I'm going to start by saying I really love the game. I can even overlook the bugs that I assume will be patched soonish. But why not include one of the most popular, well known and significant weapons in the assassin creed series. Especially in a viking game. No Ulfberhts, no Merovingian swords, no Abingdon swords. They were symbols of power, prestige and war in the viking age. Not including them is a huugge mistake and something of a blight on the game. It is immersion breaking, it's not allowing many players to not play the name in their own style. Especially with shows such as Vikings and the Last Kingdom reiterating the use and significance of swords to a viking age warrior.
It baffles there has been no response to this or pledge to fix it. Game reviewers have noticed and have mentioned the lack of swords, fans have voiced their disappointment as well as history nerds (such as myself) saying that there really is no leg to stand on in regards to not including them, but instead massive, bigger than Eivor, longswords.
Leading on from this, in the future, can their be more realistic armour and gear in Assassin creed valhalla. Minus a few exceptions, Odyssey's gear looked at least plausible, whereas over half of Vahalla'a gear looks like it belongs in World of Warcraft, not a game about history.

Please do something to fix this very easily fixable things to make a good game great.

So, i have played this game since launch. I had such high hopes for it. Assassin's creed is my most favourite video game franchise and the vikings are a period of history I spent years of my life studying. I was so excited when it was announced. I literally had friends calling me asking if I had watched the launch trailer.
So imagine my utter disappointment in what was realised over three months ago. A buggy, glitchy, unfinished, unpolished mess of a game that completely s***t all over such an amazing period kg history. I'm all for creative liberty when adapting a historical period, but how the vikings have been treated/portrayed in the game is a joke, and how the Anglo-Saxons are portrayed is even worse. I could bore people with all the details but ultimately, there are enough posts on heyr doing that. Not to mention they cut out one of the most historically significant weapons from the viking age (one handed sword) without an excuse or explanation. The main story ends on such a low point (just before a major historical event) it was so disappointing
Even in gameplay, it disappoints. The combat is okay, but the forced animations mid-combat break the immersion and flow, boss battles are so unbalanced, doing them in a chore and narrative wise, there is literally no drive to get involved in the central assassin-templar conflict.
Since launch I have defended this game, made excuses about why ubisoft have designed the game as they have, but now I'm done. With the most recent river raids update the game has become a boring slog. No features fans have BEGGED for are included, such as one handed swords, Historically accurite armours or a transmog system and instead we get a reskin piece of gear that is like the english flag just came on the thegn armour, no new weapons, no worthwhile skills, nothing. The raids are boring and I don't see a point in doing. Even in the trailer, ubisoft seem bored with it already. The game is still bugged for many players, so many issues haven't been fixed and worse... You have people sticking up for the game saying, it's unfinished. AN UNFINISHED GAME SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED! Dlcs and post launch plan should add to what's there, not complete an unfinished experience. You. Wouldn't buy a car with 3 wheels would you?
There's seems to be minimal support on the forum, and around 90% of the posts on here are saying how thr game has too many issues and bugs that just aren't being addressed.
It's safe to say, this is the last assassin's creed game I'm getting: I'm certainly not playing unless serious improvements are made.
I know this is a rant, and I'm happy to debate stuff, just... I had such high hopes for this game

@tantalus_jb tbh no one is really sure how many shieldmaidens existed, or what portion of a viking army they'd made up. Some scholars argue that they never existed at all. In the written record, there are 2 (non mythical and that I can remember off the top of my head) that are mentioned by name, lagertha and Brynhilda. And out of those 2, only lagertha's achievements are actually described. Personally, I do think they existed, but just not in large numbers.
Personally, I have no issue with there being loads in the game and in media portrayals. I think it is awesome.
I take issue, when if you choose to be male Eivor, the game treats your decision as if its wrong, non Canon and just incorrect. It's a bit insulting when the game advertised that both gender options were Canon when they're clearly not and your in game experience is affected by your bearded vikingr being refered to as a beautiful daughter... That's the main issue that's being raised by this thread.
If the game advertised itself as Eivor being female only, it wouldn't be an issue

@leoraptor1979 that is not true. At all. Sorry. Two handed swords didn't exist until the 13th century. Its a well known historical fact. They used axes, spears, seaxes and one handed swords. If anything, theybpopularised using axes in warfare. There are is so much evidence supporting this. There is absolutely no evidence, archaeological or historical that the vikings used two handed swords, flails or war hammers. There's more evidence that wealthier vikings used one handed swords over most weapons. You can look at viking warrior graves in Ingleby and Repton in the UK to show this as they were buried with their swords (which were one handed)
I've literally spent five years of my life obtaining two degrees on the subject of the viking age and specifically warfare so I do actually know what I'm talking about and I'm sorry to say what you're saying is just not true.

@tantalus_jb unfortunately, he is right. Besides the odd exception, most viking warriors/leaders were men, they were often favoured. The vikings were certainly more progressive than most cultures at their time, but they weren't quite equal. That's not to say women rulers and warriors didn't exist, they just were a rarity unfortunately.

Okay, so this is going to be a long post. Ngl, I do enjoy the game. There's plenty I like but there's equal about I dislike, which is not okay. Firstly, no one handed swords? Enough people have complained (including me) about why this is dumb so I won't go on about. I'm playing on xbox one S. I've never played a Assassin game as buggy. Even when I got unity it wasn't this bad (I got until week after launch). Many times I've just dropped dead whilst sailing or riding somewhere for no reason. Prompts don't always work, weird times I've just fallen through the ground and have had to restart the game. Or when I've fast travelled from Lunden to freeze and have Eivor free fall a foot of a poorly rendered roof for 15 minutes.
And the combat. Ngl the combat when it works is enjoyable. That said, when it bugs, glitches or moves don't work like they should it ruins the experience. Plus stunning enemies... Wtaf. Its can be useful, but why would I invest time, resources and ingots on a weapon that I can't use to kill enemies or bosses? Adding insult to injury, I can't even use the weapon I want to use (one handed sword) but can use a enemies' own sword to kill him? WHY?! Then there's the oversized weapons... Again WHY? Why increase the size of a dane axe or longsword to commmically large proportions? The range doesn't change much when they increase in size anyway so even the hitbox system negates the reason why they become bigger. Only justifiable weapon this works is the spear. It looks almost final fantasy or monster hunter level weird. And coming from someone who's actually handed real weapons (I was part of a reenactment group before covid) using this weapons of that size would be impossible to swing and manouver effectively (I'm not exactly a small guy either as I'm 6.2 and a gym freak). Also, why no proper conquest battles or defensive raids? I know there's been chatter that It'll be patched in, but the fact it's not out on day 1 is just weird? Odyssey had more features and things to do on day 1?

Also, as I've seen LOADS of people have said, what is the point in killing the order of ancients or zealots? There is literally no incentive. When the combat system works and doesn't glitch out, it's fun. But there's no reason to do it. Oh I get a medallion which when handed in doesn't give me diddly squat, I get some money and a rune I could've just brought from a merchant? The order of ancients is even worse. Half the time there's not even a fight to be had. Theres no incentive to hunt them down at all, no cool equipment, not narrative threads pushing the story on, nothing. I've completed the game only killing the order that the story made me kill. What's the point hunting down the others other than to complete the game and get a cinematic. So either give players a rewards, like cool pieces if equipment, or something else worth the gameplay to do.

This brings me onto my next topic and potential SPOILERS. Why end the game at the historical event it ends at? WHY?! I can't even get my head around why they end it where they do. They should've ended it at the Battle of Edington where it established a status quo (for the most part) in England and created the dane law for the next 3-4 decades? Ending it just before that with no suggestion of a DLC which includes it just ends it at a really weird point where in a matter of months, everything changes really dramatically. It's like watching a guy pull back a bow string and then stop watching as he's about to let go. If anyone has seen series 1 of the The Last Kingdom or read anything about viking age England, they know what I'm on about.

I'm a huge history nerd, and the viking age is literally my bread and butter (I have 2 degrees studying the period), and assassin creed is my most favourite video-game series. Should've been a match made in heaven. But they have rushed it, made so many mistakes and oversights it's borderline game breaking.

Finally, this game seems to be a war between the developers/writers and producers/marketing team as to. The characters gender. Obviously having the option to have a female or Male Eivor is awesome, but the game and writing clearly pushes you to be a female? The name Eivor is a female name, I'm currently playing as a male and LOADS of characters have referred to me as she and Eivor's height in gameplay is weirdly shorter than 90% of characters yet in cinematics is a foot taller? Like [censored].
Yet, the marketing, box cover art and trailers clearly favour a male character? If it didn't have an effect on gameplay I wouldny care, but the whole process has clearly been rushed.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just so disappointed in this game. I'm fighting the urge to go back to odyssey, I really am trying to love this game, but it just needs so much work to make it a good game.

@epsilon122 ngl I think the studio has become a bit of a joke. This game could have been amazing, and they just keep messing it up at every opportunity. Like, a DLC launch isn't even a new thing, they even delayed it to get it right... And still messed it up

@fimbulthulur mate... I'm agreeing with you. I've posted a couple of things myself about it. Giving players the choice to be male or female is great, just be accommodating either way?
And you are right.
If it was the other way, there'd be no end to the complaints. And ultimately, it's not okay... I was talking to one of my mates about it and ubisoft could be labeled as offensive for not making the gender choice as inclusive either way. Everytime it comes up in dialogue, I literally wince. There's also the matter, they have such a talented voice actor with Magnus Brun that is essentially being sidelined.
All I was saying is be careful when being political about it. It can lead to people either reporting comments are not understanding them

@iii_hammer_iii I am playing as a male. In the east anglian storyline, you're referred to as she. In a world event, you're mistaken for a man's beautiful daughter. In the end game, you're called Varinsdottir (viking surnames were a combination of your father's name and your gender, thus if your gender choice was to play as a man, it'd be Varinsson) ...there are a few other examples I can't think of off the top of my head l.
If you've not run into that issue, lucky you.
It's incrediblely immersion breaking when playing the game.

@taleraris female Eivor is Canon. Male Eivor is not. I've completed the story 3 times so I get the twist (it would work for both gender options to be honest) . You're 'canonically' male for dream sequences which only account for less that 10% of the game.
So both versions are not Canon. A 90% 10% split does not qualify the 10% as Canon. That's like saying a beef burger is veggie because it has lettuce in.
It's not a bad thing having a Canon female protagonist at all, but if the devs are going to give players the choice of being a man or woman, they need to respect the players choice - like or hate Odyssey, they did this well as Alexios' story was not Canon, yet you wouldn't know that unless it was specifically specified.
If I choose to play as a man in Vahalla, I shouldn't keep being referred to as her or she and that kinda breaks the experience.
And although it is a bug (ubosift have confirmed it and there have been reports this had happened either way) , that's what's the OP is more annoyed about

So it's been months since the Bede-Gilling sword has been out and the bug where the back scabbard shows up is still present? This has been reported numerous times and nothing seems to have been done about it.
As well as this, is there any chance that the option to remove capes will be an option? They are a painful eyesore for the game as they don't have any physics and just seem to stick to Eivor's back like a sheet of cardboard. I've seen this request is several forums now and it appears alot of players are requesting this. It's a real step back in game quality, especially as there are fabric physics in Odyssey and Origins

So hope come the most recent assassin's creed game has no clothing physics. The capes are actually embarrassing. They're cardboard cut outs that are glued to Eivor.
It ruins the immersion in the game and is something that ubisoft had sorted in almost every single previous game?
Please try to add it in or give the option to be rid of capes in the game

@s7igma957 actually... This forum is for complaints, issues, requests and discussions. If someone has an opinion you don't like, then you get off this platform or just ignore the post.
The game is a huge disappointment. It's style over substance. You can post as many pretty screen shots as you like. It doesn't save the game's lackluster story, shallow gameplay, empty world, lack of physics and blatant disregard for history.

Not sure if it's just me or not, but whenever I equip the new Bedale-Gilling Sword on xbox one, I get the weapon holders on Eivor's back showing up. I don't have any two handers equipped either. I've tested this with the actual weapon and with a reskin.
It doesn't break the game, but is an eyesore

@warcelt27 I mean, I'm not going to lie, it really really frustrates me that they finish the game at the sack of Chippenham.... Then acts as if the viking win the warbfir wessex when I reality (as shown by the last kingdom, vikings and any other piece of media covering this period) that Alfred wins the war. Then skips ahead a year to when flann becomes high king (still missing out the battle of Edington), then skips another several years to the sack of Paris and still ignores the huge political impacts that occur in England after the battle of Edington. Things such as the creation of the dane law, end of the mercian Royal family, death of halfdan and the complete failure of the ragnarson brothers. Even from a gameplay perspective, they messed up and they could've ended the game with some replayability as you could raided/attacked the mercian/West saxon lands still out of viking possession. It just gripes me

I would disagree. I've got a background in studying viking age arms and warfare in viking age England, especially the wars between Alfred and guthrum. I found myself to be bitterly disappointed. Like don't get me wrong, a little bit of creative licensing is good and can be beneficial. But there are so many creative opportunities they missed out on to accurately portray the period. Especially in the armour department and the general visual style they portray the norse and Danes as wearing. There's far too much plate armour, so much fantasy style gear it's separates the game almost completely from historical fiction that it sits more with skyrim than most assassin creed games.
Like it's all well and good they got some nice little details in, but when they miss on on basics, such as historically relevant gear, or even historical events (some of the arcs are so incorrect it's embarrassing), it's not not something I can personally overlook or forgive or even enjoy playing. The Essex and Gloucestershire arcs in particular were the worst offenders.

Seems to be a fan request that's picking up speed and for good reason.
The cloaks in the game have horrendous physics (aka none) and make Eivor look stumpy, chumby and overly bulky.
Since the modern day Cape (that's funnily enough cloak less) came out at Reda's, I've not used anything else as being without a Cape makes Eivor look awesome
If anyone reads this, please uovote it so it gets ubisoft attention.

Having the same issue myself, nothing seems to make it work

So, I am one of the players who pre-ordered the game with the season pass. According to the ubisoft twitter account, I should be able to start the siege of Paris DLC on the 11th of August at 12:00 utc time...despite this, i still cannot access it nor is the download initiated. I remember there being the same issue with wrath of the druids. What is the point in early access season passes when they do not work?

One handed swords are allegedly coming out in the next update (end of July). They've been confirmed to be out before the next DLC and the yes, there is a one handed ulfburht that has been confirmed to be released ... Finally