Assassin's Creed Valhalla will not be a next-gen exclusive, but it will release for next-gen consoles. Based on the trailers and what's been revealed from developer Ubisoft, there is little we know, but much that can be inferred. We know the place and time is in England during the ninth century, with the possibility of a prologue in Norway.
This setting is going to appear more cinematic than any Assassin's Creed game thus far. A Northern European setting indicates that we will witness the northern lights; screenshots have depicted this natural phenomenon already. There is much to love about the new environment, but is it perfect? Here are five reasons to love and five reasons to dislike Assassin's Creed Valhalla's new setting.
10 LOVE: Vikings
Vikings like to raid and trade. They were a prominent group of Europeans who explored the continents during the ninth century. Players will fight as a clan of Viking raiders while they attempt to settle in England in search of more fertile land.
The setting of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is already giving us goosebumps. We are running over the possibilities in our heads, and they look promising.
9 DON'T LOVE: Vikings Aren't Known For Their Assassins
This next Assassin's Creed game is about Vikings and their clash with the Saxons as they attempt to settle in England. It's a wicked premise, but how does it relate to Assassin's Creed? Is it possible that an assassin was able to live among the Vikings all these years secretly?
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla will have to answer some vital questions to explain how the game fits with the series's themes because, historically, Vikings aren't known to be assassins.
8 LOVE: It's Inventive
Ubisoft has a flair for choosing locations that are ignored in video games. It was an ambitious decision for them to try to replicate ancient Egypt in Assassin's Creed: Origins and to create a Victorian London world in Assassin's Creed Syndicate. Valhalla may not have the realism as more recent games chronologically due to gaps in history, but it will be inventive.
The Viking era has been neglected for too long, which is another reason why we love Assassin's Creed: Valhalla's setting.
7 DON'T LOVE: Lots Of Melee Combat
Some fans' opinions suggest that Assassin's Creed: Valhalla will be boring because of the setting. As a game that takes place before guns were invented, it's looking like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla will be mostly a melee combat-based game.
We love the leaps and bounds that games like Assassin's Creed: Origins and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey have made concerning melee combat, but it's a series that benefits more from ranged combat.
6 LOVE: Norse Mythology
Although the game is based on nonfictional events that occurred in the world during the ninth-century, it's clear that the game will dabble into Norse mythology, as previously mentioned. Assassin's Creed is a franchise that does an excellent job of blending fiction and non-fiction.
Being a game that is loosely based on Norse mythology, we will likely see figures like Odin and Thor. The surreal setting of Assassin's Creed Valhalla will make it a surefire hit.
5 DON'T LOVE: Valhalla Is Similar To Other Assassin's Creed Settings
Some fans are complaining that almost every game in the Assassin's Creed series is European-based. The games are set in different countries in Europe at different periods, but they are in Europe nonetheless.
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla might be something similar to what we've already seen. In many ways, Assassin's Creed Valhalla looks nearly identical to more recent Assassin's Creed games.
4 LOVE: Plenty Of Weapons
Like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla's predecessors, we are anticipating a game with a loot system. The trailer and the setting of the game tell us there will be lots of weapons. Perhaps there will be a weapon customization option, aside from visual changes.
The trailer was packed full of weapons like axes, swords, and pikes, almost confirming that the game will primarily use melee weapons. Even though they won't be ranged weapons, we would love to see more memorable weapons you want to keep rather than them being disposable items in the game.
3 DON'T LOVE: The Series Needs To Visit Asia
We like Assassin's Creed Valhalla's setting, but it would be nice for the series to visit Asia, a continent that's oddly missing from the series. Well, technically, Asia appeared in the 2D Assassin's Creed Chronicles games.
Asia, however, is seemingly missing from the 3D adventures. Places like Feudal Japan and India would be excellent settings for an Assassin's Creed 3D adventure. It's one of those things Ubisoft has overlooked.
2 LOVE: Related To Gods & Monsters
We can say with certainty that Greek mythology inspires Gods & Monsters, given that it contains the Greek gods of Olympus and Greek monsters. You'll fight mythological beasts like Hydras, Cyclopes, and Gorgons.
Greek and Norse mythology share many similarities. Ubisoft might be looking to kill two birds with one stone. Why develop different video games when they can pool assets from both games? We might be getting ahead of ourselves, but it looks like Ubisoft will knock these two games out of the park.
1 DON'T LOVE: Less Reliance On Stealth
The number one reason why we are worried about Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is that it might not rely on stealth. Albeit games like Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Origins had stealth components, it seems like the series is straying from its stealth-based premise.
The original Assassin's Creed games had huge stealth components. Will Assassin's Creed: Valhalla rely less on stealth? We hope not.