Assassin’s Creed Valhalla had us in suspense yesterday thanks to a streaming in which we could see the designer Bosslogic create the main art of the game to reveal the Viking setting. After its completion we were summoned for this afternoon, where we would see the first CGI trailer of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Now thanks to its producer we have a lot of information about the setting, the protagonists and more.
Waiting to see its gameplay, something that will happen next May 7 in the long-awaited streaming of Xbox Series X, we leave you with these details that producer Julien Laferrière has revealed in Eurogamer.
For starters, it seems like instead of embarking on an endless journey to clear all the map targets, the Valhalla narrative is built around and through your own settlement. «It is your own Viking village that you will see prosper and grow, and where your clanmates will live »Laferrière tells Eurogamer via video conference (the world has certainly changed). “It is at the core of our missions and at the center of the decisions you make. We want players to see the consequences of their actions«.
“The great arches of history will begin and end here, the impact of their decisions will spread throughout their growing community. You will see the effects of alliances, such as weddings to forge clan relationships, and the consequences of the tough decisions you have to face. It's also where you'll see how some of the game's romances play out if you choose to enjoy them. ”
"It really changed the way of the game we were doing"says Laferrière. “Instead of exploring one territory, and then moving to another and not having a real opportunity or reason to return, the settlement changes the structure. So you will go on an adventure and then you will be encouraged to return to your settlement. It changes the way we play the game we are making – at least, that is the bet we are making«.
Historically, Assassin’s Creed games have always had a home. In the first title we had Masyaf, in the second Monteriggioni, in Assassin’s Creed III the Hacienda, in Black Flag our Jackdaw… It is true that later it seems that the custom was lost despite the attempt to retake it in Unity.
As Laferrière speaks, he describes the settlement as a place of importance in Valhalla reminiscent of Skyhold and Normandy, to which players returned again and again. As the town grows, new buildings will be available to customize and upgrade, like a barracks, a blacksmith, and a tattoo parlor.
Norway is the stage for the start of the game. "You have to understand where these people come from", explains Laferrière. "You will feel the hardness of the land, the political pressure that exists at that time. You will feel all that and hopefully understand why you have to move to England where most of the game takes place. Britain will then be most of the game map, adds Laferrière, but they will also appear «Some surprise areas».
It is in Great Britain where we will meet King Alfred, whom the trailer ranks as the game's main villain, with some Templar-looking artifacts in the background. But Laferrière assures that Alf will be a more complex character when you meet him in the game. "It is shown that way (villain) in the trailer, but throughout the game you will see that there are many more nuances in it", He says. The game seems destined to cover the Viking campaign against him and his subsequent success in pushing back the Nordics and unifying England. "Alfredo el Grande is a very important historical figure that we want to treat well"
One thing the trailer doesn't tell you is that Eivor can be played in both male and female, and gender choice is only part of the customization you'll get. Beards, tattoos and war paintings will be available to choose from. Your gear will also be customizable, says Laferrière, just like your Viking boat. Two weapons can be used, and the shields return after the popular outcry who asked for them back after his absence from Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Why is the trailer focused only on the male version of Eivor? They ask from Eurogamer. The answer they got was that, as in the case of Kassandra and Alexios from Odyssey, marketing "Will show both at different points".
"Obviously we are using mythology"says Laferrière. “We have found a great way to integrate that with our lore that would currently be entering spoiler territory. But what I will say is that their gods were part of their daily life. They were believed to wander the land, engaged in fighting – that was part of Viking spirituality. And this is how we treat it in the game, which is faithful to the beliefs and practices of the time ", comments in reference to Odin's appearance in the trailer.
As for the crow, as many players have guessed, will be your pet in Valhalla, as were the eagles in previous games. "We have a ton of new skills for the crow," Laferrière jokes. "We use it as a reason to re-explore how players can explore the world to make it less dependent on the user interface. If you notice a distraction somewhere it is probably because there is some content there ».
"We want to do a world that rewards players for their curiosity. It ties in with Vikings who are great explorers – so the world is destined to be meaningful ». The game will once again feature naval and land exploration, although this time the naval battles have been limited. We want you to play the ultimate Viking fantasy. Sometimes you will get resources to recover and improve your settlement, or maybe additional firepower to help bring down the highest level bandits in the region ».
It has been speculated that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla could have an online cooperative for 4 people, something that has been denied. "Valhalla is a single player game", clarified a spokesman for Ubisoft, "With many online components, encouraging players to share their progress and creativity".
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will arrive next fall to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Stadia, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X when they go on sale.
