Everything is on fire, you’re not allowed outside unless you’re in full Bane cosplay gear and you need some escapism in your life. Now more than ever, video games are scratching that itch to help you escape from the world and have a good time. I’ve currently been doing just that, touring Mediterranean islands and engaging in naval battles that has left scores of broken ships in my wake, killed some of the biggest bastard animals in the ancient Greek world and made a name for myself as the deadliest mercenary around.
If you’d told me several years ago that I’d be pumping so many hours into an Assassin’s Creed game along these lines, I’d stood there. Blinking. Silent and dumbfounded. More so than usual anyway.
And yet here we are. I’m close to 60 hours into Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and I’ loving every single minute of it, to a point where my enthusiasm for the franchise has been properly reinvigorated along the way. The last time I’d dipped into Assassin’s Creed, was with 2014’s Unity. Now mind you, Unity still had plenty of charm but by then I’d felt as if the formula had run its course. It was as pretty as a Renaissance oil painting once all the nightmare fuel glitches had been fixed and the history tour of ye olde France was educational stuff…but I felt like I was going through the assassin motions at that point.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on the other hand, just feels like the type of sandbox I adore. Some people say its bloated, others say there’s too much to do within it, and I have to say…well you’re kind of right. The amount of content stuffed within Odyssey is staggering, but to its credit it is done in a manner that never feels in your face. There’s an optional drive to do all the side-quests and organic missions, a hands-off approach that other games could learn and benefit from.
Want to go start a quest-line in Athens where you slowly hunt down elusive cultists responsible for giving you a rim origin story that makes Batman’s life story sound like a picnic in the park in comparison? Done. Want to switch gears and sex your way across Greece as you pursue targets and love? The choice is yours! Feel like finding your sea-legs as you sail across some of the bluest waters ever seen in a video game, dolphins racing alongside you as you hope to maybe kill a few of them on the side? That’s mostly possible. Damn dolphins.
Anyway, what’s truly great about Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is how it boils down to a power fantasy set across a picturesque collection of islands. It has history and charm in spades, it has activities that’ll keep you going for weeks if not months and it is filled with small moments that’ll put a smile on your face. If you’re one of those people who prefers to give Ubisoft a year between games, only hopping in a few months after a title has released, then all the power to you!
Because right now, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is an amazingly detailed world to explore. I’ve yet to play Assassin’s Creed Origins, but diving headfirst into Odyssey while being largely unaware of just how much has changed, has been an absolute joy for me. It’s Dark Souls by way of an RPG grind, anchored by a progression system that tailors itself to your way of play: Ranged archer who can take down foes before they get near, a close-quarters warrior of legend or a sneaky backstabbing bastard who uses theatricality and deception to stick a broken spear into the base of your skull.
Guess which method I prefer?
Like I said, I’m near the 60-hour mark and I’m still finding so much to keep myself occupied with. I’m nearly down hunting down all the cultists of Kosmos, I’m a few legendary animal hides short of having the Artemis fan club sing my praises and this week I’m planning on tackling some Atlantean DLC which I’ve been told will leave me in full “HUH?!” mode by the end of the day. Grabbing Assassin’s Creed by the horns in its present state and just ahead of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla so that I can build up some thumb muscle memory, was a smart move.
As the old saying goes, Greece is the word.
Last Updated: June 1, 2020
Splooshypooh
June 1, 2020 at 14:25
Bait.
The D
June 1, 2020 at 14:37
Uh…how is this bait?
Pariah
June 1, 2020 at 16:10
Because just one bite and you’re hooked.
Andrew Kaehler
June 2, 2020 at 14:35
Dumb
BradeLunner
June 1, 2020 at 19:08
I just finished this as well, so much fun, really loved the setting and main character, but God I had issues with how the story wraps up
The D
June 2, 2020 at 20:22
BRUH I FEEL YOU
I got Force Unleashed 2 PTSD when the end credits hit. I was kind of shocked how sudden it was.
Addicted to Lil Narco?
June 4, 2020 at 20:28
Yea WTF
Someone told me that FU2 was originally DLC.
Andrew Kaehler
June 2, 2020 at 14:35
I put about 160 hours in so far in the last 2 years
The D
June 2, 2020 at 20:22
And I thought my time sunk into the game ws bordering on obsessive!
Logan Agee
June 5, 2020 at 05:21
Try me, I’m at like 630 hours.
ianism
June 2, 2020 at 22:17
I’m at about 160 too, but I’ve only been playing for a month or so
Grudgezilla
June 2, 2020 at 17:50
Origins was a lot better. Bayek > Kass/Alexios combined. Also way better side quests and far less grindy.
The D
June 2, 2020 at 20:22
We actually had a fat chat about Origins and Odyssey in the office today, and while I’m glad I went with Odyssey first, I’ve apparently missed out one of the more gorgeous AC games. Will probably look at grabbing this one next year, to avoid sandbox burnout.
Grudgezilla
June 2, 2020 at 21:22
I like them both, I just like Origins a lot more.
Nathan Miller
June 3, 2020 at 00:08
It will be hard to go from odyssey to origins as odyssey had a combat system that was just an improved version of origins. But if you get past that it will be fine.
ianism
June 2, 2020 at 22:17
they’re both ultra grindy (Odyssey is worse though, of course). side quests are easily better in Odyssey though, I really don’t know what you’re smoking there. the main problem I had with the grindiness was that there’s way, waaay too many military/bandit camps/barracks/locations of that nature to clear out. the rest was mostly fine. I think Odyssey is a better game overall because everything is a little more refined and there’s far more customizability with your stats and gear. as for the stories… the writing in Odyssey is significantly better and the side quests are far more developed. I liked Kassandra a little more than Bayek (both excellent though), but Alexios isn’t great… his voice acting is a little much ahahaha, but he’s good as the villain at least. despite all these clear advantages for Odyssey, I do like Origins more too, but for me it’s because I just found Egypt to be a more interesting world to explore. Greece has been great too, but not as unique.
ianism
June 2, 2020 at 22:17
they’re both ultra grindy (Odyssey is worse though, of course). side quests are easily better in Odyssey though, I really don’t know what you’re smoking there. the main problem I had with the grindiness was that there’s way, waaay too many military/bandit camps/barracks/locations of that nature to clear out. the rest was mostly fine. I think Odyssey is a better game overall because everything is a little more refined and there’s far more customizability with your stats and gear. as for the stories… the writing in Odyssey is significantly better and the side quests are far more developed. I liked Kassandra a little more than Bayek (both excellent though), but Alexios isn’t great… his voice acting is a little much ahahaha, but he’s good as the villain at least. despite all these clear advantages for Odyssey, I do like Origins more too, but for me it’s because I just found Egypt to be a more interesting world to explore. Greece has been great too, but not as unique.
ErrantChaos
June 3, 2020 at 00:37
I don’t get what you mean by Grindy. I literally went almost to level 60 and I avoided all extraneous military camps and the like. I did three things and three things only. I explored the whole map and did the main story missions. As well as the free dlc side missions.
ErrantChaos
June 3, 2020 at 00:37
I don’t get what you mean by Grindy. I literally went almost to level 60 and I avoided all extraneous military camps and the like. I did three things and three things only. I explored the whole map and did the main story missions. As well as the free dlc side missions.
ianism
July 14, 2020 at 04:40
grindy means ultra repetitive. so you chose to deliberately not engage with the most repetitive the content the game had to offer and have come to the conclusion that your experience speaks for everyone’s? lol.
ps I got to level 87 on one playthrough. so yeah.
Immortal
June 3, 2020 at 11:42
I started to play it again for the last 2 months and yet I haven’t finished the game… Such an amazing game
Ciaran Neary
June 3, 2020 at 08:38
I fell away from the series after black flag, but origins lured me back and I loved it. Thought I’d better start odyssey before valhalla is released and I have not been disappointed. Its so beautiful to watch and engaging to play that I dont notice the ‘grind’ that’s bugging some people. I’m loving every minute of it. Maybe I forget origins but id put odyssey on top.
James
June 3, 2020 at 18:43
This was a really fun article to read, I’m actually playing through it fully right now and this pretty much nails my experience. Definitely interested in playing Origins now from what everyone is saying. Discussing an older game for fun like this makes me want to find a way to contribute similar freelance content, so thanks for the inspiration!
Lara
June 3, 2020 at 18:31
This game is a completionist’s nightmare.
KJ Flynn
June 5, 2020 at 00:06
Yup, I’m at 360+ hours and still grinding away…
David Williamson
June 4, 2020 at 08:06
Great read. I’m well over 100hours in and still a massive amount to play. 99% of the main story completed. DLC is amazing really adds alot to the game. Awesome game ?
Deltath Riylaan
June 4, 2020 at 13:50
But you said you were offering me a copy of the game. Where is it, you lying bastard?!?!
Addicted to Lil Narco?
June 4, 2020 at 20:28
I started Odyssey a few days ago and I finished 99% of Origins. I love Origins but I need a long break before I finish the last few DLC quests and replay the game. It’s more like Far Cry than AC.
Addicted to Lil Narco?
June 4, 2020 at 20:28
I started Odyssey a few days ago and I finished 99% of Origins. I love Origins but I need a long break before I finish the last few DLC quests and replay the game. It’s more like Far Cry than AC.