• Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 25, 2008
Metascore
65 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 38
  2. Negative: 4 out of 38
  1. Easy to manage hot keys, intuitive controls, a great map that doubles as an objective outline...everything here is spot on. [Apr 2008, p.55]
  2. A well-rounded action title with elements of strategy, traditional hack and slash, and arcade action.
  3. 80
    It feels disappointing at first, but it quickly moves beyond that and turns into a game that, despite its shortcomings, is just plain fun.
  4. Viking: Battle for Asgard is a very nice hack-and-slash game. It's really not difficult to play and is still very enyoable. The huge battles with thousands of soldiers really makes the game supurb.
  5. It's a game that's far better than most of the tat on the shelves just now, and certainly deserving of your attention and we reckon that a sequel could be stunning.
  6. In spite of its somewhat repetitive rhythm, Viking manages to offer to the player a great sense of accomplishment. It keeps us moving forward with the promise (always fulfilled) of some epic action sequences. The combat system is the result of a well balanced act between depth and accessibility. [Apr 2008]
  7. Visceral combat and fort assaults are the main attractions, although the story isn't exactly alluring.
  8. This game left you wanting a little more in certain areas but for the overall feel of the game this was wonderfully put together. You have a great story that really flows and pulls you into it.
  9. Viking: Battle of Asgard is a great game for what it wants to accomplish.
  10. The combat may be shallow, the story non-existent and the fetch quests tedious, but I still managed to have a blast with Sega's latest offering.
  11. 74
    Viking is enjoyable, but not long lasting. [Issue#165, p.82]
  12. A solid rental if you like bloody action games.
  13. The vicious combat is a lot of fun, and building your army and laying siege to the enemy is a compelling experience in an action game setting. If it didn't run out of ideas so quickly and had a smoother presentation, Viking could have struck an even mightier blow.
  14. An extremely uncomplicated title that has its fair share of fun due to the hilariously brutal combat animations.
  15. The game is flawed and introduces nothing new to the genre but the outcome is pleasant and worthy of your playtime.
  16. As entertaining as the game is, it's abundantly clear that things could have been a whole lot better.
  17. 70
    At some point, you realize that looking back at each of Viking's qualities, it's hard to really put your finger on anything that's truly standout -- and yet it's compelling.
  18. 70
    Viking: Battle for Asgard is beautiful as far as offering a hurricane of blood and gore can be beautiful, but it's easy to get bogged down in the repetitive combat.
  19. Viking is a weekend of relaxing ultraviolence, giving Xbox owners an easy thousand points to chase and PS3 owners a short, sweet adventure to pad their shelf.
  20. Sadly, Viking is one of those games that could have been great but thanks to repetitive hack-and-slash gameplay there is really not much here even Odin would approve.
  21. For a game that promised so much, Viking really doesn't do much in the way of delivering.
  22. 65
    Viking: Battle of Asgard is a passable hack-and-slash that would have left a stronger impression if the style managed to outdo the substance.
  23. Tries too hard to ape other, similar games without following its own path. Shame. [May 2008, p.62]
  24. 63
    The battles stumble thanks to chug, the worlds get repetitive, and when you're not really interested in the story or your ultimate goal, hack-and-slash gets on your nerves no matter how many times you cut a guy in two.
  25. The only good thing to say about the scrapping is the quality of the gore. [May 2008, p.102]
  26. Viking's a decent game, thanks to over the top combat moves and a sprawling fantasy world, but its lack of drama and a few design issues make it inferior to Sony's exquisite "God of War" franchise.
  27. Combat is gory, but the mechanics are weak. [May 2008, p.104]
  28. While Viking isn't a total disappointment, the biggest problem here is a matter of the game feeling wholly and entirely unfinished.
  29. It doesn't have a multiplayer mode and the audio is only average, but Viking: Battle for Asgard executes what it set out to achieve - fun and addictive gameplay, even if short-lived.
  30. The final showdown with Hel - and the story's resolution - seems abrupt and sadly, unepic. [June 2008, p.82]
  31. Ultimately Viking: Battle for Asgard is almost a complete waste of Norse mythology. It's bloody and epic, but the boring, repetitive combat and hours you spend doing un-Vikingly menial tasks leaves a sour taste in the mouth, washed down with a swig of bitter, pointless stealth idiocy.
  32. With so many problems, unbalanced combat, and no multiplayer, it is hard to recommend anyone to buy this game, let alone rent it. Give it a try if you are a fan of the subject matter, if not, there are plenty of better action titles out there for you to enjoy instead.
  33. Viking is sadly, a massively missed opportunity that's dragged into the depths of mediocrity by a boring story, an uninteresting hero, repetitive missions, endless wandering around, hit-and-miss sound, disappointing battles and lots of slowdown.
  34. Thanks to Viking: Battle for Asgard's mundane and tedious gameplay, the only battle you'll wage will be a losing one against boredom.
  35. Viking simply doesn't do enough to stand up to the more polished action experiences out there. [June 2008, p.86]
  36. Viking, once it is all said and done, just isn't a very good game. It's repetitive, its boring and nearly every aspect of the game seems either rushed or plain forgotten about.
  37. Unfortunately there is so much wrong with it that it doesn't even manage to reach average status.
  38. 33
    Viking: Battle for Asgard falls far short of its potential.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. CalsonC.
    8
    Sure, the story could've been a lot better but I think the game's simplicity is one of its strong points. Vikings were never really known for there complex personalities. This is a good game, if not a great one. I had a lot of fun exploring the huge environment, the fighting mechanics are simple, yet deep enough for it to warrant some thought. Despite all the bad reviews... I think this is a game worth experiencing. Full Review »
  2. BrandonT
    8
    This was a good game. It is very like God of war Which I rate a 10. The reason I rate this a 8 is becuase obviously not as great as god of war but still a good game. I just love taking my sword and slicing off some heads =] Full Review »
  3. Viking suprized me and I'm very surprized the reviews were so low. I'd like to give viking an 8 but relative to other games I rated 8 it seems out of place so my 7 rating should be viewed as a very high 7. Ok, where to begin? I can't understand the low reviews on this game. It had a few issues but none serious and it was a very very fun game. It seems to be inspired by God of War and maybe it was viewed as a cheezy rip off and that was enough to rate it low. I don't know but I certainly don't agree with the low rating. The rating and review by CalsonC is very accurate to my own thoughts and so i will expand some more on that review. First off I think this game didn't get a fair chance by many players. If anything the game is very quilty of starting off way too easy and the cinematics aren't on par with God of Wars and maybe explains why so many people turfed this game so easily and reviewed it badly before they even played the entire game. As i look on this site so many people are saying the game is only 10 hrs and is very repetitive. This is quite untrue. It seems a lot of people must have only played the first island and think they beat the game. The first island is around 10 hrs and as i said the game is pretty guilty of starting off too easy so i can understand people thinking the game is nonsence if that is as far as they got. But after the first island the game really gets good. By island two you are now in control of your moves available and start to gain an appreciation of enemy rank and who to take out first so that you are not mobbed. By island 3 you are an extreme viking expert. The game is very nicely paced and gets progressively more difficult but is paced well with the skill you will aquire as you play. The final boss is a really good challenge. This game is also poorly understood. Many people must not have ever played a sandbox game because this game does have good replay value. In a sandbox game it is your decision where to roam and what upgrades you want to make to your game . If the game is too hard you upgrade your attacks. If the game is too easy you don't upgrade. So basically you make your own style. I read a review by a professional and they bashed the game for not having a run button. This person is a terrible gamer and should stick to one dimensional games like pac man. I never needed to run because I used some strategy and acted like a viking. That's the name of the game, not COWARD. Anyway, rant aside the game does have replay value but you have to have creativity and decide how to play the game. The flaws in the game are small. I had a few gltiches and there was very very minimal slowdown in some of the epic battles but these were not at all serious to any of the gameplay. I'm used to games where you have to swing the camera wildly and in this game it was ok although i will acknowledge that this is a larger concern for other players than it is for me. I'm ok incorrporating that into my gameplay but it is quite necessary in this game to do it. What else? Mnnn. I don't know, overall just a very enjoyable game. Easy to play and you can do a bit each night. If you like God of War, maybe give this a chance or a second chance. It really is misrepresented and a fairly decent game. Not a must have or anything but deserves much better than it was rated. Full Review »