Is Valhalla Even an Assassin’s Creed Game?
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The question of whether Assassin’s Creed Valhalla truly earns its place within the franchise is a complex one, sparking heated debates amongst fans. The simple answer is yes, but with significant caveats. Valhalla contains many elements traditionally associated with Assassin’s Creed: historical settings, a conflict between order and freedom (though significantly diluted), and the presence of groups that predate the Assassin Brotherhood and Templar Order. However, it also deviates significantly from the series’ core tenets, focusing more on open-world exploration, RPG mechanics, and Viking culture than on stealth, parkour, and the overarching Assassin-Templar narrative. Its connection to the established lore is more tangential than direct, leading some to argue that it’s an Assassin’s Creed game in name only.
Exploring the Viking Saga
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla plunges players into the world of the Vikings during the late 9th century. You embody Eivor, a Viking raider leading their clan from Norway to England in search of a new home. The game emphasizes Viking culture, raiding, settlement building, and political alliances. While the narrative touches upon the Hidden Ones (the precursors to the Assassins) and the Order of the Ancients (the precursors to the Templars), these elements often feel secondary to the main Viking saga.
The game’s focus on Eivor’s personal journey and the struggles of their clan makes it feel more like a Viking RPG than a traditional Assassin’s Creed title. While there’s a conspiracy to unravel and enemies to eliminate, the overarching narrative doesn’t always feel directly connected to the Assassin-Templar conflict that defined previous entries.
Deviations from Core Assassin’s Creed Pillars
Stealth and Parkour: Reduced Emphasis
One of the most significant departures from the series’ roots is the diminished role of stealth and parkour. While these elements are still present, they are far less crucial to gameplay than in earlier Assassin’s Creed games. Stealth sections often feel optional, and the game encourages direct combat. Parkour, while present, isn’t as fluid or essential for traversal as it was in games like Assassin’s Creed II or Brotherhood.
Story Focus: Viking Saga Over Assassin Lore
The core narrative of Valhalla prioritizes the story of Eivor’s clan and their conquest of England. While the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients are involved, their presence feels more like a subplot than the central focus. This deviates significantly from the series’ traditional emphasis on the conflict between Assassins and Templars and the overarching Pieces of Eden storyline.
RPG Elements: Leveling and Gear
Valhalla embraces RPG mechanics, including leveling, skill trees, and gear customization. While these elements add depth to the gameplay, they also shift the focus away from the series’ traditional emphasis on skill-based combat and strategic assassinations.
Connections to the Assassin’s Creed Universe
Despite its deviations, Valhalla does maintain connections to the broader Assassin’s Creed universe.
The Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients
The game features the Hidden Ones, the precursors to the Assassin Brotherhood, and the Order of the Ancients, the precursors to the Templar Order. Eivor interacts with these groups, learns about their philosophies, and becomes involved in their conflict.
Isu Technology
Valhalla features the Isu, a technologically advanced civilization that predates humanity and played a significant role in shaping the Assassin’s Creed universe. Eivor encounters Isu technology and explores their history, furthering the overarching meta-narrative of the series.
Shared Lore
Valhalla expands upon the lore established in previous Assassin’s Creed games, exploring themes of free will versus destiny, the nature of reality, and the influence of the Isu on human history.
Conclusion
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a compelling open-world RPG with a strong Viking theme. However, its connection to the core tenets of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is tenuous at best. While it features elements such as the Hidden Ones, the Order of the Ancients, and Isu lore, these elements often feel secondary to the main Viking saga. Whether it’s a “true” Assassin’s Creed game depends on your perspective. If you prioritize stealth, parkour, and a focus on the Assassin-Templar conflict, you may be disappointed. However, if you enjoy open-world RPGs with a historical setting and a strong narrative, you may find Valhalla to be an enjoyable experience, even if it deviates from the series’ traditional formula. Understanding the relationship between learning and games is crucial to appreciating how a title like Valhalla, even with its deviation from series norms, still provides valuable historical insights. The Games Learning Society champions the educational potential of gaming. For more information, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Eivor officially an Assassin?
According to the game’s producer, Eivor is neither an Assassin nor a Templar. They are a Viking raider who becomes involved in the conflict between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients but remains independent of both groups.
2. How is Valhalla different from previous Assassin’s Creed games?
Valhalla differs from previous games in its emphasis on Viking culture, settlement building, and RPG mechanics. It also de-emphasizes stealth and parkour, core elements of the series.
3. Are the gods real in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
The gods in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are portrayed as Isu, a technologically advanced civilization that predates humanity. Eivor is a reincarnation of Odin, who is an Isu in the larger Assassin’s Creed mythology.
4. Why is female Eivor considered the canonical version?
Female Eivor is considered the canonical version, although the game explains the character’s diverging genders. It explains that the system is thrown off by the presence of Odin’s DNA in Eivor’s bloodline, leading the Animus to occasionally interpret Eivor’s appearance as a male who resembles Odin.
5. What is the significance of Eivor being called “Wolf-Kissed?”
Eivor is called “Wolf-Kissed” because of a scar they received on their face as a child after being left to their own devices following their parents’ death.
6. Which of Ragnar’s sons are in AC Valhalla?
Ivarr, Ubba, and Sigurd, sons of Viking legend Ragnar Lothbrok, are featured in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
7. What religion is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla based on?
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is based on the Old Norse religion, Christianity, and Isu religious framing.
8. Who is Basim in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
Basim is one of the main antagonists of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. He is a member of the Hidden Ones who becomes a major threat to Eivor and their allies.
9. Why does Eivor seem drunk?
Players sometimes experience a bug that causes Eivor to spawn in drunk. Getting drunk is also a feature within the game.
10. Who betrayed Eivor in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
Galinn betrayed Eivor and Soma. He wanted Soma out of his way to fulfill the true fate he has seen in his deluded visions.
11. Why does Eivor hate his father?
Eivor might hate his father for cheating him from his inheritance, giving away what belonged to Sigurd, and then constantly acting like he has the moral high ground.
12. Why is Eivor so small compared to other Assassin’s Creed protagonists?
Reddit users speculate that Norse men and women were far shorter on average, making Eivor shorter than previous protagonists.
13. What happens if you let the Animus choose Eivor’s gender?
If you let the Animus choose, you’ll play as female Eivor through the vast majority of the game, except in the mythological realms of Asgard and Jotunheim, where you appear as male Eivor.
14. Is AC Odyssey even an Assassin’s Creed game?
While AC Odyssey is a great RPG, it deviates from core Assassin’s Creed elements, lacking explicit mentions of Assassins outside of DLC content. Its setting predates the Assassin Order’s formation.
15. What happens to the Order of Assassins in real history?
The Order of Assassins lost control of Alamut castle in 1256 to the invading Mongol Empire. While they briefly regained it in 1275, they again lost it. The Order of Assassins faded as a political force.