Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok Review. The invasion of England dominated the Viking Age. But it also saw the series delve deeper into its mythical sub-plot, as it has since Origins. Strange sci-fi / historical myth settings have long existed in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but never had such prominence.
Then comes Dawn of Ragnarok. Pardon me while I try to explain the series’ and Assassin’s Creed’s lore. The main focus is on the gameplay. Does it differ enough from the original Valhalla experience to justify the almost full price?
Highlights:
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – Ragnarok
$39.99
Xbox, PS4, PC, Stadia
Ubisoft Provided This Review With A Review Code.
Table of Contents
Key Features:
- Game: Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla – Dawn of Ragnarok
- Price: $39.99
- Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Stadia
- Disclaimer: A Review Code Was Provided By Ubisoft For This Review
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Ragnarok Review
Svartalfheim, the Dwarf Land, is the latest Assassin’s Creed expansion. Invaders from Muspelheim, specifically Surtr, now inhabit it. You play as Odin, a character who resembles Eivor. However, Dawn of Ragnarok focuses on Odin (also known as Havi, to add to the confusion) and his quest to find his kidnapped son Baldr.
While Dawn of Ragnarok is essentially more Valhalla, there is enough variation in the formula to make it a worthwhile experience. The Muspels lava flows throughout the Dwarven realm, with mountains overlooking most areas. It’s a nice change from Valhalla’s England.
But it isn’t enough to entice returning players from the Viking-invaded England. Valhalla fans will be pleased with this expansion, but many players have abandoned the game after a year and a half. Despite the change in characters and situations, many of the quest’s structures remain. While it’s fun to be on the other side of the invasion, the plot doesn’t offer enough to care about characters besides the main ones.
Even if the relationship is fleeting, there are moments between characters that capture the Assassin’s Creed spirit. But with so much filler, it feels like it could have been cut down. It’s like watching a TV show where you lose interest in season 3 but keep going to finish it. Each episode leaves you tired.
That Silky Voice
Fortunately, hearing Magnus Bruun’s voice as Eivor / Odin again fixes many of the game’s issues. Bruun’s smooth voice and Viking-like manner keep the storey moments interesting. I’m sure the female Eivor is just as good, but I was still impressed that after so many hours, I could enjoy someone’s voice.
Dawn of Ragnarok has some good voice acting. The incredible acting captures the player during pivotal plot moments. Even if you don’t care about the dwarves, Surtr is a great villain. Despite being set in a different realm and featuring strange AC lore, Ubisoft did a good job of conveying the scope and seriousness of the plot.
Combat is still fun, even if it gets a little boring after a while. While the aforementioned Hugr-Rip does not improve general combat, there is simply more of it. The Valkyrie Arena allows players to enter an arena and fight many Muspel to earn rewards that further enhance the end-game.
Regrettably, many of Valhalla’s core issues remain. A long storey, filler missions, and a formula that works but gets old. That said, these unnecessary and convoluted Action-RPG ACs aren’t the series I fell in love with. On the other hand, Dawn of Ragnarok is more of the same Ubisoft-filled quests and map markers. More Valhalla, for good or ill.
