Viking Battle of the Asgard

Coming to Xbox360 and PS3 on 28 March 2008 - an epic battle set within the realms of Norse Gods. As the Goddess Hel unleashes an army of resurrected Viking Warriors set to wipe out all of humanity, it's up to the deeply flawed young warrior Sarkin to save mankind.

Despite their rich legends and recognisable elements, such as horned helmets and longboats, the Vikings are a civilisation rarely visited by video games, aside from appearances as playable factions in historical RTS titles. Few games have focused solely on the warrior race, but now SEGA turns its attention to the Norse in Viking: Battle For Asgard.

The game spins the tale of an ongoing heavenly war in Asgard, the domain of the Norse Gods. The goddess Hel is banished from Asgard for defying Odin and plots her revenge, gathering an army of resurrected Viking warriors and laying siege to Midgard, the mortal world.

Odin orders his daughter Freya, goddess of love and wisdom, to choose a mortal champion to stop Hel as the banished goddess' goal becomes clear: she plans to free the imprisoned ancient wolf-god Fenrir and thus bring about Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle that will see the end of Asgard.

Players grasp the sword of Freya's champion, Skarin, a young warrior unaware of the connection between himself and the Gods. Leading the charge of the battlefield, they must wage war against man and demon alike in some of the largest battles seen on this generation of consoles, with hundreds of dynamic AI warriors.

The game puts a large emphasis on interacting with other warriors. Free them from Hel's grip and they will be grateful. Earn their trust and they will fight alongside Skarin. Even the choices players make in the middle of a battle can subtly turn the tide of the conflict, whether it's with a carefully targeted assassination or a selfless charge into danger to aid overwhelmed allies.

To make the battles even more impressive, Battle For Asgard features an impressive but brutal combat engine, bringing the ancient melee combat to life. Wielding deadly weapons, including swords and axes, players can dismember their enemies, spilling blood across the floor and staining their blades.

For those in search of a more magical combat experience, the game draws on Viking mythology to provide players with incredible powers. A range of magical attacks can be unleashed on Hel's forces as the Gods lend Skarin their power to help him win their war. Players can even tame dragons and call upon them to bring fire down on their enemies.

In between the epic battles, players must explore Skarin's world in search of the key to stopping Hel and bringing her bloody campaign to an end. As they wander the beautiful Viking landscape, gamers seek the secrets to the vast islands of this realm; take on quests to earn allies and experience, and in doing so write their own legend.