RJ Writing Ink

The year’s only half over, and so far, it feels like 2020 couldn’t end soon enough. Even with all the chaos going around, though, there are still some bright spots left in the world, especially for gamers. And it just got better yesterday, with Sony giving us our first real look at the next-gen console, the PS5.

The most striking thing about the PS5 is it’s overall appearance. Since the PlayStation 2 was released, the PlayStation has followed the same basic design aesthetics: blocky, black, and square. However, the PS5 seems to throw all of that out of the window and embraces the idea of looking like it’s from the future. It’s sleek, white, and signifies the next generation of consoles. Overall, I think it’s a major improvement over the blocky PS4.

Then there are the games that would soon follow the release. I’ll admit, I didn’t pay much attention to them. Except for one, that is.

I knew that we’d be getting a new Spider-Man game with the next generation of PlayStation. But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that it would come out so soon! I’m buying the PS5 as soon as it comes out just so I can play this game!

So, the long and short of it is, I think that the PS5 is going to be an impressive console and that I can’t wait to get it when it comes out! But what were your thoughts on it? Let me know!

So, if you’ve seen my channel, then you know that I’m a big fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise by Ubisoft. Or rather, I was. Around the time I finished Origins, I could feel my interest in the series start to slip away. I blame it on the lack of a cohesive, overarching plot. So, when Odyssey came out, I got it, but never played it. Ironically, given that I love Greek mythology.

Try as I might, though, I can’t resist the siren song of a franchise that has the whole of human history as its playground. So, when word came out that Ubisoft was going to release the first trailer for the next game, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, my curiosity won out.

As many people suspected, the next Assassin’s Creed will take place in the Viking era. To be more precise, it will take place in 9th century England, a period when the Vikings tried to set up shop in England. Based on the trailer, our main hero will be an Assassin fighting the Templars in England, which I can only assume will include King Alfred the Great. He has the cross on his crown, that’s a big hint.

Calculated Risk

Personally, I think Ubisoft is taking a big risk using the Vikings. There’s no denying that they were awesome: powerful warriors and master sailors who traveled farther than any European would do for centuries. They had a rich culture and mythology, the latter of which persists to this day in our culture. However, they also have a reputation as pirates and killers.

That said, I was impressed by how well the trailer tries to be nuanced with the Vikings. It refutes King Alfred’s statements of the Vikings being “godless heathens” who mindlessly kill and spoil the land with imagery showing otherwise. Then we get the part where we see them as the badass warriors we remember them as. In other words, we’ll be seeing both sides in the game. As a history buff, I’d want nothing less.

Available this Holiday

The trailer says that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla will be available holiday 2020. However, I doubt it will be that soon. The COVID-19 Pandemic has ground the world to a halt. Even if we have a vaccine by the fall, it will take everyone months to get up and running again. Either Ubisoft finished the game already, or they’re working on it remotely. Plus, how will people buy it besides digitally if the game stores are closed? There’s too many variables at this point.

I hope they get the game when they say they do, because this may be the time for me to get back into the series. I love Assassin’s Creed when it works and I hope to see more of it in the future. What do you guys think, though? Is this new game gonna be worth your time?