By Stephen Hyland
It all began back in the year 2007, as in this year the first of many games in a franchise would appear in stores everywhere. This first installment was known as “Assassin’s Creed”; a game set in 1191 as well as modern day was a free-roam, third person game in which lets you play as a young man named “Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad”, a member of an old faction the “Assassin Brotherhood”. Your goal was to obtain an ancient artefact capable of controlling minds: the “Apple of Eden”. The fight for this object of mass power becomes evermore desperate as another faction known as the “Knight’s Templar” are also hot on its tail. The game sends you, through a whole campaign with side missions in which you get to practise your awesome Assassin skills and capabilities. Following the success of the first game; with it winning multiple awards at the annual E3 and earning great reviews, a sequel was released with improved graphics, a new story and a new character to follow.
It all began back in the year 2007, as in this year the first of many games in a franchise would appear in stores everywhere. This first installment was known as “Assassin’s Creed”; a game set in 1191 as well as modern day was a free-roam, third person game in which lets you play as a young man named “Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad”, a member of an old faction the “Assassin Brotherhood”. Your goal was to obtain an ancient artefact capable of controlling minds: the “Apple of Eden”. The fight for this object of mass power becomes evermore desperate as another faction known as the “Knight’s Templar” are also hot on its tail. The game sends you, through a whole campaign with side missions in which you get to practise your awesome Assassin skills and capabilities. Following the success of the first game; with it winning multiple awards at the annual E3 and earning great reviews, a sequel was released with improved graphics, a new story and a new character to follow.
Assassin’s Creed was now a franchise with Ubisoft bringing out game after game, eventually making it an annual title. Most were good (ACII, Brotherhood), some were bad (Yes, I’m looking at you Revelations and ACIII). The most recent games, ACIV: Black Flag and AC: Liberation were set in the Caribbean, as you set sails for the seas as feared pirates. People consider these games a success, which is surprising given that they’ve changed the setting so vividly from the overthrow of the English in 1776 to the point of view of Native American man: Connor, to a revolution that didn’t quite work out through the eyes of Edward Kenway; a charming yet deadly pirate. Most doubted these games would end up being anything other than simply “good”, but, as we know, they ended up being magnificent.
Now, this is my question, where do Ubisoft go next? They’ve gone back to the 12th century and then to the 16th century. Do they go forward to the late 18th century, or back 50 years earlier? There have been a few hints of where to go next, as seen in little snippets of information within the Abstergo database found within ACIV. Some of these hints include:
- Thirteenth Century- Egypt and Northern Africa
- Fourteenth Century-Ashikaga Shogunate in Japan
- Eighteenth Century- French Revolution
- Nineteenth Century- Napoleonic Wars; Taiwan
- Twentieth Century- “Summer of Love” American Pacific Coast
These suggestions were created from surveys and questionnaires that Ubisoft sent out to their fans, asking them where they would like an Assassin’s Creed game to be set. As we know, the AC franchise is very much set in the past, at least 200 years away from present day. What many fans would not like to see is the game become a modern shooter game; they want Ubisoft to stick with the roots of the game. But with that said, maybe they could explore the origins of the First Civilisation, which was primarily teased in the very first game. Perhaps we could play as a human slave, and watch as it slowly slips into extinction.
Personally, I believe that the idea of sending an Assassin into a 14th Century Japanese setting would enable the players to explore some of the more exotic sides to the series, as well as Desmond’s heritage (as well as some kick-ass weaponry). We have seen Ubisoft diversify the franchise before, so we’d love to see it again. And I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to run along Japanese buildings and rooftops, only to drop down with a katana to slay an unsuspecting Samurai? Make it happen Ubisoft!
What setting do you think should be explored throughout the next instalment of the series? Where do you think Ubisoft could go with the story of the Assassin’s Creed? Let us know down below.
Personally, I believe that the idea of sending an Assassin into a 14th Century Japanese setting would enable the players to explore some of the more exotic sides to the series, as well as Desmond’s heritage (as well as some kick-ass weaponry). We have seen Ubisoft diversify the franchise before, so we’d love to see it again. And I mean come on, who wouldn’t want to run along Japanese buildings and rooftops, only to drop down with a katana to slay an unsuspecting Samurai? Make it happen Ubisoft!
What setting do you think should be explored throughout the next instalment of the series? Where do you think Ubisoft could go with the story of the Assassin’s Creed? Let us know down below.
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