Jumat, 27 Oktober 2017
Nintendo Switch accessories: items you need to make the most of your console
You’ve got your Nintendo Switch, you’ve got the launch title you want most (Zelda, anyone?!), you’re absolutely ready to make the most of your new Nintendo console, right? Well, almost.
The Nintendo Switch comes with everything you absolutely definitely need to get the console up and running already in the box, but there are plenty of additional accessories available that will without a doubt enhance your playing experience and unlock the console’s full potential.
To help you figure out what’s out there, what it’s used for, and whether or not it’s actually going to be useful for you, we’ve rounded up a bunch of the key first and third party Switch accessories right here for your perusal.
If you’re not particularly enamored with the Joy-Con controllers and want something that’s a little more traditional you should consider picking up the Nintendo Switch Pro controller.
Though the Joy-Con controllers do have a grip to slide onto to form a single device, it doesn’t have a traditional D-pad and nor does it look quite as ergonomically sound as the Pro controller for longer play sessions.
With its motion controls, HD rumble and Amiibo support it’s a solid alternative to the Joy-Con controllers. You can buy it in a standard grey but for something a little more colorful there are also Xenoblade Chronicles and Splatoon 2-themed options with neon pink and green accents. These do, however, come at a slightly higher cost.
Despite the benefits of the Pro controller for the single player, it might also be worth picking up some extra Joy-Con controllers if you’re fond of multiplayer gaming.
You might as well face the fact that not everyone in your life will have picked up a Switch. Though you could make the purchase of Joy-Con controllers a prerequisite for entry to your home, it might be better for your personal relationships to have a few extra controllers on hand for any impromptu multiplayer sessions.
Joy-Con color selections are growing all the time. Alongside the neon red and blue and grey versions which were available at launch, it's now possible to pick up a matching neon yellow pair and a Splatoon 2-inspired neon pink and green set.
Joy-Con controllers can be purchased separately or in a pair.
If you’d rather not buy a Pro controller but you would like your additional Joy-Con controllers to be slightly more comfortable when they’re being used separately, you could always buy the grip kit.
This kit containing two controller grips and two thumb grips will make your slim Joy-Con controllers slightly bulkier and more akin to a traditional controller shape which should reduce any discomfort that would arise in a longer play session.
You can find it for $14.99/£14.99.
If you’re a physical media fan rather than a download fan, you should probably consider purchasing a game card case for when you take your Switch on the go. Even when storing your games at home it’s a much more compact way of keeping your Switch cartridges in order than piling up each of the individual game boxes.
This compact one from HORI holds 24 game cards and 2 microSD cards, which should keep you going for a while. You can purchase it for $9.99/£8.99.
True LAN parties are possible on the Nintendo Switch, but only if you have an Ethernet adapter as the console doesn’t actually have a standard Ethernet port itself.
If you’d like to connect up to 10 docked Switch consoles for an intense Splatoon 2 tournament with your friends with no dodgy wireless connection worries, you’ll need to pick up one of these. It's not been confirmed whether or not an official Nintendo adapter is necessary or if one you already have will suffice. If you'd rather be safe than sorry, though, you can pick up the official Nintendo Switch adapter for £26.99/$29.99.
No, the Joy-Con grip that comes boxed with your console will not charge your Joy-Con controllers when they’re slid onto it, but considering the Joy-Con controllers have around 20 hours of battery life in them, this shouldn’t prove to be too much of a problem.
However, we all have those times post-play where we just throw our controller on the sofa and walk away. If you just know you’re likely to play with the grip frequently and forget to reattach the controllers to your docked console this could be a purchase worth considering.
It's not the cheapest luxury, though, at £24.99/$29.99 on the official Nintendo site.
You buy protective accessories for your phone, you buy them for your tablet, and we’d say it’s worth buying them for your Nintendo Switch to keep it secure and safe when it’s undocked and on the move.
You can get this nifty Mario case officially licensed by Nintendo which includes a screen protector, earbuds, character-branded Joy-Con Armor Guards, thumb caps, cleaning cloth, and applicator for $29.99/£29.99.
If, however, you're less concerned about themed branding there's also this starter kit from Orzly which comes in at £14.99.
We'd definitely recommend picking up this kit for the screen protector alone; there have been reports of players scratching the tablet screen when docking the console for home play so they're worth investing in.
If you’re not really into the idea of buying and hoarding game cards and would rather digitally purchase your Switch games, you’ll definitely want to look into buying a microSD card.
The Nintendo Switch only has 32GB of internal memory and considering games like The Legend of Zelda will take up to around 13GB of storage, the ability to expand the console’s memory is essential.
The Switch will support microSD and SDHC cards as well as SDXC cards of up to 2TB, even though the latter aren’t actually available for purchase yet.
Think you’ll probably play the Switch in tabletop mode a lot? Then you’ll want to look into purchasing the HORI playstand.
Although the Switch has a flip out leg on its rear that will support it, it doesn’t really leave any clearance for plugging a charging cable into the USB-C port on the console’s base. The HORI playstand will allow for this, though, as it lifts the console off the surface you’re playing on as well as offering adjustable angles for more comfortable play.
As far as Switch accessories go, it's not overly expensive either at £9.99/$12.99.
Planning to use the Switch on the go a lot? It could be worth investing in a sturdy external battery pack if you haven’t already.
The Switch’s portable battery life isn’t unreasonable but it isn’t stellar either and since you can’t guarantee you’re always going to be near a plug socket to top up its charge a back up power source will rarely go wrong. Just make sure you have a USB-C cable to connect it.
These are our picks of the best portable battery packs to help you choose.
Reports have started coming in that Nintendo Switch owners are scratching their tablet screens while placing and removing it from the main console dock. This is something you definitely want to avoid, so we'd say you should definitely invest in a screen protector.
Aside from this dock issue, it just makes sense to protect the console's screen, particularly if you plan to take it on the go frequently.
You can pick up third-party protectors created by Orzly for as little as £5.99 on Amazon.
The Nintendo Switch itself may be a portable console, but its bulky dock isn't which isn't ideal if you want to take the entire set up on the go to play on a TV that isn't your own.
Fortunately, there's a third-party solution to that problem. Accessory maker Nyko has created a much smaller dock for the Nintendo Switch. So small it can fit in the palm of your hand.
Being so small, it doesn't have the comforting stability of Nintendo's official dock or USB ports but it's a great on-the-go solution. With a recommended retail price of $44.99 it's an affordable one, too.
The dock has been released and can be purchased on Nyko's official website.
Hoping to nip in just before Nyko with a smaller, more portable and (most importantly) more affordable dock than what Nintendo is currently selling is SFANS.
SFANS' Switch to TV adapter is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo with an aim to ship in August (one month before Nyko's portable dock). It's fully funded and costs $59 through the Indiegogo page, though that's saving 45% on the planned final retail price which means it will eventually be more expensive than Nyko's offering.
That said, it looks more stable that Nyko's dock as it sits the Switch flat and it boasts a couple of USB ports to boot.
While the Switch's Joy-Con controllers don't have dismal battery life, we do sometimes forget to charge them. If you're forever finding your battery is running low mid-game you might be interested in Nintendo's official Joy-Con battery packs.
This battery pack will essentially slide onto the back of your Joy-Con controllers and power them using AA batteries. They do add slightly more bulk but this might suit those who feel the Joy-Cons are on the small side.
You can find these on Amazon UK for £10.35 and Amazon US for $21.49.
If you take your Mario Karting seriously, you might be interested in a Joy-Con steering wheel adapter. This wireless wheel will use the motion sensors in the Joy-Con to allow you to feel like you're driving a real cart. There's a learning curve to using these and they're on the small side but they add a new dimension to racing games.
October 27, 2017 at 03:33PM
Emma Boyle
Kamis, 26 Oktober 2017
Steam Halloween Sale goes live with scary-good deals on horror games and movies
Valve has finally pulled the proverbial coffin lid back on its annual Steam Halloween Sale, unleashing amazing deals on a huge collection of horror games and movies.
From big AAA games to indie gems, expect to save up to 80% on the best scary games of recent memory.
The sale went live just minutes ago at the time of writing, and will go on through Halloween to 10am PT, 1pm ET or 6pm BST on November 1 – or 5am AET on November 2.
The most serious savings to scare up
Since we’re most concerned with games that everyone can play, we’ll focus on the most impressive deals on horror games for traditional PCs. Here are the best Steam Halloween Sale deals on the top-most games both AAA and indie:
- Expect even more mega games deals come this Black Friday
October 27, 2017 at 02:39AM
Joe Osborne
Can't find the Switch or SNES Classic? Nintendo boss wants to change that
After so many years of doom and gloom, Nintendo is enjoying a bit of a renaissance. But perhaps because it's used to the demands of that earlier, slower era, the well-known gaming company has had a rough time meeting the wild demand for new devices like NES Classic, SNES Classic and Nintendo Switch.
In an interview with The Verge, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé expressed regret over the situation.
"I wish we would have more hardware," Fils-Aimé said. "Our inability to meet demand is not something that is satisfying in any way, shape or form. And we’re working hard to satisfy as much demand as possible."
Fils-Aimé went on to say that changes have been made to the supply line in order to get more of its products out to customers.
Missed opportunity
At almost every turn this year, the extreme appeal of some of Nintendo's latest products has been tempered by the knowledge that you might not even be able to buy the coveted devices.
In the case of the NES Classic, all available units sold out within a matter of days. Although it initially said it wouldn't make any more , Nintendo now plans to launch a new wave of the diminutive sometime next year.
The SNES Classic and the Nintendo Switch console never reached such extremes, but even now – months after launch – it's still hard to get your hands on either unit. That scarcity, naturally, has pushed prices for the NES Classic, the SNES Classic and occasionally the Switch to absurd heights on sites like eBay.
Fils-Aimé wants to keep that from happening in the future.
"We know that there are many consumers who want that system and have not been able to purchase it," said Fils-Aimé, referring to the SNES Classic Mini. "Certainly we’re not happy to see the re-seller prices on that system. And so bringing it back, and bringing it back in significant numbers, is something that’s important to us."
- Gaming deals will be widely available on Black Friday 2017
October 27, 2017 at 02:25AM
Leif Johnson
Games with Gold November 2017: these are the free games you can get this month
One of the main benefits of being an Xbox Live Gold subscriber is definitely the fact that each month you get access to a range of free games across the Xbox One and Xbox 360 platforms. If you’re an Xbox One owner, backwards compatibility means you get to take advantage of the Xbox 360 titles too.
This is a great way to try games you might not otherwise have played, whether because they're indie titles that slip under your radar or simply because you don’t have the funds to buy several games a month.
Even if you don’t have the console memory or the time to spare right now, we’d say it’s always worth claiming them every month anyway as you’ll then have free access to them for as long as you have an active Xbox Live account.
Since this is a monthly event, we’ve decided to create a one-stop shop where you’ll be able to find the newest free games, as well as scroll back and see which games were featured in previous months. That way you’ll know whether it’s worth holding out for a game to appear in an upcoming Games with Gold month or if it's already been offered.
So without further ado, here are the free Xbox Live games in North America, Europe, and Australia for November 2017.
Don't forget some of the October titles are still available too!
November 2017
Xbox One
Tales from the Borderlands – November 16 to December 15 (usually $14.99/ £11.99/ AU $19.95)
One of the strongest titles from Telltale Games, Tales from the Borderlands is a narrative and choice-driven episodic game set after the events of Borderlands 2. Head to the harsh world of Pandora and play Rhys, a Hyperion ‘suit’ with big dreams, and Fiona, a con artist looking to earn big. These unwilling partners must travel together to recover a huge sum of money they both think is theirs, encountering bandits, hunters and gangsters along the way. This bundle contains the complete season so you can enjoy the story from beginning to end.
Trackmania Turbo – November 1 to November 30 (usually $39.99/ £29.99/ AU $59.95)
Looking for an arcade racing experience unlike any other? Then you want Trackmania Turbo. This game incites you to test your driving skills across a bunch of crazy tracks, and even invites you to design your own. You can play solo in campaign mode, team up with a friend in local co-op mode or play against up to four friends in local multiplayer.
Xbox 360
NiGHTS into Dreams – November 1 to November 15 (usually $9.99/ £6.75/ AU $9.95)
This is a game that's been around for a while. Originally published by Sega on the Sega Saturn in 1996, NiGHTS into Dreams is an action adventure game that follows two teenagers, Claris and Elliot, in a dream world called Nightopia. It's up to Claris and Elliot to team up with Nights to stop an evil ruler known as Wizeman from destroying Nightopia and their own world. This game is an example of Sega at its most creative and weird. It's difficult but well worth trying out.
Deadfall Adventures – November 16 to November 30 (usually $39.99/ £34.99/ AU $69.95)
This is one of the more expensive Games With Gold this month. Deadfall Adventures is a first person action adventure game which puts you in the shoes of a treasure hunter in the WW2 era. Indiana Jones, anyone? Through the game you fight Nazis across environments that range from Egypt to the Arctic, solving puzzles and finding hidden treasures along the way.
October 2017
Xbox One
Gone Home – October 1 to 31 (usually $19.99 / £15.99/ AU $26.95)
Gone Home is something a little bit different from the fast-paced action games you might be used to. Rather than rushing to fight enemies or solve puzzles, the game instead sees you slowly exploring your family home, finding clues to piece together what's happened to its inhabitants.
What results is a captivating love story that's well worth playing through.
The Turing Test – October 16 to November 15 (usually $19.99 / £14.99 / AU $29.95)
Another first-person experience with a twist, The Turing Test is a puzzle game where you play as Ava Turing as she attempts to solve the mysteries of Europa.
Xbox 360
Rayman 3 HD – October 1 to 15 (usually $9.99/ £6.75/ AU $9.95)
This remake of the platformer originally released in 2003 adds trophies to the classic experience, as well as upscaling its graphics to 720p at 60fps.
Medal of Honor: Airborne – October 16 to 31 (usually $19.99/ £14.99/ AU$19.95)
This entry in the long-running Medal of Honor series casts you as a member of the 82nd AirBorne Division as you fight against the Axis in World War 2. The game features a mechanic unique to this particular entry in the Medal of Honor series whereby you can start each mission wherever you please on the map.
September 2017
Xbox One
Forza Motorsport 5: Racing Game of the Year Edition – September 1 to 30 (usually $39.99 / £23.99/ AU $69.95)
Oxenfree – September 16 to October 15 (usually $19.99 / £15.99 / AU $26.95)
Xbox 360
Hydro Thunder Hurricane – September 1 to 15 (usually $9.99/ £7.69/ AU $12.29)
Battlefield 3 – September 16 to 30 (usually $19.99/ £14.99/ AU $29.95)
August 2017
Xbox One
Slime Rancher – August 1 to August 31(usually £15.99/ $19.99/ AU $26.95)
Trials Fusion – August 16 to September 15 (usually £15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
Xbox 360
Bayonetta – August 1 to August 15 (usually £14.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
Red Faction: Armageddon – August 16 to August 31 (usually £24.99/ $29.99/ AU $49.95)
July 2017
Xbox One
Grow Up – Available July 1 to July 30 (usually $9.99/ £7.99/ AU $14.95)
Runbow – Available July 16 to August 15
Xbox 360
Kane & Lynch 2 – Available July 1 to July 15 (usually $14.99/ £11.99/ AU $19.95)
LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game – Available July 16 to July 31(usually $19.99/ £8.99/ AU $29.95)
June 2017
Xbox One
SpeedRunners - Available June 1 to June 30
Watch Dogs - Available June 26 to July 15 (usually $29.99/ £23.99/ AU$39.95)
Xbox 360
Assassin's Creed III - Available June 1 to June 15 (usually $19.99/ £8.99/ AU$14.95)
Dragon Age: Origins - Available June 16 to June 30 (usually $14.99/ £14.99/ AU$19.95)
May 2017
Xbox One
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris – Available May 16 to June 15 (usually $19.99/ £14.99/ AU $26.95)
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Director's Cut – Available May 1 to May 31 (usually $14.99/ £11.99 / listed as Coming Soon on Australian store)
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II – Available May 1 to May 15 (usually $19.99 / £11.99/ AU $29.95)
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga – Available May 16 to May 31 (usually $19.99/ £11.99/ AU $29.95)
April 2017
Xbox One
Ryse: Son of Rome – Available April 1 to April 30 (currently only available as part of a bundle in US and AU for ($29.99/ AU $69.95)
The Walking Dead: Season Two – Available April 16 to May 15 (usually £19.99/ $24.99/ AU $33.45)
Xbox 360
Darksiders – Available April 1 to April 15 (usually £14.99/ $19.99/ AU$29.95)
Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Available April 16 to April 30 (usually £8.99/ $19.99/ AU $9.95)
March 2017
Xbox One
Layers of Fear – Available 01/03 to 31/03 (usually £15.99/ $19.99/ AU $26.95
Evolve: Ultimate Edition – Available 16/03 to 15/04 (usually £34.99/ $49.99/ AU $54.95)
Xbox 360
Borderlands 2 – Available 01/03 to 15/03 (Usually £19.99/ $19.99/ AU $49.95)
Heavy Weapon – Available 16/03 to 31/03 (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
February 2017
Xbox One
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime – Available 01/02 to 28/02 (usually £11.99/ $14.99/ AU$19.95)
Project Cars Digital Edition – Available 16/02 to 15/03 (usually £23.99/ $29.99/ AU$39.95)
Xbox 360
Monkey Island 2: Special Edition – Available 01/02 to 15/02 (usually £6.75/ $9.99/ AU$9.95)
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed – Available 16/02 to 28/02 (usually £11.99/ $19.99/ AU$19.95)
January 2017
Xbox One
- Van Helsing: Deathtrap (£15.99/ $19.99/ AU $26.95)
- Killer Instinct Season 2 Ultra Edition (£31.99/ $39.99 / AU $52.45)
Xbox 360
December 2016
Xbox One
November 2016
Xbox One
Xbox 360
- Monkey Island Special Edition (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU$13.45)
- Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (£9.99/ $14.99/ AU$14.95)
October 2016
Xbox One
- Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings (£15.99/ $19.99/ AU$26.95)
- The Escapists (£14.99/ $19.99/ AU$26.95)
Xbox 360
September 2016
Xbox One
- Earthlock: Festival of Magic (£23.99/$29.99/AU$39.95)
- Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Chine (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU$13.45)
Xbox 360
- Forza Horizon (no current pricing available)
- Mirror’s Edge (£14.99/ $14.99/ AU$19.95)
October 26, 2017 at 10:48PM
Emma Boyle,Stephen Lambrechts
Super Mario Odyssey review: one of Mario's finest adventures
Super Mario has become something of a defining character when it comes to Nintendo hardware; Super Mario Bros. effectively sold the NES to the global masses in the '80s, while Super Mario World was a dream launch title for the 16-bit SNES a few years later.
Super Mario 64 would revolutionize the 3D platforming genre and prove the worth of the Nintendo 64's new-fangled analogue wand, while the Wii's Super Mario Galaxy gave Mario one of his best outings to date.
Now it's the turn of the Switch, a system which has already seen Zelda: Breath of the Wild gleefully tear up the conventions of that franchise. Super Mario Odyssey isn't quite as ardent in its desire to break rules, but it does have some particularly noteworthy tricks up its sleeve.
Making the Switch super
Not that you'd know from the opening premise; Mario's arch-enemy Bowser is up to his usual tricks and has kidnapped Princess Peach with the intention of finally putting a ring on it and making her his wife.
This kicks off a rather hair-brained scheme where Bowser travels from kingdom to kingdom, stealing an item from each which is integral to his upcoming nuptials. Taking the something borrowed tradition somewhat too seriously it seems.
Mario quickly befriends Cappy – a sentient piece of headgear – and hops on board the flying ship Odyssey to give chase.
Even when you touch down in the game's opening levels, it's hard to shake the impression that this is merely more of the same; there are coins to collect, characters to chat with and platforms to negotiate, all taking place within a confined stage, Mario 64-style. However, you soon notice something is very different – Super Mario Odyssey lacks traditional power-ups.
There's not a single Mushroom, Leaf or Fire Flower in sight; Mario doesn't change size or alter the color of his overalls, and there are certainly no Tanooki or Cat suits to be found.
Instead, Cappy can be flung at nearby enemies to possess them, thereby gaining their unique talents and powers. A frog imbues the player with the ability to leap high into the sky, while a Goomba is capable of walking on ice without slipping and sliding.
It's not just enemies that can be possessed in this way; other characters can be “cap”-tured and used to find secrets and hidden routes. At one point you have to possess a slab of meat in order to achieve your objective. While the absence of power-ups could be perceived as a negative, Cappy's talents mean that Super Mario Odyssey gives the player more gameplay options than ever before.
Possessions over power-ups
Cappy isn't just good for possessing enemies; he can be used in other ways, too. Holding down the throw button after you've released him causes a prolonged spin which is ideal for dishing out additional damage or smashing crates.
You can also use him as a temporary platform in this state, which allows you travel across wide expanses of the landscape. Using the motion controls on the Joy-Con you can add wrinkles to these commands; a waggle of the controllers will cause Cappy to home in on the closest enemy, while other gestures trigger vertical and even circular throws.
These commands accentuate Mario's already impressive repertoire, which he has tirelessly built up over the years. He can wall jump, triple jump, ground pound and – of course – leap on the heads of foes to vanquish them.
Following on from the linear, tightly-structured levels of Super Mario 3D World – which were designed for chaotic multiplayer fun – the kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey have a sandbox feel to them, with some stretching off far into the distance.
Each one is packed with Power Moons, Odyssey's most coveted collectible and the resource on which your ship depends in order to progress to other kingdoms. Some of these are hidden in plain sight, while others require you to embark on mini-quests such as finding lost sheep or collecting magical notes.
On your first run it's possible to collect a certain amount of Power Moons per stage before moving on, but if you're deadly serious about completing the game totally then you can expect many weeks of endless searching.
Then there are the coins. The way in which Super Mario Odyssey uses this timeless collectible is nothing short of genius.
There are no lives in the game; instead, death merely results in you returning to the last checkpoint and losing a handful of coinage – hardly a major frustration as coins are everywhere.
However, coins do have more value here; they are used to purchase new costumes, Power Moons and other items from vendors in each kingdom, so you'll want to grab as many as possible.
Each kingdom also has 50 purple coins which are unique to that region; these are also used to purchase items, albeit ones which are more desirable. Finding them all becomes just as compelling as finding the Power Moons – even more so when you consider that some of the costumes on offer can be used to gain access to bolted doors in each kingdom.
Collectible genius
This slightly revised setup would count for little if the kingdoms themselves weren't up to scratch, but Nintendo's designers have allowed their imaginations to run riot in Odyssey.
From the uncanny realism of New Donk City – complete with “normal” looking humans, against which Mario appears quite odd – to the downright bonkers Luncheon Kingdom – where food comes alive and attacks our hero – Odyssey's levels are full of surprises.
It's easy to become hopelessly entrapped in these levels as you explore each nook and cranny in search of collectibles and other secrets – in fact, you may find yourself spending longer than you have to in certain kingdoms purely because the act of exploration is so enticing and addictive.
On the downside, the devilishly compelling multiplayer witnessed in Super Mario 3D World is gone. Although, a very basic co-op mode – which gives the second player limited control over Cappy's movements – is available.
It would have been tricky for Nintendo to factor in a four-player system but its omission still hurts, especially when you consider how much fun the Wii U outing was because of it.
Thankfully amiibo are supported this time around, and they actually have a use in-game; you can employ them to seek out Power Moons to make life a little easier. It's also worth mentioning the Assist Mode, which makes things easier for newcomers by giving Mario extra health and showing which direction to head in next.
Final verdict: play it now
Super Mario Odyssey doesn't discard the core mechanics of the series in quite the same way that Zelda: Breath of the Wild does, but it's fresh and different enough to what has gone before to comfortably rank as one of Mario's finest adventures in recent memory.
The process of uncovering all of its secrets and finding all of its collectibles will take the average player weeks if not longer, and the game world is so chock full of intriguing surprises that it's almost impossible to put down.
Super Mario Odyssey is one of those unique games which manages to be both instantly familiar and breathtakingly groundbreaking at the same time; it's also the perfect way to round off what has been a remarkable first year for the Switch.
October 26, 2017 at 08:00PM
Damien McFerran
Assassin's Creed Origins review in progress: making the old feel new again
Assassin’s Creed has always claimed that “history is our playground” but Assassin’s Creed Origins may be the first game in the series that truly captures that.
Previous titles in the series have, unfortunately, tended towards feeling more like closed schoolyards than open playgrounds.
Open to explore though they were, these settings had strict schoolyard monitors and keep off the grass signs in the form of locked-off maps, inescapable repetitive missions and restrictive combat mechanics.
Assassin’s Creed Origins, on the other hand, throws open the school doors, hands you your hoodie and tells you to enjoy your free time in the way you want. Heck, run on the road if you want to.
It’s a freedom that’s both daunting and exhilarating but it injects some much needed life into a series that was beginning to feel like a never-ending game of hopscotch.
As Assassin's Creed Origins is such a large game, we've opted to share our initial impressions with you rather than a final review. Despite being more than two thirds of the way through the title, we'll reserve our final verdict for its completion so keep an eye for that very soon.
Big and bold
Assassin’s Creed Origins is by far the biggest Assassin’s Creed game to date but though the world is open and free, there are some limitations. You can absolutely go wherever you want but you might find yourself subtly directed by the game's new levelling system and RPG mechanics.
Levels aren’t a new thing in Assassin’s Creed but they’re much more obviously RPG-inspired and important in Origins than ever before.
As Bayek you start at level one and increase your level by gathering XP, which you do by simply playing the game - so completing main and side quests, discovering new locations and items, and synchronising from View Points.
The limitations arise from the fact that all quests and enemies also have levels attached to them and if those levels are higher than your own you're going to struggle to win. Though it’s absolutely possible to win, it can be extremely challenging and frustrating.
Most of the time your energy is better channelled into grinding up your level by other means. Not only does raising your level make quests more manageable, it also increases your health and gives you Ability Points to unlock new skills.
While this could be extremely frustrating, Assassin’s Creed Origins is so abundant in XP sources, it’s actually not difficult to get stronger at pace.
This reasonable leveling incline, abundance of XP and freedom to challenge yourself makes it easier to appreciate, rather than resent, the game's attempts to guide you.
Rather than coming across as an attempt to block your progress, it feels like the game is asking you to slow down and savor what’s on offer outside of the main story.
This does, however, have the potential to strike the wrong chord with those who just want to power through the game's main story. To lessen the impact of level gaps and power through you can play on easy mode but the sense of challenge is greatly reduced.
Strike fast
It’s abundantly clear from its focus on freedom that Assassin’s Creed Origins is a game that wants you to have fun and this extends to the new combat system. It’s now far less like a rigid Regency dance, requiring you to be agile and sharp-minded. There's not quite as much rolling as Bloodborne but it'll give you flashbacks.
Switching between hidden blade, sword and bow is quick and easy but it’s using the Abilities you unlock in the new skill tree that makes things especially fun. It’s from this skill tree that you can unlock the ability to tame animals, perform slow-motion bow shots when in the air and wield two melee weapons. It really breaks up the monotony of hacking, slashing and crouching.
Something I was particularly relieved by was the game’s crafting system because it’s simple and easy to understand. A gripe I often have with crafting systems in games with large open worlds and multitudes of quests is that they end up being complex enough to warrant their own game.
Assassin’s Creed Origins, however, takes a more light and free-flowing approach to crafting. It's the difference between cross-stitching an existing pattern and making your own.
In the gear menu you’ll find items you can craft to increase your ammo capacity, improve your health and make your hidden blade stronger. The resources you need for crafting are always reasonable in terms quantity and though some are more rare than others they’re not impossible to find. Once you’ve gathered them you simply have to jump back into the gear menu and select the item you want to craft. That’s it. No schematics, no endless lists. Just streamlined simplicity.
Overall, Assassin’s Creed Origins seems to have found a nice balance with its RPG features - they’re key to gameplay and add a nice amount of depth without being overwhelming in terms of time-commitment or complexity.
Weaving a tale
As a series, Assassin’s Creed needs a solid character to contextualize its setting and its story so it’s unlikely we’ll see a from-the-ground-up create-your-own assassin game any time soon. This RPG-lite system is a nice way to bring you closer to the character of Bayek and feel that he’s your own.
As a character Bayek is very likeable. I sometimes wonder if we were spoiled by the roguishness of Ezio Auditore but Bayek has more personality than Assassin's Creed 3's Connor and less irritating flippancy than Syndicate's Jacob.
By and large, there's a believable balance between dutiful seriousness and warm humanity that’s reminiscent of Edward Kenway from Black Flag and that’s perfectly fine by us.
As far as the game’s main story goes, we’ll steer clear of any spoilers but suffice it to say this is the most interested and invested I’ve been in an Assassin’s Creed main storyline for a long time.
The narrative is well structured and the transition from personal revenge story into something much larger is neatly done. It also makes a nice change to move away from the usual assassin and Templar conflict. What replaces it isn’t all that thematically different, don’t get me wrong, but it’s framed in such a way that it feels fresh.
Side quests aren’t quite at the same level as those you find in The Witcher 3 but they are woven nicely into the game world. It's been said that every side quest in Assassin’s Creed Origins is unique and though this is to some extent true, don’t think it means there’s no repetition.
Though the story-based side quests all have a different story behind them and introduce you to different NPCs, they do tend to require you to perform the usual Assassin’s Creed rituals of sneak, spy, fetch and kill.
Variety is the spice of side questing
The fact that they’re wrapped in reasonably interesting stories does mean it takes much longer for them to wear on your patience. I’ve rescued a man from a hangover so bad he was literally surrounded by hungry crocodiles and 10 minutes later helped recover another’s treasured Book of the Dead. There’s enough tonal variety and historically accurate context in these quests to keep you interested.
The scripted missions are balanced out by random encounters which offer a less narrative-heavy experience. It’s entirely up to you whether you engage with them or not but knowing that farmers are occasionally beset by wild hippos through no fault of yours effectively create the sense that the game world lives beyond you.
To instil a sense of friendly competition there are also leaderboard activities you can get involved in after you pursue the side quests that open them up. These are the Arena and the Hippodrome - the former is for those interested in proving their combat skills while the latter allows you to get involved in some chariot racing.
You won't sink hours into these activities as they can grow somewhat stale but they break up the open world nicely. They also charmingly showcase the influence of Greek and Roman culture on Egypt at the time.
Unsurprisingly, the playground Ubisoft has built in Assassin’s Creed Origins is visually stunning. It always is. There’s a real sense of life and place in this ancient Egypt. In a single play you can find yourself on water, in a swamp, wandering a barren desert, picking through rich farmland or exploring a bustling city.
The world is more like Black Flag in terms of the move away from city-focused play but the cities you do explore are wonderfully reminiscent of Florence and Rome from the earlier games in the series.
Ubisoft has re-created a real country here and the transition between locations is utterly seamless with minimal loading screens. The level of detail is also astounding, from the fireflies and crickets in the warm evenings, to the historically accurate fishing baskets that line the Nile, and the NPCs who go about their lives more convincingly than ever before.
It’s rare that I pay attention to Assassin's Creed NPCs but this time around I enjoyed stopping in the streets to listen to their conversations. The discussions in the bath house are particularly funny - "I think he just comes here to ogle naked boys." "Yes, well, don't we all."
More than passively alive, this is also the most interactive an Assassin's Creed world has ever been. Pretty much everything is climbable, including cliff faces, and you can swim as deep in the ocean as your lungs will allow. You can interact with stray cats, explore hidden tombs and sunken ships and even use flaming torches to set your arrow heads alight.
Let there be life
However, while details are rich they’re inconsistent. I have yet to encounter any mind-boggling bugs in Assassin’s Creed Origins but there are distracting inconsistencies in facial animations and voice acting.
Main story cut scenes tend to be very well done and across the board these are the most natural body animations I’ve seen in an Assassin’s Creed title. However, in side quests faces and voices sometimes lack expression.
The fact that side quests sometimes leave you feeling like you’re talking to a potato with drawn-on eyes somewhat undermines the narrative efforts that are being made. These facial inconsistencies are a problem Assassin’s Creed games have always had and it’s a shame they’ve not been more ironed out here, particularly given the increased focus on story-driven questing.
Early verdict
This actually feeds neatly into how Assassin's Creed Origins feels overall - simultaneously new and familiar. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
You know without a doubt that you’re playing an Assassin’s Creed game with Origins but while previous titles tended towards being oceans disguised as puddles, this one has a little more depth. Rather than standing sadly with soggy socks, you'll at least find yourself paddling.
It’s like when Ubisoft itself changed its logo earlier this year - it was still recognizably Ubisoft but it was indicative of the publisher's intention to move forward and change. Less reboot, more re-invigoration.
As an increasingly fatigued fan, Origins has rekindled my interest in the direction of the Assassin’s Creed series. While it's true that absence makes the heart forgetful, Assassin's Creed has improved in many ways for this outing and it feels genuinely fresh.
The series didn’t need to completely change or disappear, it just needed to pause for a moment and regain a sense of purpose. By taking this time, Ubisoft has created what might just be the series’ best and most fun title in a long time.
We'll make the final call on this assessment very soon.
October 26, 2017 at 06:00PM
Emma Boyle