Mythology and the way cultures interpret the world is as much history as real wars and battles that have taken place. It’s not necessarily the use of mythology that has seemingly turned some fans away from recentACgames, includingAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, but how they are implemented. Thus far, though, Ubisoft has managed to provide reasonable explanations, but it seems to be running out.
Assassin’s Creed Originswas the first to really play on the idea of mythology; deities like Sobek appeared for grand epic battles due to a glitch in the Animus. InAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, an Isu project created everything from the Minotaur to the Hekatoncheir; inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, it is a drug-induced effect wherein Eivor sees her past life through a cultural lens she can understand. This makes sense as it’s unlikely many could see the world of Isu for what it is without having to explain it away, but that’s just the thing: this werewolf doesn’t seem to be explored in a similar way. There’s no much to go on, but as it stands, Ubi can’t really revisit these ideas, not that it should.
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Werewolves in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Granted, very little is known about the werewolf (orwerewolves) inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Wrath of the Druids DLC. The above screenshot is all that has been shown, and in terms of mythology, it makes sense that it would rear its head during Eivor’s travels to Ireland. Yet, at the same time, its explanation can’t really be reasoned in the same way as the above. For many, having a werewolf is problematic enough, and that’s to say nothing about the lesser-rumblings of aDragon inAC Valhalla’s DLC. But it’s there and players will encounter it in some way, so the question really is how Ubisoft goes about introducing it.
None of the above explanations would work though. With Eivor seemingly fighting it while engaging the Children of Danu too, it’s not likely to be an Animus glitch. The Isu project could be brought into play once again, but that has seemingly ended. The DLC doesn’t seem to be going down the same Isu-heavy road AC Odyssey did either, making it seem less likely, while drugs similar toAC Valhalla’s Asgard and Jotunheim arcsseem like a cop-out. In theory, the Children of Danu could engage Eivor in combat, hit her with some psychosis-inducing mist, and make her see werewolves, but that sounds icky. It’s plausible that a very heavily hairy character could come across as a werewolf, wherein such myths typically lie, but in broad daylight, that makes no sense.
Many are against the werewolf for its supernatural leanings alone, but mythology, history, fantasy, Sci-Fi—however one refers to it—its presence can be explained. That problem becomes how Ubisoft handles its mythological leanings; this isn’t an Ireland-setImmortals Fenyx RisingDLCafter all, it’sAssassin’s Creed. If it continues the modern-day storyline, there may be a way to explain it via the potential connection to Basim, but still, that feels far-fetched based on what’s known so far.
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Assassin’s Creed Identity: Mythology Within Its Frame
Once again, there’s nothing wrong with exploring the mythology that inspired cultures. Seeing a Kraken or a Lusca inAC Black Flag, or a mystery of the dedpths that could be explained away as such,could have added unique layers of fear to the pirate life, fighting the Minotaur and Medusa inAC Odysseywas indeed a blast, and some settings and cultures can easily lean on this. WhileBlack Flagcould have been and the recentACRPGs are good settings for this,AC3’s Revolutionary War orAC Unity’s French Revolutionwould not be. Pirates feared monsters, and Minotaurs existed in the minds of the Ancient Greeks somehow; playing with that makes sense.
For theAssassin’s CreedRPGs, their settings lean more heavily into such gamification. Regardless of how one feels of it, it’s going to be how Ubisoft explains it. In that sense, Ubi may have backed itself into a corner. Animus has been used, Isu have been used, and drugs have been used. Unless it intends to make the werewolf (or dragon) actually exist, which is doubtful, it seems that any possible explanation now may only skim the surface. Of course, and hopefully, Ubisoft has some hidden trick up its sleeve. Otherwise, those who find mythology in a universe of glowing apples, ancient civs, and weapons of legend out of place may not be satisfied.
Assassin’s Creed Valhallais available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
