After around two years worth of hype,Assassin’s Creedis set to return at the end of 2020. This time, gamers can enter in the role of a viking over a thousand years in the past. While the belief was thatRagnarokwould be the title, it has been revealed to beValhallathat fans will play.
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Along with this announcement, a host of details are now apparent. These range from the story to gameplay aspects, and all of these serve to increase the anticipation. Since there’s still some time left, and further announcements can be expected, here’s what’s currently known aboutAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.
10Layla Hassan Returns
There are thegames starring Desmond Miles, the ones without a modern-day protagonist, and the current incarnations with Layla Hassan. After starting out withAssassin’s Creed Origins, Layla is now set for her third outing.
This one is set to continue her journey, and fans will recall that she was last seen taking on the responsibility of the protagonist from Kassandra at the end ofOdyssey.Valhallawill feature Layla guiding the player in the modern world, paralleling history’s events.
9The Return Of Settlements
Remember that feeling of accomplishment when you built a community? Well, this will return for the first time sinceAssassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. This time round, these settlements will be vital to the gameplay.
Players can bring the community up from an initially low point to a thriving settlement. To do this, the game will bring forward challenges where resources need to be attained. These are for constructions, and to improve the character’s skills.
8Options Between Male And Female Protagonist
There’s been a surprising level of confusion over the status of the protagonist inValhalla.It’s understandable, though, since a male character has been heavily promoted. However, there will be an option to play as a female character as well.
Much like thecase of Kassandra and AlexiosinOdyssey, this one will also hand out the choice to select between a gender when starting out. As before, only one of these will be the canonical protagonist in the story. However, Eivor will have the same skills regardless of being male or female. Another exciting feature is to customize both characters' appearances.
7Revamped Combat System
One of the weaker aspects of the games has always been the linear combat system. The Layla Hassan games have generally skewed toward button mashing rather than skill, andValhallalooks to change this.
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The most striking revamp is the ability to dual-wield weapons, something designed to provide versatility to the gameplay and justify carrying so many melees. Along with that, the dual-wielding is possible with every kind of weapon, no longer requiring particular swords or axes for singular use.
6The Backdrop And Areas Available
Medieval England will be the main backdrop in this game. This way, a fascinating idea most players will definitely think of is how the world looks inValhallatoAssassin’s Creed Syndicatein the nineteenth century.
This game brings major cities such as Jorvik, Winchester, and London as the ones players will venture into. The outer world, including Norway, will also be accessible through naval means.Previous predictions are proven right, as the timeline is set in the age of the Vikings; 873 AD to be exact.
5A Lighter Role Of Mythology
BothOdysseyandOriginstook the mythological aspects to rather ridiculous levels by introducing beings from those legends, but don’t count on seeing things to that extent here. Narrative director Darby McDevitt has revealed that the mythical aspects will be toned down this time round.
In its place,Valhallaseeks to have a more grounded take on the history told within the story, and the characters will take inspiration from Norse legends rather than actually confront beings related to it. So, don’t count on a repeat ofGod of Warfor this game.
4The Hidden Ones And The Hidden Blade
A noticeable point inOdysseyhad been how it had little to do with the creed of the Assassins, since it took place before their time. InValhalla, while the spirit of the creed will be there, it will not have the title of the faction just yet.
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In its place, it will be The Hidden Ones, as they were titled inOrigins.The official name was adopted around the time of Altair, meaning the creed’s history will still have room to develop. The hidden blade makes a welcome return, too. This is something that Eivor uses to great effect in the trailer. Here, it is situated above his wrist instead of below it.
3The Platforms It Will Be Available On
The speculation has been right over the possibility of the title being available for ninth generation consoles. As confirmed,Valhallawill serve as a launch title for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It is also available for current generation consoles and PC.
An interesting development is its availability on Google’s Stadia, which gets a simultaneous release. As of yet, it’s bad news for Nintendo Switch fans as the game has not been announced for the platform despiteOdysseygetting a Japan release earlier.
2Naval Combat Will Not Be A Major Factor
Another area the series has never perfected has been the water-based missions. Combat has come across as a chore for the most part due to this.Valhallarectifies this by making Eivor’s longship almost exclusively as a means for travel.
This removes the major role naval combat played in the previous game. Now, players will not have to worry about spending hours trying to sink enemy ships. Instead, water-based missions will play a more passive role to explore the world further.
1Non-Playable Online Mode
In an interesting twist, the game has something of a multiplayer feature. Here, while players can’t directly influence proceedings, they can enter someone else’s playthrough. This is possible by joining the session by creating a mercenary.
This way, another player’s game can be accessed, where the mercenary character becomes non-playable. The purpose of this is to provide inspiration for the single-play for players’ own campaigns, and to diversify the gaming experience. There’s also the prospect of gaining additional rewards through completion of these sequences.
