Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s release date is getting closer every day, and fans are eager for any bit of new information that they can get about the highly anticipated Ubisoft game. A lot of new details were just released during the Ubisoft Forward event, including a deeper look into gameplay and world-building. One major detail that has been announced is that Valhalla will feature almost no side quests, but there are two good reasons for this.
The Ubisoft Forward let fans see a lot of what awaits them in the newest Assassin’s Creed game. In Valhalla, players will take on the role of a viking in the Dark Ages as they raid villages and slowly spread their army across England. There is a home settlement that players can customize, different fighting styles and weapons to master, and a lot of customization options—including the ability to change between male and female Evior throughout the game. Players will have to hunt for food, steer their ships, and lead their army into battle against enemy strongholds.
One thing that players will have very little of are side quests. These have been a staple for the last few Assassin’s Creed games, so it seems very strange to have none in this new entry. However, there are two very good reasons that side quests were mostly left out of Valhalla. Simply put, the player is an invader in an enemy land. It makes no sense why terrified villagers would offer a quest as their home burns around them. This ensures that the true essence of the Vikings are kept, since they are slowly building some political relationships while destroying others as the player marches further inland.
The second reason why side quests are few and far between is because Ubisoft has replaced them with world events. These missions function similar in essence to side quests, but exist as players find them, similar to games like The Witcher and Red Dead Redemption. These missions are more spontaneous and don’t require the player to seek them out. Having world events also helps add to the layer of immersion in the game, showcasing that the player is truly in another realm as they invade England.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla promises the best of the previous games, with plenty of chances to disappear into crowds and emerge with a hidden blade in a target’s back. For these new additions, particularly replacing side quests, it will take time to see if they will become new staples in a legendary franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will release November 17 on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One, with PS5 and Xbox Series X versions also in development.
Source: GameSpot