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. 33
    Viking: Battle for Asgard falls far short of its potential.
  2. An extremely uncomplicated title that has its fair share of fun due to the hilariously brutal combat animations.
  3. 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.
  4. Unfortunately there is so much wrong with it that it doesn’t even manage to reach average status.
  5. Viking simply doesn't do enough to stand up to the more polished action experiences out there. [June 2008, p.86]
  6. Viking: Battle of Asgard is a great game for what it wants to accomplish.
  7. 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.
  8. A solid rental if you like bloody action games.
  9. For a game that promised so much, Viking really doesn't do much in the way of delivering.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. A well-rounded action title with elements of strategy, traditional hack and slash, and arcade action.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. Thanks to Viking: Battle for Asgard's mundane and tedious gameplay, the only battle you'll wage will be a losing one against boredom.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  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. While Viking isn't a total disappointment, the biggest problem here is a matter of the game feeling wholly and entirely unfinished.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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]
  25. The game is flawed and introduces nothing new to the genre but the outcome is pleasant and worthy of your playtime.
  26. The only good thing to say about the scrapping is the quality of the gore. [May 2008, p.102]
  27. 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.
  28. 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]
  29. 74
    Viking is enjoyable, but not long lasting. [Issue#165, p.82]
  30. Combat is gory, but the mechanics are weak. [May 2008, p.104]
  31. The final showdown with Hel - and the story's resolution - seems abrupt and sadly, unepic. [June 2008, p.82]
  32. Tries too hard to ape other, similar games without following its own path. Shame. [May 2008, p.62]
  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. Visceral combat and fort assaults are the main attractions, although the story isn't exactly alluring.
  35. 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.
  36. As entertaining as the game is, it's abundantly clear that things could have been a whole lot better.
  37. 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.
  38. 75
    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.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  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. Guardian
    4
    Viking after time can grow on you a little, after the first hour i was considering taking it back straight away and attacking the local EB games dude for recomending it so highly. But, and its a big but for sure, the controls are horrible, the graphics very average and the repetition is enough to put you to sleep. Im a fan of all things sword and sorcery, but after a few days of holding out to see what this baby had in store for me--- i was left with alot of dissapointment. The high point is the large scale battles but even then it lacks as the framerate drops badly and the controls become frustrating.... a rental for a few days ..yes.......a keeper no......honestly i was a bit saddened as i was really looking forward to this one but it felt like a beta copy that was half unfinished. Full Review »