After “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate” came out in 2015, Ubisoft worked on the next installment of the “Assassin’s Creed” series. The tenth game is set five years after the events of “Assassin’s Creed III.” This time the story focuses on Layla Hassan. A modern-day assassin is looking for an artifact dating back to The First Century BC when Cleopatra ruled Egypt by reliving the memories of Bayek. A founding member of “The Hidden Ones” which eventually re-established as The Assassins on their never-ending battle against The Templars with help from his wife Aya and new allies.
Assassin’s Creed Origins was released in 2017 (same year Final Fantasy XV came out) on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It received positive reviews from critics, fans and gamers alike. This game is the first installment of “The Layla Hassan Trilogy” followed by “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” & “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.” As you may know, Ubisoft is working on the next game titled, “Assassin’s Creed: Infinity.” Plus, Netflix is currently working on a live action television series based on the franchise. As a fan of Assassin’s Creed, I wanna share my thoughts on Origins before the aforementioned upcoming game and TV show come out in the future.
Today’s review contains no SPOILERS whatsoever.
Hydrated & Dehydrated Qualities
Hydrated: Voice Actors all did a solid job for their respective voiceover performances.
Graphics are beautiful as they bring character models, fluid animation, lighting and environmental locations to life.
Ubisoft did extensive research on the First Century in order to keep the time period intact. For instance, Cleopatra & Julius Caeser play key roles for both The Hidden Ones & The Order. Keep in mind, the game is purely fictional.
Origins changed a few mechanics. Here’s a list of changes.
Changes
- Combat is drastically different from previous entries. You hit an enemy with light and heavy attacks. You can equip a shield to block attacks.
- An “adrenaline” meter fills up with each hit. Once it’s fully charged, you unleash a powerful attack.
- There are four types of bows. Light is rapid fire. Warrior is scattered like a shotgun blast. Predator switches to first-person with a sniper feel. Hunter is the traditional way holding the arrow and strike down your target.
- Gathering resources allows you to upgrade your hidden blade, quiver, breastplate, stabilizer glove, bracer and ammo.
- There are many ways to earn experience points by completing main/side missions, fight enemies, hunting, discover regions etc.
- Skill Tree has three branches. Warrior augments your melee attacks. Hunter increases your range attacks. Seer makes you a sneaky assailant like “Leon: The Professional.” Don’t forget to explore ancient tombs. They’re worth a free skill point.
- You can toggle Bayek’s beard and hair at any time.
- Side Missions include a gladiatorial arena, align stone circles, solve puzzles inside a selective tomb, hunt down bounty hunters under “Phylakes,” and partake in a chariot race like “Ben-Hur.”
- Layla Hassan is the first playable modern-day assassin since Desmond Miles in “Assassin’s Creed III.” It’s about time Ubisoft they gave us a character we can connect with not some unnamed random Abstergo employee.
- Your pet bird marks a primary target, various targets, hidden loot and secret passages. It’s best to plan out your mission before you head out.
Bayek’s tragic past involving the death of a loved one motivates him to track down members of The Order (a precursor to The Templars) to avenge his loved one.
Chemistry between Bayek & Aya play a key role.
As you progress the main story, Aya is only playable in very few missions.
It took me a month or two to finish the game and DLC without relying on microtransactions.
Photo Mode is included. I love it when games add this feature so players can take a cool snapshot.
Layla’s ending sets up the next game, Assassin’s Creed: Odessey. The best entry in The Layla Hassan Trilogy.
If you purchased all DLC, you get two storylines both set after the main story. First is “The Hidden Ones” and second is “The Curse of the Pharaohs.” They also grant you new outfits, weapons and the level cap is 55.
After you beat the main story, New Game Plus is optional.
Dehydrated: Microtransactions are unnecessary. They continue to invade single-player games. I prefer story based DLC, not spending real money on virtual currency.
Side Characters are forgettable. I don’t even remember his or her name.
Despite titled, origins, the game barely shows the foundation of The Hidden Ones.
The Final Verdict: B-
Although not a masterpiece or a disappointment, Assassin’s Creed Origins is an average game with some redeeming qualities listed above. It could’ve been a little better if The Hidden Ones actually featured founding members besides Bayek & Aya. Thank goodness it’s not a stinker like “Gods of Egypt.” If you’re gearing up for Assassin’s Creed: Infinity and Netflix’s upcoming TV show, give Origins a shot.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 