Combat Has Completely Changed
A lot has changed for the Assassin’s Creed franchise since its last release two years ago. A variety of elements have either been completely altered or built anew from the ground up, in fact, ranging from combat, exploration, incorporation of RPG elements, and more. Here’s a condensed look at everything that’s changed in Assassin’s Creed Origins, and here’s hoping that these welcome additions become a mainstay for the series.
The Batman: Arkham Asylum-esque free-form combat that was once a given in every Assassin’s Creed title can no longer be found in Origins, as protagonist Bayek controls much like a knight would in Dark Souls. Attacks are much slower and should be given thought before executing, as enemies are much smarter and could potentially be a higher level than the player. They live on the right bumper and trigger while defenses live on the left trigger, meaning players will have to keep a diligent eye on every attacker lest Bayek dies from a barrage of arrows. Enemies do indeed all fight at once, though thankfully dodge and roll features can be used to quickly get out the way.
A variety of weapons provides a plethora of unique fighting styles to use too. From swords and spears to arrows and tridents, Origins forces the player to mix up their gameplay experience as new enemies are thrown their way. The hidden blade can no longer be used for every execution, even, as some foes are ineffective to it. There are bosses to defeat in Origins, by the way, each one posing a unique challenge that the player must figure out how to get around. Should one be brave enough to face even tougher opposition, there’s also The Arena that pits Bayek against different feats like waves of hordes or one-on-one showdowns.
It’s important to note that stealth isn’t as emphasized as in the past here, despite this being a game about assassins. There are still assassination missions to be found, of course, which force the player to sneak in shadows or hide in bushes until the coast is clear, but picking off enemies from a distance is very possible too. The point is that Assassin’s Creed Origins gives players a lot of freedom in the type of combat they wish to execute, making for a versatile, satisfying experience no matter one’s preference.
