Beauty And Violence: Valkyries stands out as a third-person fast-paced ARPG that blends intense combat with deep customization, all wrapped in a Norse mythology-inspired setting. As an Early Access title on PC, it lets you control a fallen Valkyrie battling through hordes of monsters in atmospheric environments, emphasizing brutal violence and strategic progression.
Gameplay
The core of Beauty And Violence: Valkyries revolves around controlling a customizable Valkyrie in third-person combat against waves of enemies and powerful bosses. You slash, dismember, and gut foes with a variety of weapons, hearing the crunch of bones and screams that heighten the intensity. Combat feels raw and visceral, with mechanics that reward precise timing and combos to unleash devastating attacks.
Progression ties into a skill system rooted in Norse mythology, where you build skill trees to enhance abilities. For instance, channeling Thor's Hammer boosts blunt weapon damage and enables dismemberment effects. Loot plays a big role too, as defeated enemies drop items with randomized attributes that improve your stats, including rare legendary weapons and armor sets for major power spikes.
Exploration happens across immersive levels like echoing catacombs, stone-scraping castles, shadowy forests teeming with creatures, and scorching infernos. A companion system adds support in fights, while the longhouse offers a spot to unwind with mead after battles, breaking up the action with moments of respite.
Game Modes
This ARPG focuses on a single-player experience centered on combat and exploration. You take on the role of a Valkyrie fighter leading human warriors against a demonic legion to reclaim lost settlements, without distinct multiplayer options or separate competitive modes.
The gameplay loop emphasizes progressing through levels, gathering loot, and refining your build, all within this solo framework. Early Access provides a 9 square kilometer map to explore, featuring over 20 enemy types, setting the stage for expanded content in future updates.
Customization and World
Customization lets you shape your Valkyrie in detail, adjusting face features, body proportions, hairstyles, makeup, and facial expressions. You select from various armors and weapons to craft a fearsome warrior tailored to your style.
The world draws from dark, mythological themes, with environments that enhance the atmosphere. Combat effectiveness grows through spoils, and the open-world elements allow for free roaming within the available map, discovering new challenges and rewards.
Is It Worth Playing?
If you enjoy fast-paced ARPGs with heavy emphasis on gory combat and character building, Beauty And Violence: Valkyries offers a compelling draw in its Early Access form. The brutal mechanics and mythology-based skills provide satisfying depth for fans of action-heavy titles.
Developers plan to expand with a bigger map, more weapons, outfits, locations like villages and caves, additional enemies, a story campaign, and deeper companion interactions over about one and a half years. Weekly community updates via forums or Discord keep players involved, making it suitable for those who like contributing to development.
For anyone seeking immediate polish, waiting for the full release might be better, but the current state suits enthusiasts of indie RPGs focused on customization and visceral fights.
