Retro Review: Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (Remastered)

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered. Screenshot by me. This iteration of the famed franchise takes a twist during the Seven Years War.

Little is said about 2014’s Assassin’s Creed: Rogue. Before playing myself it was hard to tell if it was a weak game, or just lost amidst the deep catalog of excellent AC games. Now that I’ve completed the main story, I can say that Rogue is massively underrated. It combines all the best parts of titles that came before it, in a game with admittedly less scope.

Rogue was released by Ubisoft on the same day as Assassin’s Creed Unity, but unlike Unity was available on the older seventh generation consoles, such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. A remaster was released in 2018. I picked it up during the recent Assassin’s Creed 15th anniversary sale for only eight dollars. Of the slightly over fifteen hours I played, very little was truly disappointing.

If you temper your expectations, I honestly don’t know what more you could want from an old-school AC game. There’s fantastic naval combat in the waters along the American Atlantic coast, sites to infiltrate in the River Valley, and 1750’s New York to parkour all about. Combat is joyous, stealth satisfying and the story is high grade. It is a fitting and just farewell to a generation of games where it all began for the franchise.

In Rogue, you play as Assassin turned Templar Shay Cormack during the Seven Years War for the American colonies. While, on the face, this may not be the most interesting historical period these games have ever covered, I assure you it is rich. The way this title plays into Assassin’s Creed 3, 4 and Unity is brilliant, as is the plot all around.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered. Screenshot by me. Commanding, and upgrading your ship is important.

Cormack is a hard man to pin down. He is on the path of righteousness, but that path is so confusing to anyone who has played these games. To see the Assassins as essentially terrorists, and the Templars as something to believe in a poison world is jarring. It parallels how you find yourself working with the British against the French, when you know the tables of good will be turned shortly.

The remaster looks amazing on my Xbox Series X. It runs very smoothly. There were numerous scenes in Rogue that captivated my eye. Honestly thinking this is a nearly decade old game is astounding when you take in the visuals. The sea waves look beautiful, as do many environmental effects such as snow, or auroras. Everything feels well designed.

This was not a perfect game. There were a few bugs. Some classic AC issues like misdirected jumps, which can be somewhat mitigated by mindful parkour. Two or three missions were a bit lacking, especially when compared to the general quality of much of the rest of the game. Some may actually wish for a longer game, to which I would say there is a decent amount of side activities you can do for that 100% completion. However, none of them interest me enough to keep playing this game past this point, for now.

Rogue is the ninth AC title I have completed in the last twelve months, so I feel comfortable with my critique of this game. It changes the dynamic of the struggle between the Assassins and Templars; makes you sympathize with people you know you should hate. You find yourself doing things that you question, but in tasteful ways, such as hunting down an old friend only to kill them. Big kills in these games are usually such a prize, in Rogue they feel sometimes like emotional punishment.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered. Game clip by me. Infiltrating an enemy base.

Wonderful stealth sections populate Rogue. There were a few that didn’t really go my way, but I was never stuck forever on one part. There was always a way, and it was usually walking the line between patient stalker and opportunistic killer. I found leaning more on patience typically paid off, but there are moments that require you to adapt on the fly, which I love. I hate when a stealth game is just memorizing guard patterns or something like that, of course timing is crucial in any stealth game, but I like that Assassin’s Creed is more nuanced, also there’s sometimes a combat option should stealth totally fail.

I always love it when a game is difficult to put down. If a game can make me want to play for hours on end, or come right back to another session night after night, I’m a happy guy. Assassin’s Creed games seem to often have this effect on me, regardless of what era they’re from. I beat Origins in a week. Same for Rogue. I didn’t want to play anything else. The story gripped me, and the gameplay held me.

Assassin’s Creed: Rogue may not be a contender for best AC, but in my opinion it has far too negative of a reputation. I found it quite enjoyable, despite a few flaws and spots of mediocrity. If you like classic AC, or Black Flag style naval combat, or just quality stealth action games, try to find a copy of the Rogue remaster. You don’t have to be a huge AC geek like me, but it will greatly enhance your experience if you have played at least 3 & 4.

Next, I plan on moving onto the game that dropped the same day as Rogue: Unity. Unity takes place during the French Revolution, and I’m excited to see how Shay Cormack’s story ties in. I believe I bought Unity when it launched, but only played it a little. Rogue will go into the archives, not that I didn’t have fun or more I could do. But for eight dollars it is hard to complain about any game let alone one as nice as AC: Rogue.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered. Screenshots by me.

Retro Review: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Screenshot by me. Sailing the open seas as a pirate never felt so fun.

My journey through the Assassin’s Creed series continues with 2013’s “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.” A major success for developers at Ubisoft at the time. I was able to play it then, and remember it as easily a favorite in the franchise. The second time around may not have been nearly as memorable, but still worth playing. Taking the Assassins into the Golden Age of Piracy in such a brave game is something that must be appreciated even a decade later.

Pirate turned Assassin Edward Kenway is our protagonist, and an excellent one. The way he evolves through the story is deeply inspiring. He goes from caring for absolutely nothing, but party and plunder, to a sophisticated anti-hero in our time with him. Sailing the Caribbean, you sail between ports such as islands, coves, and cities like Havana and Kingston on your ship, the Jackdaw. Both nautical and land environments are well designed. The dynamics of waves and weather must be battled while engaging in intense ship-to-ship combat.

This naval warfare is the focal point of AC4. Many people call this the best in the series, which is saying something because much of the stealth sections in this title are atrocious. In fact, a lot of what happens on land is generally disappointing. But wow, when you set out to sea things change. Learning the dance of navigating against different ships to score cannon hits you need to capitalize on weak points. Knowing to take out sails early to slow enemy movement and working from behind. It really gets your heart pumping, while also requiring you to employ masterful strategy.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Game clip by me. Easily besting a large ship.

My focus on this playthrough was almost solely on completing the story, not engaging in the extra activities that are typically the draw. When I reinstalled my game, I found in my old save file that I had played nearly sixty hours. In contrast, my recent campaign lasted a shade under twenty hours. That is how much extra treasure there is to be hunted in AC4. Whether you’re scouring for lore, retrying missions for sub-objectives, picking up collectibles, or relishing the naval combat, there is a ton of bonus fun to be had if you like the formula.

Assassin’s Creed 3 had optional naval combat missions in the same style. I’m so glad that Ubisoft took such a big risk on making an entire game out of it. A lot of people don’t even remember it in AC3, it would’ve been a miserable final resting place for such a cool concept. When you think about it in perspective of the titles that came before, Black Flag is so bold. They knew this franchise was a golden child, and they were willing to experiment with it. Recent entries like Valhalla, which have stepped outside precedent, suddenly make more sense when you think about the massive success of Black Flag.

If this game had better stealth sections, it would be perfect. Fleshing out cities more and utilizing them in a game with bigger scope, to me, would be a title that couldn’t be ignored. The naval combat is so slick, and the story wonderful. It even has a nice melee combat system. After playing so much of these games lately however, I really missed quality stealth. It isn’t completely devoid, indeed there are sections that are quite good. Just, I think I expect better from this franchise.

Graphically, I think this game still looks pretty good. The coolest thing is the waves. They move in a realistic fashion that makes sailing immersive. Sometimes the other scenery while sailing can be a bit boring, but when you’re in a port land is more interesting. Quality voice acting delivers the game with memorable weight. Sound design is solid, especially the music. One of the most important collectibles you’ll find on land are sea shanties for your crew to sing while at sea. This detail enriches the game so much. Everybody I’ve met that has played this game has at least a couple favorite shanties.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Screenshot by me. Between living the memories of pirate Edward Kenway, you navigate the evil modern day Abstergo as a developer.

I am happy I played this game again. It was fun to do a bit more of the naval combat, also to reacquaint myself with the story and characters. I remembered enjoying the likes of Edward Kenway and Captain Blackbeard so much, and now I remember why. It is a classic Assassin’s Creed title to be sure. Yet, I would say it is not my number one. Not that AC4 isn’t a contender, but it cannot claim the title on its story and naval combat alone.

Ubisoft has announced a lot of cuts lately, so I hope none of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed projects get the ax. Some people have said there should be a remake of Black Flag, but I don’t see that happening because they’re already hard at work on a game inspired by the naval combat of AC4 called Skull & Bones. The next AC we will see is Mirage, which takes place in 9th century Baghdad, and is due this year. Mirage will be a more intimate title, with a focus on stealth and parkour like Brotherhood. There are more titles coming down the line in diverse styles, however.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag breaks the mold for what a great AC game can be. We were so satisfied scampering across rooftops, we never considered what joy could lie beyond. Sometimes it takes a title like AC4 to shake up a series, so the developers can take some risks and learn something meaningful. If you play, be ready to want to uncover every last morsel of buried treasure like a true pirate. As you upgrade your gear, and ship, you’ll go from a fledgling wanna-be privateer to fearsome legend. Whether you’re a big Assassin’s Creed fan or not, you have to play this game at some point.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Screenshots by me.

Overdue Review: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Screenshot by me. Sailing by longship in Ubisoft’s most recent AC adventure.

Slowly, but surely I am playing through the entire Assassin’s Creed main game series. Albeit very out-of-sequence. AC: Valhalla is the third game featuring protagonist Layla Hassan, now living the memories of an 8th century Viking named Eivor. More than the struggle between Assassin and Templar, you’ll spend time on a conquest of England in this epic action RPG. The familiar game-building techniques of developers Ubisoft are layered on a canvas more massive than I’ve ever seen them paint. Conquering territories, making allies, upgrading your arsenal, lots of common practices in AC games. Still, Valhalla feels unique. Even following AC: Odyssey, arguably the best in the series, Valhalla still claims its fair share of glory.

The combat system of Origins and Odyssey returns, with minor adjustments. Most notably of which is a stamina gauge you’ll have to manage. The new tweaks work effectively. Maybe why I always wished to be fighting instead of doing whatever quest I was on. After seventy hours, I still want more combat, and bigger bosses. The skill tree seems like a total disaster at first, but it played out just fine for me. Focus on skills that’ll help you, and pick up any valuable passive nodes along the way.

Not every minute of my seventy hour story playthrough was enjoyable, but I always respected the effort being made. I sometimes found myself bored by the chores I was undertaking for the leaders of areas I wished alliances within. The game seems to push you to tedium. At times I found myself getting frustrated by how the story wasn’t really going anywhere. At the end of the game, so much of what I had done felt meaningless, which is especially disappointing when the illusion of choice is presented the way it is.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Screenshot by me. There are a bevy of fun mini-games that can be boons to your progress.

There are far too many side activities for most of them to ultimately be collecting uninteresting loot. There are a handful of side quests, which are generally wrapped up quickly and easily. A lot of time can be spent looking for the way into the room where you know the loot’s exact location, but this was an extremely unsatisfying activity for me. I wore the exact same armor set literally the entire game. This was fine, because everything can be upgraded to the point that if you want to do this, you easily can.

I did switch out weapons, however. There are some really cool weapon types, and you can even dual wield weapons, which is aided by certain skills. I preferred the morning star flail, becoming a master with his tool. Every weapon type has subtleties. If I were to play more, I would like to experiment with dual wielding, as it was something I never really touched due to the fact I wanted to focus skill points elsewhere.

Valhalla looks incredible. I can almost feel the cold as I track through the snow, or smell the lavender as I ride through a field. Detail resides wherever you look. Color is vibrant and utilizes the full rainbow. On my Xbox Series X it can run in two modes focusing on performance or graphics. I ran with the graphical option, which made a great display of ray tracing. Some of my favorite moments playing this game were traveling, or otherwise taking in the sights. The sound design is solid, with an excellent soundtrack of music that suits the atmosphere fantastically well.

The ending of the game was as satisfying as it was confusing. A million twists get thrown at you, and I am left reeling. What else do we expect from this franchise? The conclusion is always a whirlwind of colliding timelines, story arcs, lore dumps and far out sci-fi. I speak of the ending because I don’t want you to be discouraged during the moments where this game gets a little boring. If you are a true AC fan, stick with it. My promise is that you will be very excited for what is next, as well as find some nice closure for what you’ve been doing. I highly recommend you play the two games prior to Valhalla before you get to this one. It will help you understand, and also deeply enrich your experience.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Screenshot by me. The characters are one of the big draws of this game.

Classic Assassin’s Creed fans may be let down by the lack of stealth in Valhalla, but Vikings aren’t really known for the modest path. Not to say you won’t be infiltrating, sneaking and executing, just not as much as other games. For this reason I am excited for the next game: Mirage. Ubisoft promises Mirage will take us back to the series’ roots for a shorter, stealth and parkour based experience. They will also continue the action RPG style of games with a title set in feudal Japan, a setting fans have desperately craved for fifteen years since the first game launched.

There is a lot of additional content if you want to keep playing after you beat the main story. For me, the shelf is where this one will go. Someday, I may delve back into this trilogy and do each with a New Game Plus and/or do all the DLC, but that time is not now. For the time being, I will keep progressing through the series. I have four games left, and they all fall in sequence with each other. For this reason I may actually play them in order, if you can believe such a thing is possible.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla might not have been the perfect game, but it was fantastic nonetheless. I only paid $30 for a used copy, quite cheap considering what you’re getting. With the holidays coming up, I’m sure you can find a copy somewhere on sale. I knew nothing of Viking lore, or tradition before this game, but now I’m in love. If you’ve never played Assassin’s Creed, this might not be the best place to start, but this memorable saga is a fine destination.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Screenshots by me.

Retro Review: Assassin’s Creed Revelations (Ezio Collection Part 3/3)

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Screenshot by me. Master Assassin Ezio Auditore explores Istanbul in the early 1500’s.

After completing Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, I was hungry for more stealth action in 2011’s follow-up: Assassin’s Creed Revelations. It is the final playable chapter in the Ezio Collection, which I bought on my Nintendo Switch shortly after the port was released in January. Since then, I have played all three chapters telling the story of master Assassin Ezio Auditore. Each has been wonderful, and in many ways an improvement over the predecessor. Revelations is no different. I had a fantastic time in my twenty hours with the game.

It is fascinating when, like me, you go through the Assassin’s Creed collection all at once. You see how framework was laid early on for big concepts that came into fruition later on. Like how the combat system has evolved. I also notice how true to itself the story has remained. I love jumping between modern day and ancient times, doing parkour across Istanbul rooftops, and assassinating my targets with skilled execution. But, all this would be quite dull if not for the skilled storytelling by Ubisoft in these games. Over the Ezio Collection, I have grown quite fond of Ezio, and I love to see him being more personal in this game.

Ezio is in Constantinople between the years of 1511-1514 recovering lost keys to a hidden library of Crusade era master Assassin, and Assassin’s Creed 1 protagonist, Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad. While doing this, you raise the local assassin brotherhood to greater heights. Making interesting friends along the way. Revelations has characters that quickly make an impact, and continue to amuse. Again, seeing Ezio open up was a really satisfying way to close his tale. I was immensely happy not only with how this game carried on the story, but brought closure, or at least light to a lot of shadowy palaces that had been built by the first few games in the series.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Screenshot by me. Seeing Ezio grow late in life is inspiring.

The graphics and sound design are better than previous installments. Music swells the moment. The textures feel richer, while the world is more technically coherent. With rich color, and detail. Parkour is intuitive with some more precise moves that will have you looking to practice. The freerun platforming is fluid for the most part, especially if you are calculated about your button inputs and maneuvers. There are platforming sections that I thought were a highlight of the game. Every so often you do a mission that requires puzzle solving and smart traversal, it left an imprint because parkour has always been a fan favorite part of these games.

Combat is a delight. For a game that focuses on stealth, it really has a solid combat system. Different enemy types bring varying degrees of threat. The Janissaries are the baddest of the bad, but even they can be defeated in small numbers, with clever use of tools. And do you ever have tools! The weapons in your arsenal are all valid somehow. I felt in earlier games a lot of weapons and tools were underutilized, but here basically anything has respectable uses. Bombs spice things up, I found a loadout that worked for me, and did not experiment with them much, but many seem interesting that I never even used.

Stealth lovers will adore this game. Even when things go badly, it is often salvageable. This is one thing that makes this an exceptional quality stealth game in my opinion. I love taking my time and delicately slipping inside an enemy base to silently execute my target, but one little mistake shouldn’t rob me of the entire mission. Who is to say I didn’t want a little fight? With this fun combat, why not? Every mission has a optional objective that often involves not killing or being seen, and some missions do forbid you from doing these things explicitly. How you navigate a crowd, position yourself next to your target, traverse the rooftops and alleyways, all these things make stealth very enjoyable.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Screenshot by me. Traversal is a treat.

I have already reviewed Assassin’s Creed 3 on this blog, which is the next title. Desmond’s story ends there, and what a journey he has been on. He spends this entire game in a coma. Hooked up to the Animus, reliving the memories of Ezio while being monitored by Assassin pals. Ezio took a horrible shock at the end of Brotherhood, and it is something he doesn’t simply surmount in this game. It is a pain that will carry with him to his end. Desmond is so tragic, yet inspiring. Being thrown into the secret war as he was, and taking it all like a champ. He never loses sight of the goal, which is the very preservation of mankind.

I am still playing Valhalla on my Xbox Series X, and after Revelations I will begin AC4: Black Flag. A game I played upon release, and is one of my absolute favorite gaming memories. So, I’m beyond stoked to get back into it. I already own Black Flag and Rogue on Xbox, otherwise I would buy the Rebel Collection on Switch to play them both there. The eternal battle between Assassins and Templars rages on, shifting the sands of society. Ancient artifacts from a pre-human civilization contain indescribable power, and much blood is spilled over them.

The Ezio Collection played very well on my Switch. You can find it for $40 typically, but if you are a patient hunter I am sure you can find a good deal. For at least twenty solid hours per each of the three games, it is really a fair deal at full price to be honest. It can be found on most platforms. I had a stellar time with AC: Revelations. Stealth action at its finest. The upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is supposed to be an experience much like Revelations, and I for one am totally here for it. A game like this with modern technology and refinements could be next level. Mirage coming next year.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Screenshots by me.

Retro Review: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (Ezio Collection Part 2/3)

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. Screenshot by me. Looking out onto the city of Rome in Renaissance Italy.

Most of the Assassin’s Creed I’ve been playing lately has been the modern installments on my Xbox, but I am still chipping away at the Ezio Collection on my Nintendo Switch. Brotherhood capitalizes on everything Assassin’s Creed 2 did right, and delivers a much more complete package overall. It paves the way for moves all the way down the series. I see now why so many people hold this game as a favorite. It is a quintessential stealth action experience, and so much more rewarding than I imagined.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood picks up exactly the moment where the previous game left off. Desmond Miles is exploring the memories of his Renaissance Italy ancestor Ezio Auditore. He is searching for ancient artifacts, and answers. AC2 ended with a brain melter of a twist, and the follow-up in the trilogy leaves only more questions. This is not entirely a bad thing. Developers at Ubisoft saw a definite future for the series, so I see the bricks of masterful world building here.

I read that most people beat this game in about fifteen to twenty hours. I played over twenty-five, because there is a ton of really fun side activities. You literally get paid to exist in this game, so why not spend as much time as possible doing side quests? These quests deliver everything you enjoy about the game. Stealth, platforming and action. No matter what activity you decide to do, it is worth it for the mere joy. You know, why we used to play games? Even after completing the main story, there is plenty of fun to be had yet.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. Screenshot by me. This game is easier on the eyes than its predecessor.

Neglect burdened my mind as this game sat, often without being played, on my Switch for months as I focused on Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey. I will officially be playing all the AC games for this blog at one point or another. I now own, or have reviewed every single one. I am stoked beyond belief to be on this journey. This is one of the biggest names in gaming, celebrating fifteen years since the original title. How far it has come since then, and there is still so much on the horizon, according to Ubisoft.

Recently announced were several new Assassin’s Creed titles. The next main title coming in 2023, titled “Assassin’s Creed Mirage.” Following young Basim, of AC Valhalla fame, in ancient Baghdad, it promises an experience much more like Brotherhood, and less like newer RPG style titles. 15-20 hour campaign with focus on stealth and parkour. Fans speak, Ubisoft listens. The only available criticism of recent AC games is that we miss the old games sometimes. Well, with Mirage I think we are going to get even more than we hoped. There will still be more AC titles in different styles including a modern RPG version set in feudal Japan flying under the name, “Codename Red.” Playing a ninja is something AC fans have been dreaming of for fifteen years.

Everything about AC Brotherhood is superior to AC2. The parkour is far more natural, and fluid, although still flawed. The combat is more exciting. The physical world is more coherent than that of AC2, mostly confining you to one sprawling city with countryside rather than several small ones you mostly never explore. The graphics are better, time of day having breathtaking impact on the appearance of the game, for example. The list goes on and on, Brotherhood is a magnificent game even if for no other reason than how much better it is of a sequel than the game that came before. And Assassin’s Creed 2 was no slouch! I am not dragging AC2, it is simply an objective fact that Brotherhood plays in a higher league.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. Screenshot by me. Assassins and Templars fight to control “Objects of Power.” Mystical, powerful artifacts.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is one of the best stealth games I have ever played. There have been better games that feature stealth, like AC Odyssey, but Brotherhood is a stealth game first, action game second. And there is no real role-playing game aspects. It is about sneaking across rooftops, silently isolating and neutralizing obstacles as you work toward your target, where you get in position then strike. The thrill of pulling your blade on a major target in this game is occasion to celebrate. The satisfaction of executing with grace made me hungry to keep playing with the next game in the Ezio Collection, “Revelations.”

You can see where Ubisoft made a lot of positive foundations with this game. The engaging side quests that offer rewards in both fun, and loot. The grandiosity of plot. Characters who are memorable regardless of whether they’re heroes or villains. I think if this is one of the developers inspirations for Mirage, we are in for the best stealth game in a very long time. I love Ezio Auditore, he is so noble yet incorrigible. He has insatiable flair, like a deadly flower twirling in the wind, torn from its roots. I cannot wait to see how his story turns out in the next game.

Based on the first two games in the Ezio Collection: AC2 and Brotherhood, this is a must play collection. I will give my final word when I beat Revelations, but at this point I am very pleased with what I have played so far. In the next game I just want more of what I got here, except with more answers and less questions. I know AC is an enigmatic series, but something has got to give. I think the title, “Revelations,” indicates I will get my wish. AC Brotherhood stands out as an exemplary stealth action title, and high marks as an Assassin’s Creed game as well. I am playing the Ezio Collection on Switch, but you can find it basically anywhere. Follow my blog for more gaming content, including lots more Assassin’s Creed reviews down the road.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. Screenshots by me.

Overdue Review: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Screenshot by me. As you walk slowly in a field, your character will hold their hand out to feel the plants. A small touch many may play this game, and never know.

Ubisoft’s golden child, Assassin’s Creed, takes another bold merge into a lane it created with the outstanding AC: Origins. 2018’s Odyssey follows the modern day Layla Hassan, now living the memories of a mercenary in ancient Greece. The game is more of an RPG than ever before, and perhaps better as well. An intriguing story, stunning visuals and magnificent gameplay. Everything about Odyssey comes together to make an astounding, top-shelf experience.

I played this game for over sixty hours, enjoying the entire journey. I thought Origins was long for an AC game at over forty hours, but Odyssey fleshes out the RPG elements of the game such as exploration, story based on choices and skill trees with lots of options. All I wanted at the end of Origins was more, which is exactly what I got here. Lots more. The impact of choices can have far-reaching outcomes, and you can make some powerful choices. There are multiple endings, and with my decisions I received the coveted, “best ending.”

The action in Odyssey is really what keeps me playing the game, above all else. The balance is so divine. I prefer fast, short range weapons such as the dagger or sword, but every weapon class is at least semi-worthy, even if as a secondary weapon for those situations that are tougher with your weapon of choice. The bow is extremely powerful when you put power into it, with results that can devastate your opponents. The unlockable Assassin abilities give you greater stealth edge than any hidden blade ever could. There are a lot of ways events can unfold just based on how you decide to play.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Game clip by me. Taking out a few guards before surprising my real target.

One thing I always play Assassin’s Creed for is their stories. I find the universe fascinating. The way it intertwines with real history is super cool to me. It makes everything feel more human, or more real. Even when the plot gets a bit ridiculous. But as a long time fan, the outlandish fantasy stuff is where these tales shine. I hate to ruin anything about this game because I had such a fantastic time uncovering it all. There are some wild boss battles that will truly test you; where victory is glorious. My last game session, between everything that happened at the end, left me shook.

Audio and visual design is stellar. The world map is massive, with giant chunks I have yet to explore. It is richly detailed, with beautiful graphical qualities. I love looking through shallow waters at the world below, the water so clear and blue. The way waves move in deeper waters, or come into shore in waves. Lighting is wonderful, I like the different moods set by different times of day, and weather. Voice acting delivers the game very effectively. I think all the major characters were well acted, and even a lot of the minor roles too.

Side quests are handled in a genius way. Often helping out areas yields much greater rewards than the promised loot. People end up trusting you with information. The detective work of uncovering cultists is something unlike I have ever seen in an Assassin’s Creed game. They weave it into the game with grace. It would be worthwhile to play the side missions enough for the gameplay, or even the story elements, but the way they can help you is masterful game making. It rarely feels like I’m being forced to do something I don’t want to just for experience points, loot, or what-have-you. I eagerly greet most quests.

Odyssey feels like a special game. I don’t know if it is something about it, or everything about it. The new direction the series is going is so exciting, as I am currently playing through the entire series again. (Just out of order.) I played Odyssey for nine hours one Saturday. That’s not including breaks. Nine hours just playing it in one day. I loved this game that much. In fact, I was mad I got tired at the end, and had to go to sleep. Somehow my Xbox didn’t overheat, my Series X did a perfect job running this game. After an update the game runs at 60 FPS.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Screenshot by me. How right you are, Kassandra.

Of the games in the series I have played so far, Odyssey may be objectively the best. I’ve noticed a lot of Assassin’s Creed fans have sentimental favorites, and I’m no different. I love Black Flag and Origins. But if you had to rank them all, Odyssey may come out on top. It is a very bold game, being all that it is, especially for an antiquated series like Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft was clearly understanding that the series had to evolve to keep up with modern games. They didn’t just keep up, they outpaced most. I’ve played some sixty hour RPGs lately, all of them required heavy amounts of somewhat dull grinding. But not Odyssey.

If I decide to keep playing Odyssey, I’ll have a lot to do. There are still a lot of cultists to uncover, including their illusive leader. However, seeing as how I already own Valhalla, the next game in the series’ progression, I may also just move onto that next. I still am playing the Ezio Collection on my Switch, and I have two more slightly older Assassin’s Creed games downloaded and waiting on my Xbox, Unity and Syndicate. I don’t think I have an addiction, I can stop playing Assassin’s Creed whenever I want.

You don’t need to be an AC addict like me to love Odyssey. I would recommend this game to anyone, and everyone. Not all games I review have me this geeked to talk about them. Sometimes words come easier than others. I can think of words for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey as long as I have positive ones. Gorgeous, gigantic open world, good story and excellent gameplay. I can’t wait to see what else is in store with the series continuation. There have been storms of rumors regarding the series lately, but I will wait to hear directly from Ubisoft before I make any judgements. For now, just love Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey.

Overdue Review: Assassin’s Creed Origins

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Origins. Screenshot by me. This game shines as one of the best in the series.

Assassin’s Creed developers Ubisoft bring welcome alterations to a series turning stale. The tenth main AC game, Origins takes a classic, proven formula and gives it some new wings to truly fly. Initially releasing in 2017, I played it shortly after. I only played a little bit, however, as I struggled with the combat at the time. Now that Origins is available on Xbox Game Pass, I decided to give it another shot based on the popularity of the new style. I am so glad I gave it another go. For some reason things just clicked, and I had an unforgettable experience.

The first noticeable difference between this and older installments is the combat. The combat is more involved, and once you get the hang of things much more enjoyable. The simple Rock, Paper, Scissors recipe is exchanged for more dynamic combat with some of the same frills. The bow is extremely powerful, and the many melee weapon types let you build how you wish to play. There is a moderate amount of hot-swapping in menus, but relatively minimal. It doesn’t impact the pace of gameplay. The stealth aspects are still my favorite part of Assassin’s Creed, as ever. The feeling of sneaking up on your prey, or even clearing an outpost without anybody ever having a clue.

There’s an overwhelming amount to love about Origins. I relish ancient Egyptian mythology. Some time ago, I read the Book of the Dead, and found it beautiful. Speaking of beauty, the desert landscapes in this game are divine. Whether trekking across the dunes, exploring an oasis or a city, the eye has much to gaze upon. The graphics are incredible. The environments are master crafted. Not least to love are the story and gameplay, which are typical Assassin’s Creed taken in enticing new directions.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Origins. Game clip by me. Sorry for low quality video, I’m having trouble downloading the 4K ones. This is very early gameplay.

I have spent about forty hours with Origins. It was almost an addiction. At some point I would like to go back and play more, whether I continue my current game, or start the optional “New Game Plus.” After completing the main story, there is still so much side activity I haven’t done that interests me. There is optional DLC, but I think most likely I will move onto the next two newest AC games. Both of which I have purchased during my time with Origins. Such is my adoration for this game. AC: Odyssey and Valhalla I found on sale wherever I could, and managed to get both for about $45 altogether. Not bad at all, if you ask me. Origins alone is worth that amount.

The storytelling in Origins is some of Ubisoft’s best. The setting feels authentic. Characters are engaging, and full of emotion. The use, and intersection, of real history and AC lore creates suspense, drama and excitement. I often moved with a sense of purpose. As Abstergo employee Layla Hassan lives the memories of Bayek, an ancient Egyptian protector with a murdered child, Layla uncovers the truth behind the beginning of the Assassin order. As a long time fan, it is a thoughtful, and worthy genesis.

Side quests are rewarding. They are fun, feel like you’re helping the world, often have entertaining enough stories, and gaining the experience points is helpful in the RPG-like style of Origins. Ubisoft has dabbled with skill trees and such in the past with AC, but it is refined here. Most of the skills are effective in some degree. More powerful skills cost more Ability Points, earned with XP, and are further up the three main skill trees. By the end of the game I felt so much more powerful than when I started, and there are some segments that cleverly handicap you. Upgrading your gear is a simple, but treasured crafting system.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Origins. Screenshot by me. In the modern day, Layal Hassan lives out ancient memories in a machine called the “Animus.”

Origins features a taste of the naval combat that made AC: Black Flag so popular. These few missions were highly entertaining. It is very similar to the old style, and that is what I want. I could never get enough of the ship-to-ship battles in that game, so I’m happy to see them back in some scope. If you really want more of these sequences, Ubisoft is making an entire game based on this naval combat system called Skull & Bones, although no release date yet. While these sections seem a little stapled on, I doubt I will hear many complaints.

Playing on my Xbox Series X was wonderful. Fantastic performance, visuals and controls. The Quick Resume feature worked better than a lot of games that claim to utilize the feature, but struggle. Only two or three bugs or glitches showed themselves the entire time. The experience was fluid. You can commit for a side mission here and there, or strap in for a five hour session. I would suggest this game on whatever platform you are able.

I have installed Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and Valhalla rests patiently on my shelf. If I like them half as much as I liked Origins, I am in for a treat. Just yesterday I posted an Assassin’s Creed 2 review from the Ezio Collection on Nintendo Switch. So I am actually playing AC simultaneously on two consoles right now. As I move onto Odyssey on the Xbox, I’ll be starting Brotherhood on the Switch. More AC content to come, perhaps even every game at some point or another. I have already done AC:3, also I own others and would love to play through them someday.

This is a perhaps grandiose claim, but I think Assassin’s Creed Origins may be my new favorite AC. Before, it has always been AC4: Black Flag. Origins, simply put, is the perfect game. Weaknesses fall short of being worth mentioning. It may be this reviewer’s preferences for Egyptian mythos and landscapes, coupled with epic Assassin lore, but I couldn’t put this game down. The joy Origins brought me impacted my life beyond the time spent in front of the TV. I will surely look back on this as one of the legendary classics.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed Origins. Screenshots by me.

Retro Review: Assassin’s Creed 2 (Ezio Collection Part 1/3)

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 2. Screenshot by me. Sneaking up the fortifications into a heavily guarded compound.

The three Assassin’s Creed games featuring protagonist Ezio Auditore, AC:2, Brotherhood and Revelations, were released in a remastered bundle in 2016. This collection was ported to Nintendo Switch last February; I picked it up shortly after. Three classic games for $40, and I got it on sale even lower than that. With my fantastic experience playing other AC games, how can I turn down an offer such as this one? The first game in the Ezio Collection, Assassin’s Creed 2, shows a series getting legs beneath it and showing magnificent potential. Developers Ubisoft have given this series the royal treatment throughout its legacy.

Assassin’s Creed 2 follows two stories. One, Desmond Miles. Desmond was kidnapped and forced to live the memories of an ancestor, using a high-tech device in search of magic artifacts. After escaping, he uses another “animus” to go deeper into the memories of his ancestors and beat the evil forces to the punch. The memories he goes into next are those of Ezio Auditore, a Renaissance era Italian in a struggle between orders of Assassins and Templars. Both stories are interesting. The whole lore of these games is so fascinating, the parts influenced by real history and the made up bits.

AC2 is a game with a lot of grand ideas. Some pay out better than others. The story feels like that of a much longer game, in which we get to explore the people a little more intimately. I played over thirty hours, and there is a lot of side activities left to do. The parkour is more like fun platforming than fluid movement. You should always be thinking steps ahead when traversing. One wrong leap can be really unfortunate. This is fine, my bigger concern is the combat. Getting into fights is to be avoided, but far from torturous. Indeed, this is an earlier version of what ended up working great in later games. It is weirdly difficult to retrieve a weapon if you for some reason lose it.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 2. Screenshot by me. One of the many interesting settings in AC2.

The Nintendo Switch was a wonderful way to play, whether docked or on-the-go. Although, I would recommend this game on whatever platform you prefer. I have yet to play Brotherhood and Revelations, so I can’t speak for the whole collection yet. The Ezio Collection also comes with two short films, Lineage and Embers, which bookend the three games. The remaster is a light one. It looks and runs nice, but the graphics do feel a bit dated as I play AC: Origins on my Xbox Series X. For a game from 2009, I feel like you could do a lot worse. The production value is there. Running around Venice at night during carnival season does prove to be quite a charming setting.

Pulling off a cool stealth section in this game is immensely satisfying. Whether weaving between dancing partners until you reach your target, leaping on a preacher in the middle of a sermon from high above, or however you end up taking out your target. The final kill is worth the buildup. From staging missions, to the meta of the assassination in question. There is always a scene of Ezio sharing the last moments of his target, and this has been a signature of the series. The last mission had me using every last one of my resources, besides the massive stack of cash I had acquired doing side content.

The sound design is on point. Music is sparse, but it is suiting. The environments feel alive. While I did say movement is not super fluid, there is a degree of skill that makes parkour much more enjoyable, and practical. You learn just the way to approach certain obstacles, you know when to exercise caution and slow down a little as you work a certain line, correct button use becomes more natural, these are the kinds of things you learn. You figure out how to engage certain enemies, or utilize certain weapons. Sometimes I felt like I had to cheese my way through, but the game is good at stopping that behavior.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 2. Screenshot by me. Desmond is no longer alone in the sequel to the hit first game.

After beating AC2, I am excited for Brotherhood. I will start it almost immediately, I honestly doubt I will revisit AC2 anytime soon. Like I said, I am also playing AC: Origins on my Xbox, for one thing. Also, I would rather just move onto the next game than do the only other interesting thing left in AC2, which is collect the Animus Glitches. Fun little puzzles that are hidden in the world that if you find them all, you get some unique lore. The codex is also worth a read, if you skip it often when articles are introduced. Tons of information about landmarks, featuring some real sites and information.

Assassin’s Creed 2 set an amazing stage for the future of the series. With the success of the first game, Ubisoft knew they had something legendary on their hands. It’s clear they didn’t want to let down fans’ anticipations or expectations. The game was a blast, once I got the hang of combat and parkour. If you struggle early, I encourage you to persist. Thirty-some hours well spent. Lore, gameplay and setting are the big three things that I enjoy about it. Hanging out with Leonardo da Vinci and helping each other is neat.

Soon, I will finish Origins on my Xbox, moving onto Odyssey. I’m stoked for my Origins review, as I am finding it extraordinary. It is something to see how this series has evolved by playing games from the earliest, and most modern eras at the same time. They’ve just gotten better for the most part, in my opinion. I am thinking strongly about reviewing the entire series here, as I have started with the Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered review in my Archives. For the price, the Ezio Collection seems to be an unavoidable deal. Brotherhood, then Revelations, coming soon.

Credit: Assassin’s Creed 2. Screenshots by me.