There is no Valhalla demo to download onto your Xbox or Playstation, but an hour's long Assassin's Creed Valhalla demo video is available on YouTube. This demo is hosted by Ubisoft staff and developers. It shows you what is happening, explains a little of the story line and gives you a few playing tips. To watch it:
Follow this link to YouTube.
As this is an 18+ rated game, you may be asked to sign in to a YouTube account using your Microsoft password.
Confirm that you are over 18.
Click play.
Assassin's Creed debuted in 2007 and quickly became a landmark game for PlayStation, Xbox and Windows. Created by Ubisoft, a company that also made Watch Dogs and Rainbow Six, Assassin's Creed was one of the first modern first-person RPGs to make stealthiness the major trick of its gameplay. Surely fighting is important for budding assassins but hiding and moving without getting caught is vital for survival.
The game was realized by Ubisoft but the idea behind the storyline derives from Slovenian author Vladimir Bartol. Bartol wrote a novel called Alamut in the 1930s criticizing Fascism and it is set in the Crusades period. Inspired by the novel, Ubisoft's game designers centered the game around the theme of freedom vs authoritarianism.
This storyline combined with sombre aesthetics proved to be a big hit. Its success encouraged Ubisoft to develop further sequels, with major releases occurring almost every year. As of 2017, there are 19 Assassin's Creed games and this won't discontinue anytime soon. With "Origins" set for a release in the late 2017, Assassin's Creed fans have something exciting to look forward to.
Assassin's Creed takes gamers on an unprecedented journey through time, as they take control of historical assassins from the Crusades to the modern era.
The core theme of the story is a battle between two secret societies: the Knights Templar and the Assassins. Both are based on actual groups, while they, as far as we know, never got into a conflict. However, for the purpose of a more exciting storyline, they are put in a secret battle for supremacy.
In the games, each society has a distant ancestral relation to a species pre-dated humanity (frequently referred to “those who came before”). The series' chronological setting begins in 2012, where the Knights Templar secretly runs a global conglomerate called Abstergo. Abstergo develops a device called "Animus" that allows its users to relive and play the role of their ancestors through virtual reality. Through the "Animus" users, the Templars seek to find historical artifact with great power called the "Pieces of Eden". They believe that they can control the free will and unify the humankind. Meanwhile, the Assassins are in support of anarchy and opposed to the Templars' vision.
To take possession of the Pieces of Eden, Abstergo kidnaps modern-day people whose ancestors were powerful figures and forces them to use the Animus, hoping that they will provide clues to get the artifact.
The character the player plays is one of those abducted people named Desmond. Desmond is taken by Abstergo but later rescued by the Assassins and agreed to work for the Assassins by continuing to use the Animus to find the Pieces of Eden. This triggers Desmond's adventurous mission where he relives the experiences of multiple assassins, from the Crusades to the American War of Independence.
When playing Assassin's Creed, you get to play the role of Desmond as he explores different worlds through the Animus, meets other characters, fights enemies and completes quests. You will be given pre-defined missions, which include killing a ruler, stealing an item using Desmond's stealth skills or mapping out cities.
The Animus acts as the central control console. You can use it to keep track of Desmond's health and skills, as well as inventory. It also allows you to go back to different checkpoints and to save and restore your game as required.
During the missions, Assassin's Creed requires Desmond to perform a unique blend of skills. Many of these challenges involve evading guards and blending in with the surroundings, adding a level of tension that you don't experience with many other games. There are also several combat challenges that will offer different kind of excitement.
Starting out as the original Assassin's Creed in 2007, Ubisoft has already rolled out 19 separate editions and represents a big portion of the game market. You can find at least ten out of its 19-series games across all main systems and they are all worth a try.
Assassin's Creed — This is the first time we meet Desmond. In 2007, Ubisoft released the first Assassin's Creed for Windows, PS3 and Xbox 360. The background is set in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century. To start his adventure, Desmond has to assassinate nine important figures from both the Muslim and the Christian sides, playing the role of Altair, a legendary assassin from the era.
Assassin's Creed 2 — This sequel was released in 2009 for Windows, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and the Xbox 360. This time, Desmond lives the memories of Ezio, an assassin in Renaissance Italy. Roaming around the cities like Venice and Florence, Ezio seeks vengeance against the killers of his family, uncovering more clues for Desmond's mission to find the Pieces of Eden. Regarded more highly than its previous version, Assassin's Creed 2 features a completely updated engine, more realistic graphics and one of the most absorbing gameplays in the history.
Assasin's Creed: Brotherhood — Released in 2010, Brotherhood and its successor Revelations continue with the Ezio's memeories, constituting a trilogy. The journey continues in the alleys and squares of 15th century Rome. For the first time, Assassin's Creed includs a multiplayer element that lets players compete each other using the PlayStation Network.
Assassin's Creed: Revelations — Released in 2011, Revelations ties together Altair's and Ezio's memories, putting an end to the Ezio trilogy. This time Ezio explores the 16th century Constantinople, searching for the secret of Altair's burial vault. It's worth noting that all of the three Ezio games were re-released in 2016 as the Ezio Collection, which is a great way to enjoy the saga without paying for three separate sequels.
Assassin's Creed 3 — The third instalment of Desmond's adventure was released in 2012 for PS4, Xbox One, Windows, and (for the first time) the Wii U. In this sequel, Desmond plays the assassin of an 18th-century half Mohawk Indian and half British as he navigates the period leading up to the American Revolution. Just as thrilling as the earlier editions, Assassin's Creed 3 offers an improved multiplayer function and the gameplay with more depth and added elements.
Assasin's Creed 4: Black Flag — Moving on from the American Revolution, the fourth Assassin's Creed game puts players into the shoes of Desmond in the Golden Age of Piracy in the 17th century. This time, Desmond plays Edward Kenway, who turns out to be the grandfather of the Mohawk assassin Ratonhnhak that was featured in Assassin's Creed 3. It features a lot more exploration, mainly by the sea and the land-based forays in ports like Nassau and Havana, and plenty of side quests and engaging characters. Just like the previous releases, this fourth sequel gained a massive success.
Assassin's Creed: Rogue — In Rogue, the players go back to the 18th century and experience the life of Shay Patrick Cormac, a Templar who hunts down Assassins during the Seven Years War in the 1750s. Rogue features complex storylines and a similar naval theme, which appeal to the Black Flag fans.
Assassin's Creed: Unity — Unity is set in the French Revolution, a great background to be a stealthy Parisian assassin. Launched for Windows, PS4 and Xbox One, Unity features Arno Dorian, an assassin dedicated to revealing the real forces behind the revolution. A major innovation is the cooperative multiplayer function, though which up to four players can complete Dorian's missions together.
Assassin's Creed: Syndicate — Syndicate is set in Victorian London. The player follows the twins Evie and Jacob Frye who are fighting against the Templar-controlled street gang named the Blighters. Unfortunately, Syndicate does not come with a multiplayer mode.
Assassin's Creed: Origins — The most recent major release of the Assassins Creed series is Origins. Released in October 2017 for Windows, PS4 and Xbox One, Origins takes us back in time to ancient Egypt, where a character named Bayek battles to protect his community. Providing a larger game world than its predecessors, Origins will undoubtedly be a spectacular gaming experience for the players who can enjoy the full range of skills and capabilities from all the Assassin's Creed series. Unfortunately, this does not have a multiplayer function, just yet.
The Assassin's Creed collection is huge and the costs for buying every single game can quickly add up. Then, how can you make a smarter purchase?
For starters, you can pre-order Assassin's Creed: Origins from the Ubisoft store, where you'll find a range of combo packages:
Standard — Features only the game itself.
Deluxe — Includes the game, a world map, the “deluxe pack” and the official Origins soundtrack.
Gold — Includes the game, the deluxe pack and an Assassin's Creed season pass that gives you access to extra weapons and character capabilities.
God's Edition — The Deluxe Edition plus an art book and a Bayek figurine.
Dawn of the Creed Edition — Comes with an Eagle Skill amulet made out of PVC, a couple of exclusive art cards, a steel book and two figurines.
Dawn of the Creed Legendary Edition — As the most comprehensive option, the Legendary package features a resin Eagle Skill amulet, four lithographs and two 73cm numbered figurines.
The difference in price between the Standard Edition and the Legendary Edition is big, so if you are a casual gamer and and a smart shopper, don't waste money on additional items like figurines and lithographs. However, if you are one of the Assassin's Creed's loyal fans, you wouldn't want to miss out on the combo deals that come with extra goodies. If the latter sounds like you, you can search for the cheapest possible Legendary Edition prices on HotUKDeals.
Origins is not the only option. Gamers can also purchase the earlier instalments of the Assassin's Creed series by picking up one of the collections available at Ubisoft. For instance, the Ezio Collection features all three of the Renaissance era editions that complete a saga. If you haven't tried the game yet, the Heritage Collection might be a better option for you, as it includes the first two games as well as the Ezio games.
Assassin's Creed isn't just about gaming. Its complex storylines and unique characters seemed to be perfect for a movie and it became reality in 2016.
Starring Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons, the film takes place in 15th century Granada, Spain, as the city's last Muslim ruler seeks to defend his throne. Fassbender plays a character named Calum, who plays the role of an assassin Aguilar, as he looks for the “Apple” - an artifact in Granada that is believed to have the genetic code for human freedom. The Templars competes to find it first, which leads to a dramatic battle.
Despite its huge production costs amounted to $125 million, the film grossed almost double its costs. It continues to gain profits from streaming sites and DVD sales. You can also watch it on Netflix, or purchase it on Blu-ray from HotUKDeals merchants like Amazon, Tesco, HMV or Zoom.
Assassin's Creed's fans can purchase a variety of merchandise to add to their simple game collection. These are just a few of the many products you can find on HotUKDeals:
Figurines — The Ubisoft store features figurines of Aguilar and Sofia from the movie as well as in-game characters like Ezio, Edward Kenway or Connor.
Decorations and Artifact — Gamers can also purchase meticulous reconstructions of in-game items like the “Apple of Eden” or Ezio's hidden blade, an essential if you are thinking of trying a Renaissance era Assassin's Creed cosplay.
Hoodies — Most of the characters in Assassin's Creed spend their time in their hoods, so it's no surprise that the game has produced much demand for hooded clothing, with jackets and hooded tops.
Costumes — Whether you need to dress up for a video game party or you're heading to a convention, you will find anything you need for Assassin's Creed costumes.
Whether you are trying out Assassin's Creed with no previous experience of the game, or trying to complete your collection, you will want to do it with the cheapest possible option. Here are some tips that be helpful in finding the best Assassin's Creed deals.
First, check the Ubisoft website for sales as older Assasin's Creed versions might already be reduced in price. Sign up for the Ubisoft Club, which announces big discounts even on the latest sequels and merchandise.
However, there are more options than the Ubisoft Store. Ubisoft is unlikely to be the cheapest place to buy Assassin's Creed products. Instead, check out the Assassin's Creed HotUKDeals listings, where you'll find Assassin's Creed for PS4, Xbox One and Windows at a bargain from retailers across the UK. It's a great place to find pre-order deals for Origins or big reductions on the Ezio Trilogy. Because we collect all the deals from merchants like Tesco, Amazon, Very, Zoom, HMV and eBay, we never miss a deal. All you need to do is to search for the Assassin's Creed product you want and you will something that will save you money.
Shopping at the right time of the year can also get you some big savings. For instance, you are more likely to find great Assassin's Creed deals on the Amazon Prime Day. Black Friday in the end of November is also a good time to hunt for bargains, so remember to check back with HotUKDeals as the day approaches.
Nothing is quite as satisfying as following your prey and completing a quest on Assassin's Creed. The combination of strategic planning and unique challenges and settings continue to draw millions of fans across the UK. Gamers can save more on any of the Assassin's Creed series by using discount codes on the HotUKDeals page dedicated to Assassin's Creed.
