SEGA unveils Viking game News

SEGA has announced it will be releasing Creative Assembly's new game Viking: Battle for Asgard in early 2008.

The Norse mythology-themed hackandslasher is being developed on 360 and PS3, and promises oodles of wince-worthy violence and limb dismemberment thanks to its new game engine, as well as the ability to order around mythical beasts and liberated troops in enormous battles.

You'll play as young warrior Skarin, picked by the Gods to defend the mortal world of Midgard from the rampaging goddess Hel and her undead Viking army.

Odin started it all, you see, when he kicked her out of the heavenly realm of Asgard. Now she is really upset and wants to destroy all the Gods by finding the wolf-god Fenrir and bringing about the apocalyptic battle Ragnarok.

But Odin saw this coming - as you might hope, being a god and that - and sent his daughter off to find a champion to overcome this threat. The reason you were chosen is shrouded in mystery.

There will be large, sumptuous environments to explore and quests to complete, plus you'll be able to choose how you want to affect each battle - subtly knifing people in the back or wading in to help your troops.

Creative Assembly's last console effort was action game Spartan: Total Warrior, which reviewed well despite the inevitable comparisons to PS2 cracker God of War.

Look out for our thoughts on Viking: Battle for Asgard after we check it out at the Games Convention in Leipzig this week.