How is Valhalla Different From Odyssey? A Deep Dive
The question on many Assassin’s Creed fans’ minds is: how is Valhalla different from Odyssey? While both are massive open-world RPGs from Ubisoft, the differences are significant and impact the overall gameplay experience. At its core, Valhalla shifts focus from open-ended exploration and side quests to a more structured narrative centered around alliance building and kingdom conquest. This fundamental difference shapes everything from quest design to the game’s overall feel. Odyssey, in contrast, is more of an epic campaign with a plethora of miscellaneous quests and side arcs, offering greater freedom and a more traditional RPG experience. Let’s break down these differences in detail.
Core Gameplay and Structure
Narrative Focus
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla emphasizes a more linear main storyline following Eivor’s journey from Norway to England, forging alliances with various kingdoms. This is a significant departure from Odyssey’s more open-ended structure. In Odyssey, players could freely wander the vast Greek world, engaging in numerous side quests with little bearing on the main plot. Valhalla’s narrative is more tightly woven and focused, with side activities often contributing to the overall political and social landscape. The player’s actions directly impact the territories they are vying to control. This creates a more deliberate and less free-form experience compared to Odyssey.
Quest Design
Odyssey is known for its expansive map littered with side quests, often leading to unique and varied mini-stories. These quests felt very independent of the main story, allowing players to explore and discover at their own pace. Valhalla, however, tones down the quantity of miscellaneous quests, instead opting for shorter, more focused world events. These events are often less impactful than the elaborate quests in Odyssey, sometimes feeling like repetitive tasks. This design choice makes the main storyline feel more crucial, but some players might miss the freedom and variety that Odyssey provided.
RPG Elements
While both games are classified as RPGs, they approach this genre differently. Odyssey embraces a more traditional RPG system with deep skill trees, a wide range of gear, and level-scaling enemies. It allows for diverse character builds and playstyles. Valhalla simplifies this system, offering a more streamlined progression with less emphasis on gear grind and more on acquiring skills and abilities. Leveling up feels different in Valhalla. You are dumped with skill points at such a rapid pace that it’s possible to quickly out level areas.
Combat and Leveling
Combat Style
Both games share a similar base combat system with melee attacks, dodges, and parries, but there are key differences. Valhalla focuses on a heavier, more brutal combat system, reflecting the Viking theme. Players wield axes, shields, and other weighty weapons, and the encounters can feel more visceral and impactful. Odyssey’s combat, on the other hand, is often faster and more fluid, emphasizing agility and quick strikes with swords, spears, and other Greek weaponry. While both can be fun, they cater to different preferences. Once players level up and master the mechanics of Valhalla, its combat can be equally as enjoyable as Odyssey’s.
Leveling and Progression
Valhalla’s leveling system is significantly different from Odyssey. In Valhalla, skill points are earned rapidly, allowing for quick character upgrades. This can lead to over-leveling areas relatively quickly. Odyssey has more emphasis on level grinding and gear progression. Valhalla focuses on skills which can feel repetitive. Both games, however, utilize skill trees that will allow a player to shape the character to their desired play style.
World and Exploration
Map Size and Design
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey boasts a larger overall map than Valhalla. However, a large portion of Odyssey’s map is the sea. While Valhalla has a smaller surface area, it’s packed with a similar amount of content. The maps also have different vibes. Odyssey’s map consists of vibrant, sprawling landscapes, while Valhalla is more focused on the harsh, rugged terrains of England and Norway. The exploration is structured differently as well. Odyssey allows the player to freely explore with no limitations. Valhalla is more focused on exploration through a more structured approach.
Open World Feel
Odyssey feels more like a traditional open-world game, with numerous points of interest and side activities scattered across its vast map. Players have the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Valhalla’s open-world is more focused, directing players towards specific regions to establish alliances. This results in less free exploration and more guided gameplay. The world in both games is equally as good, but in very different ways.
Key Differences Summarized
| Feature | Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | Assassin’s Creed Valhalla |
|---|---|---|
| ——————— | —————————————————– | —————————————————- |
| Narrative Focus | Epic campaign with open-ended structure | Focused main story with alliance-building |
| Quest Design | Many open-ended side quests and arcs | Fewer, more focused world events and main story quests |
| RPG Elements | More traditional with deep skill trees & gear grind | More streamlined, less emphasis on gear |
| Combat | Fast, fluid, emphasis on agility | Heavy, brutal, emphasis on power |
| Leveling | More focused on gear and level grinding | Rapid skill point gain, quick leveling |
| Map Size | Larger, with significant sea areas | Smaller land mass, focuses on land exploration |
| Open World Feel | Highly free-form, lots of exploration | More directed, focusing on alliance regions |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Valhalla a live service game?
Valhalla feels more like a live service game due to its ongoing content updates and season passes, although it lacks traditional multiplayer. Odyssey feels more like a traditional single-player epic campaign.
2. Is Valhalla combat better than Odyssey?
Once you’ve leveled up and learned the mechanics, Valhalla’s combat can be as good as, if not better than, Odyssey’s combat. However, Valhalla has pacing and leveling issues that can hinder the moment-to-moment gameplay experience.
3. Is Valhalla bigger than Odyssey?
No, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has a bigger map than Valhalla. Odyssey’s map is calculated to be 90.7 square miles, with Valhalla’s combined maps of England and Norway coming in second. Much of Odyssey’s map is water though, the proper land mass of ancient Greece is around 45 square miles.
4. Which Assassin’s Creed game is better: Valhalla or Odyssey?
It’s subjective. Odyssey provides a vast open-world experience with rich side content, while Valhalla provides a more focused story and alliance-building gameplay. Both are highly regarded, but the choice depends on what kind of experience a player wants. Odyssey tends to be a fan favorite of many players.
5. How similar is Valhalla to Odyssey?
Valhalla and Odyssey share core mechanics but differ in overall structure and narrative approach. Valhalla’s focus is on a linear story and kingdom conquest, while Odyssey offers a more open-ended RPG experience.
6. Is Valhalla worth playing after Odyssey?
Yes, if you are interested in a more focused story and don’t mind a more structured open world, Valhalla is worth playing. The stories are also unique enough and worthwhile for most players.
7. Which Assassin’s Creed is most like Odyssey?
Assassin’s Creed Origins is the most similar game to Odyssey, sharing similar gameplay mechanics, combat, and exploration features.
8. Is AC Valhalla better than Odyssey and Origins?
Valhalla sits between Origins and Odyssey in terms of RPG elements. It is more of an RPG than Origins but less so than Odyssey. The games have different themes and different things to offer to players.
9. Is Alexios or Kassandra better to play as?
It’s personal preference. Both characters have their fans. Kassandra is generally considered to have a better voice actor. However, more people favored Alexios as the main character.
10. Is Odyssey the best Assassin’s Creed game?
Odyssey is often considered one of the best Assassin’s Creed games, particularly within the RPG era of the franchise. However, older titles are also loved by players for different reasons.
11. Is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey easy?
Many gamers find Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to be challenging due to its combat and level progression, particularly in the early game.
12. Did Valhalla sell more than Odyssey?
Yes, recent data confirms that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has outsold Odyssey by a massive 50%.
13. Why is Assassin’s Creed Odyssey so different?
Odyssey is different because it embraced a more open, choice-driven RPG format with greater freedom for the player, whereas previous games in the series were more linear.
14. Is Odyssey and Valhalla connected?
Yes, through crossover stories. Kassandra from Odyssey appears in Valhalla. The two games are loosely connected through a modern-day plot as well.
15. Is Valhalla as bloated as Odyssey?
While some find both games bloated, Valhalla is generally considered to be less bloated than Odyssey, due to its focus on a more contained narrative and map structure.
In conclusion, Valhalla and Odyssey offer distinct gaming experiences despite sharing the Assassin’s Creed DNA. Your preference will ultimately depend on whether you prefer a sprawling RPG adventure with open-ended exploration (Odyssey) or a more structured narrative with a focus on alliances and conquest (Valhalla). Both are great games with different strengths and provide hours of immersive gameplay.