If you're a first-timer to the series, but aren't into games with outdated graphics and mechanics, AC Origins is a great entry point to the series. I'm going to say now that I can't recommend it enough, it was the game that drastically changed the entire feel of playing Assassin's Creed games, and all games released since have built on what it introduced mechanically.
Exploration: The game play is no longer linear (as in the first AC games), it is in a very large open world (Ancient Egypt) with lots of different quests to take, tombs to explore, forts to overtake, viewpoints to synchronize, and other activities. You will run, climb, swim, and ride mounts across five different cities and desert landscape which somehow still feels alive. You can climb just about everything, and the parkour feels smooth and responsive. You also have a bird companion that you can use to scope out targets and the land.
Combat: The old wait for attack, then push counter attack button and spam X/Square combat mechanic of the older games is gone. The combat in this game is comparable to God of War (2018) with a parry/block, dodge/roll, heavy attack and light attack as well as special abilities, a bow, and the hidden blade. Stealth still plays a large role in this game, but you are more free to choose between a stealth approach, or a direct combat in many situations. It's fun to do your best to remain undetected, assassinating enemies from haystacks and the bushes with your hidden blade, but even more fun once you get detected and get to engage in the robust combat system.
Loot: There is some loot to collect. You will regularly find different weapons with various stats which can be upgraded at a blacksmith. There are also resources to collect for upgrading your equipment.
Story: The story is very solid. As the name suggests, you get an inside look at the Assassin's Brotherhood in its infancy. The main character is charismatic and carries the plot well. It is quite long, and some segments are more vital to the core concepts more than others, but the quests feel like they have meaning and relate to the main goal of the protagonist.
Final Thoughts: If you played God of War (2018) after playing God of War III years prior and thought "WOW This is different!", this is the kind of change to expect between AC Origins and its predecessors, particularly with the combat. Although it is now 9 years old at the time of this review, it still looks and feels great. This is a great game for for newcomers and veterans of the series alike, as well as people who didn't like the early games but were thinking about giving the series another try.
Note: Although the record says I only have 14 hours played, I have 100 hours clocked on console and played this enough on PC to know it runs solid.
