These new features mean the new Assassin’s Creed is an absolute must play

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Assassin’s Creed is back – but there’s been a few changes. A few absolutely massive changes, actually. Not only does it have a whole new time period to explore – an epic ancient Egyptian setting complete with deltas, pyramids and deserts – it also serves as a prequel for the entire AC saga. Perhaps even more importantly though, the gameplay itself has been totally overhauled. There’s a new combat system, new RPG elements, and all-new features like arena combat and chariot racing. Plus you get to pet cats and fight crocodiles - what more could you want? All this means Assassin’s Creed Origins is the perfect jumping-on point, regardless if you’ve never played AC, or if you’ve fallen off from the series and want to get back on - this is the one to get. With the game out 27th October 2017 (and on Xbox One X at its launch on November 7th), here are all the key elements that make Assassin’s Creed Origins a must play. First check out the trailer:      

An all new time period

Up until now, the Assassin’s Creed games have moved forward through various historical era with each new incarnation. But the word “Origins” in the title might have given you a little hint to possibly the game's most important change. You see, the latest edition goes where no game in the series has gone before, all the way back to ancient Egypt to tell the story of Bayek, the very first assassin and creator of the Assassin's Brotherhood. Which means we get to experience the mysteries of the Pharaohs, raid ancient tombs, and discover the secrets of mummies and gods.

It’s perfect for newbies

The reverse time jump acts as a soft reboot for the series – AC devotees will enjoy discovering previously-unrevealed backstory, but if you’ve never played any of the games before, this is the perfect jumping-on point, as the game’s protagonist Egyptian warrior Bayek isn’t yet a member of the Assassin Brotherhood. If you're a long term fan, it will obviously be a thrill discovering the origins of the Brotherhood. But if you are coming to AC fresh, he's an all-new protagonist to take control of and fall in love with, without having to worry about reams of backstory. Just think of it as big, historical action epic, with exciting gameplay to match.

Fly like an eagle

One rather jaw-dropping new edition is Senu, Bayek’s faithful eagle companion. Senu’s in-game mechanic works almost like a drone – taking control of her, you soar into the air, letting you scan the area far and wide. Obviously, this is incredibly helpful to help you plan out your next line of attack, but simply swooping through the skies, drinking in the gorgeous Egyptian landscape is an experience in itself.

There’s an all-new and improved combat system

It’s not just the storyline that’s getting an overhaul – the entire main play mechanics of the game have been completely updated. Previous instalments used a paired animation combat system – essentially, when you pressed the attack button it would trigger an automatic animation. That has now been replaced with an adaptive, on the fly animation, putting the fighting far more in your hands. This makes the speed and range of weapons a vital element of the battles, while the ability to dodge and parry makes combat far more varied than before. This is a real gamechanger.

It’s a full open-world action RPG

This is where it becomes a massive step-up from previous games. The play environment is a massive, living and breathing recreating of Egypt, 2000 years ago. You can explore towns on camel-back, sail down the Nile, climb a massive pyramid, and explore the tombs of Giza. Not only that, but the game also promises a full, immersive experience, letting you seek out and tackle quests at your own pace, each with their own satisfying narratives and characters (eg. no more "collect ten of these random things" time-wasting). And even on top of that, there’s a full RPG system, allowing you to upgrade and customise your character in the way you want to play the game.

You can fight all manner of beasts

The thought of dusty deserts might make you envision a rather sparsely populated gameplay environment, but that’s far from the truth. AC delivers a series of rich, varied Egyptian landscapes, all of which are teeming with wildlife, including lions, hyenas and hippos (you might laugh, but the hippopotamus is statistically the most deadly large land mammal in the world). And best of all, if you take a dip in the Nile, you could find yourself face-to-face with a crocodile.

Full on gladiator combat

Prepare to live out all your Russell Crowe/ “Are you not entertained!?!” fantasies, as Origins features a full gladiator arena to hack and slash in. It's on. Assassin’s Creed Origins will be available on 27th October 2017, and on Xbox One X at its launch on November 7th 2017. Buy it now.