Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok review

• Author : Anton Latoshkin
• Where Buy : Epic Games Store
• Release date : 03.03.2022
• Platform : PC

Ubisoft continues to insist on its own and develops a fairly successful action game Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The company has released the third story add-on, which is calledDawn of Ragnarok (Dawn of Ragnarok). The game itself came out two years ago, in 2020. The original Assassin's Creed Valhalla set the bar high, but Ubisoft impressed me with the first two DLCs as well. We are talking about the "Siege of Paris" and "Wrath of the Druids".

In Dawn of Ragnarok you will find yourself in a completely new world, with its own unique setting. Eivor (or rather, Xavi or Odin) will fall into the world of the dwarven Svartalfaheim. Here you will meet a lot of interesting characters, get new abilities, try hitherto unseen mechanics. There is so much additional content (besides the story) that most gamers will hardly be able to cover it all.

The story begins with Eivor beginning to see the world through Javi's eyes. Odin, together with Frigga, are trying to free their captive son Baldur, who has fallen into the clutches of Surt. The subsequent events lead to Javi being brought into the world by the Svartalfaheim dwarf, which is attacked by the inhabitants of Muspel and their leader, Surt. Soon Odin realizes that he and the Duergar have a common enemy. Helping the dwarves, he tries to save his son.

Another great example of Ubisoft's signature storytelling. A gripping, somewhat dark look at Norse mythology, but not without creative freedom. The addition is in no way inferior to the previous DLC in terms of narrative, it does not seem somehow cumbersome and ridiculous. It's completely standalone and unrelated to the original game, so even if you haven't completed it, you don't have to. You can immediately launch New Game and select Dawn of Ragnarok. That is, nothing prevents you from enjoying the new story arc. And damn it, she's beautiful!

The team working on the Assassin's Creed franchise once again shows their high professionalism and understanding of the genre. While some gamers complain about being "constantly held by the hand", an endless number of markers and a cluttered interface, I recommend paying attention to another thing - how breathtaking the visuals and atmosphere of Svartalfheim are.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the new DLC is the abilities Xavi gains with a special ward. A unique bracelet given to Odin by the dwarves allows him to absorb the powers of certain enemies. There are six different abilities in total, most of them situational. At the same time, they add variety to the gameplay. You can disguise yourself as a fiery Muspelheim resident to not only deceive enemies, but also make your way through lava-flooded rooms. You can also transform into a raven to soar into the sky and reach huge floating citadels. Overall, all of these abilities are incredibly useful both in combat and when exploring the world.

Much of the optional content you'll find while exploring is the same. The map is littered with chests and new gear. Usual business for Ubisoft. Yes, there are new additional content like destroying the Hands of Sinmara or finding uncut gems, but it seems that we have already seen all this somewhere.

However, there is something new. For example, mythical memories. By finding legendary anvils, you can relive memories from Odin's past to learn more about the lore and the events of Ragnarok. There is also a battle arena run by the Valkyrie Kara. Here you will be able to fight different enemies, and these battles are quite difficult and require high skill.

"Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok" is another demonstration of how well and meticulously Ubisoft approaches the development of add-ons for their best games. An interesting story with a lot of content and new mechanics for one of the best RPG studios.