Game Review: Assassin’s Creed: Origins – The Hidden Ones (DLC)

Release date: 2018
Version played: Xbox One in 2018

As part of the copy of Assassin’s Creed: Origins I won (which I talked about here, as well as where I want the series to go next) came both downloadable content (DLC) packs, the first of which is The Hidden Ones. Taking place roughly 4 years after the completion of the main game, Bayek travels to the Sinai Peninsula to aid Tahira in the continued expansion of organisation which will one day become the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

+ the ziplines first seen in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations make a return, due to the much more vertical environments. Climbing along the flat-faced walls of the various quarries is near impossible, creating the need to swooce on in along the zipline. It was a refreshing change, but the height that Bayek can survive a jump from did make them often unnecessary
+ the story was short but sweet, with some genuinely enjoyable and/or interesting throwbacks to the main story. Characters are referenced, and the blanks are filled in on the four years since the main campaign’s end; it worked well, and made me appreciate the ripple effect Bayek could have on any one person, family or city in particular
+ cosmetically, a handful of new weapons, outfits and mounts are available. One mount has become a mainstay of my limited rotation, so the new additions get a plus here

– there seemed to be significantly more enemies than in the main game, which when combined with the immensely smaller overworld made for some frustrating encounters, especially when a guard would “see” Bayek from the other side of a monument, pyramid or entire temple

Should you play this game: As far as DLC goes, this was about as middle of the road, “more of the same” as you can get. If you liked the main game, you’ll like this, but it doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking to reel you in otherwise.