@dbgager Enter; Red Dead Redemption 2. Literally does all of these things. It's not that hard. Ubisoft open worlds lately feel like when a friend shows you a song that you're not really interested in, you'll listen to it just because they want you to hear it but you don't actually pay attention to a second of it. Similarly you'll run, swim and ride through a Ubisoft world just because you have to to get from point A to point B, but everything in between is just white noise. There's nothing interesting or engaging going on in the empty spaces between quests, world events and activities.

In my opinion the biggest let down in Valhalla is the RAIDS. Aside from the fact that the combat in this game is clumsy, slow and honestly just not engaging or exciting in any way, the raids don't feel like raids at all. Where is the noise and the hype? The screaming monks and civilians, the clashing of swords and kicking down of doors? Even the music added for dramatic effect is shockingly boring and quiet. You practically run through the town in almost silence wacking a few guards here and there to get them out of your way, all to flog off a few bits of supplies to build something in your settlement. Where is all the looting of silver and sacred symbols, where is the pillaging and burning of churches and the general VIKING feel of it all? It's about as un-authentic as it can get I think, done one you've done them all.

I'm no expert and I can appreciate the amount of time, money and labour that goes into building such a game. But I have played nearly every single Assassin's Creed game and I just can't seem to wrap my head around where Ubisoft was trying to go with this game. I think Ubisoft came through with the visuals and story somewhat on this one but every aspect of the stealth, combat and movement mechanics is appalling. The stealth is all but useless, unless you've got an hour and a half just to move ever so slowly around one village or fort undetected, don't bother. they may as well have not even put it in the game. The combat is slow, weighty, and not engaging at all. The combat and stun finishers are repetitive and boring, where is the variety, the substance and that AC flamboyance? Nine out of ten times your combat abilities will disappoint you. The movement is SO BAD in this game that it's more frustrating than anything just to get around. Eivor feels like He/She weighs six hundred pounds and feels slow, sticky and encumbered just trying to climb a wall or move around a fence. Overall it feels like Ubisoft completely ditched the lightweight, smooth and flowy mechanics that make the Assassin's Creed franchise what it is. It wouldn't be such a disappointment if they hadn't slapped the AC branding on a game that feels nothing like it's predecessors. The standards have been set so high with games like Brotherhood, Black Flag and more or less Origins that it feels as though AC will forever be living in its own shadow. Where are the mechanics and systems that AC fans came to know and love? you're letting us down Ubisoft.

In my opinion the biggest let down in Valhalla is the RAIDS. Aside from the fact that the combat in this game is clumsy, slow and honestly just not engaging or exciting in any way, the raids don't feel like raids at all. Where is the noise and the hype? The screaming monks and civilians, the clashing of swords and kicking down of doors? Even the music added for dramatic effect is shockingly boring and quiet. You practically run through the town in almost silence wacking a few guards here and there to get them out of your way, all to flog off a few bits of supplies to build something in your settlement. Where is all the looting of silver and sacred symbols, where is the pillaging and burning of churches and the general VIKING feel of it all? It's about as un-authentic as it can get I think, done one you've done them all.

@dbgager Enter; Red Dead Redemption 2. Literally does all of these things. It's not that hard. Ubisoft open worlds lately feel like when a friend shows you a song that you're not really interested in, you'll listen to it just because they want you to hear it but you don't actually pay attention to a second of it. Similarly you'll run, swim and ride through a Ubisoft world just because you have to to get from point A to point B, but everything in between is just white noise. There's nothing interesting or engaging going on in the empty spaces between quests, world events and activities.

100% agree with this and I want to add that it really bothers me that in no way does the trading system in this game tell me anything about what I'm spending my money on. No previews for tattoos or new weapons, no stats displayed for weapons and in the case of bows not even what type of bow it is. No previews for settlement or longship cosmetics and none for hairstyles either. What the hell Ubisoft? I'm wasting all my silver buying things I haven't even used once purely based on a brief, witty description of it.

I've been playing for about 38 hours so far and if I'm being totally honest, in the state that it is now I'm a bit embarrassed that I paid $130 for this game. I really hope Ubisoft strives to improve this game over the coming months.

I'm no expert and I can appreciate the amount of time, money and labour that goes into building such a game. But I have played nearly every single Assassin's Creed game and I just can't seem to wrap my head around where Ubisoft was trying to go with this game. I think Ubisoft came through with the visuals and story somewhat on this one but every aspect of the stealth, combat and movement mechanics is appalling. The stealth is all but useless, unless you've got an hour and a half just to move ever so slowly around one village or fort undetected, don't bother. they may as well have not even put it in the game. The combat is slow, weighty, and not engaging at all. The combat and stun finishers are repetitive and boring, where is the variety, the substance and that AC flamboyance? Nine out of ten times your combat abilities will disappoint you. The movement is SO BAD in this game that it's more frustrating than anything just to get around. Eivor feels like He/She weighs six hundred pounds and feels slow, sticky and encumbered just trying to climb a wall or move around a fence. Overall it feels like Ubisoft completely ditched the lightweight, smooth and flowy mechanics that make the Assassin's Creed franchise what it is. It wouldn't be such a disappointment if they hadn't slapped the AC branding on a game that feels nothing like it's predecessors. The standards have been set so high with games like Brotherhood, Black Flag and more or less Origins that it feels as though AC will forever be living in its own shadow. Where are the mechanics and systems that AC fans came to know and love? you're letting us down Ubisoft.