Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Review

Ubisoft continues to build on the success of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla with the release of Dawn of Ragnarok, the third DLC of its kind for a game that originally released in 2020. The initial release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla set the bar high but Ubisoft continued to impress with Siege of Paris, and Wrath of the Druids is arguably some of their best ever works, which makes it incredibly difficult to follow.

The Dawn of Ragnarok sees a brand new setting, the dwarven world of Svartalfheim, a cast of new characters, new abilities, new powers mechanics, and more side content than most people care to complete.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Review

The story begins as Eivor sees the world through the eyes of Havi, as Odin and Frigg look to free their captive son Baldr from Surtr. The events that follow see Eivor explore the dwarven realm of Svartalfheim through the eyes of Odin, as the warlord Surtr, the leader of the Muspels, looks to lay waste to the land of the dwarves. Odin, initially reluctant, learns that he shares a common enemy with the dwarves as he aids the people of Svartalfheim while also attempting to save his son.

It’s another perfect example of Ubisoft’s signature storytelling. It’s a thrilling and often dark insight into Norse Mythology, albeit one with some creative liberties, but follows both previous DLC’s worthwhile storytelling without feeling clumsy and cumbersome. It’s completely detached from the base experience, so if you’ve yet to finish the vanilla storyline, you can just straight in to Dawn of Ragnarok and enjoy a completely new story arc in a new environment – and boy, is it beautiful.

The team that works on the Assassin’s Creed franchise have demonstrated time and time again that they are at the pinnacle of world building in this industry. While some complain about the constant hand-holding and never-ending slew of map markers and objectives, the visuals and immersive nature of Svartalfheim is breathtaking at every step. Huge dwarven structures dominate the skylines, golden ores litter the landscape; it’s a gorgeous environment that is worth the price of admission alone.

Arguably the most impactful aspect of the new DLC is the introduction of Hugr-Rip powers. A unique bracelet gifted to Odin by the dwarves allows Odin to absorb the powers of certain enemies he defeats in battle. There are only six powers, and most are incredibly situational, but they add to the fun nonetheless. Disguising yourself as Muspel to sneak through their lava-ridden hideouts, soaring across the skies as a raven scouting the lands below…it’s a simple system and the abilities are unlocked quickly, but it adds worthwhile depth to both combat and exploration.

Most of the optional content found when exploring remains much in the same, and yet again Flyting is overlooked (what gives Ubisoft?!). The map is littered with chests and mythical armor upgrades; the usual suspects when it comes to Ubisoft’s games. Some new content, such as hunting down Uncut Gemstones or defeating the elite enemies of Sinmara’s Chosen, is worthwhile, but a lot of it has been seen before.

Two particular additions go a bit further. Mythical Memories are dotted around the world, legendary anvils hidden at locations of great memory. It gives the player the opportunity to live through more of Odin’s past memories through flashbacks, further adding to the depth and intrigue of the lore of Ragnarok. Additionally, there’s a brand new arena to test your mettle, led by Kara the Valkyrie. She watches as Odin lives out past battles with boasts and all. Both are worthwhile distractions and are the most exciting addition of all the new side content.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok continues to showcase Ubisoft’s greatest works. It’s a rewarding addition to an already impressive list of DLC, designed for one of the best RPGs they’ve ever made.

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