Friday 26 / April / 2024
Assassins’ Creed is back, and you’d be forgiven for being excited to play their latest game. It is, after all, set in ancient Greece.
Home to the founders of democracy, theatre, healthcare, science, mathematics and so much more that we take for granted in the modern world, Assassins Creed Odyssey is rooted in the foundations of the birthplace of civilisation, and takes place during the Peloponnesian Wars, the series of long-running conflicts between the city-states of Athens and Sparta from 431 to 404 BC.
Assassins Creed Odyssey is now available to play and download on PCs and consoles, and is the latest game in the Assassins Creed franchise.
Players in questions are in for a treat when they start playing the game, as they are thrown straight into the action of the war, which shaped the course of Greek history for centuries to come, and take on the role of a mercenary – named either Alexios or Kassandra, depending on the gender you pick –paid to fight for either the Athenian Navy, or the Spartan Army, after the player’s father left them for dead.
Recruited as a mercenary, the player, who was raised in Sparta by a family that was descended from the bloodline of the great Spartan King Leonidas, inheriting his famed spear in the process, until a prophecy from the Spartan Oracle prophesied that sacrificing the child was for the good of all of Sparta. Thrown off the cliff by Nikolaos, the player’s father, the player survives the fall and escapes to the island of Cephalonia, where he is known as the ‘Misthios’.
On coming of age, the Misthios travels all over Greece to find and reunite their family, a journey that takes him to the great Oracle at Delphi, who warns him about the cult of Kosmos, a secretive organisation that wants to kill the Misthios’ family because of their political connections, and pin the blame on either the Athenians or the Spartans, depending on whichever faction is easiest to frame at the time, thereby prolonging the war, allowing them to profit from it. Guess some things never change.
The Misthios’ key weapon in Assassins Creed Odyssey is the Spear of Leonidas, a powerful artefact that grants him special powers to give players an advantage over even the deadliest of foes. In addition, the pre-existing ability tree that was present in previous Assassins Creed games has been replaced by a three-tiered setup that players can access.
Those who prefer outright combat are sure to choose skills from within the ‘warrior’ branch of the skill tree, while the archer in you is likely to select feats from the ‘hunter’ class. In keeping with the spirit of the game, which prioritises stealth over strength, the ‘assassin’ class is also available for the Misthios to access.
Game designers Ubisoft have ensured players are provided a thoroughly immersive game experience. Their versions of the ancient Greek city-states, complete with open-air agorae, fluted marble columns and stunning marble architecture, are a joy to explore, with the return of warships allowing Alexios and Kassandra to explore the Aegean and accept military contracts for either the Athenians or the Spartans, thereby altering the influence they have in the immediate region.
Players would also be wise to choose their armour carefully – each piece brings with it certain advantages that another set may not have, as they explore the vast, varied landscape of the Greek city states. A number of areas are available for exploration, including the Agora of Athens, the isle of Cephalonia, Ithaca, the birthplace of the legendary Odysseus, the Odeon of Athens, the Foloi oak forest, Olympia, the setting of the ancient Olympic games, as well as renditions of several ancient cities, including Naxos, Lesbos, Argolis, Pnyx, Phocis, Sparta and of course, Athens.
All in all, Assassins Creed Odyssey is a game that brings back the best of what made the game so good – a land that you wanted to explore, while keeping the gameplay fresh, fun and exciting – and merges it well with newer gameplay options that players want to see, an important aspect in the growth of any videogame series.
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The Short and Skinny
Name: Assassins Creed Odyssey
Genre: Action RPG
Produced by: Ubisoft
What it’s about: The latest game in the Assassins Creed franchise, Odyssey takes us to ancient Greece, where the servants of light must once again contain dark forces that threaten to upset the balance of the world
Where to buy: Steam Store, Ubisoft Store, G2A Games, Microsoft Store, Xbox Marketplace, PlayStation Store
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo
IGN Rating: 9.2/10
