Assassin's Creed Valhalla - The Siege of Paris stands as an action-adventure expansion that extends the Viking saga into the heart of 9th-century Francia. Players take on the role of Eivor, sailing to a war-torn kingdom to besiege the fortified city of Paris and confront the forces of Charles the Fat. This DLC builds on the open-world RPG foundation of the base game, blending exploration, combat, and strategic alliances to secure a clan's future amid historical turmoil.
Gameplay
In this expansion, the core loop revolves around navigating the lush Frankish countryside, sailing the Seine River, and engaging in quests that mix infiltration and direct confrontation. Combat feels familiar yet refreshed with the addition of scythes, which serve as quick two-handed weapons effective against groups of enemies or single targets. These tools allow for whirling attacks that clear mobs efficiently, though encounters with heavy cavalry - mounted Frankish knights with massive reach and high damage resistance - can prove challenging and often frustrating due to their immunity to many abilities.
Exploration includes dealing with environmental hazards like rat swarms in sewers and ruins, which require herding them into grates to neutralize the threat rather than direct combat. Quests often involve assassinating key enemies through open-ended approaches, gathering intel to unlock shortcuts and cinematic kills. Alliances form a key part, as aiding the resistance against the Carolingian Empire involves strategic decisions that impact the narrative and available support in battles.
Game Modes
The expansion introduces Rebel Missions, where players team up with AI-controlled rebels to complete objectives like eliminating targets or securing areas. These function as concise quests that reward currency for upgrading rebel capabilities or acquiring gear, though they lean toward repetitive grinding for completionists.
Infiltration missions stand out, offering multiple paths to assassinate high-profile enemies in fortified locations. Drawing from black box designs, these allow freedom in approach, with prompts for intel that lead to brutal, cinematic conclusions if executed well.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows Eivor aiding Norwegian Vikings against the tyrannical Charles the Fat, whose ruthless tactics devastate the region. Subplots touch on church corruption by cultists and a lingering plague, though these elements play a minor role. The story unfolds over about 10 hours, focusing on sieges and alliances in a landscape of rolling hills and river deltas that echoes familiar territories but with added destruction from ongoing conflicts.
Factions include the Elgring Clan, local Frankish nobles, and rebels, each influencing quest outcomes through interactions and support in missions.
Is It Worth Playing?
For those who enjoyed the base game's Viking conquests, this expansion delivers more of the same satisfying combat and exploration, with standout infiltration missions and a compelling portrayal of Charles the Fat as a tense, memorable antagonist. It has earned an average critic score of 75 on platforms like OpenCritic, with praise for its atmosphere and story but criticism for repetition and lack of bold new ideas.
The content suits fans seeking to extend their playthrough, especially with its 10-hour runtime and additions like scythe weapons. However, if you've grown weary of Valhalla's formula, the familiar quests and frustrating enemy types might not justify a return. As part of the ongoing support for the title, it remains accessible on Xbox One and Xbox Series, making it a solid pick for dedicated players but less essential for casual ones.
