Assassin's Creed Valhalla narrative director soothes the soul in this Norse mythology mini-doc

Ubisoft has released a 3-minute mini-documentary on Norse mythology ahead of the launch of Assassin's Creed Valhalla on November 10.

If you're like me and loved sleeping through history documentaries in low-lit classrooms, you'll probably find the video, narrated by Assassin's Creed Valhalla narrative director Darby McDevitt, incredibly soothing. That's not to say it isn't interesting, mind. McDevitt delves into the real-world history of the game's 9th century England setting, an era where the Pagan religions of old Europe were gradually being pushed out by Christianity. 

The Viking you'll control in Assassin's Creed Valhalla is part of a clan that's looking to settle new lands in Anglo-Saxon England, but the Saxons don't much care for, or believe in, the Pagan gods the Vikings worship. Of course, this is just one of the main conflicts you'll need to resolve by way of axe in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as you'll also be dealing with warring Viking sons, a rogue Danish clan, and more problems you'll solve using spears, bows, axes, and swords.

In stark contrast to the violence awaiting us in the next Assassin's Creed installment, McDevitt rattles off a translated version of a rather comforting poem called Havamal. "'The unwise man lies awake all night, pondering everything over and over. And when morning comes, his mind is weary and his burden has not yet been lifted.' Wise words from the all father, so do as he says and stop your worrying. Get a good night's sleep and rise refreshed. The gates to Valhalla will soon be open," McDevitt says.

ICYMI, here's the latest Assassin's Creed Valhalla cinematic trailer with a friendly lesson from Eivor on Viking raids.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Latest in Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji expansion Naoe and Yasuke in Awaji forest
Assassin's Creed Shadows roadmap, DLC and future content
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reverses roles to show off Naoe's combat and Yasuke's stealth, and I'm suddenly sold on playing Yasuke like a clumsy Snake in Metal Gear Solid 3
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows' DLC will take place after the main game's "definite ending" in a "spookier" location, creative director says
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows devs added a Canon Mode removing RPG choices after Odyssey fans "expressed their disappointment" over not having a "definitive" story
Assassin's Creed Odyssey screenshot of Kassandra admiring a blade
Assassin's Creed's Kassandra stole the show in Odyssey, popped up in Valhalla, and she's still "very much alive" during AC Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows will take upwards of 80 hours for completionists, creative director confirms, and Ubisoft is considering adding New Game+ post launch
Latest in News
Jordan A. Mun looks at herself in a mirror in just a vest in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet screenshot
5 years after starting development, Neil Druckmann says Naughty Dog's new game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is "still evolving and changing as we're making it"
Silent Hill f
After 2 years of silence, the next mainline Silent Hill game is getting a dedicated stream this week with "the latest news"
Original Xbox console
Former Microsoft exec says the first Xbox was killed early in favor of 360 because it was "losing money left right and center," but luckily "we could afford to hemorrhage cash"
A Monster Hunter Wilds character holding binoculars.
Despite Monster Hunter Wilds suffering monstrous performance problems on PC, it still outsold the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions in the US
Jordan A. Mun looks at herself in a mirror in just a vest in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet screenshot
The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann says Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet will also be about "being lonely," as if his zombie apocalypse wasn’t isolating enough: "I really want you to be lost"
A screenshot of Jordan drinking a soda during the reveal trailer for Intergalactic: The Hertic Prophet.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is "a game about faith and religion," which Neil Druckmann jokes will surely get less hate than The Last of Us 2