Viking: Battle for Asgard

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a thrilling hack 'n slash action game set in the exciting world of Norse mythology. As a battle between gods rages, you control a brave warrior who is spared a gruesome death and sent on a quest to slay a goddess. Layered with fast-paced combat, a rewarding leveling system, and some awesome large-scale battles, Viking: Battle for Asgard is more than just your average action title. While some aspects of the game could use a bit of fine-tuning, this tale of war and carnage is easily one of the most underrated games of its time.

Main Game Features

• Explore a world packed with Norse mythology
• Slay hundreds of enemies with hack 'n slash combat
• Upgrade your character and unlock new moves

Story

In Viking: Battle for Asgard, you play as Skarin, a talented warrior who starts the game bested in battle. As Skarin bleeds out and gets ready for the afterlife, he is saved by the Norse goddess of war, Freya. With a power struggle playing out in the god-dwelling realm of Asgard, Freya chooses Skarin as her champion in the battles to come. As the battle in Asgard bleeds into the mortal realm of Midgard, Skarin must hunt down the goddess Hel, who looks to spark the world-shattering conflict of Ragnorak. Although Skarin is unaware of the details, he pledges his loyalty to Freya in exchange for his safety, and travels to Midgard to track down Hel.

The story in Viking: Battle for Asgard has a decent set-up, but it falls to the side after a few hours. Although there are a few standout characters, we never learn much about Skarin or the other major characters until the very end. You might run into a few unique characters here and there, but don't expect a rich cast of allies to talk to. Viking: Battle for Asgard is all about its bloody hack 'n slash combat, and the resulting story is clear evidence of that.

Gameplay

As Freya's champion and one of the most deadly warriors on the field of battle, Skarin is a hero of beast-like power and tons of fun to control. Your main goal in the game is to travel around three large islands, infiltrating enemy outposts and freeing your allied Viking soldiers for future battles. The map is full of different locations to explore, but the objectives are straightforward and simple. Similar to other bloody hack 'n slash games like God of War or Spartan: Total Warrior, the combat in Viking: Battle for Asgard is fast and satisfying, with strikes that dismember foes and leave trails of red. As you defeat enemies, you'll also earn gold that can be spent on new combos, finishing moves, and special abilities.

The craziest feature of Viking: Battle for Asgard by far are the climactic large-scale battles, where you and the soldiers you've rescued engage in brutal battles of attrition with Hel's forces of evil. These battles usually play out at the end of an island and have you facing never-ending hordes of soldiers, as well as specialized enemies like giants and shamans. However, these moments are where the game's technical performance becomes an issue, with the action becoming occasionally laggy. Regardless, it's still a fun time slashing down countless enemies as you explore the world.

Conclusion

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a solid action game that is often forgotten, as some of its competitors have left a bigger mark on pop culture. Even when compared to some of the biggest games in the genre, this is a title that's worth checking out. Some technical issues can result in sluggish action sequences and the story is less than inspired, but the mix of bloody combat and interesting mythology keeps it compelling.

Pros

• New moves keep combat exciting
• Large battles are a blast
• Interesting world and story

Cons

• Repetitive quest design
• The map can feel empty at times
• Frame-rate drops and technical glitches