My initial purchase was to be Cyberpunk 2077, but reviews showed it performed very poorly on the PS4 – so this was my next choice. Being a fan of the Vikings TV show, it seemed like a logical choice. I thoroughly enjoy open world games and this is a cracker. Graphics and gameplay are both impressive, and the storyline is detailed. This was also my first foray into the world of Assassin's Creed, save I have been suitably impressed.

Great story line. I like it a lot.

Like it’s New Creed predecessors, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an epic adventure that benefits from a startling new direction in design and function. Because of its larger scope, you’re no longer living inside a small narrative bubble and shaping the world around you.

Fans of the Assassin's Creed series have long requested certain historical settings to be the basis for new instalments. Times and places that the developers have seemingly revelled in denying to their loyalist fans, possibly out of some sadistic pleasure.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla PS4 Review – One thing that the Assassin’s Creed franchise has always done remarkably well is selling you a setting, making you feel part of a specific period in time.

If you were unsure how the stealthy mechanics of an Assassin's Creed Viking game would work, wonder no more. Though it deviates little from the template of the games that come before it, Valhalla is stunning in scope and ambition and looks fantastic on next-gen hardware, albeit marred by technical glitches and a lack of last-minute polish that could've turned this great game into an unmissable one. Still, if you're looking for an open-world epic to sink your teeth into during the long winter months ahead, consider yourself sorted.

An engaging story with an intriguing protagonist ; A satisfying assortment of bonus abilities and combat perks; With a 65+ hour playtime, it's great value for money;

Survival is surprisingly tricky, especially early-game when you can't carry many rations; Bugs and glitches break the immersion and may crash your system; An overwhelming map that might be off-putting for some;

The Vikings' forays into England feels like a perfect fit for Ubisoft's latest historical action-adventure. It's some of the best lockdown escapism you could desire, just in time for a next-generation of console launches.

Vast and sprawling; Unconventional narrative structure is great; Looks superb; Full of character; Reminiscent of the very best RPGs;

Often afflicted by dodgy path-finding; By no means glitch-free;

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is my personal favorite of this new revamped trilogy of games in the franchise, but the reasons I enjoy it might be turn-offs for others. The improved combat and raiding with a platoon is the focus of the game, and while it is well-executed, it ultimately casts aside the stealth roots of the franchise. This is a step the series needs to take; to break loose from what defined these games nearly a decade ago in order to become the standard-bearer for action RPGs. I also would like to get this out of the way: If you were planning on picking this game up on PC at launch, don’t. Not to say the console version can’t be buggy at times, but the PC version was nigh unplayable for me (a problem I also had with Watch Dogs: Legion,) and I gave up trying to work through it crashing constantly after an hour in. Another writer on our team had an issue regarding an NPC that died, and in order to progress, they had to talk with that NPC. They are now soft locked out of proceed...

Breathtaking combat; Refined meta systems; A more thoughtful open world; Raiding never gets old; Expanding your settlement is compelling;

Familiar story; Buggy, especially on PC; Stealth and modern-day content lacking;

A vast and multi-faceted trip through a stylised Viking life, with a new fighting system, manifold mini-games and diversions, and untold glitches. It’s Assassin’s Creed to its core.

The mix of stealth and battle charge raids makes a nice change of pace, with combat more exciting than usual; It looks beautiful throughout and it’ll keep you out of trouble for weeks.

Many bugs; The open world is large and relatively empty, a problem exacerbated if you turn down the HUD settings; Conversational choices rarely seem important and side missions feel flyweight and inconsequential.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can't sustain its own open world and doesn't have a story worth caring about, but Eivor's broad shoulders do just about enough to carry the latest Viking-inspired chapter in the veteran series. Other open-world games deliver the tried and tested formula better, but Valhalla offers an enjoyable experience buoyed by the smaller adventures you have along the way.

Funniest game in the series; Eivor is brilliant protagonist; Every hub bursts with life; Huge open world;

Open-world can feel sparse in places; Plot never gets you invested; Combat can feel messy