There Are Now Lots of RPG Elements
Side-quests, loot, and character customization are all indicative of the Assassin’s Creed series finally introducing a host of new RPG elements for fans to mull over. Instead of following one straight story path, Origins encourages players to run around the game’s open world to gain levels before tackling new story missions, as these stages are gated by character level. Side-quests can thereby be initiated by talking to NPCs as in The Witcher 3, with a marker onscreen guiding players to whatever location they need to go to. Gone is the mini-map of old that highlighted dozens of chests and missions in the player’s vicinity, as a quest-based system is now very much in place.
The successful completion of these quests yields various rewards aside from just leveling up Bayek. Whereas in games prior there was never any sense of customization, Origin’s protagonist allows players to upgrade the character depending on their gameplay preference. For example, if one sees him or herself usually applying a stealthy approach when dealing with enemies, he or she can upgrade silent abilities accordingly. The same goes for those who prefer the more straightforward approach, as a host of weapon and armor upgrades are available as well. Skill trees in Origins carry more weight and there’s more incentive to invest carefully than in prior entries, in other words.
Taking a page from another Ubisoft series, crafting also finds a place in the game. Bracers, armor, shields, and more can be upgraded and improved upon from hunting Egypt’s wildlife using a series of simple inventory screens. The wildlife skins required to craft each material is specifically outlined and everything in the way of upgrades is connected and easy to follow. While hunting, players will also acquire plenty of loot and bonuses including enhanced weapons, rare armor, and the ability to heal faster, meaning they’ll constantly find themselves out on the desert sands in search of the newest way to make Bayek even more powerful.