Are There Choices in Assassin’s Creed Origins? Unpacking Agency in Ancient Egypt

Yes and no. While Assassin’s Creed Origins (ACO) offers players freedom in exploration, combat approaches, and side-quest engagement, it notably lacks impactful narrative choices that significantly alter the story’s trajectory or lead to multiple endings. Unlike its successors, Odyssey and Valhalla, Origins prioritizes a focused narrative journey for Bayek and Aya, offering a singular, pre-determined conclusion. You choose how to play, not how the story ends.

The Illusion of Choice vs. Real Agency

Assassin’s Creed Origins expertly crafts an open world filled with opportunities for player agency. You decide how to approach enemy encampments – stealthily picking off guards one by one or charging in with swords swinging. You choose which side quests to undertake, learning more about the world and leveling up Bayek in the process. However, these are predominantly tactical and character progression choices, not narrative choices that shape the storyline’s outcome.

The game doesn’t feature dialogue options that influence character relationships or alter key plot points. There’s no morality system that judges your actions and steers you towards a “good” or “bad” ending. The main narrative path remains largely fixed, ensuring a unified and compelling story about Bayek and Aya’s personal tragedy and their role in forming the Assassin Brotherhood. This approach distinguishes Origins from later installments that leaned more heavily into RPG elements and branching narratives.

Delving Deeper: Tactical Freedom

The true strength of player choice in Origins lies in its combat and exploration systems.

• Combat Styles: You can specialize Bayek’s combat skills using an expansive skill tree. Do you prefer the speed and agility of dual blades, the heavy power of a war hammer, or the ranged precision of a hunter bow? Your choices shape your playstyle.
• Exploration Strategies: The vast Egyptian landscape is open for exploration from the beginning. How you choose to navigate and uncover its secrets is entirely up to you. You might stumble upon hidden tombs, uncover ancient artifacts, or get caught up in local conflicts.
• Quest Prioritization: While the main storyline is linear, you control the pace. You can engage in numerous side quests, hunting challenges, and papyrus puzzles, expanding your knowledge of the world and delaying the main plot.

FAQs: Unraveling Choices in Assassin’s Creed Origins

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the extent of choice within Assassin’s Creed Origins:

1. How many endings does AC Origins have?

ACO has only one ending. The story of Bayek and Aya concludes in a predetermined manner, regardless of your actions during the gameplay.

2. Is there any Romance in Assassin’s Creed Origins?

The primary romantic relationship is between Aya and Bayek. While their love is a central theme, and the game explores its evolution and eventual dissolution, there are no additional romantic options for Bayek with other characters.

3. Can you pick gender in Assassin’s Creed Origins?

You cannot choose Bayek’s gender. The game is designed to tell Bayek’s specific story as a male protagonist. While certain Assassin’s Creed games allow gender selection, Origins does not.

4. Do choices matter in Assassin’s Creed Origins?

Choices regarding combat style, side quests, and exploration paths definitely matter, impacting your gameplay experience and character progression. However, narrative choices that alter the overall story are minimal.

5. What happens if I say I killed Nikolaos?

This question pertains to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, not Origins. Origins does not feature a character named Nikolaos or a similar choice.

6. Can you romance people in Assassin’s Creed Origins?

As stated before, the focus is on the pre-established romantic relationship between Bayek and Aya. There aren’t additional romance options to pursue. Refer to the Games Learning Society to find out more about relationships in game.

7. Do Bayek and Aya stay together?

No, Bayek and Aya do not stay together by the end of Assassin’s Creed Origins. Their shared grief and differing priorities lead them to separate, each pursuing their own path in the fight against oppression.

8. Is AC Origins sad?

Yes, AC Origins is considered a deeply emotional and often sad game, especially due to the death of Bayek and Aya’s son and the subsequent deterioration of their relationship.

9. Why did Aya divorce Bayek?

Aya and Bayek’s relationship fractures due to the loss of their son, Khemu, and their differing approaches to dealing with that grief. They also clash over Aya’s political involvement with Cleopatra.

10. Is Bayek the first assassin?

Bayek and Aya are considered the founders of the Hidden Ones, the precursors to the Assassin Brotherhood. They are the first to codify the principles and methods that would define the Assassins for centuries to come.

11. Is AC Origins longer than Odyssey?

AC Origins is shorter than Odyssey. It offers a more streamlined narrative experience, while Odyssey boasts a larger world and a more expansive main storyline.

12. Does it matter if you show mercy or not in AC Origins?

In certain instances you have the choice to show mercy or not. These choices do not significantly impact the main narrative. They’re more about personal preference and role-playing.

13. Is Bayek actually an assassin?

Bayek starts as a Medjay, a protector of the people. Over the course of the game, he evolves into an Assassin as he and Aya establish the Hidden Ones.

14. Is Cleopatra a bad guy in AC Origins?

Cleopatra is portrayed as a complex character with both positive and negative qualities. She is an ally to Bayek and Aya at times, but her political ambitions and alliances lead her to make questionable decisions. While not a villain in the traditional sense, she acts as an secondary antagonist along with Julius Caesar.

15. Why is Bayek in AC Odyssey?

Bayek appears in AC Odyssey as a simulated lieutenant for your ship, the Adrestia. This is a non-canonical appearance, an unlockable bonus for players.

Conclusion: Narrative Focus over Branching Paths

Ultimately, Assassin’s Creed Origins provides a compelling story with Bayek and Aya, showcasing a personal narrative against the backdrop of ancient Egypt. While tactical and gameplay choices are abundant, the core story remains steadfast, offering a different flavor of player agency than its successors. Origins demonstrates that impactful narratives can exist even without branching paths, focusing instead on character development and a well-defined plot.