Assassin’s Creed: Origins is the tenth mainline iteration in the aging series. 2015’s lukewarm Syndicate and the 2014 disaster that was Unity proved enough of a wake-up call for Ubisoft to take action and course-correct.. Origins takes on the hefty task of trying to explain the history and creation of the Creed as well as protagonist  Bayek’s own quest to avenge the murder of his son by a mysterious masked cult of killers . For long time players, Abstergo’s presence in the game is noticeably scaled back, so fans of the Sci-Fi angle and modern world sections might be disappointed.

For a game touted as a reinvention of the series, the biggest disappointment has to be the new leveling system. While it encourages crafting and side quests, it quickly becomes tedious when you’re forced into grinding to keep the main quest going. Quests, weapons and enemies all have a level denoting their  difficulty. It’s very frustrating to find yourself unable to stealthily take out a fort because your level is below the requirement.

Assassins Creed: Origins certainly showcases the strength of the series. The timeline challenges itself by going further back in time than ever before while still maintaining a historically heavy narrative that strengthens the plot. Egypt is a breath of fresh air for the game’s setting. Virtual tourism has never looked so satisfying as you climb the pyramids of Giza or sneak into the Library of Alexandria. Stunningly rendered and a wide open world to explore, the game has countless hours of content in the  post game, enticing you to explore the land further and discover side quests along the way. The storyline is a strong addition to the series, Bayek is a compelling character and his passionate relationship with his wife Aya is charming. Their divergent paths when dealing with their son’s death is heartfelt. Not to mention the joy of seeing historical figures such as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar spotlighted.

Assassins Creed: Origins certainly has ambitious goals.. While not all of them are fully achieved, the game is still a quality story and gaming experience. An obvious amount of passion was put into the project and that’s something the series desperately needed. Assassins Creed needed to feel fun again and Origins delivers.

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