A few days before the official release ofAssassin's Creed Origins on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, a multitude of new features have been observed through the many gameplay and articles published: the game could well mark the turning point long awaited by fans of the saga.
Image credit: Ubisoft
A new universe
This year, Ubisoft immerses players in the heart of theAncient Egypt. as the year 49 BC to be completely accurate. In this new universe, the developers have worked hard to offer us a rich and complete gaming experience. Indeed, even when browsing long deserts looking for pyramids or ancient ruins, you will not be safe from crossing the path of a group of robbers, or even that ofdynamic events (rain of beetles, etc...). The fauna is also varied, and will allow you to meet as many harmless animal species only wild animals ready to make you their meal.
Dance Origins a mixture of Egyptian and Roman cultures was operated on and as a result many iconic characters will be part of the history of the game. Thus during your adventure, you will cross the path of Cleopatra et Julius Caesar for example, who are two very emblematic figures characterizing Egyptian and Roman culture.
Image credit: Ubisoft
A new main character
In Assassin's Creed Origins, you will embody the so-called Bayek. Last representative of Medjay, an ancestral line of protectors of the kingdom, Bayek is an outstanding fighter who was forced to abandon his land, and who is now embarked on a quest for both identity and revenge against those responsible for his misfortune. His adventure will also lead to the creation of the Brotherhood of Assassins.
Presentation video of Bayek and his lineage, the Medjay (Ubisoft US)
An assumed RPG: new skills and rarity of weapons
Unlike the two previous opuses which used the RPG style quite timidly, Assassin's Creed Origins he assumes it completely. Indeed the progression of your character is done through levels that will increase your stats (damage, life etc..), except that this time the enemies too, which actually influences their strength and combat resistance. Indeed, if the levels of the enemies you face are similar to yours, then the fight will be fair. On the other hand, if the level of the enemies is much higher than yours, then the fight will be much more difficult to tackle and may even prove to be unbalanced if the gap is too large. Enemy levels will also allow them to survive your sneak attacks where sometimes even counter it while inflicting damage.
Therefore the skill tree is still in the game but has been worked on better than in previous years. For example, it will be necessary toupgrade your secret blade if you don't want to have a bad surprise by trying to assassinate an enemy by surprise. So we can see the tree divide into three branches of specific skills defining the style of play you want to promote. It is therefore up to you to choose the skills that suit you the most.
Skill tree from AC Origins (Image credit: Ubisoft)
Your poor will also have levels but alsoa rarity index (legendary weapon, rare etc...). The rarer your weapon, the more likely it will be to have bonus such as damage bonuses when you are in stealth mode or even as a bonus that restores your life for each enemy killed. Each weapon can be bought or picked up on the body of an enemy who will reveal a weapon with random effects (weapon applying poison to its target for example).
Furthermore coffers containing equipment will be hidden all over the map, you will also be able to to forge equipment,improve or to find a merchant to buy it. From scrolls leading you to puzzles that will allow you to unlock equipment will also be hidden around the world.
Character inventory showing the stats of a legendary weapon (Image credit: Ubisoft)
Le new quest system also develops the aspect RPG, which makes the world alive and rich like The Witcher 3 does. So you will be able to chat with someone even if that person has no quests for you, then the main quests can be followed in the order that please since according to the developers, no quest will be alike. Side quests are now an integral part of the game since they are also affected by these changes which mean that each of them will also have a unique plot.
Improved artificial intelligence
In recent years on Assassin's Creed, the artificial intelligence really left something to be desired. Indeed, enemies could be right next to you without spotting you, or on the contrary, spotting you even though you were properly hidden and therefore undetectable.
Image credit: Ubisoft
This is why on Origins, the artificial intelligence has been reworked, and according to the various gameplay videos that have been released, it seems to be more efficient and realistic than in previous years but without being perfect. Moreover, if you are hidden in a bush or any other vegetation, you will not be no longer completely invisible in the eyes of the enemy and they can still find you after some intensive research. Some problems concerning it could have been noticed by some players during the various test phases, but since the test phases make it possible to identify the problems, these have therefore been able to be resolved since.
This system does not only concern hostile characters, since it also concerns villagers and animals. Each entity has its own conscience, which will sometimes lead you to meet bandits in the middle of transporting goods or in the middle of kidnapping, for example.
A revamped combat system
One of the biggest novelties on this Assassin's Creed is the battle system. Each weapon now has its own weight, for an gameplay style being specific to it and therefore damages corresponding to his style of play (for example a two-handed ax will do much more damage than a one-handed sword, but your attack speed will be lower).
Image credit: Ubisoft
Finished the secret blade that necessarily kills all enemies in one fell swoop, since now the levels greatly influence the life of each character. Another change, now the enemies do not wait nicely their turn to attack you and now attack you all at the same time.
real bossAs giant snake, are also appearing on AC Origins. Indeed the bosses will have much higher statistics than the other enemies and will have unique and explosive play styles.
Assassin's Creed Origins Combat System Overview (IGN)
Realistic infiltration
Public chat Assassin's Creed Origins infiltration promises to offer a much wider range of possibilities than in previous episodes of the saga. Indeed many new features appear on Origins, such as the eagle of Bayek. It will allow you to fly over the places of a mission in order to better approach a military camp for example.
Image credit: Ubisoft
You will now also be able to scroll through time in order to besiege a base at night, which will cause many soldiers to fall into a deep sleep, making it easier for you to assault the base in question. In places annexed by soldiers or brigands, cages in which wild animals will be found will sometimes be present. You will then be able to break the door of the cage in question in order to free, for example, a lion and distract the soldiers present in this camp, just like in FarCry.
Many other new features are also included, such as the possibility of triggering the alarm attracting reinforcements to a military base (just ignite one of your arrows and ignite the alarm signal), or the possibility of set on fire in an encampment to occupy the guards.
Horde: fight in the arena
Un new game mode will appear at the beginning of 2018, the mode Horde (the Gladiator arena). In this game mode you will find yourself alone in a gladiator arena facing endless waves of enemies. You will be able to compare your score with those of your friends but you will also be able to challenge them.
Origins Horde Mode Preview (IGN)
Photograph your Egypt
Dance Assassin's Creed Origins, you will be able to immortalize every moment of your adventure by Ancient Egypt. With the Mode Photo, you can freeze time, rewind, change the camera angle and even apply a filter to your photo! In short, what choices to follow Bayek and the creation of the Assassins.
Image credit: Ubisoft
The Discovery Tour, a new educational mode
On the new Assassin's Creed a brand new educational mode will be released by February 2018, and it is the Discovery Tour. Discovery Tours are guided tours on several themes that have marked history and in which the gameplay overlay has been removed. These Discovery Tours are written in partnership with Egyptologists and each of them will last approximately twenty minutes.
Image credit: Ubisoft
As a reminder, Assassin's Creed Origins will be available from October 27 and will allow you to browse Ancient Egypt on PC, PS4 and ONE.
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