Assassin's Creed Origins - More Creed Less Ass

The Assassins Creed series didn't start great, but it had great potential. The first game had the core idea, while the second game established a vision of the future of the series, and the third, Brotherhood, almost perfected the formula. Unfortunately, since Brotherhood, the series kept falling below my expectation and stopped improving on its main formula, while releasing games year after year. The rapid release schedule didn't serve the game much in terms of development. Not long after, the series just lost my interest, and the last game I was able to finish was the AC 3. Now, after taking a year off we get a new entry in the series, and as the creative name suggests, it's the Origin of the story.

As we are used to in previous Asses, every Ass. is set in a different location in a fictitious version of history. This time around, the game is set in ancient Egypt around the Roman invasion of the country. You play as a Medjay named Bayek, which is basically a government-appointed Batman. And in no time you get to know his story and his goal to take revenge on these ancient hoodlums. As most of the other AC games, from the perspective of someone who isn't well versed in history, the game has great touches of realism and authenticity. In your travels, you will go through towns that you can guess what their economy is built on just from the visuals. Other locations such as the Giza pyramids are drawn in a way as expected to be during those times.

Visually the game looks mesmerizing, and I was playing on a regular PS4. The attention to details is uncanny, and what helps it more is how varied the terrain is in Egypt. You'll pass through deserts, farms, oases, pyramids, temples, and even set sail and go through ship battles. Sadly the soundtrack isn't on par with the visuals, nor does it compare to Jesper Kyd's tracks from previous games.

I think the part that benefited most from that one year break is the gameplay, and to be more specific the combat. The combat started well in the first game, to some extent, but it had no vision, they kept adding and copying other games but it just didn't evolve with the overall game. It felt like pizza with pineapple, that's just wrong. WRONG GODDAMNIT!

Anyway, the new overhauled combat now fits the huge open areas it's set in. At first glance, the combat feels like a bad imitation of the Souls games. Which is true to some level. It feels like a less accurate Souls combat, but what makes it awesome is that it's complemented with style of positioning and approach of the latest Farcry games. You have your hawk Sinu that acts in place of the binoculars in Farcry. The game also adapts the loot mechanics in a similar style to the Destiny games. RPG elements are also added so you now have to upgrade your weapons, tools, and armor.

In terms of weapons, you have your main weapon: sword, Axe, staff, dual swords, etc. There is also ranged combat with the bow. The bow is set in classes which are basically long range (Sniper), mid-range (Assult rifle), and lastly the multi-arrow shot (Shotgun). The bombs, poison dart, and sleep dart make a return. Lastly, the hidden blade, which is played down this time around. You won't be able to one hit kill enemies just by sneaking up on them with the hidden blade.

When it comes to enemy design, the AI and variety are what made them so fun to fight. Firstly you should know that as the game adapted the loot system, it also adapted level range for enemies, areas, and missions. So you can travel aimlessly from the get-go, but beware that you will get your ass handed to you by over level enemies. Anyway, when it comes to enemy classes you have the basic, heavy, light-ninja-like that uses dual swords and smoke bombs, archers, and captains and commanders which comes in a variety of their own. Another enemy type is the animals, which work as a faction of their own a la Farcry. What's cool is that you can unlock an ability that able you to put them to sleep then make them your pets and fight for you.

As it is usual with RPG games, or by today's standards most games, you have an ability tree. You have three directions in the tree. Hunter (Archery), warrior (melee combat), and Seer (tool oriented). I usually hate to spoil the abilities in the game, but most of them are what you expect. What made me roll my eyes was that some of the abilities are just quality-of-life improvements such as the ability to wait since some missions activate only at night. So if you don't get this ability and you get such mission you have to run around till night comes. Another is the ability to loot enemies automatically after killing them. I mean why the fuck do I have to waste my time and get ability points to just to get an upgrade like that?

In closing, Ass. Origin was the best in the series for me solely for how fun the combat was. Couple that with amazing graphics, uber-detailed world, and authentic take on ancient Egypt, and you have a great experience that can last over 50 hours easily.

******* Ending spoilers*******

I usually don't spoil games and hate ending spoilers because I think of them as the climax of the game. Although I'm a firm believer of the saying "It's about the journey, not the ending." Which is the case here, but the ending was just so stupidly done, and for all the wrong reasons that I couldn't digest it.

It seems that Ubisoft, after what happened with Ass. Unity about not having an option to play as a female character started to put more female characters in their games. Now I have no issue with having female characters in games, but what Ubisoft did here is that it made you play as Bayek for the whole game, level him up, feel related to him and his cause, then flip the table and make you play as his wife and end the game with her. And what is more annoying is that her character is just the usual 2-dimensional character tough girl. The decision was beyond stupid. If you want to have a good female character let make her the lead character; let the player build a connection with the character. Still, even with the half-assed ending, I can easily recommend the game for all the reasons noted above.