Assassin’s Creed Origins Review: A Revitalizing Addition

After a two-year hiatus that felt interminable, Assassin’s Creed returns, plunging us into the captivating world of ancient Egypt. Traverse pyramids, oases, and historic forts as Bayek of Siwa seeks vengeance in the franchise’s impressive tenth installment. As a member of the Egyptian Brotherhood during Cleopatra VII’s reign, you’ll pursue corrupt leaders in this action-packed adventure from Ubisoft Montreal, the same team behind the acclaimed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

All previous Assassin’s Creed games released annually, except this one, granting the development team an extra year to address franchise issues and revise strategy. The extended break appears fruitful, as the team effectively reimagines the game from scratch. Ubisoft potentially delivers one of its finest installments in recent memory, evident from my 30-hour gameplay experience. This improvement is crucial, given the franchise’s declining appeal due to repetitive elements. For those considering the $60 purchase, delve into the comprehensive review of Assassin’s Creed Origins:

Gameplay

Let’s delve into our detailed review of Assassin’s Creed Origins, starting with gameplay. Ubisoft is renowned for its open-world games, evident in titles like Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, Watch Dogs 2, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and Far Cry 4. Assassin’s Creed Origins continues this trend, immersing players in the vast world of ancient Egypt. While many associate ancient Egypt with the Pyramids, Ubisoft’s meticulous attention to detail in crafting diverse environments with unique architecture truly sets this title apart.

Assassin’s Creed Origins features 24 main story quests and over 60 side quests. It took me around 30 hours to complete the game, but I didn’t rush or complete all side quests. Instead, I took a casual approach. Completing the story may be faster on the lowest difficulty, but the side quests are engaging enough. Besides missions, you can freely explore all areas of the game without getting tired of it.

Assassin’s Creed Origins draws inspiration from its predecessors, notably featuring naval combat akin to Black Flag. Additionally, the Gladiator Arena battles and the ability to gather clues for solving mysteries were particularly enjoyable. Fans of infiltrating forts in past games will find this installment equally satisfying, offering the choice between stealth and combat approaches. The game’s strength lies in its mission design, surpassing previous entries in the series.

Movement in Origins feels notably swifter than in previous titles, whether on foot or aboard a rowboat, perhaps to accommodate the expansive world design. Despite the increased speed, stealth mechanics remain reminiscent of prior games, including familiar enemy alertness patterns and the option to hide in bushes and utilize sleeping or poison darts. Player control is generally responsive, with Bayek’s movements typically aligning well with player input. Notably, the traditional Eagle Vision has been replaced; players now utilize an eagle named Senu to scout enemy locations, foregoing the ability to see through walls instantly.

Combat mechanics have undergone significant changes, requiring some adjustment. It feels faster and more engaging, allowing you to parry, block, and dodge enemy attacks. Moreover, Bayek executes special finishing moves that are immensely satisfying to watch. When facing multiple enemies, you can choose to lock onto one and eliminate them individually, a feature that may polarize players. Ability upgrades are divided into three categories: Hunter, Warrior, and Seer, yet you’re not restricted to just one. By completing quests, you can unlock all abilities using earned skill points. For those favoring brute force, hunter abilities prove useful, while archery enthusiasts will appreciate the hunter class. Seer abilities leverage various tools like smokescreens and sleeping darts to your advantage.

Regarding the looting system, Assassin’s Creed Origins implements microtransactions. You can purchase in-game currency, ability points, reveal maps, and buy crafting materials with Helix credits, which are only available for real money. This makes it a “pay-to-win” game if you prefer not to complete side quests or hunt animals for credits. Personally, I dislike microtransactions in games, and I’m sure many of you do too, as they detract from the overall experience. However, if you don’t want to spend cash on Helix credits, you’ll need to grind through the game to obtain what you need.

Visual Fidelity

Assassin’s Creed Origins excels in graphical fidelity. Powered by Ubisoft Montreal’s AnvilNext 2.0 Engine, it’s the best-looking game in the series to date. You’ll find breathtaking foliage, impressive draw distances, vibrant colors, and a variety of effects for visual appeal. Whether you’re on PC, Xbox One X, or PS4, the game is stunning. Visually, it’s similar to Ubisoft’s recent open-world games like Watch Dogs 2 and Ghost Recon Wildlands, especially in terms of 3D models. The world design stands out, with seamless connections between areas despite its large size. Each city offers diversity not only in infrastructure and environment but also in race relations, culture, and guard appearance.

Enhanced Audio Experience

Sound quality matches graphical fidelity in Assassin’s Creed Origins, impressively enhancing gameplay. The wide channel separation aids engagement, allowing you to discern distant animal threats amidst exploration. This immersive soundscape precisely locates enemies, eliminating the need to turn around. Character accents, while not perfect, add realism. Background music, though generally pleasant, occasionally fades into silence, noticeable only when action disrupts the tranquility.

Performance

Let’s delve into performance, starting with console versions. Ubisoft employs dynamic resolution scaling across all consoles, including the Xbox One X. The original PS4 generally runs at 1080p, with occasional drops during intense scenes. Conversely, the original Xbox One utilizes more aggressive scaling, typically operating at 900p but occasionally dipping to 792p or 864p. Both maintain a stable 30 fps during gameplay, with occasional drops during combat or crowded areas.

For 4K-capable consoles, Ubisoft achieves 4K/30 fps on both the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro, though not at native 4K. Dynamic resolution scaling, akin to standard consoles, results in varying resolutions during demanding scenes. The PS4 Pro ranges from 1350p to 1584p, employing checkerboard rendering to hit the 4K target. The Xbox One X, being more powerful, is expected to maintain higher resolutions at 30 fps. We’ll confirm this upon receiving the Xbox One X next month.

Regardless of your console, Assassin’s Creed Origins shines brightest on a high-end gaming PC. With an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, an Intel Core i7-8700K processor, and 16 GB of RAM, you can enjoy smooth gameplay at 1080p/60 fps with maximum graphics settings. I tested the game on my Alienware 15 R3 laptop equipped with a GTX 1070, i7-7700 HQ, and 16 GB of RAM. While it consistently maintained 60 fps, it occasionally dropped to 50 or 45 during intense scenes. Although a GTX 1060 can achieve similar performance, you’ll need to lower graphics settings from “Ultra” to “High”. Alternatively, for 4K gaming, a rig with a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is essential.

Gladly, Ubisoft has made efforts to optimize the game this time, yet there’s ample room for further improvement. I’ve encountered situations where my character gets stuck between obstacles, and audio becomes muted, along with other bugs typical of previous Assassin’s Creed games. These issues are expected to be addressed in future software patches.

Pricing and Availability

Assassin’s Creed Origins is available digitally on Steam, Uplay, Amazon, and other online stores. Physical discs are also sold at retail stores like Best Buy or GameStop. The game offers Standard, Deluxe, and Gold editions. The Standard edition, priced at $59.99, includes the base game. The $69.99 Deluxe edition includes the Ambush at Sea mission and the Desert Cobra pack containing 1 outfit, 2 legendary weapons, 1 legendary shield, and 1 mount. It also provides 3 ability points for in-game upgrades. The Gold Edition, priced at $99.99, includes all Deluxe edition perks plus the Season Pass, granting access to future DLCs. If you’ve purchased the Standard Edition by mistake, you can separately buy the Season Pass and Deluxe Pack for $39.99 and $9.99 respectively.

System Requirements

Hardware requirements could be the deciding factor for purchasing the game. This section caters to PC users; console users may skip it. Let’s explore the minimum and recommended system requirements for playing Assassin’s Creed Origins on PC:

Minimum Requirements	Recommended Requirements
Operating System	Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10 (64-bit only)
Processor	Intel Core i5-2400s @ 2.5 GHz or AMD FX-6350 @ 3.9 GHz or equivalent	Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.5 GHz or AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0 GHz
Memory	6 GB	8 GB
Graphics Card	NVIDIA GeForce GTX660 or AMD R9 270 (2048 MB VRAM, Shader Model 5.0 or better)	NVIDIA GeForce GTX760 or AMD R9 280X (3GB VRAM, Shader Model 5.0 or better)
DirectX	Version 11	Version 11
Resolution / Graphics Preset	720p / Lowest	1080p / High
Storage Space	50 GB	50 GB

Assassin’s Creed Origins: Worth Buying?

Introduction

Assassin’s Creed Origins, developed by Ubisoft, emerges as a significant entry in the renowned franchise. Its captivating narrative, set in ancient Egypt, offers players an immersive experience unlike any other.

Gameplay

The gameplay mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Origins introduce refreshing changes, providing a seamless blend of exploration, combat, and stealth. The open-world design encourages freedom and discovery, enhancing the overall player experience.

Graphics

Visually stunning, Assassin’s Creed Origins boasts breathtaking landscapes and meticulously crafted details that transport players to the heart of ancient Egypt. The attention to historical accuracy adds depth to the game world, making it both visually appealing and educational.

Storyline

The storyline in Assassin’s Creed Origins is compelling, weaving together elements of history, mythology, and personal drama. Players are drawn into a rich narrative that immerses them in the struggles and triumphs of the protagonist, Bayek.

Replay Value

With its vast open world and myriad of side quests and activities, Assassin’s Creed Origins offers substantial replay value. Players can spend countless hours exploring every corner of ancient Egypt, uncovering hidden secrets and encountering diverse characters along the way.

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Origins stands as a testament to the evolution of the franchise, offering a captivating blend of gameplay, graphics, and storytelling. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or new to the world of Assassin’s Creed, this installment is undoubtedly worth experiencing.

Recent Assassin’s Creed installments lost charm due to repetition. Yet, playing this game reveals Ubisoft’s effort to restore the franchise’s former glory. With revamped combat and stellar world design featuring varied infrastructure, enemies, environment, and culture, Assassin’s Creed Origins offers more than just a new storyline. In my view, this might be the best installment since 2013’s Black Flag, and the two-year wait was worth it. So, what’s your take on Assassin’s Creed Origins? Will you invest in this game? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Buy Assassin’s Creed Origins here.