Summary
Assassin’s Creedis ubiquitous now, but it wasn’t too long ago that it was still a burgeoning action-adventure franchise with a very different approach to game and narrative design. The firstAssassin’s Creed, which looks quaint in comparison to what the franchise would go on to become, was quickly surpassed byAssassin’s Creed 2, which not only introduced thestill-iconic multi-game lead Ezio Auditore, but also major improvements to the design pillars of its predecessor.
One of the most notable differences betweenAssassin’s Creedand its sequel is how its modern-day sections play out. The first game uses the modern day as downtime, chapters for the player to pull back the curtain, inch by inch, on the mysteries of Abstergo and the contemporary Templar-Assassin conflict. But gameplay in these sections is akin to a walking simulator, ultimately feeling like a slam on the brakes compared to the in-Animus bits.Assassin’s Creed 2immediately makes it clear that its modern-day chapters will be something different, as protagonist Desmond is now able to gracefully fight and perform the same acrobatic feats as his ancestral counterparts. This update would go on to inform future development ofAssassin’s Creedmodern-day sections, and not necessarily in a good way.
Assassin’s Creed 2 May Have Bit Off More Than the Series Could Chew
Assassin’s Creed’s Bleeding Effect Plot Doesn’t Bear Fruit
Assassin’s Creed 2leaps forward with Desmond Milesvia the “bleeding effect,” a term used to describe how Animus users can essentially absorb advanced skills and natural abilities through the Animus simulation. The bleeding effect arc is reflected in both gameplay and narrative, as Desmond’s combat and traversal capabilities perfectly mirror Ezio’s (and later, Connor’s); there’s far greater urgency in the modern-day plot, with Lucy and new allies like Rebecca and Sean all being proactive and aggressive in their fight against the Templars, positioning the quickly progressing Desmond as a powerful fighter and asset.
At the time, one could even be forgiven for thinking that the franchise was going to culminate in a modern-day finale, or at least have some more ambitious, creative modern-day chapters that hold their own against the historical ones. But asthe phenomenal Ezio eracame to a close, it became clear that this wouldn’t be the case, with Desmond quickly moving on to another ancestor before being rather abruptly removed from the franchise altogether.
Assassin’s Creed 2 Set Modern-Day Expectations Too High
It’s not exactly controversial to say thatAssassin’s Creed’s overarching modern-day narrative isn’t its strong suit, butAC2made it seem like the franchise was ramping up for something special and explosive, suggesting that the out-of-Animus story would become just as cinematic and engaging as the in-Animus ones. ButAssassin’s Creed’s modern day componenthas actually been walked back in the post-Ezio era, withBlack Flagreturning to the walking simulator approach and bothUnityandSyndicateremoving modern day gameplay entirely, opting to tell that part of the story exclusively through cutscenes. The post-Originsgames reintroduce modern-day gameplay but to nowhere near the same extent as something likeAssassin’s Creed3or evenBrotherhood. The latest game,Mirage,takes another step backward with nothing more than two modern-day cinematics.
Many fans would agree thatAssassin’s Creeddoesn’t need modern-day segments, as the series' strengths lie in its historical action and exploration.That said,Assassin’s Creed 2started down the road of a playable, engaging modern-day, leading many to expect those segments to only grow stronger and more prominent. Instead, it’s never clear what to expect from the modern-day story inAssassin’s Creed; perhaps it would have been better to mitigate expectations early on, remaining consistent with the modern-day side of the equation, rather than oscillating between ambitious and greatly scaled-back.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as a cunning young street thief seeking answers in this majestic Middle Eastern open world. Experience the home of the original Assassins in this exciting new narrative-driven, open world adventure. 15 years since the first Assassin’s Creed redefined adventure, experience the franchises' trademark parkour and stealth like never before - in Assasin’s Creed Mirage. In this smaller scale, back to basics Assassin’s caper, you play Basim, a young street thief seeking answers. Roam the richly-detailed, reactive and vibrant streets of 9th century Baghdad, uncovering the mysteries of the past as you fight to secure your future. Stalk the shadows. Become the ultimate assassin.
