Assassin’s Creed Odyssey- The sea breeze carries home and adventure

I still remember launching AC Odyssey for the first time, the menu theme playing in my headphones. I remember how it felt. A mix of excitement, hype and, oddly, comfort.

Assassin’s Creed is a game franchise that most are familiar with one way or another. With its first game being published in 2007, it is safe to say a lot of people have very nostalgic feelings about it. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey came a lot later in the series life, in the fall of 2018. It is part of what is known as the RPG trilogy, which includes both AC Origins (2017) and AC Valhalla (2020). That separates it from most of the previous installment’s gameplay-wise but still keeps the overarching theme that ties the series together.

To put it simply, AC Odyssey is an open world game with RPG elements and a central narrative. It is also much more than that. In the beginning, you are given the choice between two protagonists, Cassandra or Alexios. Choosing one or the other does not affect the story heavily but Cassandra is considered to be the “canon” pick. I still went with Alexios in my playthrough though. After that you are left free to roam and explore ancient Greece to your heart’s desire.

 

Playing through the game was a very satisfying experience. The traversal mechanics feel very smooth and responsive and combined with the frankly top-notch world design (which I will mention again soon) made running around a joy and not a chore. I felt serotonin being pumped straight into my brain when I unlocked an upgrade in my skill tree which nullified all fall damage. Parkouring the greek mountains is something I recommend to anyone. Combat is just snappy and weighty enough while still retaining a bit of rpg flashiness. Mixing light and heavy attacks with dodges, blocks and special “moves” creates a satisfying dance once you find your rhythm. While I usually prefer being stealthy in games, I found myself willingly engaging in fights just because, well, it was VERY fun!

Narratively, and without spoiling too much, the story follows your selected protagonist who was exiled (by getting thrown off mount Taygetos) from Sparta as a child trying to reunite with their lost family while also solving the mystery of a secret organization named the Cult of Kosmos. It is a very interesting setting and personally I just love the characterization of all the people you meet as well as Alexios/Cassandra. The voice acting is excellent, and I was delighted with the studios choice to hire native Greek speakers. It just adds a layer of authenticity and brings me stupid amounts of joy. Being Greek myself, I appreciate the fact that while they could probably settle with a non-accurate approach, they chose to add these details that would go unnoticed to anyone not familiar with the language. But that would rob me of the genuine delighted gasp I let out the first time I entered a populated area, bumped into someone and heard them curse at me in perfect greek. It’s the little things.

Arguably, one of the best aspects of the game is its open world design. To describe the gameworld as gorgeous would not do it justice. It is truly one of my favourite games to just roam around in. It is high praise for an open world game in my opinion, to say that I almost never used the fast travel option. The colours and textures used make the environments feel real, not necessarily in a 4k ultra-HD way but in the sense that sometimes I could feel the sea breeze. While obviously idealised, the greek countryside and nature is perfectly translated. It feels and looks like home to me.  It was also supremely amusing to be able to go to my hometown in the game while also being there, in real life. Inception…..

Finally, I have to dedicate a few sentences to the games soundtrack because it goes unbelievably hard. The main theme grips you from the moment you start playing and acts as a satisfying leitmotif throughout the whole adventure. Again, the use of Greek instruments only adds to the character and identity of the game, giving it an undeniably Greek vibe while being able to play with modern composition. I love it when games manage to capture the essence of what they are trying to portray without having to resort to stereotypes. I had the same exact feelings for the Hades soundtrack. Both have excellent uses of local instruments. Following the example of AC Black Flag, the game offers sea shanties for your sailors that help you sail around the Aegean. These shanties to my, once again, delight where fully in ancient Greek sang by native speakers. It REALLY is the little things.

Overall, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to me is a worthwhile experience. I mean, it is a game I 100%ed without realizing. If you are a fan of the franchise’s og formula I realise that it might not be for you. But for people who love exploring well crafted open worlds or another Greek out there who giggles while getting called rude worlds in their native language, I fully recommend it.

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft

Platforms: Playstation 4, Windows, Xbox One

Release Date: October 5 2018

Genres: Action role-playing

PEGI: 18

Pictures: Media by 8k screenfeast on Flickr

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