Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Review (PS5)

Written by Anthony L. Cuaycong

Title: Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action RPG
Price: $39.99

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok carries with it a very important legacy. Not only does it carry a name synonymous with success; it also brings with it the assurance of the Action RPG-style releases in the series have typically taken the form of. No open-world stealth simulator, the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion pack has the chance to shape the future of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

For all the promise it shows, though, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok is downloadable content that plays much too safe to really stand out. It feels more like a continuation of what was already established, rather than breaking new ground and trying out new things. That said, it's still an enjoyable romp filled with fun encounters and tough combat.

What this means is, despite the fantastical creatures you'll be facing off against, Dawn of Ragnarok still a mostly vanilla Assassin's Creed Valhalla experience. You'll be running around, slapping foes down with light and heavy attacks, dodging attacks, using combat and crafting skills, and exploring the admittedly very pretty realm of Svarfenheim. You'll climb cliffsides, scale mountains, run through snowy passes and desiccated landscapes, and mostly make a mess in a very pretty landscape that allows for freeform fun.

This is probably the greatest strength of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok. For those who can't get enough of the base game, the DLC provides new areas to explore and new foes to face off against. While it might feel repetitive given the base game's already lengthy runtime, it still is very enjoyable to dig down into the expansion pack’s combat and fully let loose. When this is combined with a new weapon type to play with, you can really just let go and not think, move from area to area and unleash hell on your foes in typical ARPG style. Admittedly, there's not a lot that’s new to them since they’re mostly reskins, but the few unique enemy types and bosses you'll face make encountering them memorable enough to stick with you.

For the record, Dawn of Ragnarok is the third DLC in the Valhalla series, and given the task of putting colorful Norse mythology into Assassin's Creed, it really feels like it could've done a lot more. Just look at Immortals Fenyx Rising, another Ubisoft game that tries to do the same with Greek mythology. While the title might not have new mechanics to boast about, it has a charm that draws you in, and a very distinct humor and style that impels you to keep going. Even if it is repetitive, it's hard to put down just because of its personality, put to the forefront and made one of its defining features.

Contrast this to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok, which feels very limp by comparison. Norse Mythology was the time of giants and wild beasts, of the trickster god Loki and the wolf that ate the moon Fenrir. Of the fire and ice giants that threatened the gods, and of great serpents and monsters that lurked beneath the waves. To say that the DLC captured none of that would be a lie; in fact, the most enjoyable parts of it was when you were given glimpses of these impossible enemies, when you have to face off against legendary creatures like Surtr. And yet, that's exactly why it feels so hollow. These are just glimpses, small peeks at what could've been, but isn't. And that, perhaps, is Dawn of Ragnarok’s biggest flaw. Given all that it has on offer, it provides great value, especially when taken in the context of the already considerable content that Assassin's Creed Valhalla already offers. Nonetheless, it could've done much more. It could have fully embraced its mythological aspects and changed up the gameplay.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok is a fun little distraction, but, for all the hours you’ll spend, it may leave you wanting more. In the end, it’s more of the same old, same old.

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THE GOOD

• Has very pretty visuals and environmental and creature design
• Still has the fun, fast-paced, entertaining combat of the base game, with some visually captivating bosses
• New areas to explore, a new weapon to use, and some new abilities to mess with

THE BAD

• Not much new in terms of unique content aside from bosses
• Feels underwhelming given its potential to take much more of the mythology it was inspired by

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RATING: 7.5/10

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