Valnir Rok
- September 26, 2017
- encurio
- 4h median play time
Valnir Rok is a Norse-inspired survival RPG that lets you explore a vast open world, build and upgrade your own Viking settlement, and fight brutal clan wars against other players. Hunt, harvest, and forage for resources to craft weapons, armor, and structures, all while immersed in a rich and detailed narrative. Battle mythical beasts, form alliances with fellow Vikings, and prove your worth in epic quests to become a legendary warrior.
Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential with a promising crafting system and Viking theme.
- The graphics and design work are appreciated, creating an immersive environment.
- The community is generally friendly, and the developers are responsive to feedback and actively working on updates.
- The game has been criticized for being abandoned and lacking updates since its early access launch.
- Many players report numerous bugs, glitches, and issues with combat mechanics that hinder gameplay.
- The player base is very low, making it difficult to find others to play with, leading to a lack of engagement.
- story54 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story and quest system receive mixed reviews, with players noting a variety of bugs that hinder quest completion and NPC interactions. While some appreciate the unique and immersive quests reminiscent of classic RPGs, others express frustration over unresponsive quest givers and incomplete quest lines. Overall, the potential for a rich narrative is evident, but significant improvements and bug fixes are needed to enhance the experience.
“I love the quests and the journey; this game has a real Skyrim feel to it, but has a lot of unique qualities.”
“Each quest was unique; no gather x or kill y quests.”
“There are NPCs, villages, and quests, so there is enough to keep you occupied.”
“The other issue is a big one, and that's quests that do not even engage or allow you to complete them.”
“Game seems to be quest focused with having you follow quests around to show you how the game works, but the quest givers constantly vanish or run from you for no reason.”
“This game has a lot of potential to become an epic title, but in its current state it lacks a lot of things; I played half an hour and I couldn't complete the first quests because they all got bugged halfway.”
- graphics47 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals and draw distance as decent or even beautiful, while others criticize them as outdated or glitchy, likening them to older console graphics. Many users note that the game has potential but requires significant improvements, particularly in character and NPC models, as well as overall performance. Overall, while some find the graphics appealing, a substantial number express disappointment, indicating that they fall short of modern standards.
“Graphics are great.”
“Good game, beautiful graphics and it's a solid base of a game, needs some updates to fix some bugs and so on but definitely a game to watch out for in the future, it has a lot of potential to become popular and I'm sure it will grow in time as more updates start rolling out!”
“Graphics are very good.”
“Graphics look like a 360.”
“The graphics suck.”
“I didn't have unrealistically high expectations of this game, but it looks like shit, and runs like shit, with a lot of graphics glitches etc... I am very disappointed, and cannot recommend it by any means, it's like an alpha of what might possibly be an 'okay' game at some time, but I wouldn't expect too much!”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of potential and frustration, with many players noting that while the core mechanics and building systems are promising, they are marred by bugs, poor optimization, and unfinished features. Some enjoy the unique elements like sacrificing to gods and crafting, but others find the gameplay unplayable due to technical issues and lack of content. Overall, the game shows promise but requires significant improvements before it can be recommended.
“Really liked the idea of this game; graphics and gameplay both appealed to me.”
“The mechanics of sacrificing things to the gods to appease them is a nice touch and adds a reason to attack other people's houses and steal their artifacts. The actual home building is some of the best I've seen, with several upgrades available, such as wood to clay to stone, and there are several skill trees to specialize in, like building, forging, and carpentry.”
“The mechanics of combat are good, being much better than other similar games at this stage of development.”
“I only played it for about 15 minutes and that was enough for me to experience unplayable gameplay.”
“Poor animations, poor mechanics, just isn't worth investing at the moment.”
“It had great potential, according to the promotional videos seen in the Steam store, and some YouTube gameplay Q&A, but it failed the playthrough test drastically.”
- stability34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during server connections and interactions with NPCs. While some users acknowledge these issues as typical for an early access title and appreciate the developers' efforts to address them, others find the experience frustrating and unplayable at times. Overall, the game shows potential but currently suffers from significant stability problems that may deter some players.
“The game freezes, and when I say it freezes, I mean the animations, animals, and your ability to pick things up.”
“I could only play for a few minutes at a time because of bugs or glitches that made it unplayable.”
“Most buggy game I have ever played, and the game has barely developed after half a year.”
- optimization19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, freezing, and high ping, particularly in populated areas. While some users noted improvements in performance after recent patches, others found the game unplayable and expressed frustration over lost progress and bugs. Despite these challenges, a few players reported stable performance on higher settings, indicating that optimization may vary based on individual hardware and updates.
“I saw improvements in performance with the last patch.”
“It takes up very little space; it's optimized better than other games like Ark, Dark and Light, and Rust.”
“Performance-wise, I am running at a stable 144 fps on the highest settings possible.”
“But the performance meant that in my opinion currently it is unplayable, constant stuttering, freezing left me no choice but to refund.”
“The game is unoptimized, clunky, and unappealing.”
“It was incredibly choppy and needs to be optimized.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some describe it as tedious, others appreciate the ease of farming materials and the overall relaxing nature of the game. The grinding of mobs is seen as overly simplistic, and while resource gathering can be time-consuming, there are exploits that can alleviate some of the monotony. Overall, the grind can feel rewarding for those who enjoy building and resource management, but it may also lead to frustration, especially in PvP scenarios.
“It is hardcore survival at first and hours of farming resources.”
“You have to do a ton of boring grinding and hope no one attacks you because if they do you can't do anything about it.”
“We spent a good 30 hours grinding materials, but the thing is there are so many exploits that it makes it not enjoyable.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty, with players expressing a rare enjoyment of the sound, often playing with it on. However, some users note that the music can occasionally cut in and out, which is a common issue in early access games.
“The music is beautiful, and I play with the sound on, and I never do that....(ever)!”
“We went on an adventure with our brothers and sisters, and in the end, we sat down and sang songs from our tale!”
“Love the music.”
“The music sometimes cuts in and out, which is to be expected in early access.”
“We went on an adventure with our brothers and sisters, and in the end, we sat down and sang a song from our tale.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment that the developers are not actively improving the game despite its potential.
“It's a cash grab; they are not even working on it.”
“While it looks good and has potential, it's a cash grab.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unexpected and absurd moments, such as the amusing effects of consuming random items, which can lead to visually hilarious experiences. Players appreciate the potential for comedic situations, suggesting that the game effectively incorporates humor into its gameplay.
“I ate a random berry, started tripping, and the screen went purple and green. It was hilarious!”
“The dialogue is filled with witty one-liners that had me laughing out loud.”
“The absurd situations you find yourself in are so over-the-top that it's impossible not to chuckle.”
“This game has so much potential, it's not funny.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected a lot of laughs, but the humor is stale and unoriginal.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a desire for more diverse female character options and design choices, indicating a need for improved representation. Additionally, while skill trees offer a pathway for character development, the imbalance created by players with more time to invest can detract from the overall experience, particularly in competitive settings.
“The skill trees allow for meaningful character development, giving players the opportunity to customize their abilities and playstyle.”
“I appreciate the focus on character development, as it provides depth and variety to the gameplay experience.”
“The game offers a range of character design options, which enhances the overall character development and player engagement.”
“There are not enough female characters and character design options.”
“The skill trees allow for some character development, but players with more time can easily overpower others, leading to an unbalanced experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of the original atmosphere found in classic titles like Dark Age of Camelot, particularly highlighting its immersive and engaging world.
“This game was the first in a long time to bring back some of the original atmosphere I felt while playing games like Dark Age of Camelot (Midgard!!!).”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that draws players into the world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere is lifeless and fails to engage the player.”