Assassin's Creed: Origins Review for PC

System: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Dev: Ubisoft Montreal
Pub: Ubisoft
Release: October 27, 2017
Players: 1 Player
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p	Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol

The slice of Egypt is loaded with sandstone and beige hues, but the landscape is far from barren. Ancient monuments cover the map, as do bustling villages and wildlife-infested islands. The sandy colors make the green oasis patches all the more vibrant, and the attention to detail is astounding. With a daily cycle delivering a plethora of lighting effects and the shadows of tombs instilling claustrophobia, there’s visually very little to complain about. Apart from the pyramids in Giza, the structures don’t have the verticality of past Assassin’s Creed games, but it’s still a far cry more interesting than the dull and congested streets of Paris and London. The only distortion, as with every open-world game, comes from animation glitches. I’ve seen rats suspended in midair, body parts disappear through walls, and an NPC that doesn’t trigger a quest related conversation now and then, but nothing that has affected gameplay in any serious fashion.

Assassin's Creed: Origins Screenshot

The musical score is also brilliantly composed, and feels authentic to the period, highlighting ancient instruments and leaning heavily on the Phrygian dominant scale that is typical of the Egyptian locale. It’s a bit over-cinematic at times, but finds a good balance between moments of heightened tension and the myriad of occasions where it’s just you and nature, letting the environmental ambience play in the foreground. From the clashes of metal in combat to the groans of a camel while riding, the superb voice acting, and all the Assassin’s Creed signature synchronization effects, the entire audio team deserves applause for near flawless execution.

Assassin’s Creed is one the greatest action-adventure franchises out there, though its hidden blades have been dulled of late from overexposure. After its brief sabbatical, Assassin’s Creed: Origins enters the arena glistening in the Egyptian sun with quality and quantity. Whether you’re a devout member of the Creed, someone who’s fallen off the hay wagon, or even a prospective new member of the Brotherhood, this is the time to dig your blade deep into a succulent new Assassin’s Creed.

By
Sean Engemann
Senior Contributing Writer
Date: 10/27/2017

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

4.6

Graphics
Egypt has never looked more lush, beautiful, and alive then in Origins. A few expected visual glitches are present, but otherwise the world is flawless.

4.4

Control
The hit-box system is a more competitive and visceral experience than past Assassin’s Creed games. Bayek moves fairly effortlessly around the Egyptian paradise. But what’s the deal with the manual menu cursor?

4.7

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The music score may get a touch too excitable at times, but otherwise it finds a good balance between the action and the interludes. The effects and voice acting are top notch.

4.5

Play Value
Some form of multiplayer would have been nice, but as a single-player affair, hundreds of wonderful hours can be lost here without a shred of boredom.

4.5

Overall Rating - Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	3.5 - 3.9 = Good	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair	4.0 - 4.4 = Great	5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

THE MYSTERIES OF ANCIENT EGYPT - Discover lost tombs, the Great Pyramids, mummies, and the gods.

AN ORIGIN STORY - Start at the beginning and uncover the origin story of the Assassin's Brotherhood.

ALL-NEW COMBAT - Experience new combat mechanics and use powerful weapons to take down epic enemies.

MEANINGFUL QUESTS - Play intense stories with impactful objectives at your own pace.

EXPLORE A FULL COUNTRY - In busy cities and down the Nile, you'll never run out of things to do.