Although some fans may be disappointed that Ubisoft’s new game will be featuring significantly fewer side-quests than in previous installments, the new mechanic raises more interest for the new title. In one scene of gameplay, the female Eivor can be seen assassinating a guard, as is customary in other games from the franchise. But as the clip continues, the player’s camera is taken inside the victim’s ribcage, watching the assassin’s blade break bones and pierce the heart. This x-ray feature is akin to those found in Mortal Kombat, and many fans believed that this was a way to represent the level of brutality featured in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. But this was not just a hype-feature or brutal emphasis, as game director Benoit Richer has now confirmed that these x-ray assassinations will be in-game features.
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During a conversation via Twitter, the game director gave a fan the chance to ask some questions about the upcoming game, and promised to answer as much as possible without revealing too many key details. Blood asked two questions that fans everywhere had been secretly pondering: “1. Can the hidden blade be used IN COMBAT as a primary left hand weapon? 2.We saw an X-ray assassination in the gameplay overview, was that only a cinematic for the trailer or was it gameplay?” Although Richer was unable to answer the first of these, he did mention that the x-ray mechanic “happens during gameplay/player triggered.” Although it has been revealed that the new game will feature the brutalities of the Viking era as well as a deep inner turmoil with the game’s main character, the x-ray assassinations bring Valhalla to another level.
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During Ubisoft Forward, the developers explained that Valhalla would be more brutal, immersing players in the Viking style environment. The gameplay showed off more gore, including in-game decapitations. As recent research suggests, Vikings preferred a more stealthy approach to an outright battle, though they were capable of doing both to defeat their enemies. Valhalla will allow players to choose how they attack each fort or village as they make their way towards King Alfred. This balance between aggression and stealth will likely help fans find a common ground, as many players were uncomfortable with the pure stealth mechanics of early Assassin’s Creed games.
Despite which approach players may take in Ubisoft’s upcoming game, it will undoubtedly feature a fair amount of gore and brutality, even without the new x-ray feature. Although it has yet to be revealed how the x-ray assassination is triggered, it is likely that it will be primarily featured during pure assassinations, rather than in the midst of a battle. Valhalla has consistently been revealing new additions to the game, including a return to classic load screens, and more will likely be revealed as the game’s launch date approaches. This new addition to the game may be unique to the series, but fits pretty well with the level of brutality that Ubisoft promises within a game centered around Viking warriors.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will launch on November 17, 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia and Xbox One, along with a next-generation release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
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