Amongst scattering foxes and swaying foxgloves, on bracken-covered hills squared off by broken drystone walls, the Ancient Britain of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a beautiful sight. Its palette is muted compared to the sunnier climes of Odyssey – here, a ruddy, muddy mix of reds and browns, often dimly lit under England’s smurring clouds. For six hours I get to explore this world – specifically, Ledecestrescire – Valhalla’s second British region after opening in East Anglia.
Main character Eivor is still new to the country, her settlement only just founded, and nowhere near as developed as Eurogamer’s in-depth tour of its evolution revealed earlier this week. The Vikings are still early on in their British conquests – and likewise, this Ledecestrescire chapter feels very much like Valhalla’s early game. Eivor has few showy special powers, and must engage in a relatively linear arc to establish her people’s foothold by deposing a local ruler and installing a puppet replacement friendlier to their cause.
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We begin in Ravensthorpe, Eivor’s new home, as most of Valhalla’s other main missions will begin also. One small detail here I couldn’t share earlier this week – Ravensthorpe will be your portal not only to other English locations, but those much further afield. By communing with your seer you can explore multiple “mythworlds” involving the Norse gods, such as Asgard and Jotunheim. Ravensthorpe will also be your staging ground for a journey to North America – though the suggestion was this will be another small realm for you to visit.
Back to the action at hand, as Eivor is directed to Ledecestrescire and to her brother Sigurd, who is working with keen raiders Ivarr and Ubba Ragnarsson. Together the four of them must get rid of current Mercian king Burgred and swap him for Ceowulf, another Saxon who they can control. This story plays out over a single arc, though there’s freedom to wander all over the region and take in the various campaign moments at your own pace. There are, of course, numerous distractions and other activities to tempt you off the beaten track, all of which have now been made more mysterious by appearing only as glowing dots on your map until investigated more thoroughly.
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Sticking to the campaign for now, Eivor meets with the brothers Ragnarsson. Together, they make a plan to split up and go after the fleeing King Burgred and his wife, both of whom have gone into hiding. You’ll work with the stoic Ivarr for one of these missions, and the hotheaded Ubba for the other. Ubba is the kind of typical “wacky” mission sidekick who initially grates a little – you first meet him in the midst of torturing a poor local he has dangling from the ceiling in a scene which Ubisoft tries to play for laughs – though a later moment where he and Eivor share a quiet drink and talk more about their backgrounds makes him slightly more palatable.