Assassin's Creed: Valhalla was revealed to the world just a few short days ago, and many are thoroughly analyz♚ing the game's setting, plot, and new gameplay. Yet, one less-talked about feature that seems apparen💧t through the game's multiple game previews, including one shown through the Inside Xbox presentation for Xbox Series X.
While drabness isn't new to gaming, nor to the Assassin's Creed series, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla seems to be taking it to new heights. Even with its variety of gorgeous vistas, all of them appear to be darker than most other environments we've become accustomed to throughout the Assassin's Creed series.
Take a look for yourself in the Inside Xbox preview for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla below.
Nearly the entirety of the trailer displays a dark palette, be it out iꦆn the open or in interior areas. There are brief periods offering lighter palettes, such as when sailing. However, the game's use of blues, purples, and oranges are on high display when the night sky emerges, as well as the embers of the fire of battle.
This speaks to a larger truth that Assassin's Creed is a stark contrast to previous installments in stealth-adventure franchise. Whereas previous games had a focus on taking out enemies quietly and from discrete locations, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla unabashedly has players in the boots of a warrior out for blood. The concept is certainly foreign to lon🥃g🃏time franchise fans who are accustomed to the usual structure of playing as an assassin who works under shady orders.
The difference is even apparent on a visual scale. The sandy environments of the first Assassin's Creed and the vibrant islands of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag are being traded in for the snowy mountains and dry tundras of Scandinavia. It might be a welco🎐me change if the darker color palette t🍨urns out to still be user-friendly when it comes to gameplay and trying to navigate Europe.
With its longer-than-usual hiatus, the excitement going into Assassin's Creed: Valhalla's release may reach a high no𝐆t experienced by the franchise for a while. Hopefully, it can successfully beco༒me a holiday season highlight and kick off the next generation in style.