the smooth gameplay from Origins, adds a few tweaks, and presents a new adventure in a

承襲了《刺客教條：起源》順暢的遊玩體驗、延伸加入了新內容，呈現給玩家

bright, vibrant world. And for us toxophiles, the Eagle Bearer is just as competent with

光輝且生動世界的新冒險。對於我們這些箭術愛好者來說，羅馬軍 (Eagle Bearer) 主角，擅長使用

a bow as with a spear, and what an Ｏdyssey we are in for. In this episode of Archery

弓箭以及茅，以及一切《刺客教條：奧德賽》中的所有武器。這集的電玩箭術剖析

Popshots, we take a look at the historical context of archery in Ancient Greece, and

將帶大家一同討論古希臘歷史上的箭術

the mythical feats we'll achieve in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.

以及《刺客教條：奧德賽》中的神話戰技

Greek mythology is filled with epic heroes, and the bow is inseparable from legendary

希臘神話充滿許多史詩英雄，而弓又和這些傳奇人物的關係

figures. The deities Apollo and Artemis, the mighty Herakles, the huntress Atalanta, Orion

密不可分。神祇阿波羅、阿提密斯、強大的海克力士、女獵手阿塔蘭塔、獵手歐利旺

the Hunter, and Odysseus himself, whose feats include stringing a mighty horn bow and shooting

以及奧地修斯，他的戰績為使用強大角弓用一支箭

an arrow through a dozen axe heads. Even the strongest warrior of all, Achilles, was brought

射穿一打斧面。即使是最強大的戰士：阿基里斯也被特洛伊的帕里斯

down by an arrow to the heel from Paris of Troy. These timeless legends are retold and

用箭射入膝蓋而倒地。這些歷久不衰的傳奇故事不斷被傳誦

sprinkled throughout the ancient Greek world, and Assassin's Creed glorifies these legends

讓古希臘世界增添了色彩，而《刺客教條》將這些傳奇故事歌頌至

to titanic levels.

無止倫比的境界

While skill with the bow was ubiquitous to being a warrior, the use of the bow in combat

戰士會使用弓箭是非常普遍的一件事，弓箭在戰鬥中扮演的角色

held a much lower significance. Indeed, passages from Homer and the Trojan War describe archers

較不重要。確實，荷馬史詩以及特洛伊戰爭這兩部經典中

as cowardly and effeminate. Diomedes, upon being shot in the foot by an arrow from Paris,

用懦弱和缺乏男性氣概來形容弓箭手。狄俄墨得斯曾被帕里斯用弓箭射中腳時

cried out:

大喊：

"If you should fight against me in hand-to-hand combat, your bow and thick-flying arrows would

「如果你和我正面對決，你的弓和粗大的箭矢

not help you. It bothers me no more than if a woman or unwitting child hit me; mute is

就沒用了，你的攻擊對我來說，像被女人或是蠢小孩打到一樣，不痛不癢，偷襲

the missile of a weak and worthless man."

軟弱、無能的男人才會做的事。」

The disdain for archery also carried over to real warfare. Combat was based on the hoplite

真實的戰場中也唾棄使用箭術。戰場基本上是重裝備步兵

– equipped with a large shield, spear and sword. The phalanx was the backbone of Greek

手持盾牌、長茅以及長劍。方形陣步兵以及希臘市民

armies, and Greek citizens – most of all the Spartans – were trained first and foremost

為希臘軍隊的主力，所有斯巴達人首要的訓練為成為

as heavy infantry. Archers had very little role in battle. Some archers were deployed

一名重裝備步兵，箭術在戰爭中的角色非常卑微。弓箭手部屬在

as light skirmishers alongside slingers and javelin throwers, but very few battles were

為次要主力的投石兵和標槍手的旁邊，但是弓箭

significantly influenced by the bow and arrow. Nonetheless, the Athenians were known to have

在大多戰役中影響力不大。雖然如此，《刺客教條：奧德賽》中，雅典卻以

maintained a corps of archers, a distinction that is actually shown in Odyssey.

培訓弓箭手軍隊聞名，這和事實不相符

As far as the game is concerned, it bypasses the disciplined warfare typical of the period

就這款遊戲而言，忽略了該時代典型、有秩序的戰爭模式

– in fact, the conquest battles are unrealistically chaotic. Nonetheless, the game emphasises

反而呈現了與史實不符混亂場面。然而，遊戲強調的是

the individual heroic warrior rather than organised warfare, and if you can look past

史詩英雄本身而不是整齊的戰爭模式，如果你能忽略

the trappings of historical accuracy, the possibilities are literally endless.

史實的話，遊戲的可能性將會無窮發展

Those who have come from Assassin's Creed Origins may appreciate the small changes that

先前有玩過《刺客教條：起源》的玩家可能會喜歡

make gameplay more streamlined, and things…make sense in Odyssey. In Origins, Bayek juggled

讓遊玩變得更合理的小改變，以及其他地方的更動。在《刺客教條：起源》中，巴耶克

several different kinds of bows, each with uniquely different functions and ammunition.

切換不同種類的弓，每種弓各有獨特的功能以及箭矢

In Odyssey, the Eagle Bearer makes use of a single type of bow, based on the reflex

而在《刺客教條：奧德賽》中，主角使用單一種當時已經從西西亞

bows that would have been imported from Scythia during this time.

引進的外曲弓 (reflex bows)

Instead of locking powerful abilities to bow types, the player can unlock and assign hunter

這次不將強大的能力限定在弓的類型上，玩家可以在升級後獲得技能點數

skills as they level up and acquire more skill points. This allows the player to specialise

並解鎖獵人技能。讓玩家可以選擇專精

into being an assassin, warrior or hunter, each with distinctly different playstyles.

成為刺客、戰士或是獵人，三種各有其獨特的遊玩風格

Some skills make a return from Origins. The Spread Shot skill shoots several arrows in

有些承襲了《刺客教條：起源》中的內容，解鎖散射技能夠讓箭矢

a shotgun pattern, and the fan-favourite Predator Arrow is back, changing the view to first-person

如霰彈槍射出，玩家喜愛的掠食者弓也回來了，但這次改為第一人稱視角

and giving the player the ability to steer the arrow in flight.

同樣可以改變箭矢的飛行方向

There are several new additions. Multi-shot automatically targets several enemies, allowing

也有許多新內容，像是多重射擊能自動瞄準多位敵人

you to quickly burst down entire encampments at range. Rain of Destruction does area damage,

讓你快速的從遠距離清除營地。箭雨能造成範圍傷害

while Devastating Shot is a mid-range high-damage burst that stacks elemental damage. Ghost

而致命射擊為中距離、高傷害，且能對敵人造成疊加基礎傷害。

Arrows of Artemis is perhaps the most useful skill, allowing you to literally shoot through

阿提密斯的亡靈箭矢也許是最好用的技能了，能讓你穿透任何物品

everything, setting you up for some high damage assassinations without being detected. The

在不被發現的情形下，達成高傷害暗殺

player can also unlock the overpower Bow Strike, which acts as a high-damage finisher and crowd control.

玩家也可以解鎖過於強大的弓箭襲擊技能，高傷害解決敵人並控制戰鬥場面

In addition, the player can craft several different arrow types, including paralysis

而且，玩家還可以製作不同種類的箭矢，包括非致命的

for non-lethal shots, exploding, poison and fire arrows. Later in the game, death arrows

癱瘓箭矢、爆炸箭、毒箭以及火焰箭。遊戲後期，還可以製作

can be crafted, which are much faster and stronger, though very expensive to craft.

飛行速度較快、殺傷力較強大，但製作成本較高的致命箭矢

I found myself using normal arrows most of the time as the economical choice, and late-game

我大多時候都用普通箭矢以便節省資源，遊戲後期解鎖的技能

skills largely negate the need to use specialised arrows.

大大否定了使用特殊箭矢的必要性

The fact that you can assign multiple skills on a single bar gives the player much more

你可以將多種技能排列在快速選擇欄裡，增添遊戲變化

versatility. Switching between melee and ranged skills is seamless, and the multiple hunter

近戰以及遠距技能的切換很順暢，多種獵人技能，讓玩家

skills gives you the right abilities for any scenario and style. After all, it makes sense

在不同環境或不同遊玩風格中，選擇合適的技能使用。畢竟，使用多種技能

to carry multiple skills rather than multiple bows!

比攜帶好幾把弓來得合理！

When starting the game, you…actually don't even have a bow. Yeah, seeing a broken bow

遊戲開局時，你沒有一把真正的弓。是的，看到一把損壞的弓

makes me sad, but don't worry. Soon enough you'll be getting epic and legendary bows,

讓我很失望，但別擔心，遊戲不久之後，你就能拿到史詩或是傳說弓箭

with a few pet favourites that will last you the entire game.

幾把拿手的弓就可以陪你到遊戲最後

What makes archery interesting is that it is fairly well balanced with an initial steep

讓箭術有趣的是，平衡了原本急速上升的能力曲線

progression curve. Since hunter skills must be unlocked through experience rather than

因為獵人技能只能透過經驗值解鎖

being innate to the bow, it takes a fair amount of time to acquire the skills you need. Early

而不是使用弓本身的能力，玩家需要合理的時間來解鎖所需的技能。

on, you lack the damage output for one-shot kills, and skill upgrades are further locked

遊戲初期，箭矢攻擊力不足以一擊斃命，而隨遊戲進行升級或解鎖技能後

until further progression, notably in upgrading your broken spear . The result is that you

可以顯著提升損壞長茅的能力。最後，玩家會獲得

end up with a set of support skills that you can either use to initiate a fight, complement

一組讓你能主動挑起戰鬥、在戰鬥中追加傷害的技能

your damage in the middle of battle, or specialise into by taking more bonus Hunter damage items.

或可選擇專精解鎖獵人技能組的額外傷害加成技能

Further adding to the balance, you can't just sit back and use your bow skills to wipe

更加強平衡的一點是，你不能像前一代一樣，使用弓技能站在原地

out entire garrisons. In Odyssey, your bow skills require adrenaline, which is gained

解決一整個堡壘了。《刺客教條：奧德賽》中，使用弓技能需要消耗

from combat or assassinations. This means that you have to take other actions to increase

從戰鬥或是暗殺所獲得的腎上腺素，這代表玩家需要採取遠距攻擊以外的行動

your adrenaline meter in order to use your bow skills, and even then you have limited

來增加腎上腺素量表以便使用弓技能，就算是這樣，腎上腺素也有限

bars to use. This in turn forces the players to be strategic in when to use their ranged

這樣的改變迫使玩家更聰明地運用遠距離技能

skills, or whether to save them up for melee combat.

並決定是否將弓技能用在近戰中

By the end-game, you pretty much turn into a demigod. Which is fine. You earned it. It's

到了遊戲尾聲，你可以說是成為了一位半神，這沒什麼，這是你努力達成的

in your blood. And while it takes a while to get to this level of archery domination

這也是你的天命，但是達到神人等級的箭術精通需要多一點時間

– at least, compared to Origins – this is fine. By this point you're probably running

至少，和《刺客降條：起源》相比，這很合理。到了這時，玩家可能

through everything to clear out as quickly as possible, whereas every fight in the early

可以快速解決所有敵人，遊戲前期

game is a duel to the death. Elites go down in a single hit, bosses pose little challenge,

以及菁英等級的敵人可以一擊斃命、解決魔王易如反掌

and while the default game mode scales enemies to your current level, your power levels are

等到目前的敵人跟你一樣強時，玩家的能力值則

astronomical. And that's fine – that's what you get for making it to the end.

成為天文數字。這不打緊，因為這樣才可以破關

Just as Black Flag added naval combat to the established Assassin's Creed 3 gameplay,

就像《刺客教條：黑旗》將既有的《刺客教條三》海戰系統加入遊戲中一樣

Odyssey does the same for Origins. Now with free-roam…or, free sailing, players can

《刺客教條：奧德賽》也效仿了同樣手法。這次新增了自由行動... 或說是自由航行，玩家可以

now engage in naval combat. Your ship is capable of shooting arrows, throwing javelins, using

進行海戰。船艦可以發射箭矢、擲長茅、發射火焰箭

flaming arrows and ramming. This makes for fluid, fast and exciting battles on the waves.

或是用艦首撞角攻擊敵方船艦，這些為海戰對決增添了順暢、快速以及刺激

While this may seem like a very practical and obvious way to use archers on a ship,

弓箭手在船上射擊這種攻擊方式可能看起來非常正常合理

this is actually not how things went down during this time, and it will make sense once

但當時的海戰其實不像遊戲一樣，遊戲內容會讓這種情形

you see the context. Archers…don't do that much in this kind of warfare. Arrows

合理化，但弓箭手... 其實不太會參與海戰

don't do anything to the hull of a ship. In fact, there weren't even that many soldiers

船艦表面不會因為箭矢攻擊而剝落。事實上，船上也不會有那麼多士兵

on a ship. Typically, a vessel would have a small contingent of marines and archers,

普遍來說，一艘戰船上只有小團的海軍分遣隊和弓箭手

whose main purpose was to defend the oarsmen should the ship be boarded – and this small-scale

主要的目的是防止對方划槳手登陸船艦，這種站在

deck fighting is fairly realised in Odyssey.

甲板上的小規模戰鬥只存在於本遊戲中

The main method of combat was through the use of the ram, and not just to slice a ship

海戰主要依靠艦首撞角，這不只能把船艦撞成一半

in half, but to approach from a sharper angle and tear a wider hole in the ship as well

還能為我方取得更精確的角度，以便在船艦上打出更大的洞

as breaking oars. In that sense, the naval combat in Odyssey is actually a fairly proportional

以及破壞船槳。《刺客教條:奧德賽》中的海戰合理的展現了

representation of how a trireme would have been used, but with more emphasis on an enjoyable

三層槳座戰船的使用方法，但遊戲中更強調了遊戲體驗

gameplay experience that allows the player to get in and out of battle with little preparation required.

讓玩家在戰鬥跟自由航行間切換，而不需要太久的填彈時間

In short, you don't use arrows to sink ships. Naval battles were fought by ramming and boarding,

簡單來說，箭矢不足以擊沉一艘戰船，海戰是用船首撞角撞擊以及登船攻擊

and it was only with the advent of cannons that ships could blow each other out of the water.

等到砲台發明後，戰船才可以在海上互相射擊

I'll be upfront: Odyssey is my favourite game in the series, and I'm the type of

我就老實說吧，《刺客教條：奧德賽》是系列中我特別喜愛的一款，我是那種

fan that loved Assassin's Creed II above all else. If you're wondering whether this

喜愛《刺客教條二》勝過系列其他作品的人。如果你想問這款遊戲

game is worth picking up irrespective of the archery in the game, it's definitely worth

在撇除箭術後，還值不值得購買？我覺得是當然值得遊玩

playing. It's been a long time since I genuinely wanted to keep on playing and looking for

我真的好久沒有那種想要在單人故事模式中，一直遊玩

more areas to explore in a single player campaign.

並探索遊戲中其他區域感覺了

The archery we see is well presented and integrated into the gameplay. Of course everything is

遊戲中充分呈現了箭術並將其融入遊玩中，當然這一切

fantastical and mythical, and that's the whole point of the character. The base form

都是虛幻且神話般的，但這就是主角的一大特點。神話背景中的箭術

is not much different from what we would expect, and the special skills are beyond imagination.

和我們所期待看到的相差不多，獨特的技能出乎了玩家想像

The fact that you have more control over what to specialise in, and the freedom to change

完全可以自由選擇想要精通的領域，也可以自由地變換

your bonuses and skills, means that you can enjoy all parts of the game without being

獎勵以及技能，讓玩家可以享受遊戲的每種玩法

locked into just one play style. No matter what kind of player you are, Odyssey is worth

而不會被特定模式限制。無論你是哪一種玩家，《刺客教條：奧德賽》

a shot.

值得一試

This is NUSensei, and as always, shoot straight and aim for your best.

我是 Nu 先生，一如往常，行事果斷，全力以赴