Die for Valhalla! Demo

Beat ‘em ups are not very popular at the moment, given the fact that gamers have moved on to more complex genres over the years. However, sometimes you just want to take it easy for a while and not worry about realism, which is when arcade games come in handy. Hence, there are all sorts of ways you can have fun without requiring a powerful PC or years of experience with games.

Die for Valhalla! is an upcoming beat ‘em up that allows you to put your gamepad through a stress test and enjoy a relaxing round of mindless fun, while also putting your reflexes to the test. In essence, the goal is to kill all the enemies as quickly as possible and score some combos while you’re at it. There are some interesting new ideas at work as well, so it doesn’t feel like a copycat game in the slightest.

To begin with, you play the role of a valkyrie that revives fallen Vikings on the battlefield and imbues them with special powers that transform them into mighty heroes. However, they are not invincible, so it’s important to keep possessing new Vikings as you go along. They also come with special abilities, so it’s fun to switch from character to character sometimes.

The enemies come in all shapes and sizes as well, including a few tougher foes that require some planning in order to be brought down. Speaking of which, co-op is a must in the game, because you can share the screen with up to three other players and devise some neat strategies. There’s not enough content in the demo at hand to form a solid opinion, but everything looks well when it comes to the combat aspect.

The graphics are great as well, even if they are basically 2D sprites and hand-drawn artwork. Most of the environments are very detailed and colorful, and there’s a fair bit of gore involved in the process as well. The controls are simple and responsive, but it’s a bit of a bother to use a keyboard, since the game is designed with a gamepad in mind.

When it’s all said and done, Die for Valhalla! Is far from an original concept, but the few new ideas it brings to the table make the whole thing a lot more engaging. Hence, the valkyrie thing is pretty neat, and it’s also fun to play in co-op with your friends.