It’s been a decade since Ubisoft first introduced us to the world of conspiracy and clandestine corporations in Assassin’s Creed, so it’s only fitting that their latest entry – Origins – would take us back to the very beginning to see how it all began amidst the sun-bleached backdrop of Ancient Egypt.

Where most Assassin’s Creed games follow a familiar template, Origins hopes to be different, and in many ways, it succeeds. Nowhere is this more evident than in the first few hours of the game when you’re introduced to Bayek, the game’s stalwart protagonist, in the aftermath of his most recent assassination.

As if to directly contrast the tropes of previous entries, Origins opts to skip past the traumatic event that causes its own protagonist to seek murderous revenge. Instead, it chooses to dive straight into the fray – only to fill in the blanks as you work your way through the list of targets in an effort to expedite the introduction and usher you straight into the world.

And what a world it is too. Sprawling dunes give way to pockets of life scattered across the scorching sands, and while the sheer scope of the game world can be overwhelming at first, there’s rarely a moment when you don’t discover something new hiding behind the peak of the next hill – be it a stunning vista or bustling settlement waiting to be explored.

The most significant departure to the series Origins brings is the changes made to its combat and progression systems. Assassin’s Creed games have been slowly slipping in the sense of gear upgrades and character stats for a while, but they play a much more important role in your effectiveness now.

For example, stealth assassinations are no longer guaranteed to be an instant kill against enemies that are a few levels or more higher than you and attempting to fight these opponents head-on will almost certainly leave you lying face down on the ground. The only way around this is to upgrade your gear with crafting materials, acquire higher level weapons, and obtain more experience by completing side quests and odd jobs whenever you find them.

The days of massive, sprawling duels with legions of guards are gone too. The familiar free-flow combat system of the previous games has been ditched in favour of something more immediate and reminiscent of a typical action-RPG. Enemies will not patiently wait their turn to attack you and it’s very easy to become overwhelmed when fighting against a large group as you assault your foes with either light or heavy attacks.

It’s clear that Origins is a new breed of Assassin’s Creed. After ten years of familiarity, the introduction of new mechanics breathes life into a formula that was beginning to stagnate. At the same time, however, these new additions create some problems all on their own.

The new progression system forces you to ensure that you’re keeping up the pace with your gear and weapon upgrades, often creating an artificial barrier that forces you to complete sidequests and menial tasks that previous entries were more than happy for you to skip. The new combat mechanics can also feel clunky and unresponsive at times too, especially when you get hit by attacks that you’ve already dodged.

Look past these minor teething problems, though, and you’ll find a refreshing new take on the Assassin’s Creed formula that is an absolute joy to get lost in.

Reviewed by Andy Moore

INFO
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release: Out Now
Formats: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Price (RRP): £49.99