Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Pros

• Portrays a vivid portrait of Dark Ages England
• Satisfying and bloody combat

Cons

• Limited options for stealth play

Assassin's Creed Valhalla blends together modern roleplaying advancement with social stealth and ruthless combat, and the results are a game that captures the epic scope and the ruthlessly pragmatic ideology of the age of vikings. At the same time, it continues a story that started over a decade ago. For the most part, it succeeds in creating an experience that's welcoming to newcomers while still offering the mechanics and narrative twists and turns that series veterans have come to expect.

Valhalla's interpretation of the medieval British Isles is its most impressive feat. While these islands might not initially seem to have the grand scale or breathtaking beauty of former settings like ancient Egypt and Greece, the attention to detail proves that England is every bit as worthy of exploration. From contemporaneously modern cities to foggy moors to windswept beaches, the map is truly massive and captures the feel - if not the precise geography - of life on the Isles.

But the greatest sense of realism comes not from the setting but from the storytelling. You play as one of two viking siblings who leave Norway behind to make a new life in England. In order to remain, you need to carve out a place for yourself among the warring factions of Dark Ages England. In practical terms, this usually results in smart reinterpretations of expected Assassin's Creed tropes. The story itself is broken up essentially into vignettes. Your characters explores the world, making alliances with various lords that essentially function as standalone short stories.

These stories are generally well-written and rewarding, but they're far more rewarding the further you get in. Making it to the end of the story will require over 40 hours of play from the average gamer, but strong character work brings the setting to life throughout that time. And once isolated stories begin to weave together as characters reappear and layer on social complications.

The now-established standards of the Assassin's Creed series are here. Your viking settlement can be built up over time to improve the facilities and draw in new residents. A slew of collectibles and side quests are loosely tied into the ongoing narrative, and massive fort sieges serve as the culmination of many missions.

Valhalla signifies an even greater turn away from the stealth fundamentals that were once the series' bread and butter. Fortunately, the combat here feels great. There's a level of visceral brutality to combat that makes it feel lively, even if it's functionally similar to so many Dark Souls clones. But the variety of tools at your disposal, the genuinely helpful skill trees, and the meaty satisfaction of contact in combat chart new territory for the future of the series.

Pros

• Portrays a vivid portrait of Dark Ages England
• Satisfying and bloody combat

Cons

• Limited options for stealth play