Just prior to E3 2018, Ubisoft officially announcedAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, the next evolution in its long-running series and the successor toAssassin’s Creed Origins. The gameplay we’ve seen thus far looks like a healthy mix of classic Assassin’s Creed elements with new-school ideas introduced inOrigins, and a heavier emphasis on player choice and story could make it the most personal Assassin’s Creed game yet. From the combat to the setting and everything in between, here’s what you need to know aboutAssassin’s Creed Odyssey.
It’s all Greek to me
We haven’t heard any Sirens or spied a Cyclops, but the “Odyssey” inAssassin’s Creed Odysseydoes indeed refer to Ancient Greece. Taking place during the nation’s golden age, you play as a Spartanduring the Peloponnesian Warand will venture into not just Sparta, but also the famous city of Athens.
Assassin’s Creed Odysseywill kick off inKephallonia Island, located on the west end of the Korinthian Gulf. As the open world opens up, you’ll be able to travel to Northern Greece to see Makedonia, the Attika Peninsula, the tree-filled Forest Islands, the idealized Paradise Islands, the terrifying and volcanic Arid Islands, andPeloponnese– the home of the original Olympics.
There will be a lot of ground to cover inAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, withsome estimatesputting it at 130 square kilometers – a huge increase overOrigins’map – but the locations will be varied. Despite the sandy beaches and beautiful urban structures we associate with Ancient Greece, the country has plenty of options for players looking to mix things up.
The story so far
For the first time in theACseries,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyallows you to choose your protagonist, giving you the option of either Alexios or Kassandra. Both are outcast Spartan mercenaries who must investigate their past on the way to becoming a legendary warrior. Leonidas’ spear holds the key to solving this mystery, and the game was even first announced with what appeared to bean homageto the character’s most famous scene in the film300.
That scene appears linked directly to Alexios or Kassandra, who were literallythrown off a cliffas babies after their family learned of a prophecy that spelled doom for them. Other characters you’ll encounter duringOdysseyinclude the philosopher Sokrates and travel companion Barnabas.
Alexios and Kassandra are warriors rather than assassins,but they are descendants of the series’ First Civilization, which has been the focus of several games’ modern-day segments. How this will connectOdysseyto other titles remains to be seen, but we do know that Leonidas’ spear is an artifact from the First Civilization. You might remember another artifact, thePiece of Eden, which was featured heavily in Ezio’s games several years earlier.
As the series moves further into role-playing territory, so doesAssassin’s Creed Odyssey’s presentation. You’ll have the ability to choose from different dialogue options during conversations, similar toMass Effector Telltale’s many games, and depending on the choices you make along the way, youcan experience different endingsto the story.
Though still partially rooted in history, expect to see some fantastical elements inAssassin’s Creed OriginsinOdyssey. Ubisoft promises to reveal thetrue natureof Greek mythological beasts. We’re guessing that means giant boss battles that have absolutely no relationship to fact. One of these we know ofis Medusa, the snake-headed monster made famous both in Greek mythology and in classic video games likeCastlevania. These fights appear to be the game’s “boss battles,” which haven’t been a large focus for the series in the past.
Combat on land and at sea
The gear-based, tactical approach to melee combat introduced inAssassin’s Creed Originsreturns inOdyssey, and Ubisoft is leaning into it more this time around. The system is based heavily on timing, blocking, and knowing when to get a hit in versus when to go on the defensive, and you’ll be able to augment your weapons with certain special abilities to get an advantage. Finishing moves return, as well, giving you a gloriously over-the-top animation when you finally manage to take an enemy down.
An adrenaline meter similar to the one inOriginsis also includedand charges as you attack in combat, but this time it’s tied to super-powerful Spear of Leonidas abilities. This is how you’ll make use of special moves like the Spartan Kick.
Stealth is deemphasized in a similar manner toOrigins, as well, with sneak kills not actually guaranteeing the death of your target, even with an added ability to increase the damage dealt. With fewer scenarios where stealth is preferable, however, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Not everything relies on the formula set forth inOrigins. According toGamespot, shields have been put to the side in favor of simple dodging, though enemies will still utilize them.
To properly convey the epic nature of the Peloponnesian War,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyfeatures 300-person battles between the Spartans and Athenians, making the fightsliterally“all Greek to me.” We saw a brief glimpse of one of these during Ubisoft’s E3 2018 demo, and their scale and spectacle are similar to the beachhead scene in the filmTroy. In addition to less-powerful enemies who you can slaughter in a few hits, you’ll also face more powerful targets who deserve your full attention.
Naval combat makes its triumphant return fromAssassin’s Creed IV: Black FlagandAssassin’s Creed Rogue, with technology to reflect the much earlier timeframe. You’ll be able to recruit new crew members —including Evie Frye, in a nod to fans ofAssassin’s Creed Syndicate— to staff your ship and assist in battles, and you’re able to customize your ship to suit your particular nautical playstyle. If the weather is dangerous you’ll find itmore difficult to sail, as well.
The progression goes full RPG
To improve and customize Alexios or Kassandra inAssassin’s Creed Odysseyyou’ll make use of a skill tree split into three categories: Hunter, Warrior, and Assassin. The three branches allow you to spend ability points you earn on new skills and enhancements for bow, melee, and stealth combat. Four abilities can be mapped to the face buttons of your controller at any one time, giving you the ability to pull out some deadly tricks when you’re getting overwhelmed in a duel.
Progression isn’t limited to your character, however. As you perform illegal actions,mercenaries will come looking for you, and as they’re defeated, others will take their place in a similar manner toMiddle-earth: Shadow of War’s orcs. Which mercenaries choose to come after you will depend on your relationship with the Athenians and the Spartans – you’re able to attempt to work with both of them, but focusing too heavily on one or the other will cause conflict to erupt.
Special editions
As with all Assassin’s Creed games,Assassin’s Creed Odysseyhas anumber of different versionsavailable for collector’s to purchase. Here is what they contain:
If you prefer to purchase the standard version of the game but still want a collectible, Ubisoft is currently sellingstandalone Alexios and Kassandra figures, as well, though these are different than the ones that come bundled with the special editions. A Spear of Leonidas replica is also available.
The end isn’t the end
As was the case withAssassin’s Creed Origins, reaching the ending of the main story mode inAssassin’s Creed Odysseydoesn’t mean you’ve seen all the story content it has to offer. Whether you’re interested in purchasing the season pass or just want to play through free content,there will be something for you this yearand beyond.
The free quests will be called The Lost Tales of Greece, each of which will give more story alongside mercenary contracts for players to complete. Ubisoft said in the announcement that we’ll see new characters as well as familiar ones in this content, but it won’t be all players get for free. Special ships and mythical creatures will also be available to defeat every week, and the game will feature a New Game Plus mode with additional challenges.
Those who do purchase the season pass will be getting extra content, as well as some bonus goodies. The first major expansion is calledLegacy of the First Blade, and its first episode launches in December, with episodes coming every six weeks. The second expansion isThe Fate of Atlantis, and it will begin next spring. As the name might suggest, it will heavily feature Greek mythology and the lost city.
Season pass buyers will also get two additional games.Assassin’s Creed III RemasteredandAssassin’s Creed Liberation Remasteredare included with 4K and HDR support across PS4, Xbox One, and PC, andAssassin’s Creed IIIalso includes all post-launch content.
A long break
ThoughAssassin’s Creed Odysseyis going to release just a year afterOrigins,this doesn’t mean Ubisoft is returning the series to an annual release schedule. Whilespeaking at Gamescom, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said that there will not be a newACgame released in 2019. The company will instead focus on giving continuous content updates and supportingOdysseyfor a longer period of time.
Guillemot elaborated that the decision to releaseOdysseya year afterOriginsactually came about because the two games had been in development simultaneously. Ubisoft has several different studios typically creating these games at the same time, andAssassin’s Creed SyndicatestudioUbisoft Quebecis leading the charge onOdyssey.
Release date and platforms
Assassin’s Creed Odysseycomes to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 5.
Those who pre-order the game will gain early access to the mission “The Blind King,” and if you pre-order atGameStop, you’ll also receive a bonus Spartan Helmet keychain — it’s the keychain that originally leaked the game’s existence ahead of its official announcement.
