Rune: Halls of Valhalla

We reviewed the single-player version of Rune. Now the Halls Of Valhalla is here (in the US at least) and it adds multiplayer support for the third-person action adventure, albeit in standalone form (ie you don't need the original to play it). Good? The masses obviously don't think so. At 10.30am on June 6, there were 30,747 people playing Internet Counter-Strike around the world. At the same time, there were only 62 people playing Halls Of Valhalla. For a game that's been out for more than a month in the US, this sets alarm bells ringing. And after playing it you can see why. It's not very good.

While the fluid and gobsmacking visuals are still in place, this is about the only noteworthy aspect of the game and the melee combat is curiously unsatisfying.

Add to this, the list of missed opportunities, which reads like a 'what not to do when releasing an add-on'. There are no new single-player levels (in fact, no single-player at all). No bots. No new weapons. No new rune powers. Nothing to give the game a well-deserved makeover. What it does have is 34 new multiplayer maps (along with the original) and 15 new character skins. If you're a Rune fanatic with some spare time, it may be for you. Everyone else is best to avoid it.