Is Assassin’s Creed Going Back to Its Roots? A Deep Dive
The short answer is a resounding yes… and no. The Assassin’s Creed franchise, a behemoth in the gaming world, has experienced a dramatic evolution since its inception. While recent titles have embraced open-world RPG mechanics, Ubisoft has signaled a clear intent to reconnect with the series’ core tenets – social stealth, parkour, and a focus on narrative. This duality – embracing the new while honoring the old – is precisely what defines the current direction of Assassin’s Creed. Let’s dissect this evolution and explore what the future holds for the iconic franchise.
The Shifting Sands of Assassin’s Creed
The original Assassin’s Creed formula, characterized by its blend of stealth, historical settings, and a compelling narrative centered around the eternal conflict between Assassins and Templars, captivated players. Titles like Assassin’s Creed II and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, featuring the charismatic Ezio Auditore, are often cited as the pinnacle of this era. However, as gaming trends shifted towards expansive open worlds and RPG elements, Ubisoft adapted.
Assassin’s Creed: Origins marked a turning point. It introduced a sprawling open world, loot systems, and character progression that were more akin to The Witcher 3 than previous Assassin’s Creed games. This divergence continued with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, which further emphasized RPG mechanics, offering branching dialogue, customizable characters, and lengthy narratives that often dwarfed the core Assassin-Templar conflict.
While these games were commercially successful and introduced many players to the franchise, they also alienated some longtime fans who missed the emphasis on stealth, intricate level design, and a tighter narrative focus. The outcry from these players was heard, prompting Ubisoft to reassess its direction.
Mirage: A Return to Form?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage was explicitly designed to be a love letter to the early games. Set in 9th-century Baghdad, the game centers on Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character introduced in Valhalla, and presents a more streamlined experience. It features a smaller open world, a greater emphasis on social stealth, and a return to the classic parkour system. The focus is on intricate level design that encourages players to use their environment to their advantage, employing stealth tactics to eliminate targets.
Mirage represented a conscious effort by Ubisoft to acknowledge and address the concerns of veteran fans. It was seen as a signal that the company was willing to cater to different preferences within the Assassin’s Creed fanbase. However, Mirage wasn’t a complete reinvention. It still incorporated elements from the newer games, such as character progression and skill trees, albeit in a more limited capacity.
The Future: Balancing Nostalgia and Innovation
The future of Assassin’s Creed appears to be one of coexistence. Ubisoft’s ambitious project, Assassin’s Creed Infinity, is envisioned as a hub through which players can access a variety of Assassin’s Creed experiences, ranging from traditional stealth-focused adventures to sprawling open-world RPGs.
This approach allows Ubisoft to cater to diverse tastes within the fanbase. Those seeking a classic Assassin’s Creed experience can find it, while those who enjoy the open-world RPG formula can continue to explore those titles. Assassin’s Creed Red, set in feudal Japan, and Assassin’s Creed Hexe, with its darker themes, are both anticipated to be part of the Infinity platform, potentially offering distinct gameplay styles and experiences.
The Key Design Pillars
The essential elements that defined the early Assassin’s Creed games were:
- Social Stealth: Blending into crowds, using disguises, and manipulating the environment to remain hidden.
- Parkour: Fluid and dynamic movement through urban environments, allowing players to traverse rooftops and navigate complex structures with ease.
- Narrative Focus: A compelling story centered on the conflict between Assassins and Templars, exploring themes of freedom, control, and the nature of good and evil.
The modern Assassin’s Creed games often de-emphasize these pillars in favor of open-world exploration, combat, and RPG mechanics. However, the success of Mirage, and the anticipation surrounding future titles, suggests that Ubisoft is committed to finding a balance between these different approaches.
The Games Learning Society and the Educational Value of Assassin’s Creed
The Assassin’s Creed franchise, with its meticulous recreations of historical settings, also presents significant educational opportunities. From ancient Egypt in Origins to Renaissance Italy in Assassin’s Creed II, the games provide players with immersive experiences that can spark an interest in history and culture. The Games Learning Society recognizes the potential of video games as tools for education and learning, and Assassin’s Creed stands as a prime example of how interactive entertainment can engage players with history in a meaningful way. To learn more about the intersection of games and education, visit GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the direction of the Assassin’s Creed franchise:
1. Will Assassin’s Creed ever be exclusively stealth-focused again?
While a complete return to the pure stealth focus of the early games is unlikely, Mirage demonstrates that Ubisoft is willing to create titles that prioritize stealth and intricate level design. The Infinity platform may offer opportunities for more specialized experiences in the future.
2. What exactly is Assassin’s Creed Infinity?
Assassin’s Creed Infinity is not a game, but rather a platform or hub that will serve as the entry point for future Assassin’s Creed games. It is designed to connect different titles and experiences within the franchise.
3. Where will Assassin’s Creed Red be set?
Assassin’s Creed Red is set in feudal Japan.
4. What is Assassin’s Creed Hexe about?
Assassin’s Creed Hexe is rumored to have a darker, more horror-themed setting, possibly focusing on witch trials in 16th-century Europe.
5. Is the Assassin-Templar conflict still relevant?
The Assassin-Templar conflict remains a core element of the Assassin’s Creed universe, although its prominence has varied across different titles. Future games are likely to continue exploring this conflict in new and interesting ways.
6. Are there any plans for a modern-day Assassin’s Creed game?
While there have been rumors and speculation about a modern-day Assassin’s Creed game, Ubisoft has not officially announced any such plans.
7. What made the Ezio trilogy so popular?
The Ezio trilogy (Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations) is beloved for its compelling protagonist, engaging story, beautiful historical settings, and a perfect blend of stealth, action, and adventure.
8. Will Ezio ever return in a new Assassin’s Creed game?
Given Ezio’s definitive ending in Assassin’s Creed: Embers, it’s highly unlikely that he will return as a playable character. However, he may be referenced in future titles.
9. How many main Assassin’s Creed games are there?
There are currently 13 main Assassin’s Creed games, not including spin-offs and handheld titles.
10. Which Assassin’s Creed game has the best story?
The “best” story is subjective, but many fans consider Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood to have particularly strong narratives.
11. What is the recommended order to play the Assassin’s Creed games?
The recommended order is generally the chronological order of release, as this allows players to follow the overarching narrative and understand the evolution of the gameplay mechanics.
12. Is Assassin’s Creed a historically accurate series?
While Assassin’s Creed games are set in real historical periods and feature many historical figures, they are works of fiction and should not be considered entirely accurate historical representations. They take significant creative liberties with the events and characters they portray.
13. Will there ever be an Assassin’s Creed game set in South America?
There has been no official announcement of an Assassin’s Creed game set in South America, but it remains a possibility for future titles.
14. Are all Assassin’s Creed games canon?
Yes, all main Assassin’s Creed games are considered canon within the overarching Assassin’s Creed universe. However, some spin-offs and comics may not be.
15. How does Ubisoft decide on the historical settings for Assassin’s Creed games?
Ubisoft considers a variety of factors when choosing historical settings, including historical significance, visual appeal, potential for interesting gameplay mechanics, and the ability to tell compelling stories.
Conclusion
The Assassin’s Creed franchise is at a crossroads. The success of Mirage demonstrated the demand for a return to the series’ roots, while the ongoing popularity of the open-world RPG titles confirms the appeal of the newer formula. With Assassin’s Creed Infinity, Ubisoft is attempting to bridge this divide, offering a platform that caters to diverse tastes within the fanbase. Whether this strategy will ultimately succeed remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the future of Assassin’s Creed is one of constant evolution, adaptation, and a willingness to explore new possibilities while honoring the legacy of the past.