When it was finally revealed that the Assassin’s Creed series would be venturing to Ancient Egypt, lofty expectations immediately rose to the top, with fans of the franchise wondering if the series could finally be returning to its original form. Critics praised the first AC entries, but the positive reception is something that went into freefall from Rogue and beyond. Even the relatively exciting Syndicate which moved the series to London wasn’t as good as it could have been. Fortunate we are then to this year be gifted with the almost-perfect Assassin’s Creed: Origins.
Recently, it’s been reported that Origins has a map that would take almost three hours to get from one end to the other of, and that just goes to show how much work has been put into making this one of the most immersive and in-depth explorative titles on the market. Here, players take control of Bayek; a new hero who protects those who live in his hometown and stands up to the rich dictators that would see them remain lowly citizens, rather than people they should be doing their utmost to serve and protect. He’s the perfect protagonist, and his wife Aya adds yet another layer of brilliance to the personalities that have been brought on board here. Coupling the writing surrounding the characters with the script for the game results in one of the most cohesive and understandable narratives the franchise has ever had.
Granted, those who are used to the controls usually implemented in Assassin’s Creed games will have a bit of learning to do, as the combat system has been given an overhaul and enemies are a little tougher to engage with when they’re in big groups. This encourages the player to use stealth whenever possible, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, a game like this SHOULD be played primarily in stealth, resorting to group combat only when it’s forced and entirely necessary.
There’s also the inclusion of a skill tree once more, with players being encouraged to level Bayek up to certain points before engaging with quests that get more and more challenging as your journey progresses. This turns the newest AC entry into an RPG and honestly, it’s a move that should have been made a long time ago. Evolving the series in this way is a huge step in the right direction.
Visually stunning, the environments really weave themselves around the person behind the gamepad. Instead of feeling like a chore to investigate every corner, looking for collectibles and making sure your ticker keeps going up when it comes to achievement hunting, you’ll WANT to take a look at every nook and cranny, discovering what’s hidden. The fact that there are no loading screens as you go from one place to another on the map, no matter how far you may travel. It’s truly a wonderful experience.
Though it started out with a few staggering frames, Assassin’s Creed: Origins develops into one of the best games the franchise has ever spawned. Incomparable to many of the leading titles on the market right now, this is an essential purchase for anybody who considers themselves as an avid gamer. Get hold of it whenever you can!
Assassin’s Creed: Origins is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, Xbox One, Xbox One X and PC.
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