Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec, Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Price: $59.99
Genre: Action, RPG
Also Available On: Steam, XB1
Ubisoft's Assassins's Creed is, without a doubt, one of their most profitable video game franchises to date. What started off back in 2007 as an unknown title in the stealth/exploration genre has grown into a well-loved and influential series. And, as with all things, wisdom accompanies age; the franchise has seen fit to evolve with each new release, adding in newer and better features and, in the process, highlighting parts that hitherto made it enjoyable. Meanwhile, core aspects, including exploration and freeform design, have remained unchanged even with tweaks to approach and presentation.
As the latest entry in the series, Assassin's Creed Odyssey features an independent storyline set in Greece during the Peloponnesian war. Players control either Alexios or Kassandra, mercenaries from the island of Cephalonia who find themselves slowly entangled in a conspiracy of lies and deceit. Embroiled in a war spanning the country’s entirety while challenged by a mysterious cult out to end their lives and those of their loved ones, they become compelled to use whatever means necessary to survive. In so doing, they craft, forge, and upgrade weapons, learn new skills, and travel across lands on foot or by sea, all while seeking to unite their family and expose and overcome the cult’s designs.
At heart, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is all about the journey, and it shows through the slow ramp-up of its story. Starting off on a small, secluded island, the chosen protagonist sets sail away from its shores and discovers a rich and bountiful land waiting to be discovered. Various landmarks, cities, and tombs dot the new world, offering a wide variety of rewards and often exuding a Tomb Raider-esque vibe during exploration. The main characters are able to climb, and cling to, practically every surface, making movement a breeze, not a chore. A new undiscovered point of interest is always another place to discover, another dungeon to explore, and another city to mark on the map.
Naturally, threats abound, and the main protagonists are more than prepared to take their measure. Armed with the Spear of Leonidas and combined with their natural agility, they are able to take down opponents through either stealth or combat. The former is brutally effective, often leading to situations where most opponents are put down with one strike. With later skills giving access to things such chain kills, poison attacks, and stuns, it becomes a vital tool when faced with multiple opponents.
That said, direct combat is no less effective in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. With a wide variety of weapons — from swords to daggers to tridents — on hand, and with the main characters boasting of unique skills and move sets and skills, players won’t be hard-pressed to fall back on blades if need be. Then, too, they can rely on their bow to gain a significant edge, engaging foes in long range and picking them off or even pulling out of sight to reengage under superior terms.
Parenthetically, it’s the wealth of options on offer that makes Assassin’s Creed Odyssey stand out. It doesn’t hold players’ hands; rather, it engages them right from the get-go. There’s a tutorial for their bearings to be set; after that, however, they’re left to fend for themselves, free to drive the narrative as they please and at their pace. Keen on tackling side quest after side quest? No problem. Partial to furthering the plot as quickly as possible? Sure. Amid the myriad options are such worthy diversions as ship combat, gear crafting, mercenary hunting, and conquest battles.
True, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey can be repetitive and feel recycled. For all its abundance of charm, a few options carry less potential to keep players engaged. For instance, hardly any side quests have actual impact on the main story, and while attempts have been made to make the players’ choices while on one more relevant, the design does tend to fall flat on its face in the grand scheme of things. The emphasis on quantity comes at the expense of quality, likewise evident in the grinding required to advance. Even as it specifies reasonable triggers for leveling up early on, it becomes progressively difficult to the point of being unfair; at some point, clearing entire areas of side objectives becomes necessary to gain the experience required for advancement.
Nonetheless, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey manages to acquit itself well en route to underscoring its status as the best game in the series to date, with much to offer to old and new fans alike. With its revamped combat system and fun exploration mechanics, it figures to have legs, slated to last far longer than other titles in the series did. Highly recommended.
THE GOOD
- Beautiful graphics and fluid gameplay, exhibiting consistent framerates at all times
- Fair amount of customization options on offer, with stealth, melee and ranged combat all being viable choices
- Massive landscape, with myriad places to discover and foes to conquer
THE BAD
- Leveling up requires grinding and makes tasks cumbersome
- Gameplay loop can become apparent, with places and locations feeling similar in design and content after a few hours in
- Choices within side quests and outside of the main story do not matter in the grand scheme of things
RATING: 8.5/10
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