Blood, dismemberment and decapitation. We played Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and it s brutal - first impressions

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is darker, more brutal, dirtier and bloodier than previous hits. Medieval England looks like a fire in Wild Hunt. Under this new mask, however, hides the well-known gameplay mechanics, although with some changes.

Unsubscribe paint the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - I spoke to an editorial colleague riding a horse across the English lands. Compared to the sunny installments of Odyssey and Origins, the world at Valhalla is depressing. Dirt, dirty and mud dominated the landscape. The main worry of people encountered in the villages is poverty and getting food. I was surprised to see so many children playing in rags. I anticipate the questions: I do not know if you can hurt them, it did not occur to me to try. I hope not.

The troll who hurt me on the foggy swamp caused me harm.

However, this was not a fantastic monster from fairy tales and legends, as in the case of mythological opponents from Odyssey. The troll was, in fact, an exotic clothed shaman, leveling the battlefield with poisons, incense and powders. Many of the opponents encountered in the wilderness were alchemy; they were throwing something explosive at me, which made my viking cough and choke.

England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla are two worlds in one. In villages and towns we have classic knights fighting with swords, shields and so on. However, all you need to do is leave the trail and immerse yourself in the dense forest to come across this wild, unpredictable, exotic England. Deprived of crosses, it is much closer to animalism and occultism. Great move. I was afraid that against Egypt or Greece England would be simply boring. The one in which I spent almost four hours certainly was not.

Not only a horse, but also a boat is important for moving in Valhalla.

This is the first edition of Assassin's Creed, in which rivers play such a great role. Of course, the series already allowed navigation. The whole Black Flag was constructed around the running of its boat. In Valhalla, however, the boats have a much more inland character. We move them down or up the stream, closely monitoring what is happening on both banks. As most villages and towns are growing right on the rivers, we always find something interesting to discover.

Importantly, the player does not always swim alone. In fact, from the very beginning of the adventure, the main character (or heroine!) Has the Viking clan under his command. We travel together through England, we fight together and live together on the other side of the sea. All you need to do is blow a corner and a bunch of growing warriors will attack the nearby stronghold, screaming at the gates.

Raids on villages and strongholds are a new, successful element of Valhalla.

Do you remember the monotonous battles between Sparta and Athens in Odyssey? Ubisoft refined and diversified this formula in the form of joint attacks on castles and towns. The player can take part in the frontal charge, arm in arm with other warriors, breaking subsequent defensive rings: walls and gate, square or market, interior of the stronghold. The creators made sure that we had more to do than just waving axes. If we want, we can, for example, grab a ram, pulling it towards the gate with several people. Details, but they differentiate one approach from another.

What's great, if we don't want to, we don't have to participate in open conflict. Nothing prevents you from putting on a hood and entering silently behind enemy lines. We sabotage the defenders, reduce their supplies or open the gates from the inside. Players who have complained that in the previous two editions there is too much fight and too little sneaking will feel a gentle return to the roots. It's still not the sneaky Assassin every first and second installment, but this time at least feel that the creators give us an alternative. In the case of the Sparta and Athens wars, we didn't have it too often.

I do not hide, however, that I liked the latest news about the fight.

I was very, very surprised that Assasin's Creed Valhalla is noticeably more brutal than previous hits. A bloody contact fight has come into play. One with limb clearing and decapitation. I was quite a shock when I took advantage of a powerful attack on a weakened opponent for the first time, and my viking chopped off his hand without further ado. My eyebrows rose immediately. I haven't seen anything like this in the Assassin's Creed series. Brutal fights are only cosmetics, but they match the climate of depressing England and brutal Vikings.

Staying on the subject of fighting, I bring good news: opponent experience levels have disappeared from the game. It is true that we are still developing the hero, and the weapons have their digital parameters, but the whole cRPG overlay is not as strong as in Odyssey. I have not encountered a situation in which I cannot kill a bad guard just because the developers gave him ten levels more than my champion. Thanks to Odin, I haven't seen such artificial barriers in Valhalla.

Feel that the developers are trying to give players as much freedom as possible. This freedom is well expressed through the inventory. Our viking can wield any weapon in both hands. Two axes? No problem. Sword and shield? Here you are. Ax and whip? Sure thing. Two shields? A little crazy but okay as you like. The hero of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is able to fight virtually anything, both in one- and two-handed combinations.

Despite the new mechanisms, I felt like I was still playing Odyssey and Origins. The third installment of the trilogy.

If I had to relate my adventure with Valhalla in one sentence, it would be: Origins and Odyssey, only darker and dirtier . Similar combat, similar animations, similar exploration, similar special skills - in the game you will not find anything that would make you think that memes are dealing with any new deal. With the entry of the series into a new era. Valhalla is simply more of the same. If you liked Origins and Odyssey, you'll also like this edition. If you thought that the creators went in the wrong direction, you will continue to think so.

Origins, Odyssey and Valhalla is an informal trilogy of titles very similar to each other. Unfortunately, avoiding explicit changes has also affected the graphics engine. The latest Assassin's Creed looks at most correct. The world itself may be liked, but already character models, hairstyles, facial expressions - all this looks a bit archaic today. When I think that Valhalla will work on PS5 and XSX in just 30 frames, I do not see this logical justification.

Personally, I'm definitely yes. However, I belong to those who spent several dozen hours with Odyssey and Origins, having a great time. I can't wait to get back to the English marsh and settle the bills with the troll. However, if you are waiting for the series to return to the roots ... well, not this time. Although sneaking is a bit more, it is still a completely different series than the most sentimental players remembered.

Blood, dismemberment and decapitation. We played Assassin's Creed Valhalla and it's brutal - first impressions