I wanna share my opinion on Assassin's Creed Odyssey. (completely spoiler free)
While I haven't completed it yet (30 hours in), I think I've spent enough time to talk about it. It was described as an improved AC Origins, but I can't fully agree to that.
There are several things I prefer in Origins. First off, there's the upgrading system. It was always important to collect resources in Origins to make general improvements to your equipment. In Odyssey, resources are almost exclusively used to make upgrades to your ship. The rest of resources are used in such tiny amounts that it basically never matters how much you possess.
Tied to gathering resources is hunting which also comes nowhere close to Origins. It's completely pointless in Odyssey. There are barely any hunting related quests and there's no reason to go hunting as you only get tiny amounts of skin compared to sinking ships. Every animal gives you the same kind of skin (unlike in Origins), so it doesn't even matter if you hunt wolves or bears.
I have nothing against the world in Odyssey but it's way more interesting in Origins. There's also barely anything noteworthy to climb. The temples are always same looking and you can almost bet that every one of them will have a synchronising spot at the top. Other than the big statues it's pretty bland.
Origins also uses the religious side of things much better in quests. There are plenty of gods in both Greece and Egypt but the way gods were used in Origins was just way more clever. In Odyssey people only talk about how the gods have forsaken them and what one should do to please them but there's no real connection in quests. In Origins for example there was a quest about the god Sobek (the one with a crocodile head) where some of his worshippers hid a treasure in a temple close to a lake that was swarming with crocodiles (might have been a little different but that's how I remember it). Just one of many examples.
Abilities in Odyssey are also kinda poor. I have over 10 unspent points and I just don't know what to do with them. I already have every passive ability and I see no reason to use any other active ability than the two I unlocked very early on. Though I can't remember anymore if Origins was any better in that regard.
Mercenaries in Odyssey are so annoying. How come they always know where I am. It's so unfair when you're taking out a whole camp of enemies, fight with the polemarch and then a mercenary shows up that is one level above you. Difficult, annoying but still managable. But what are you going to do when another mercenary that is two levels above you shows up just seconds after the first? Why aren't they at the very least disabled when I'm in a main story mission? They sucked in Origins, but at least they didn't follow you. They just fought with you on sight and they could be avoided rather easily.
On the plus side, combat feels better in Odyssey. There's a good mix of countering, dodging and actively fighting with lots of different techniques. I noticed that fighting doesn't nearly attract as much attention as in Origins and enemies almost never try to light the brazier, which is what constantly happened to me in Origins. Also it seems like it's much easier to dodge arrows this time around.
While the modern time aspect has decreased for a while now in AC games, I really don't see in the point in Odyssey so far (might change). In 30 hours playtime there were like two scenes where I was taken out of the animus only to get back in right after having accomplished nothing. Again, this wasn't properly used in Origins either but it's sad to see they didn't improve on it as that was one of my favourite parts in the early AC games (and AC IV).
I wouldn't say I'm disappointed but after having played Origins I expected a little more. It's basically more of the same with a much larger map and more activities, some steps forward, but also quite a few backwards.
Last edited by Barozi - on 01 February 2020
