Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids expansion review

Assassins Creed Valhalla Wrath Of Druids Eivor And Barid Source: Windows Key

Being the resident Assassin's Creed fan hither at Windows Cardinal, I was excited to dive into Wrath of the Druids, the first major expansion for Assassin'due south Creed Valhalla (what I retrieve is hands one of the all-time games on Xbox right now). Though I had complaints nearly the base game, pacing being a prominent issue, I felt that the expansion wouldn't take as large of a trouble with it, coming in at roughly 10 hours (for the master story). I was correct in that regard, but then it left other issues to come to the forefront. If yous're looking to play more than of Valhalla, you're definitely getting information technology with Wrath of the Druids. It takes all of the gameplay mechanics from England and moves them over to Ireland, which looks exactly like England, if I'm honest.

Despite the "sameness," at that place'south still a lot of fun to be had in Wrath of the Druids. At that place are new enemy types that put up a hell of a fight, new skills to mix upwardly your playstyle, and a new cast of characters to interact with, some of which I felt were much more compelling than those in the base game.

Assassins Creed Valhalla Box Art Xbox Series X

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids

Bottom line: Wrath of the Druids is very much an expansion to Valhalla, for better or worse. It doesn't bring annihilation new to the table, just there are over a dozen hours of content in Ireland to feel. If you lot're looking for more than of the aforementioned from the base of operations game, this is information technology.

The Proficient

New region to explore
Druids are engaging in combat
New abilities, including an Irish wolfhound companion
Fun final boss battle

The Bad

Hallucinogenic fog can be likewise disorienting
More of the same gameplay
Not enough done to differentiate Ireland from England

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids — What's good

Assassins Creed Valhalla Wrath Of Druids Eivor And Ciara Source: Windows Central

Category	GameNameXXX
Title	Assassinator'south Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids
Programmer	Ubisoft
Publisher	Ubisoft
Genre	Action/adventure RPG
Xbox Version	Xbox Serial X
Game Size	12.6GB
Play Fourth dimension	9 hours
Players	Unmarried-player
Xbox Game Pass	No
Launch Price	$40 (Flavor Laissez passer)

If you had a smash with Assassin'due south Creed Valhalla and only wanted more subsequently putting in lx+ hours, Wrath of the Druids is for y'all. No matter whether yous've finished the game or non, Eivor'due south chosen to Ireland past her cousin Barid, who serves every bit the King of Dublin. Much like the base game, you'll demand to conquer strongholds and forge alliances with a few regions to unite under the High King Flann. While this is all going on, the druidic cult the Children of Danu are plotting ways to sow distrust in Flann'southward army and hope to have over Ireland themselves.

I've always felt Assassin'southward Creed was at its best when information technology leaned into its sci-fi aspects, and that rings true hither. The opening hours before nosotros got into the proficient stuff, and then to speak, were a flake dry. Druids are frequently depicted in relation to the occult, which Ubisoft certainly played with in the confines of the Assassin's Creed universe. Though "normal" druids were seen as healers and religious people (or even outcasts), the Children of Danu were darker in nature.

The Children of Danu employ a hallucinogenic dark-green fog that disorients your view — which I'll become more than into later — and this adds some flavor to combat. Non only that, these druids often use poisonous substance and projectiles to shell you downwards, making them much more formidable than your typical soldier. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the werewolves and Puka (an Irish shapeshifter) that tin easily throw Eivor around like a ragdoll. Where fights with soldiers were ofttimes run of the factory, fights with the Children of Danu were exciting.

This extends to the final boss fight. Non to spoil who information technology is, but in that location are some mystical elements involved that make it similar to the Daughters of Lerion fights. It didn't end up being too hard considering there were healing herbs scattered throughout the expanse, but that fight was the most engaging and fun out of the unabridged expansion.

On peak of all that, Wrath of the Druids offers around 10 hours of main story content (I completed it in 9) and 3 or so hours of side content. There are also new skills and abilities to unlock, one of which is an Irish gaelic wolfhound that yous tin phone call into battle to fight by your side. Equally far as I'm concerned, whatsoever excuse to add a dog to a game is fine by me.

Assassin'due south Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids — What's not good

Assassins Creed Valhalla Wrath Of Druids Werewolves Source: Windows Central

As I mentioned before, Wrath of the Druids is more of the same. If you got tired of the stronghold conquests and alliance forging, you might not care to put time into Wrath of the Druids. Even Ireland's blueprint isn't all that different from what you know. If I didn't have my map to look at that told me I was in Ireland, I'd notwithstanding believe I was back in England. There are some gorgeous vistas and locales to visit nevertheless, only they don't stand out.

The hallucinogenic fog used by the Children of Danu, which did make fights more interesting, was also a bit likewise much. The disorienting effect it had was plenty to strain my eyes, and information technology was so irritating that I sometimes actively avoided areas where I'd see it. Recall of it like if you played the entire game every bit boozer Eivor. I wouldn't say the visual effects of the fog are quite as harsh, but that's the best thing I tin can compare it to.

Assassinator'due south Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids — Should you play it?

Assassins Creed Valhalla Wrath Of Druids Combat Source: Windows Central

If yous're wondering whether or not yous should buy Wrath of the Druids, you need to inquire yourself how much you enjoyed Valhalla and how much more than you want from information technology. I know plenty of people who put in threescore+ hours and said that was enough, only I also know some who are well over 80 hours in and are eager for more. For those in the erstwhile category, I don't call back Wrath of the Druids will be plenty to describe y'all dorsum in. Having more of the aforementioned isn't necessarily a problem in a game that's 20 or 30 hours long, merely in a 50+ hr game like Valhalla, an expansion needs to exercise differentiate itself amend.

That said, I personally had a lot of fun with it, even if the opening hour or two was too dull for my liking. The Children of Danu were an interesting cult I looked forrad to fighting, and Ireland is just every bit gorgeous and full of wonder as England.

Assassins Creed Valhalla Box Art Xbox Series X

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids

Bottom line: For being Valhalla's outset large expansion, Wrath of the Druids plays it a lilliputian too prophylactic but even so delivers an exciting adventure in the cease.

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