Establishing and growing your settlement is one of
Valhalla’s main features. By building and expanding
structures such as a stable, forge, granary, barracks, and
items shop, you’ll gain access to additional weapons,
gear, warriors, horses, and other items. Unlocking and
upgrading your settlement also opens up new missions.
These, in turn, reward you with experience points,
weapons, lore, and a chance to get to know your settlers
better.
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upgrade buildings, but the process is as simple as
walking up to a structure and selecting “upgrade.”
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed:
Revelations featured a similar base-building mechanic.
But those games’ settlement mechanics didn’t feel as
intimate as Valhalla’s, because you upgraded buildings
from a bird’s eye view similar to real-time strategy
games. In Valhalla, you live inside your settlement and
see it and its inhabitants mature over time.
BERSERKER RAGE
Good old-fashioned raiding is the best method for
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monastery, military fort, or enemy-controlled town
while sailing down a river, the game prompts you to
raid them. Running into a village with a horde of
Vikings at your back makes you feel as powerful as an
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enemy and friendly forces clash. During the slaughter,
you can ransack churches for precious building
materials, silver, weapons, and other items. You can
attack only soldiers or warriors, which somewhat
diminishes the feeling of being a blood-thirsty Viking
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limbs and heads is a joy.
Assassin’s Creed
Valhalla
(for PC)
PROS Massive
detailed open world
that’s bursting with
activity. Distinct,
powerful weapons.
Strong, character-
focused narrative,
CONS Struggles to
maintain 60 frames
per second in the
open world.
BOTTOM LINE
Assassin’s Creed
Valhalla continues the
series’ recent winning
streak. This stellar
entry boasts an
expansive world,
many exciting
missions, and a tight,
character-driven plot
that make it one of
2020’s best games.