The ultimate weapon, axes are both sweet and amazing. (See fig.1)


Fig. 1

Swords are the enemy. Whereas axes are tools used to end wars, swords are tools to prolong them. They are only ever any good if you have an axe in the other hand, although they can do some serious damage. (See Fig. 2)



Fig. 2

Blocking is a great way to avoid damage, but why would block if you could attack? (See comparison)


Comparison

Just when you thought the axe animations couldn't get better, you discover COMBOS! This is easily my favorite part of the game due to that sweet spinning over the shoulder axe smash. (See Fig. 3)


Fig. 3

No good. It gets in the way of enjoying that sweet axe animation. (See Fig. 4)


Fig. 4

Throughout the land you will find various henges where you can give money to the dead in exchange for COMBOS*. I am completely in favour of anything that makes the axe better, but the part where the dead warrior transforms into a practice baddie TERRIFIES me. (See Fig. 5)


Fig. 5

*See section 4

The worst part of the game*, all the vikings have swords and nobody, I MEAN NOBODY, even swings an axe the tiniest bit. (See Fig. 6)


Fig. 6

*Author's note: After careful contemplation I have decided that battles are better than magick because battles at least present a target rich environement to swing axes at.

Although fire spewing lizards are really cool, dragons get a black mark because they don't spew axes, and using them reduces the ammount of baddies to crush under your axe. (See Fig. 7)


Fig. 7

It has come to my attention that throwing axes do in fact make an appearance in this game. Throwing axes are a special case because they combine the visceral combat of axes but they allow you to hit that smirking archer without having to climb a wall to get him. (see Fig. 8) Throwing axes arn't all good though, due to the nature of the weapon you can't appreciate the look on the face of your enemy as he realises he is defeated. The wrinkling of the forehead, the slight loosening of the jaw, all these features are lost to you due to the distance to your foe. For this, these weapons receive my condemnation and should be avoided at all costs.


Fig. 8

This concludes this COMPLETELY EXHAUSTIVE guide to Viking: Battle for Asgard. If you read this far (Why did you?) it means you have an unrivaled comprehension of this game and should probably find a way to market your new found skills. To bad there isn't a professional Viking: Battle for Asgard league, huh? Oh well maybe you could go and ask. (See figure 9)


Fig. 9

Although axe breathing dragons seems like a silly idea (it is) It would be really cool if someone could mod them in. In the meantime here is some concept art: