AC: Valhalla Has no Typical Side-quests, Because Eivor
Darby McDevitt and Eric Baptizat from Ubisoft explained the lack of classic side-quests in Assassin's Ceed: Valhalla. It turns out that the lack of such tasks is caused by the main character.
The success of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla can be summed up with many variations of superlatives. It's the fastest selling installment of the series as well as the longest one. The latter is interesting because the game doesn't abound in side quest, or at least not side quests we were used to in the lates games with Assassin's Creed logo. The reason is explained in Gamastura's interview with narrative director Darby McDevitt and game director Erik Baptizat. It turns out that the lack of side activities results from... the main character.
If you haven't played AC: Valhalla, in the game orders from the NPCs were replaced by the so-called World Events, i.e. events in which Eivor may be involved. It can be a meeting with an NPC in a certain situation or an overheard conversation. As the devs explain, this change was necessary because of who we play as in the game. When we play as a revolutionary, a mercenary, a freedom fighter, etc., helping the people we meet is something obvious. However, it doesn't fit a Viking invading England. As such, Eivor is unlikely to be welcomed by the native people with open arms. Besides, the hero has no reason to interfere in the affairs of others out of his /her own free will, if not dictated by circumstances. Eivor wants to settle down, survive, and take care of his clan's future, and helping - as mentioned - the hostile natives won't help him at all.
Giving up the classic "quests" does not mean that there is nothing to do here. Fortunately, as Krystian Smoszna writes in our review, these activities are surprisingly interesting, which should please those who did not like the enormity of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. Of course, for those who'd like more AC: Valhalla, there's always the upcoming expansions.
