Assassin’s Creed Origins delivers a new setting, a new hero, and new action-RPG elements. We summarize 5 important pieces of info about the game.
During E3 2017, Assassin’s Creed Origins was officially revealed for the first time. In the weeks and months prior, numerous leaks about this year’s AC surfaced, which is why the reveal didn’t surprise anyone. However, the shown footage made many fans’ hearts race.
Here is the gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed Origins:
Assassin’s Creed Origins aims to retain the unmistakable “Assassin’s Creed” charm while overhauling and reinventing many aspects of the franchise. According to a detailed post on the Ubiblog, it is a fresh start for the series.
Assassin’s Creed Origins releases on October 27, 2017 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It will also be optimized for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.
We list 5 important aspects of the game.
The setting: Ancient Egypt with a diverse landscape
The game director of AC: Origins is Ashraf Ismail, who was already responsible for the development of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. He has experience in creating large open worlds. This time, however, the adventure takes place not in the Caribbean like in Black Flag, but in ancient Egypt.
According to Ismail, there will be a massive open world in Origins. You will not only find a city but a complete country with multiple cities, villages, and exotic landscapes.
In ancient Egypt, you shouldn’t just think of deserts, but also of Nile deltas, rivers and lakes, oases, and the Mediterranean Sea. From lush fauna to dry deserts, everything is included. Pyramids and forgotten tombs, which you can explore, play an important role.
However, ancient Egypt is not just about landscapes but also about the people living within it. The NPCs are said to have a realistic daily routine in the game. They live their lives in this world – including working, sleeping, eating, and even “peeing.” They have a day-night cycle.
As known from previous AC parts, there will also be viewpoints scattered throughout the world in Origins, which you can climb to synchronize the map. This reveals potential quests and the viewpoints also serve as fast travel locations.
Besides fast travel options, you will find horses, camels, or even chariots to move faster in the world.
For the first time in Assassin’s Creed, players can seamlessly dive into underwater worlds to explore wrecks or underwater ruins. In one lake, for example, there is said to be the sunken temple of Pnepheros.
On your journey through ancient Egypt, you must fear not only humans but also the wildlife. Near lakes, for example, there are crocodiles or hippos that will aggressively attack you.
The new combat system
The protagonist is named Bayek, who has more abilities than the future Assassins.
The new combats are meant to be more dynamic, direct, and aggressive than in previous AC games. In close combat, Bayek uses attack combos, he can dodge enemy attacks, or he sneaks up on them and kills them stealthily. He also has ranged weapons like bows and arrows at his disposal.
Enemies in Origins are said to attack ruthlessly, making the dodge button particularly useful. Otherwise, you have a shield with which you can block attacks. If you are surrounded by enemies, you can use a smoke bomb to incapacitate the enemies briefly and reposition yourself.
In terms of gameplay, it is important to familiarize yourself with each weapon, so that you learn how it behaves in combat and what kind of character you have. Not only to master your own weapons better but also to better estimate the behavior of the enemies.
Bayek can perform quick, light attacks with which you can deal well with most weaker enemies. In addition, he has slow, heavy attacks that can break shields and stagger opponents.
At the bottom of the screen, there is a “Adrenaline Bar” during combat. This fills up during the fight. Depending on the weapon, you can unleash a devastating “Overpower Attack” or you go into a frenzy, becoming faster, stronger, and more resistant to damage when you unleash the adrenaline.
Melee weapons include regular swords, sickle-shaped swords, heavy clubs, scepters, spears, and other weapons. Bayek can also strike with his bare fists.
According to Ismail, some weapons are more effective against certain enemies than others. Heavy weapons are better suited against armored enemies. However, these are too slow against enemies that dodge quickly.
With ranged weapons, you can not only shoot enemies from a distance but also shoot cages of trapped lions or other wildlife. These then cause chaos that you can turn to your advantage. Arrows can also be ignited to start a fire from a distance, which also helps to distract.
In Assassin’s Creed Origins, you will encounter several boss enemies, such as “elite fighters” or “strange creatures.” To defeat these, it is necessary to master the various weapons and abilities of Bayek.
An assassin has a lot to offer
Bayek is no ordinary warrior. He has several tricks and abilities up his sleeve. His most important tool is the hidden blade, which has been a staple in every AC installment. Bayek is said to acquire this during the story.
However, he has more tools that can be upgraded during the journey through ancient Egypt. The gear starts at level 1. With upgrades, you can increase the stats and change the appearance. There is said to be an extensive RPG progression system.
Bayek can use tranquilizer arrows to temporarily disable enemies or tame animals. These animals, like lions or hippos, will then loyally follow you into battle. Additionally, you will gradually find fire bombs, poison bombs, traps, and many other items to assist you in combat.
You unlock Bayek’s abilities in a skill tree. This consists of three categories:
- Hunter: Skills to attack stealthily and lethally from a distance
- Warrior: Skills for close combat
- Seer: Here you unlock the tools for Assassins and the ability to tame animals
Quests and eagle support
Without Senu, nothing works in Origins. Senu is Bayek’s eagle, through whose eyes he can see. Thus, you can explore the area from above and mark targets.
Senu is so important because there is no minimap. You must inspect the areas yourself and set the objectives and waypoints.
In the quests, you now have more freedom than before. You are not sent from point A to point B in the story, but can decide when to pursue a new goal. If you deviate from the “intended” path, there is no desynchronization.
The beginnings of the Brotherhood
Bayek is the last of the Medjay, a group of warriors who served the Pharaohs as agents for hundreds of years. They protected the cities and the temples from threats.
In his hometown of Siwa, Bayek is regarded as a hero, but in the rest of Egypt, where the influence of the Greek Ptolemies is stronger, the power holders see him as nothing more than an inconvenient relic of the past. Because the Medjay are no longer needed, as the rulers are no longer the Pharaohs.
But Bayek remains steadfast in his mission, believing that the Egyptian gods will help him. His story leads to the founding of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Gameplay material for Assassin’s Creed Origins can be found here.
