Why Assassin’s Creed Odyssey should be on your Christmas list (if you haven’t picked it up yet)
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which came out in October, has always been one of Ubisoft’s major titles with its tried and tested formula of massive landscapes and compelling plotlines (as well as the adrenaline rush of being an assassin/warrior and carving a path in history)
With year-end sales and Christmas on its way, here are some reasons it should be on your list of games to play if you haven’t picked it up yet. (If you have, here are some reasons why I think it’s been a worthwhile game!)
- You don’t have to learn a new game all over again
AC: Odyssey feels like a continuation of last year’s AC: Origins in terms of how the flow of the game and its mechanics work. For some, it may feel overly familiar but that just means that you’ll be able to pay more attention to the lush landscapes and little nuances in the main story and sidequests, rather than trying to figure out what each button press does. This works well as Odyssey goes further back in time than Origins and delves deeper in the history of the Brotherhood while also showcasing the magnificence of a Greece most would only know from history books.
But it’s not going to be an smooth journey with elements such as the Mercenary System adding more challenge and flavor to the world, as they can be tough to defeat but reward you with nice equipment, and of course, bragging rights.
- It’s like an MMORPG but not
AC: Odyssey is a massive game and with how Ubisoft has structured it, it feels more like a single-player experience within the expansiveness of an MMORPG. The inclusion of daily quests as well as weekly and monthly limited challenges compel you as the player to hop on the game as often as possible.
Of course like all games, there’s always the main storyline that can mark the completion of the game once you get through it (along with the achievements you earn), but the game provides a myriad of reasons, such as the challenges and high replayability like the ship battles, for you to log in daily and continue playing even after the main story, even without purchasing additional DLC.
Of course, like many MMOs these days, which also means that Odyssey comes with micro-transactions to further flesh out your game but these are completely optional, but who can say no to a Pegasus mount? (Disclaimer: It can’t really fly though)
- Love history & mythology? Then it’s the game for you
As a kid, I loved reading about Roman & Greek history and mythology as a way to while my school holidays away. Odyssey brings all of that to the screen and allows you to virtually experience those moments in history (albeit slightly embellished since it is a game) and tour through a fantastic recreation of Greek cities and towns. And it’s definitely one thing to read about the King of Sparta, it’s another to play as him and perform the fabled Spartan Kick on your enemies.
For the fans of the myths and legends, weekly and monthly challenges offer you the chance to take on mythical creatures from Greek lore such as the fabled Cyclops.
- Content that keeps on giving
Ubisoft has promised that there’ll be monthly content updates (both free and for those who bought the DLC) so it’s a great investment for a game that isn’t going to start collecting dust on the shelf after you’ve finished the game once, especially since there won’t be a new Assassin’s Creed game in 2019.
In fact with the November update, the first free Lost Tale of Greece questline presents “The Show Must Go On, which will bring you back to the Battle of 300 where you’ll step into the shoes of an actor playing King Leonidas. It’s up to you whether to stick to the script… or to adapt it to your liking.” And now with the game’s price getting up to a 40% discount in the US (up to 30% in Asia/Singapore) with the upcoming Black Friday sales period, it’s definitely a worthwhile purchase to add to your shelf of excellent games.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey launched on October 5th, 2018 and is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
