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‘Asssassin’s Creed Odyssey’ Takes Franchise to a Whole New Level: A Review

Asssassin’s Creed Odyssey Takes Franchise to a Whole New Level: A Review

The latest addition in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Odyssey takes plays across ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War, which found Athens and Sparta vying for control over the region. Players assume the reigns of either Alexios or Kassandra, mercenaries who become caught up in the world and an even bigger plot for Greece. What sets Odyssey apart from its predecessors the freedom of choice, which is a central theme of the game. Do we truly have free will? Or are we just following a story already written by a higher power?

'Asssassin's Creed Odyssey' Takes Franchise to a Whole New Level: A Review
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Ubisoft

I have a very strange relationship with Odyssey. I enjoyed the game, I really did, but at times, I found myself getting a little bit annoyed by some of the tedious activities you were forced to complete within the main story. Because the map is the biggest in the franchise, it takes a while to get anywhere, but that is really the point of the game. When you first begin, you are given the option to turn off the mission guide markers. It also tells you that this is how the game was intended to be played, with the player truly exploring the world and figuring everything out for themselves. And honestly, what makes Odyssey so great is the stuff outside of the main story, the missions and stories that you have to find yourself. The main story doesn’t stand up to a lot of the other games, which was a little disappointing for me because I was so excited for this game, but what is truly amazing are two stories that stem out of the main quest. Those two aspects blew me away and left me wanting more.

While playing, I thought of Odyssey as the love child of Origins and Black Flag because of the massive map that includes land masses and ocean alike. Again, there is a lot of distance to cover, but there is amazing scenery and structures to look at along the way. I ended up on a small island at one point where there was a giant statue of Poseidon and, lo and behold, a chest with his trident in it (which allows you to breathe underwater). Exploration is the key to Odyssey and though the map is overwhelming at times, it’s worth it to traverse the whole thing. Some of my favorite locations and moments came way after the main story was over. And everything is just so beautiful.

'Asssassin's Creed Odyssey' Takes Franchise to a Whole New Level: A Review
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Ubisoft

When Odyssey was first revealed, the fandom was split with many not believing that it was a true Assassin’s Creed game. Yes, it is very different, but there are definitely times when the essence of the franchise comes out, most notably the struggle between order and chaos. What Odyssey delivers to the overall story of the series lies in more revelations about the First Civilization as well as a sort of advent to the Templar Order (which was where I was expecting this game to plug in).

Overall, this Odyssey is definitely worth the journey and is a must for fans of the franchise as well as for anyone who just wants a great open-world RPG. This game could actually serve as a good starting point for anyone who wants to get into the franchise because it isn’t like your typical Assassin’s Creed game. I sunk a whole lot of hours into Odyssey, beating the main story in 64 hours and getting all achievements in 96 hours. When I finished, I really didn’t know what to do with myself. There were times when I was annoyed because of the tedious tasks, but I was so engrossed in the experience that I couldn’t fill that void Odyssey left after I had done everything. Now, I sit here patiently waiting for all the DLC to be released so I can jump back in and be immersed in world of Odyssey once more.

PS: If you stopped playing after the final confrontation with Deimos and didn’t complete the Cult or Atlantis side quests, what are you doing? Go and finish those. They are the best moments in the game. And the Medusa fight is one of the greatest in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

'Asssassin's Creed Odyssey' Takes Franchise to a Whole New Level: A Review
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Ubisoft