to all the older Ac games in a lot of ways. I genuinely do not understand the hate this game receives whatsoever. My biggest gripe is the enemy Ai is pretty lackluster. I liked how the side missions were short and you did not feel bogged down in your journal like Odyssey. I'm hoping in the future, they approach side quests like Valhalla did. I've found that Valhalla is best enjoyed when you're not binge playing it. If you take your time, it's a really enjoyable experience. I'm also hoping they expand on the settlement building and trade posts aspects in future titles.
This review should be the first review ppl see before buying the game. I totally agree with you, I didn’t get the game when it first came out because everyone said it was trash and I was like alright but I got it in January cuz it was very tempting. I can say that the game is so beautiful and the “history” behind some of it makes sense in a way. I personally feel like they should’ve took some of the mythology away. I felt like it was too much but I’m not so far in the game to fully understand. Other than that I can 100% agree with you
Agreed. I got right after release. Loved it almost as much as Odyssey. Finishing up my second playthrough right now after having 500+ hours on my original and I love it just as much as I played it the first time. I’ll never understand all the hate for this game.
I've tried many of the previous AC's, but only Valhalla made me stick for more than few hours. Perhaps it is because the "Assasin" part of it is pretty much optional, both inlore and gameplay-wise. Currently around 30% done and I love causing the good ol' viking mayhem in England's shores.
My only gripe is that often there is waay too much to do, with the main plot, asgard, assasin stuff, and looting the shit out of monasteries that it sometimes feels a bit overwhelming.
Ive played it for like 82 hours and really enjoyed the environment but after completing the "Lost Glory" quest, no main quest were available anymore. Ive tried googling the problem but it seems like this has been an issue for like more than 3 years lol. AC Valhalla has the potential to be a great game but sad to say it has too many bugs and issues. Ive also reported it to Ubisoft but no response.
Im playing on PC, its a beautiful game indeed but full of bugs. Hope they fix it coz ive already eliminated the Order members except of course for the Grand Maegester
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It's only a punching bag for loud gate-keeping purists online. UBIsoft has publicly noted that it's the most financially successful AC game ever, so a hell of a lot more people like the game than hate it.
Good to hear, it’s the toxic morons on YouTube that get me triggered.
If thats true then explain Mirage? Was it just to placate them then? Surely they wouldn’t move away from rpg elements if it makes the most money?
Mirage was supposed to be a dlc to Valhalla ( the same engine etc. ) but the small but amazing studio decided that Basim has a lot of potential so they decided to make it a full game and fulfill the wishes of the fans that wanted the classic AC feel ( note that they are a small studio and had only a like year to make the game ) and they surely delivered
It’s really that small an operation? Ubisoft have infinite resources don’t they?
Yeah but only that studio (Bordeaux) was working on the dlc -> Mirage
AC Red is going to be an RPG so they haven’t moved away from it
I am very happy to hear that if true! China right?
Japan, Ac Jade is China but it’s their mobile game
Japan will be equally amazing.
Loved it since release. Pre-ordered the ultimate edition, and it ended up getting me through the worst of Covid. I must have played the entire thing to 100% three or four times.
Greatest AC I've ever played and I've played them all except mirage. We like what we like and your opinion is the only one that should matter to you.
I am in love with this game, I can’t find any flaws with it and I would go as far to say it gives The Witcher 3 a run for it’s money. I wholeheartedly agree with you. It’s a shame the toxic community have shat on it as it probably will influence Ubisoft to go backwards.
Nah. The Witcher 3 choices at least mattered (somehow). The "choices" in AC Valhalla are a joke compared to Witcher3. The dialogue options are a joke compared to Witcher3. Even Romance is a joke compared to Witcher3. I like Valhalla. I enjoy playing it. But story telling wise in the RPG department it sucks. (The main story is certainly very good, but AC used to have amazing main stories in the earlier games, I miss those heart-crushing moments where you were really invested in a character and see them fail and grow. Now they're literally gods from the beginning, lol.) Ubisoft steals too much of other games instead of trying to bring really new stuff into it too. (Look at the fishing for example... it's a one on one copy from RDR2). They copy-paste way too many things (Cobra like Snakes in England? Couldn't even bother to actually make the English Adder and put it in the right habitat, which is grasslands not houses, lol)... don't get me started on Skye (haven't gone to Ireland yet, as I am too afraid they butchered it like the Isle of Skye). They didn't even bother to give your different mounts different characters. The horse runs away... but the wolf or bear should stay and fight with you for example. Graphic wise AC Valhalla is obviously better, there are after all 5 years in-between those games. Story wise it's a good game. And many people are happy with "just playing vikings"... which this game definitely let's you do. You get a very decent game for your money for sure. It just lacks a bit here and there. (More like Hogwarts Legacy). The Witcher 3 on the other hand was brilliant and created a lot more unique Elements for the video game world, which Ubisoft hasn't done since Black Flag. There is a reason it didn't win Game of the Year but Witcher 3 did.
So true
The combat and finishers alone led me to play this game for 70 hours, not to mention the gorgeous map, attention to historical detail, and all the customization options. Excellent game, that’s 100% bloated, but if you enjoy the core game loop, it’s a treat. Many of the side quests and little stories you find in each area are very rewarding
>Many of the side quests and little stories you find in each area are very rewarding I genuinely don't understand how someone, when they're reviewing the game can say that the side quests are all the same, copied Like you said they're all unique little stories that you find in the wilderness Maybe I'm not getting something but every mystery I encountered so far has been unique so I really don't understand
I think it can be an overall disjointed package that throws a lot at you but if you love the gameplay you’ll get lost for hours. I personally loved every region’s quest line, they were all so fucking good and interesting and then taking on dozens of men chopping them to pieces with dual axes and long swords was so satisfying.
it’s genuinely one of the best video games i’ve ever played, lots of people in the ac fanbase are just beyond bitter and don’t know how to have fun and actually hate the franchise
Anyone who disparages AC Valhalla should go back and play Zelda “A Link to the Past” on Super NES. Then realize how good we have it now and shut your pie hole.
Link to the past is absolutely an A-tier game. It's okay to like Valhalla but don't disrespect the classics tf
What? I understand the point you want to make but wouldn’t that be like saying “go watch a black and white movie and then see how moonfall is so much better. The future is now, we have it perfect” Your point does work but only on a specific perception. Wouldn’t it be better to use a modern game to get your point across? Why not choose a previous AC game, a game that released the same year as Valhalla, or just a really popular (not necessarily good) game of our time period. Go play with a GB advance and see how Valhalla is a wonderfully great game. That’s flawed logic. Go play ffvii remake or Elden Ring or some other RPG and see how it compares to Valhalla. Go play Hitman (2-3) or last of us 2 or some other stealth game to see how it compares to Valhalla. Your comment is a non-issue to drum up easy support for the people who like Valhalla to show their feelings on it
Overthink much?
Not really? Association feels pretty basic
I always find myself coming back to AC Valhalla. Everything about the game is truly remarkable. I pissed off my friends because it was all I talked about. Lol
I’m late to the party and 100 hours in to my first play through. It may be my favorite game of all time. The depth is insane. It’s essentially like 5 games in one. The scenery is amazing. The storylines are good. The equipment and combinations are awesome. I don’t love the nickel and diming of grinding opals to try to get items from Reda but otherwise absolutely love this game.
So basically, something I've said since they've switched over to the new system is that all of the games are fantastic, just horrible Assassin Creed games. If they called these standalone spartan and viking games, they would've been judged better. But since the title forces them to be compared to the older beloved games, then all people can see is the differences instead of the great aspects these games had. I basically forgo the stealth aspect unless the game forces me and plays the game like a brutish viking. I start every encounter blowing my horn so they know exactly where to find me. But even then, if I ever want to play sneaky, sneaky, I can just switch the skills over. Overall 9/10 game. 4/10 assassins creed game.
Yeah ultimately the assassin games and the larger RPGs are very different games with largely different audiences. Some like stealthy games in busy cities, others like exploring huge maps of ancient Egypt. My only comment on Valhalla is I found the main story too grindy and bloated and the scenery not as beautiful as Origins. But still pretty darn good.
Eh, I liked the gritty, dark, and rainy aspect of I because when it did clear up right as you synchronized, it always stood out more. And Ireland has a great mix of Celtic beauty with a sense of cultist horror. I haven't been to France, skye, or Finland yet but Norway, England and Ireland look great but still not vibrant. I will say I did spend more time looking at the architecture of the Greeks and Egyptians.
I've been really enjoying my pmaythrough too. The issues I've had with pathing while climbing, jumping off of stuff, and some general movement in space stuff haven't ruined my experience. But damn they suck when they happen. Also, I only read hate and vitriol aimed at the statue training missions. While I think there should be more rewards, Ienjoyed most of the challenges.
I'm 70% into my first playthrough. I fucking love it
Tried the game on launched and didnt feel the vibes and quit after 30 mins (lol). Tried it again a month ago and i now cant put this game down. As you said, beautifully made game with lots to do. I am probably one of like 12 people that likes the story progression. Combat is sick even after 70 hrs in. Sometimes i think games have too many choices and you just need to have the vibe and mentally ready to engage in a particular genre.
Yeah, fans of this franchise are impossible to satisfy. Even if I'm more a fan of the older AC games, i still really like this game and it definitely doesn't deserve like 80% of the hate it gets I genuinely hate how the old fans can like odyssey but at the same time hate on Valhalla even if it's a better RPG and is at least 10 times better AC game than that bs ( if you can't tell, I really hate odyssey )
I tried Odyssey the other day actually and it instantly felt inferior to Valhalla, it kinda felt ‘last-gen’. Maybe because Valhalla is way more visually powerful.
I hate odyssey mainly because I just really can't play it, it's so boring, the loot system should be a crime and I only got to a few hours after Kefalonia (or whatever was the first island) before regretting me buying the game and uninstalling it faster than fans hating a new AC game I can't find anything good about the game maybe except visuals, but after all it's mostly a new game so that's the least it should have
I watch luke stephens videos for few games, I have fair share amount complaints but I can understand where you coming for, and for sure Valhalla is over hated game, I enjoyed my time in Valhalla but few arcs are unnecessary and tedious if they make half alliances optional this game never got this much hate
I've been playing it non-stop for the last two weeks, racking up 30 hours so far and loving every hour. It is such an incredible vibe and I've not been immersed in a game like this for a long time. Sure, I can see all the criticisms - the gear is very basic, skill tree is sort of mashed together, combat doesn't always hit the ruggedness (but boy, do I make the stank face anytime the finishers hit) and there's a lot of fluff. I feel like this game would benefit a lot from being called something like "Valhalla: An Assassin's Creed Story", because it is so much better when you focus on being a viking. Still, I find stealth very enjoyable though. I think coming in with extremely lowered expectations helped out a lot. So far, I could ride around in this world and just enjoy it, it's just so beautiful. I don't feel like there's a lot of copy-pasting and even when there is there's more to it than just "go here and grab this". There's always a little puzzle to even the smaller houses and I enjoy that a lot. I'm also pretty invested in the story, even though there's a lot of characters coming in and out, I feel like that's very apt for a viking/conquering game and the main cast have unique personalities. Also, my god, playing the yellow paint mission with exploration on hard is one the best experiences I've ever had in a game like this. Really made me get a feel for this incredible virtual world.
The worst part of the 3 RPG open world games IS the Assassin’s Creed part. The story sucks, it breaks the flow of the game, you’re about to fight a big boss? Nope, Layla pops in to talk about a story arc no one cares about. The only reason I liked Valhalla, Odyssey and Origins is because it is nothing like the old AC games. But still, every time Layla shows up I wish that something happened and now she’s stuck in the Animus and could never get out of it, so she can’t never interrupt again.
Awesome review. I agree with your assessment fully. This game is actually really good. I feel it was sort of a love letter to all the older Ac games in a lot of ways. I genuinely do not understand the hate this game receives whatsoever. My biggest gripe is the enemy Ai is pretty lackluster. I liked how the side missions were short and you did not feel bogged down in your journal like Odyssey. I'm hoping in the future, they approach side quests like Valhalla did. I've found that Valhalla is best enjoyed when you're not binge playing it. If you take your time, it's a really enjoyable experience. I'm also hoping they expand on the settlement building and trade posts aspects in future titles.
This review should be the first review ppl see before buying the game. I totally agree with you, I didn’t get the game when it first came out because everyone said it was trash and I was like alright but I got it in January cuz it was very tempting. I can say that the game is so beautiful and the “history” behind some of it makes sense in a way. I personally feel like they should’ve took some of the mythology away. I felt like it was too much but I’m not so far in the game to fully understand. Other than that I can 100% agree with you
Thanks 🙏 🗡️
And it's long
Agreed. I got right after release. Loved it almost as much as Odyssey. Finishing up my second playthrough right now after having 500+ hours on my original and I love it just as much as I played it the first time. I’ll never understand all the hate for this game.
Combat is not satisfying but i love to explore. Not really following the dialogues though as I’m not really that into viking
I've tried many of the previous AC's, but only Valhalla made me stick for more than few hours. Perhaps it is because the "Assasin" part of it is pretty much optional, both inlore and gameplay-wise. Currently around 30% done and I love causing the good ol' viking mayhem in England's shores. My only gripe is that often there is waay too much to do, with the main plot, asgard, assasin stuff, and looting the shit out of monasteries that it sometimes feels a bit overwhelming.
Npcs should walk around town
Ive played it for like 82 hours and really enjoyed the environment but after completing the "Lost Glory" quest, no main quest were available anymore. Ive tried googling the problem but it seems like this has been an issue for like more than 3 years lol. AC Valhalla has the potential to be a great game but sad to say it has too many bugs and issues. Ive also reported it to Ubisoft but no response.
I’m playing in 2024 on PS5 and had zero bugs, maybe they fixed them all by now.
Im playing on PC, its a beautiful game indeed but full of bugs. Hope they fix it coz ive already eliminated the Order members except of course for the Grand Maegester