![]() This is where Eivor and company make their new home by expanding their influence in the region and establishing new businesses and other useful vendors. Your settlement is almost a character in itself. ![]() It’s a welcome change, and ensures your quest log and map isn’t bogged down by huge amounts of clutter. They’re all colour coded too, so sending your Raven out to scout the area will immediately flag up white, blue or gold icons so you know what’s around the corner. The former houses rare collectibles in the world, Mysteries are more traditional side quests where you sometimes interact with NPCs (and they’re pretty unique too, sometimes even slightly bizarre) while Wealth coughs up valuable resources used to upgrade your Settlement (more on that in a bit), gear, abilities and silver. Side quests have been streamlined into three categories – Artifacts, Mysteries and Wealth. Valhalla is ripe for exploration, and that’s also seen a bit of an overhaul. ![]() Overall, the gear system feels more concise, and not being showered with loot compared to previous games is a refreshing change. I found myself actively investing in specific matching gear rather than just tossing out something as soon as I picked up something new. Speaking of gear, it’s not quite as overwhelming as Odyssey, and there’s more of a focusing in investing in parts this time around thanks to the ability to upgrade it and install runes to add specific buffs. This gives you more of a chance to customise your character’s playstyle how you see fit, and it’s interesting to play around with different gear and skills to suit your needs. This time though, they’re separated by different animals (such as the Bear, Raven etc) that have specific perks for gear aligned to that creature. Power is raised by applying Skills to Eivor, which buff stealth, damage, and other key attributes. The RPG trappings are back, and thus locations and levels are governed once again by levels – in this game known as Power – which you’ll need to increase in order to progress. Everything else finds a way into the narrative without feeling forced, but you very much feel that you’re weaving you own story here a legend in the making, in many ways. The war between the Assassins and the Templars is woven into its rich tapestry, sure, but at its heart, the game is about finding a new home with your clan. The biggest compliment I can give Valhalla is that it sells the Viking backdrop without a hitch. The influence of Roman and Saxon cultures that pepper the hills, roads and muddy towns also makes for a striking juxtaposition, while stunning vistas and gorgeous sunsets really do help sell this as one of the most visually stunning Creed games to date. From the stunning Northern Lights that illuminate the night sky as you trek through knee-high snow in Norway, to the crumbling Roman ruins and rich Saxon brickwork that punctuates the lush green and browns of England, Valhalla is a stunner. While the character models are a bit perfunctory by today’s standards, lacking the nuances of Resident Evil 2 and Little Hope’s pixel-perfect cast, the locations are positively oozing with detail. First and foremost, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a beautiful looking game.
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