As the first rumors about the next Assassin’s Creed begin to tremble on the web, many have not forgotten the adventures of Eivor. Hero of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
THE WITCHER III
It’s hard not to talk about The Witcher 3 when referring to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Admittedly, the universe is different and the gameplay has a more advanced RPG approach than Ubi’s game, but CD Projekt’s work has assets which should delight those who are nostalgic for Eivor.
Gerald, the Witcher (a monster slayer whose body has undergone mutations that give him extraordinary powers) that we embody, finds himself at the heart of a breathtaking scenario tinged with magic, legends and fantastic events.
One of the great strengths of The Witcher III, beyond its sumptuous graphics, comes from the freedom it leaves to the player. The latter has plenty of time to follow the main quest, indulge in side quests (wonderfully written) or have fun with the various activities offered. An unforgettable trip !
VIKING : BATTLE FOR ASGARD
Obviously, with a name like that, it’s hard not to make the link with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Viking: Battle for Asgard, you will understand, is directly interested in Norse mythology and this fascinating mysterious people.
Signed by the studio The Creative Assembly, this action game is a kind of God of War in Dynasty Warriors mode. Understand by this that the battles involve entire armies and that the player must, according to the adventure, save the men who will come to strengthen his clan.
In Viking: Battle for Asgard, we play the role of Skarin, “the henchman” of Freya, who must stop by all means the goddess Hel. A rather nice hack’n slash which uses with passion the mythology of the Scandinavian countries. To discover.
GOD OF WAR
For lovers of Nordic mythology, God of War is an ode to discovery. In this adventure carried by exceptional actors, Kratos and his son meet Gods (Baldur, Freya, Thor, Mimir) who echo Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Breathtakingly beautiful, the game of Santa Monica is an unforgettable dive into the tales and legends of Northern Europe and each event is imbued with Scandinavian mythologies.
Impossible not to remain amazed by Jörmungand, this gigantic sea serpent engulfing sinking ships (and which also appears in season 6 of Vikings). In terms of hard gameplay, God of War is a more “brutal” and cooperative game than Assassin’s Creed Valhalla but it clearly appears as a more than essential alternative if you liked the title of Ubi Montreal.
NORTHGARD
With Northgard, we completely change the gameplay (since it is an RTS) but we remain in the universe of Nordic myths and legends. In this title developed by Shiro Games, the player’s mission is to make his faction (among the eleven available) prosper by developing his village and carrying out his conquests.
What’s eye-catching about Northgard is that you relive the Vikings’ lifestyles, namely their thirst for exploration, conquest and combat. They were also an extremely innovative people and we find this notion in this strategy game which forces the player to manage each of his units (farmer, warrior, sage, navigator).
The same goes for everything related to commerce. A pleasant work, with an endearing universe.
ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY
Impossible not to link Assassin’s Creed Valhalla with other episodes of the Ubisoft franchise. We could thus have put forward Black Flag which introduces naval battles but we preferred to bet on one of the last adventures of the license, Odyssey.
By its mechanisms and its universe inspired by ancient Greece, this superb epic establishes a more advanced RPG approach and offers an open world to fall backwards. Taking place in 431 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey features Kassandra or Alexios.
We meet many historical figures (Pericles, Hippocrates, Herodotus) and the adventure – which offers sumptuous naval battles – spans dozens and dozens of hours of play. Captivating and immersive as rarely, here is a Must-do episode if you liked Valhalla.
SKYRIM
A great video game classic, Skyrim is a major work that all budding adventurers must experience at least once. With its many script extensions and a gigantic immersive world, the title of Bethesda never ceases to be emulated.
Like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it is imbued with different themes, both historical, medieval and even fantastic, and leaves the player a great deal of freedom. The latter is free to follow the main quest or to walk in unexpected regions to discover additional stories. Whether it’s its stunning landscapes or hostile dungeons, Skyrim is a call to discovery and exploration.
ASSASSIN’S CREED ORIGINS
Although the universe is far from that of Eivor, it seems essential to quote Assassin’s Creed Origins because it is undeniably the latter, published in 2017, which has drawn the modern contours of the franchise.
In Origins, the player plays Bayek, a man living in the heart of Egypt during the time of Ptolemy XIII. During this adventure, taking place in 49 BC, the Medjaÿ of Siwa quenches his thirst for revenge by traveling through the Egyptian regions and meeting such mythical characters on Caesar or Queen Cleopatra.
With its gameplay tinged with RPG mechanics and its various innovations – notably the eagle Senu – Origins is one of the founding episodes of the license and one of those which, by its modernism, comes closest to Valhalla.
HELLBLADE
While the second episode is in development, Hellblade remains one of the landmark adventures of 2017. Far darker and more psychological than Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Ninja Theory’s work permeates Nordic legends and brings the player facing emotions that can disturb.
The story chronicles the deranged wanderings of Senua, a Picte warrior, who vowed to cross the forbidden lands of the Kingdom of Hel to bring her lover back to life. The story is harsh, poignant, visceral, but it echoes the stories told by those who once crossed the path of the Vikings.
If Hellblade disturbs, it is above all for its theme related to psychosis and mental disorders. The game thus exploits the principle of hallucinations (a bit like in Eternal Darkness but on a larger scale) and continually questions the player.
THE BANNER SAGA
When we think of video games and Norse mythology, we also think of The Banner Saga. This tactical-RPG from studio Stoic takes place in an imaginary world inspired by the Viking people and Scandinavian legends.
Combining history and fantasy, this ersatz Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem will melt you if you cling to Nordic adventures. Since its release in 2013, The Banner Saga has had two sequels, but we can’t recommend enough that you do each part in order, as each of them follows the events of its predecessor.
Hypnotically beautiful with its charismatic characters and inspired sets, this is an intelligent work that deserves to be discovered if you have appreciated the themes of Valhalla.
GHOST OF TSUSHIMA
With its historic reach and fabulous achievement, Ghost of Tsushima has been one of the major exclusives in the PlayStation galaxy in recent years. In feudal Japan, during the Kamakura era, the player encamps Jin Sakai, a samurai who finds himself at the heart of the Mongol invasion (by Kubilai Khan – grandson of the great Genghis Khan) on the island of Tsushima.
If the developers of Sucker Punch have taken some liberties, the work is so well calibrated that we really have the impression of evolving in the middle of Japan in 1274, whether on horseback or on foot.
If you have fallen for the immersion offered by Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, there is a good chance that it will be the same with this epic adventure, drawing on the strings of the genre (exploration, combat, crafting), with a strong propensity for infiltration.
The game had such resonance in Japan that Nate Fox and Jason Connell, the directors, have just been elected permanent tourism ambassadors by the mayor of Tsushima, Hiroki Hitakatsu. Local officials therefore intend to invite the entire team, as soon as the health situation is good, to discover the island.
You will understand, if you like history and great adventures of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, do not miss this masterpiece!