"Assassin's Creed: Origins" is one of the most highly anticipated games still to be released this year. After deciding to take a break from the franchise, mostly due to the messy launch of "Unity" and the underperforming "Syndicate," Ubisoft is back with what is shaping up to be a worthwhile entry in the long-running series.
A game which already promised to shake things up for the stagnant franchise, the announcement of a new exploration mode is a welcome surprise.
Not about the story
Ever since "Assassin's Creed II," fans have loved to explore the vast and often authentic worlds created by Ubisoft Montreal.
As the series has always been story and action driven, there are precious few moments which allow the player to explore the environment without triggering some mission or encounter. The developers put in a lot of effort and time to recreate these historical environments, so it is a fantastic idea to allow us to explore them without any distractions.
"Discovery Tour Mode" features no story, combat, or even a time limit. It exists just to allow players to travel the various areas and engage in some sightseeing. There is not too much information on what is set to be included, although the priority seems to be education. It is not a case of the world being emptied to allow the main character to travel without conflict, as actual historians were brought in to organize guided tours.
"Assassin's Creed: Origins" is already looking like a fantastic game, but this really adds a whole new dimension to proceedings. The fact it will be free suggests that Ubisoft is not too considered with profit and genuinely want to provide an educational experience.
The base game
This new mode is all well and good, but the question remains whether "Assassin's Creed: Origins" will be worth the money.
Set to be available from October 27, previews have been encouraging, although we won't know for sure until the full game is released.
While "Syndicate" fixed most of the issues with its predecessor "Unity," which is now infamous due to a number of hilarious bugs included at launch, it still sold rather poorly. "Origins" might be the most important entry in the franchise, as it needs to knock it out of the park.
The series might not survive another disappointment. The combat is completely reworked, with a heavier focus on fluidity and challenge. Players can string combos, rather just button mashing their way to victory
