Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed has made a triumphant return to gaming after a year-long hiatus. Fans of the series and newcomers alike will be introduced to new gameplay mechanics and a storyline that takes them to the dawn of the first assassin brotherhood.

Since 2007, Ubisoft has released a yearly installment in the Assassin’s Creed universe. The series has been revelled and met with fame and fortune. Although, not every release has been a hit, and fans of the game have grown tiresome with the similarities between some of the releases. In 2016, Ubisoft took a year-long hiatus from the Assassin’s Creed adventure. Though they released 2.5D side-scrollers in the Assassin’s Creed name, the last main title was Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, featuring a storyline that was set in the 1800s. Though Assassin’s Creed: Origins takes us further back in time, it’s a huge step forward for the advancement of the series.

The hiatus brought new life to the franchise, where a whole new gameplay system was introduced. This time around, Assassin’s Creed: Origins has become somewhat of an adventure-RPG style game. Players have the ability to level up and can choose the skills and attributes they can develop over time. The game takes inspiration from games such as Far Cry and The Witcher. Newcomers and players of previous installments will find the gameplay challenging and engaging. Fighting feels more realistic and not as repetitive as before. There are thousands of weapons, each with their own characteristics and perks such as damage multipliers or the ability to receive health with a successful hit. Weapons can be upgraded by blacksmiths. The rarer the item, the more expensive it is to upgrade.

The storyline features the main player known as Bayek – an Egyptian Medjay. The Medjay were known as the pharaoh’s special guards. Bayek’s quest involves discovering and eliminating the rulers in the Order of Ancients (the group that were responsible for the death of his son). The storyline is captivating with revenge-filled missions that are sure to fuel your quest for vengeance and blood thirst. Although fueled by revenge, Bayek cares for the people of Egypt and through many entertaining side missions you will see his righteousness shine through his personality. Unlike previous installments of Assassin’s Creed, you can start and stop quests at any time. They have also removed annoying side objectives during quests that have caused me frustration in the past. Quests are ranked by levels. You’re better off avoiding higher-level quests (and enemies) until you meet the desired level or you will be quickly met with defeat. Other important changes include the use of Senu. Senu replaces the “eagle vision” ability with an actual eagle who acts as your eyes above land. He can tag enemies, locate objectives and more. He’s a friendly adversary that will come in handy during many quests.

Exploration is a big factor of why I enjoyed this game so much. I found it much easier to climb buildings, mountains, and other objects. Aside from scaling the architecture of ancient Egypt, you can ride horses, camels and even chariots, ride boats across the river Nile and dive underneath secret tombs to discover sunken treasure. There are fierce animals throughout the map that makes hunting a favorable activity. The map is massive and the detail in the environment takes you back in time to the rich, ancient world of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt. All is encompassed with beautiful graphics and sound that will fill any gamer’s desire, especially when enjoyed in 4K resolution.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins is a magnificent trip into the rich, luscious world of Ancient Egypt. With its new, advanced fighting mechanics and gripping story-line, it proves to be one of the best Assassin’s Creed titles through the series’ 10-year lifespan.