Assassin's Creed Origins quickly endeared itself to fans with its strong attention to detail. The ancient Egyptian setting in which the game takes place focuses on how the Assassin Brotherhood begins during the turmoil surrounding Egypt's last kingdom. Fans were able to learn more about the world in which Bayek lives and how interconnected the different countries were through the open world map of Egypt. Ubisoft followed Origins with a larger open world in Odyssey and an even larger one in Valhalla. Assassin's Creed would do well to make a return to Ancient Egypt, as fans were only able to explore a small piece of a much larger world and story.
Egyptology has long fascinated people around the world, so it's not surprising how Origins quickly became a fan favorite. Egypt has a long history of rich culture and mythology that provides a unique identity that's endured for thousands of years. Many fans loved the Ezio Trilogy, as they were able to grow along with Ezio during his exploration of Italy, and later beyond. Ubisoft's yearly game release made the games feel rushed. Players felt disconnected from the characters as too much content was packed into single titles. Origins gave players a chance to connect with Bayek and learn more about his world, yet there is much that could still be unveiled.
Origins' open world map allows players to explore real life landmarks in Egypt, both still standing and fallen to time. The infamous monuments in Alexandria, the Library and the Lighthouse no longer stand today yet remain well known. Players are able to interact with both monuments as they would have existed thousands of years ago. With so many famous landmarks throughout the country, there's no shortage of real historical places to learn about and within which to discover secrets. Origins did an excellent job of recreating the monuments close to how they stand in real life or how experts believe they would have stood. The Pyramids still have their white casing and golden tops, and temples and buildings have vibrant artwork and hieroglyphs painted all over the walls.
The Ptolemaic reign of Egypt marked the end of its Pharaohs as Rome expanded. Bayek lived during the Roman takeover, when many cultures were connected through occupancy, alliances or trade. Egypt gained influence from Greece when Alexander the Great swept through in his quest to conquer the old world and wrest power from Rome, which took control after Cleopatra and Mark Antony's deaths. Origins shows how interconnected events in history are, with players able to experience the events through Bayek's eyes as he navigates a path through the beginning stages of Roman rule in Egypt. Alexandria became the forefront of learning institutions thanks to the Great Library. Many famous scholars in history were known to have studied there, as every document that entered the city was copied and stored there.
As Bayek lays the foundations of the Brotherhood, first known as the Hidden Ones, he interacts with people from all walks of life, from the civilians to the highest of royalty, Cleopatra herself. The game also does an excellent job giving players insight into these people's daily lives. Even the style of dress and the occupations people held differs from city to city. Each town also worshipped a different god. One of the more notable examples is Krokodilopolis, whose patron was Sobek the Crocodile God.
Players can also experience the rise and fall of cities, like the switch from Memphis being the capital city to Alexandria, leading to its decline. Origins even shows the evolution of Egypt's population to becoming master builders, one of the most famous examples being the Bent Pyramid.
Egypt remains one of the most heavily studied ancient societies today. Egyptians' ability to build lasting monuments without modern technology remains incredible. Assassin's Creed hit the mark with its accuracy of Ptolemaic Egypt's shift from an independent kingdom to Roman occupancy. The influences from other cultures, most notably Greece and Rome, are still felt today. Fans got to experience history in a more real sense as opposed to simply reading about it. With a return to Ancient Egypt, players could even witness how the Hidden Ones branch out from Egypt to form the Brotherhood that spans across the world.