Viking: Battle for Asgard

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 43
  3. Negative: 7 out of 43
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  1. Guardian
    Jul 18, 2008
    4
    Viking after time can grow on you a little, after the first hour i was considering taking it back straight away and attacking the local EB games dude for recomending it so highly. But, and its a big but for sure, the controls are horrible, the graphics very average and the repetition is enough to put you to sleep. Im a fan of all things sword and sorcery, but after a few days of holding Viking after time can grow on you a little, after the first hour i was considering taking it back straight away and attacking the local EB games dude for recomending it so highly. But, and its a big but for sure, the controls are horrible, the graphics very average and the repetition is enough to put you to sleep. Im a fan of all things sword and sorcery, but after a few days of holding out to see what this baby had in store for me--- i was left with alot of dissapointment. The high point is the large scale battles but even then it lacks as the framerate drops badly and the controls become frustrating.... a rental for a few days ..yes.......a keeper no......honestly i was a bit saddened as i was really looking forward to this one but it felt like a beta copy that was half unfinished.… Expand
  2. BrandonT
    Aug 6, 2008
    8
    This was a good game. It is very like God of war Which I rate a 10. The reason I rate this a 8 is becuase obviously not as great as god of war but still a good game. I just love taking my sword and slicing off some heads =]
  3. CalsonC.
    Aug 14, 2008
    8
    Sure, the story could've been a lot better but I think the game's simplicity is one of its strong points. Vikings were never really known for there complex personalities. This is a good game, if not a great one. I had a lot of fun exploring the huge environment, the fighting mechanics are simple, yet deep enough for it to warrant some thought. Despite all the bad reviews... I Sure, the story could've been a lot better but I think the game's simplicity is one of its strong points. Vikings were never really known for there complex personalities. This is a good game, if not a great one. I had a lot of fun exploring the huge environment, the fighting mechanics are simple, yet deep enough for it to warrant some thought. Despite all the bad reviews... I think this is a game worth experiencing.… Expand
  4. Rushed
    Aug 2, 2012
    4
    Awful graphics, laughable framerate, excessive repetitiveness and shallow combat are the main flaws of this game and for me that's too much to bear for a game that only can redeem itself with this viking setting and the inclusion of some huge battles (even though the framerate makes them look like if they were in slow motion). I would only recommend this game to someone who really lovesAwful graphics, laughable framerate, excessive repetitiveness and shallow combat are the main flaws of this game and for me that's too much to bear for a game that only can redeem itself with this viking setting and the inclusion of some huge battles (even though the framerate makes them look like if they were in slow motion). I would only recommend this game to someone who really loves the genre and is having a hard time trying to find new games or to someone that can find it really cheap.… Expand
  5. Jreilly89
    Apr 24, 2014
    5
    God, I hate this game. I tried to like it, I really did. The story is engaging, the environments are interesting, the enemies are unique, and the characters are decent. The problem lies in the combat. Take the insane amounts of enemies of a Dynasty Warriors game mixed with the frustratingly hard combat of Ninja Gaiden and you have Viking. Enemies are constantly attacking you, so you spendGod, I hate this game. I tried to like it, I really did. The story is engaging, the environments are interesting, the enemies are unique, and the characters are decent. The problem lies in the combat. Take the insane amounts of enemies of a Dynasty Warriors game mixed with the frustratingly hard combat of Ninja Gaiden and you have Viking. Enemies are constantly attacking you, so you spend most of the time blocking. Combos are not quick, and its rare that a game can make dismemberment boring within the first half an hour. Viking manages to do just that.

    Enemies quickly become tiresome due to the sheer volume of them, and unlike Dynasty Warriors, dispatching them is not quick or satisfying. It makes me mad because I wanted to like this game, and felt like it could have been so much more. But poor combat, elemental weapons that add almost nothing to combat, and flaws/poor choices in basic game design hold this game back. I would give this game a 6/10, but that score is marked as a positive, and while parts of this game are enjoyable, they fade from view so quickly that I refuse to give this game higher than a mixed.

    If you want something akin to this but much better, play any of the God of War series. With much more satisfying combos, better game design, and quick time events that do not repeat for every enemy, God of War dismembers this game in so many ways.    … Expand
  6. aspentitan
    Sep 16, 2010
    7
    Viking suprized me and I'm very surprized the reviews were so low. I'd like to give viking an 8 but relative to other games I rated 8 it seems out of place so my 7 rating should be viewed as a very high 7. Ok, where to begin? I can't understand the low reviews on this game. It had a few issues but none serious and it was a very very fun game. It seems to be inspired by God of War and maybeViking suprized me and I'm very surprized the reviews were so low. I'd like to give viking an 8 but relative to other games I rated 8 it seems out of place so my 7 rating should be viewed as a very high 7. Ok, where to begin? I can't understand the low reviews on this game. It had a few issues but none serious and it was a very very fun game. It seems to be inspired by God of War and maybe it was viewed as a cheezy rip off and that was enough to rate it low. I don't know but I certainly don't agree with the low rating. The rating and review by CalsonC is very accurate to my own thoughts and so i will expand some more on that review. First off I think this game didn't get a fair chance by many players. If anything the game is very quilty of starting off way too easy and the cinematics aren't on par with God of Wars and maybe explains why so many people turfed this game so easily and reviewed it badly before they even played the entire game. As i look on this site so many people are saying the game is only 10 hrs and is very repetitive. This is quite untrue. It seems a lot of people must have only played the first island and think they beat the game. The first island is around 10 hrs and as i said the game is pretty guilty of starting off too easy so i can understand people thinking the game is nonsence if that is as far as they got. But after the first island the game really gets good. By island two you are now in control of your moves available and start to gain an appreciation of enemy rank and who to take out first so that you are not mobbed. By island 3 you are an extreme viking expert. The game is very nicely paced and gets progressively more difficult but is paced well with the skill you will aquire as you play. The final boss is a really good challenge. This game is also poorly understood. Many people must not have ever played a sandbox game because this game does have good replay value. In a sandbox game it is your decision where to roam and what upgrades you want to make to your game . If the game is too hard you upgrade your attacks. If the game is too easy you don't upgrade. So basically you make your own style. I read a review by a professional and they bashed the game for not having a run button. This person is a terrible gamer and should stick to one dimensional games like pac man. I never needed to run because I used some strategy and acted like a viking. That's the name of the game, not COWARD. Anyway, rant aside the game does have replay value but you have to have creativity and decide how to play the game. The flaws in the game are small. I had a few gltiches and there was very very minimal slowdown in some of the epic battles but these were not at all serious to any of the gameplay. I'm used to games where you have to swing the camera wildly and in this game it was ok although i will acknowledge that this is a larger concern for other players than it is for me. I'm ok incorrporating that into my gameplay but it is quite necessary in this game to do it. What else? Mnnn. I don't know, overall just a very enjoyable game. Easy to play and you can do a bit each night. If you like God of War, maybe give this a chance or a second chance. It really is misrepresented and a fairly decent game. Not a must have or anything but deserves much better than it was rated.… Expand
  7. the_blueprint
    Dec 19, 2013
    7
    This game was a lot of fun. Sure, the graphics are average and there are some technical issues, it can even get repetitive, but a lot of my favorite games weren't technically sound. I did have fun every minute though.
  8. MWesthoff
    Sep 5, 2012
    8
    I liked it! I bought it used for 10 bucks.. so my expectations were not high to begin with. I didn't care for the story or the game mechanics, but the difficulty level was tough. I actually got stuck on one part and couldn't figure out what to do. It reminded me for a second of how games were back in the day. The final battle was tough as hell, but other areas of the game could haveI liked it! I bought it used for 10 bucks.. so my expectations were not high to begin with. I didn't care for the story or the game mechanics, but the difficulty level was tough. I actually got stuck on one part and couldn't figure out what to do. It reminded me for a second of how games were back in the day. The final battle was tough as hell, but other areas of the game could have been tougher. I gave it an 8 for being bug free and not being a total **** kid game. If you started gaming sometime after the year 2000 you probably won't like it and wont find a walk through or cheat. If you've been gaming since the 1900's its a great bargain bin game....you will at least enjoy beating it.… Expand
  9. BaronMonaco
    Sep 21, 2016
    7
    Vikings are cool today : the (good) TV show, the new God of War and a lot of smaller projects are based on their universe, but Battle for Asgard came out before the hype so what was its arguments ?

    Technically the game is pretty bad, the graphics are outdated, even for 2008, the animations are as good as any PS2 game and most of all there is huge framerate drops occuring during large    Vikings are cool today : the (good) TV show, the new God of War and a lot of smaller projects are based on their universe, but Battle for Asgard came out before the hype so what was its arguments ?

    Technically the game is pretty bad, the graphics are outdated, even for 2008, the animations are as good as any PS2 game and most of all there is huge framerate drops occuring during large scale battles, which is the main argument of the game, that can waste all the epicness of fighting with hundreds of characters. They clearly failed in that department and couldn't match their ambition.

    Concerning the gameplay it's a classic hack'n slash game, it's very easy to play and the only challenge in the game comes from the final boss (and even there if you are full of health items it shouldn't worry you), As I said before the main argument of the game is to offer large scale battles with hundred of characters from both side, those battles could be great if the framerate could sustain them. Finally the game design is a bit repetitive, the game is divided in 3 acts and each one as the exact same structure, you won't get any surprised after the first tier of the game. Thankfully they all mix, solo fighting, large scale battles and even some infiltration and the game is globally fun to play.

    The story is also weak, the nordic mythology is underexploited, your character has ni charisma at all and almost all the missions have the same storyline "free them and they'll join your army" it's clearly not a reason to finish the game so if what you want is a good story, pass this one away. The game will last between 12 to 15 hours which is correct for this kind of game.

    In conclusion Viking : Battle for Asgard is clearly a low budget titles with ambitions and fairly entertaining but ultimately technical and writing flaws don't allow the game to be more than average if you're looking for an hack'n slash. Still I think Creative Assembly should try a reboot with the current generation that could clearly offer great battles and taking advantage of the hype around Vikings, it's very unlikely they do so, but I'd like it.    … Expand
  10. BleedingJester
    Mar 5, 2023
    2
    The Controls are clunky since it was made at a time where Controls weren't standardized but even then, these are clunky for the time which makes the already Clunky Combat worst

    half the combos either take too long to do so it's cancelled out by an attack, or they just don't do what they are meant to do which is made worst by the fact that the Lock on system will often make you attack    The Controls are clunky since it was made at a time where Controls weren't standardized but even then, these are clunky for the time which makes the already Clunky Combat worst

    half the combos either take too long to do so it's cancelled out by an attack, or they just don't do what they are meant to do which is made worst by the fact that the Lock on system will often make you attack someone else, and you can't manually Lock on

    the forced stealth sections are some of the worst i have seen and i know there are worst, but these are still awful    … Expand
  11. LT_Gruber
    Dec 28, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing, underrated game.

    I loved Viking: Battle for Asgard. The game play, the mechanics, the battles, it was all epic. In the core this game is kind of a God of War clone in Norse mythology, but with enough originality that it stands out.

    The story is a classic one, all revolving ancient rivalry between the Gods of old. The Goddess Hel is banished from heaven for defying Odin’s rule, wants to take revenge by releasing the wolf-God Fenrir, who start Ragnarok, the apocalypse that will be the end of Midgard. She resurrects the Viking warriors of old, long forgotten and marches to war. Freya, the god of War, needs a champion to stop this from happening and appoints Skarin, a tough Viking with nice hair. She speaks to him and tells him to save Midgard.

    You play as Skarin, doing the bidding of Freya by completing various tasks. You must reconquer villages, cities and territories that have been confiscated by the forces of Hel, win glorious, massive open field battles and become the champion of Midgard.

    Viking: Battle for Asgard plays like a Hack and Slash RPG. You kill enemies with various combo’s, collect/find gold and improve your skills and combos. You can also use the power of the elements to strengthen your attacks. These costs rage however, that you collect from killing enemies. You explore three different islands with different events, raids and glorious battles. To prepare for an open field battle, you must first free as many of your Viking buddies as possible, which are held prisoner in various camps and strongholds. When you gathered enough men, you can start raids on patrols, encampments and, in the end, the castle of Hel herself. You need to be tactful by picking off stronger enemies first like the shamans. This can really turn a battle into your favour.

    You can collect various collectables in the game to unlock some nice artwork. There is a problem however with collecting them. Some of the Red Skulls for example, can only be collected in a certain mission or event. If you complete this event, without getting all the collectibles, then you are out of luck my friend. You can start the game over and do that specific mission again, and this time, make sure that you got them all.

    The controls in Viking: Battle for Asgard are fluent. Movement, attacking, rolling, it all works very well. The climbing can be a little chore sometimes but overall, it works as it should.

    I still think this game looks amazing. The open world, the true Norse “climate” they processed in the environment, the flora and the character models. The animations are fluent too and the kill moves Skarin performs are brutal and epic. For a game this old, it is truly a work of art. And speaking of art, the artwork you unlock by collecting the various Red Skulls on the map, is stunning. It always feels a little bit pointless in many games to look at drawings, but here it is actually nice.

    When speaking of the sound, the nice, Norse-themed ambient music is relaxing to listen at while you slice undead Vikings in half. The battle music for raids and open field battles is epic and really gives you the feeling of fighting a war, were everything is at stake. The sound effects are cool too and well implemented.

    There is one issue I have with this game, the camera. When fighting in areas with obstructions, like towns or dense forests, the camera shifts awkwardly and you get stabbed in the back.

    Besides this, I think Viking: Battle for Asgard is a very underrated game that deserved a lot more attention and love.

    Definitely recommend it.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best PS3 Game of 2008
67
#67 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2008
46
#46 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 38
  3. Negative: 4 out of 38
  1. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    44
    Viking simply doesn't do enough to stand up to the more polished action experiences out there. [June 2008, p.86]
  2. PTGamers
    80
    Visceral combat and fort assaults are the main attractions, although the story isn't exactly alluring.
    Read full review
  3. Console Monster
    60
    It doesn’t have a multiplayer mode and the audio is only average, but Viking: Battle for Asgard executes what it set out to achieve - fun and addictive gameplay, even if short-lived.
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