What I Think Of: War of the Vikings

Before wars were won with guns and hi-tech weaponry, there were axes and bows. Before Combat Knives, there were only fists. Before there were nukes, there were....well nothing really. At any rate, wars were different in the time of the Vikings and now we have a game to prove it.

Here is what I think of War of the Vikings.

You wanna tell him his hair is girly? Didn't think so

So what exactly is War of the Vikings? As best as I can describe it, it's a medieval-era themed combat focused game in the same vein as games like Mount & Blade, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, and Fatshark and Paradox's previous game, War of the Roses.

This is not an average "run-and-stab" action packed game. These games are deliberately slower paced and more strategic. These games aren't meant for everyone. Patience is rewarded and getting any hit or kill is super satisfying. I can't tell you how many times I gave a little maniacal laugh whenever I would perform a full-on swing to my opponent's head with a long broad axe, as their head came flying off.

Have at you!

I personally love this type of game. You have to be fully engaged in what's going on to stand a chance, and even then, it's a pretty grueling challenge when you first start playing. You're going to end up hitting your teammates and losing XP, you are going to get your head taken off several times, you are going to go through a spell where you don't/can't hit anyone for a while and get frustrated. It's OK, everyone is experiencing that, whether you are level 1 or 31, been there, done that.

Without getting too off course talking about this genre as a whole, let's focus primarily on WotV. First of all, when you purchase it on Steam, there are 3 different versions:

- Base game - $25

- Blood Eagle Edition - $35

- Valhalla Edition - $175

WHOA! OK, before you panic let's describe what's going on here. The Base version gets you the game, you can get in and get full access to the game, all is good. The Blood Eagle edition gets you a couple exclusive items and more gold to start with to customize your character. The Valhalla edition gets you the soundtrack, an "e-novel", every item or perk unlocked, a ton of gold to give out to other players, and every future DLC pack or update for FREE. Fatshark and Paradox have always done a fantastic job updating and supporting their games so when they say the value will go well past the $175, they mean it. Now it's up to you to decide how committed you are to a game like this. Also, if you do decide you want a better version after purchasing a lesser version, you can always pay the upgrade price on Steam.

I went with the Blood Eagle version since I do love these kinds of games and I still want to afford rent.

You're already dead!

The main mode I have been playing is Team Deathmatch, there is also a Conquest mode which I'm sure I will try at some point. Each server can dictate what the kill/time limit is. I played on one server where the limit was 100 and one where it was 125. Confirmed kills are the only kills that count towards the overall score.

You start with 3 default classes: Warrior, Champion, Skirmisher. Basically, it amounts to: Sword-and-shield guy, Two-handed Axe guy, and Archer. As you play through, you level up, unlocking custom classes and the ability to purchase weapons, perks, and customization options for your characters. You play as either the Vikings or the Saxons and each has their own individual look.

Sure, go ahead. I'll just be lying here covered in arrows. Ass.

Just because the pace of the game is slow doesn't mean there isn't action to be found. I usually joined servers that were nearly full and they can make for a hectic time, especially on the smaller maps. One second you could be staring down an opponent ready to take his stupid head off, the next second two enemies come rushing at you from the sides and your day is ruined. Or maybe a javelin comes at you and ends up sticking out of your chest.

Throughout the hardships, you do have moments of joy. Whenever you land a hit, you hear the satisfying sound of a blade hitting flesh and watching blood fly out of the guy (Kinda sadistic, no?), and when you land the killing blow you feel like you accomplished something and it is incredibly satisfying. While the opponent is down you can finish them off with another strike, which will officially count the kill towards the team score. Downed enemies can be revived by their team, and you can revive your fallen friends as well, all of which earns XP.

It's also best to play on the same server for an extended amount of time. Since WotV added a Renown system. The longer you play and the more you level up on the same server, the higher your Renown gets, which increases the amount of gold you receive at the end of each match. Seems like a neat system to give a little more incentive for players to tough it out even in less-than-ideal odds.

Someone's head is coming off.

I reiterate: this game isn't for everyone. It takes a while for you to get the hang of things and if you are looking for Call of Duty: Viking Ops, you won't find that here. However, if you give it a chance, you may learn to like these games as much as I do. The game looks great, plays well, and is a very fun way to kill time and fellow Vikings/Saxons. While overall I still feel that Chivalry: Deadliest Warrior is my favorite in this style of game, I have been finding War of the Vikings VERY enjoyable and I am looking forward to future updates and DLC.

Be patient with this, but you should definitely give this a chance.