It is fair to say that Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a pretty huge coup for the Epic Store. This is brought to us from the creator of Assassins Creed and it is a game I am actually surprised has not picked up more attention than it has.
How to Download Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
For PC you can get the game by using Epic Games Launcher. The Steam version should be out in 2020. Click on the Download button. If you like the prehistoric theme, check out also our review of Far Cry Primal.
The Game Review
The idea behind the game is actually really cool. It is all about starting off as a prehistoric primate and evolving over generations. You are part of a tribe of primates and they do all have their own names, there is not really any personality to the different primates. However, I think having them be able to actually talk would have been a huge mistake.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is not a story-driven game which may surprise you being that it is from the creator of Assassins Creed. Instead, it is more about exploring this amazing and varied world. Going from point A to B is always full of danger and wonder and learning to swim and swing through the trees feels fantastic once you get the hang of the strange stamina system.
Of course, there is also combat. This is in the form of the predators, sabretooth tigers and massive snakes all want you for lunch. You eventually figure out how to craft basic weapons and the killing animations are pretty darn brutal. I found the combat to be fun and sometimes really scary when a predator gets the jump on you. It is not super hard, but it is still fun.
The progression system in the game is very, very slow, but this is done on purpose. Evolution is the ultimate goal of the game and your tribe will grow from generation to generation. Making small “advances” as you do. I think the way the upgrade system is done like a brain is really cool and I like how they are trying to be more realistic with it.
One of the more interesting gameplay ideas is the way that there is no inventory screen at all. You have two hands therefor you can carry two items at a time. I found that having a stick as a weapon and then something to sharpen that was the way to go. This is a survival game so eating, drinking, sleeping and even procreating are all aspects of the game.
Expanding your territory is rather addictive. The game will usually give you an idea of where you can go, but getting there is never a straight forward trek. You will have to deal with danger as you go and this kind of exploration is really what made the game the most fun for me personally.
It is worth noting that the game does not hold your hand at all. The idea here is that you the player are discovering things as if you were one of these primates. I get what they were going for here, but I am sure that some will find this trial and error kind of gameplay at the very start of the game more frustrating than compelling.
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a game that comes really close to nailing it. I think that there is a ton of potential here and that this could very well turn into a huge series of games. As it stands right now, I think it is a fun experience and if you like the idea of playing as primates who are just starting to evolve into man, you will be in for a good time here.
