Allgorhythm said:BulbAssured said: Those expansive maps will scratch the RPG/open-world itch, but while Valhalla does have the huge cast of characters and the epic-scale story you might expect from more demanding games, it’s also much easier to pick up and play for however much free time you have. No complex battle systems, intimidating stats, or alarming inventory management, just pick up your axe and go hack away at someone (before belatedly remembering that this is meant to be an Assassin’s Creed game and you can also try to be stealthy).
I agree. I like the Assassin’s Creed story. I enjoyed the first 3 AC games tremendously. But Ubisoft kept increasing the MP stuff. It was obvious Ubisoft was more focused on making live service games rather than on the issues that made AC games great.
You’ve given us the reasons why we should play Valhalla. A little over two years ago, you gave us the reasons not to play it.
In your article,
AC Valhalla is Ubisoft's "second largest profit generating game in Ubisoft’s history", you quote Ubisoft:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has been outperforming Assassin’s Creed Odyssey across the board since its release, notably with higher DARPU levels.
The image of a Gollum-like Ubisoft stuck in my mind. “My PRECIOUSSS. Shall we get ssstarted? She’s always hungry. She always needs to feed. She must eat. More micro-transactionzz! My lovely, live service PRECIOUSSS!”
For those who don’t know what DARPU is, it’s Daily Average Revenue Per User. Ubisoft’s money-grubbing tone in the press release completely rubbed me the wrong way. I like video game publishers to tell me they’re going to entertain me—not take me to the cleaners.
I'm not sure what you talk about as micros are not any more present than in Origins or Odyssey and even less than in some older titles, where marketplace weren't separated as is now.
The higher DARPU is not because Ubi pushing it more, but simply because it's more common to buy useless digital stuff than X years ago.
Also if you feel you want to spend money on a Unicorn to ride in Norway while cutting down your enemies with a neon sword, it's your problem, not Ubisofts.
The mention of MP is also weird as there weren't MP for quite a while.
Same for live service. I just played the game and even though it's huge there is no live service about it.
It's almost like you throw in unpopular things but none of them actually stands for this game.
@Heidi, exactly my thoughts and if people wouldn't expect more than that they would probably enjoy it more.