DJNana
2021
A very quick dip into Mario, it feels a little bit of a throwaway experience. But nonetheless incredibly fun, as Mario pretty much always manages to be. I'm interested to see how this more open type of world, with isolated islands of challenges and collectables, carries over to the next Mario game. Can't wait.
Finally: it's done. Feels like I've been playing this game forever. Whereas something like Breath of the Wild is a breezy 90 hours, in Valhalla those 90 hours take forever.
The travelling throughout the world - which is what you'll spend at least 50% of your time doing - is always annoying. You're constantly getting stuck on stuff, the movement feels glitchy, you can't make your guy go where you want. But this is nothing new for Assassin's Creed, it's just exacerbated when you have such a big world to travel through.
There are endless collectables, but for the most part they don't do anything - they don't provide enjoyment, and don't really provide enough of an upgrade benefit either. The only worthwhile thing pursuing is the wealth of sidequests - although almost none of them are very good or inventive, they provide a lot of XP.
The story is a ton of guff, which is also usual for Assassin's Creed, but I generally enjoy the environment and the characters at least. In this one, I enjoyed none of that. The setting felt somehow incredibly generic, and almost never awe-inspiring. Eivor, the main character, is very one-note, very boring, even though I always chose the meanest dialogue choices in hope of making everyone hate me.
Normally I just skip storylines, but I actually tried to engage this time, and perhaps that was part of the problem. There's a ton of lore and weird stuff with reincarnation and gods - this isn't a spoiler, because even me telling you this doesn't explain anything - I've had to go on wiki pages and read up what everyone says actually happened, which is honestly a massive failing on the side of the writers of this game.
Overall: I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. In myself, mainly, because I knew what I was getting into, but I just can't seem to stay away. I know I'll be playing Mirage before too long as well.
The travelling throughout the world - which is what you'll spend at least 50% of your time doing - is always annoying. You're constantly getting stuck on stuff, the movement feels glitchy, you can't make your guy go where you want. But this is nothing new for Assassin's Creed, it's just exacerbated when you have such a big world to travel through.
There are endless collectables, but for the most part they don't do anything - they don't provide enjoyment, and don't really provide enough of an upgrade benefit either. The only worthwhile thing pursuing is the wealth of sidequests - although almost none of them are very good or inventive, they provide a lot of XP.
The story is a ton of guff, which is also usual for Assassin's Creed, but I generally enjoy the environment and the characters at least. In this one, I enjoyed none of that. The setting felt somehow incredibly generic, and almost never awe-inspiring. Eivor, the main character, is very one-note, very boring, even though I always chose the meanest dialogue choices in hope of making everyone hate me.
Normally I just skip storylines, but I actually tried to engage this time, and perhaps that was part of the problem. There's a ton of lore and weird stuff with reincarnation and gods - this isn't a spoiler, because even me telling you this doesn't explain anything - I've had to go on wiki pages and read up what everyone says actually happened, which is honestly a massive failing on the side of the writers of this game.
Overall: I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. In myself, mainly, because I knew what I was getting into, but I just can't seem to stay away. I know I'll be playing Mirage before too long as well.
2016's Ratchet & Clank was fun, but this was one was basically perfect. The only reason it doesn't get a full five stars perhaps is that it's not the most inventive or revelatory game.
It's pitch perfect action gameplay, impeccably and stylishly animated. The story is even kinda good, which is not something I commonly say about videogames. The new characters, Rivet and Kit, are also very personable and it never feels annoying to switch characters when you're playing - probably because they play exactly the same.
It's pitch perfect action gameplay, impeccably and stylishly animated. The story is even kinda good, which is not something I commonly say about videogames. The new characters, Rivet and Kit, are also very personable and it never feels annoying to switch characters when you're playing - probably because they play exactly the same.