It's a gorgeous exclusive that reinvents one of the console's longest-serving, most loved characters. It also helps that the game looks staggeringly good, from scripted scenes to the way combat flows freely, all taking place in a world that feels alive and historied. Puzzles are incredibly smart, set-pieces impress, and Kratos is a much more rounded character - especially when it comes to the interactions with Atreus, his son. Now you're free to explore the world and unearth all its secrets as you go through, and there are so many layers to this game. While Kratos is still very angry, the game still features moments of horrific violence, and the action continues to be smooth and brutal, the whole structure and pace has been completely revamped. God of War is - in many ways - a complete fresh for this action series. Sure, there's a lot of competition for your game time in 2018, but Assassin's Creed Odyssey is a high-watermark for Assassin's Creed games and deserves your attention.

While the formula has come a long, long way from the series' pure stealth origins, making this the most action-heavy Assassin's Creed to date, the heart of the franchise is still in there, with world-ending conspiracies and engaging sub-plots ever present. There's a full RPG system to tinker with, adding more depth than any previous Creed, and a revamped combat system that really highlights the nuances of the character customization options. Whether you're dashing across it on a steed, or sailing around it in your own, fully-crewed ship, the sheer variety of things to see and do is staggering.

While the pair of leads - Alexios and Kassandra - are both strong personalities, it's the world that's the real star here. With about 100+ hours of stuff to do in ancient Greece, and the choice of two lead characters, there's amazing value to be had in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.

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