Assassin’s Creed: an ode to bombastic open-world titans
5.10.2023
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Assassin’s Creed Mirage wants to return to the origins of the game series. That worries me; I'm a huge fan of the gargantuan game worlds that started with Origins.
My colleague Luca is happy that Assassin’s Creed Mirage wants to return to the roots of the «AC» series. More stealth, fewer side quests, less grinding for skill points. True, I’m already gnawing my fingernails off in anticipation of the latest Assassin’s Creed entry. I’ll also most definitely pay an extensive visit to Baghdad.
But I’m not looking at Mirage today. I want to write about what an Assassin’s Creed game should be. The gaming community has been discussing this for years. But why? Well, back in 2017, developer Ubisoft turned a proven game concept completely on its head, mixing two target groups. Ever since, Ubisoft has been trying to satisfy both old and new assassins.
The point of contention: parkour vs. open world
The Assassin’s Creed series first saw the light of day in 2007. Following that, Ubisoft released new games with nice regularity, each set in a different time in world history. Funnily, they all included plenty of routes for climbing and creeping. 2007’s assassin Altaïr, for example, climbed nimbly across the rooftops of Jerusalem and assassinated his opponents by stealth or by leaping on them. His descendant Ezio did the same in Florence, Venice and Rome.
Fast forward to 2017. After two years of development, Ubisoft released the tenth instalment in the series, Assassin’s Creed Origins. A lot had changed: we were greeted with a magnificent Egypt during the rule of Cleopatra. The game world was huge, beautiful and filled with a whole host of activities. There’s more to do than some assassins have time for. The successors Odyssey and Valhalla followed the same path.
Source: Debora Pape
And here now lies the crux. Some want the series how it used to be: smaller, more straightforward, and more in tune with older gameplay. Others simply adore the open worlds and the abundance of possibilities. I belong to the latter group. Partially because I only became an assassin in Origins and don’t know what I might’ve missed.
Too many side quests? Don’t be ridiculous, gimme!
True, designing open-world games is difficult. If they’re too empty, players get bored. If they’re too full, it’s overwhelming and frustrating. The newer AC games have often been criticised for their oppressive scope.
In his review, Luca asks, «But who has time for all the countless and mostly boring side missions?» Me, that’s who! I take the time. After all, I like to spend it doing something I enjoy. For me, all the tasks and activities aren’t a drawback. That merchant who was robbed will just have to wait while I steal a scroll somewhere else.
The only problem here: my character levels up too fast. If you explore the world and do a lot, you get swamped with experience points – and that in turn reduces my enjoyment of the game. I’m often way too strong way too early for the areas I’m travelling in. And then there are skills that additionally boost my experience point gain. Gah! What a waste of skill points!
There’s something for everyone!
Think you can take on an entire army? Let’s go, the next enemy fortress isn’t far away. If you want stealth, you can have it! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to stab and shoot arrows there. Hidden in a bush – or loud as can be, with often unintentional explosions.
You’re exhausted and don’t have the nerve for such action? Then stroll along the river. Enjoy the colourful hustle and bustle around you. Screenshot the vendors’ displays or watch artisans. The detailed new game worlds are a feast for the eyes.
Source: Debora Pape
Feel like a cultural trip? Ride through the desert or climb the Great Pyramid of Giza in Origins. Climb to vantage points, discover treasures. Or be inspired by the different architectural styles of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in Valhalla.
Annoyed? Find an elite warrior who’s hunting you down and beat the snot out of him. Don’t worry, I’m sure he deserves it.
Got a minute free? Pick up a map with clues to hidden treasure. You’ll have to think creatively and look for unique features in the landscape to solve the puzzle.
Feeling down? Search for a world event in Valhalla: these mini-tasks are rarely surpassed in absurdity. Funny NPC conversations, simply bizarre situations and, of course, Eivor’s dry humour show that Ubisoft worked on making the game more varied.
Back to old strengths: less is less?
For original fans, all this really might not feel like Assassin’s Creed. That may be. I think the games are something much better: a playground for slow gamers like me, who don’t just want to climb around, but also like to swim, ride, pilot ships, explore, solve puzzles and much more. Ubisoft’s announcement that Mirage will be scaled down a bit and return to its roots therefore worries me. Luca says, «Less is more». I’m afraid that less is simply, well, less.
Source: Debora Pape
Yes, the map with all its symbols can be overwhelming. Not because there’s so much to do, but because I wish I didn’t always have to chase icons. It’s a shame when every quest is precisely marked on a map and all I have to do is walk there. I’d prefer – optionally – a more minimalist interface and map. I want to find the house I’m looking for on the road to Alexandria myself, instead of running to the map marker.
In the end, however, I admit Origins and Valhalla can be exhausting. There’s so much to do that it’s hard to feel finished – even for me, after 150 hours, the urge to do it all eventually wears off. After all, other games are waiting to be played.
Are you part of the old guard, or do you appreciate open worlds as much as I do? Let me know in the comments!
Header image: Debora Pape, Assassin’s Creed OriginsNote: in the first version of this article I mistakenly wrote Enzo instead of Ezio. Thank you for your comments, I’ve corrected it.
Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.
