Summary
For many fans,Assassin’s Creed Redis the most exciting and promisingAssassin’s Creedproject in several years. Gaming audiences have been pleading for anAssassin’s Creedgame set in Japan ever since the franchise settled into its anthology format, soAssassin’s Creed Redneeds to go above and beyond to meet certain expectations. Ideally, Ubisoft will be able to makeRedreach those lofty heights with some help from thoughtful and meaningful game design.
Assassin’s Creedgames live and die by their settings, with each release’s era and geographical location naturally informing things like gear, level design, and combat. This has helped make the franchise exciting and successful, butAssassin’s Creedhas also been criticized for being too similar across distinct releases, with many considering the new settings to be akin to fresh coats of paint rather than fundamental, powerful forces of change. Additionally, players have lamented a perceived loss in series identity following the release ofOrigins, which tookAssassin’s Creedin a more definitive action-RPG direction. These points can be addressed byAssassin’s Creed Red.
Assassin’s Creed Red Essentials
Major Changes to Assassin’s Creed Combat
Assassin’s Creed Redwill reportedly feature two protagonists: a shinobi and a samurai. In the case of the latter, it will be essential for Ubisoft to reconsider its approach to combat design, as the animation-based fighting of the previous four games wouldn’t be a good fit for a samurai character, who should feel like a swift, lethal, and methodical fighter. Put plainly, whaling on an opponent, hitting them with a katana a dozen or more times, should not be commonplace, as it would undermine the samurai fantasy.
Instead,Redshould be focused on making a combat system that is built around high damage output on both sides, much like other samurai games likeGhost of Tsushima, which steer clear of damage-sponge enemies. Taking notes from deflection-based combat sandboxes,like that of FromSoftware’sSekiro, could also make combat more rewarding, with a higher skill ceiling.
Assassin’s Creed Red Needs to Deliver On Stealth
When it comes to the other rumored protagonist, Ubisoft will have to focus on making stealth gameplay worthy of the legendary shinobi title. Stealth has always been a core ingredient in theAssassin’s Creedformula, but it’s plain to see that it has taken a back seat in the series' modern releases. The post-Originsgames have greatly altered and arguably de-emphasized stealth, as, while quietly assassinating enemies can often give the player a leg-up in combat scenarios, it’s rare for a mission to be entirely built around stealth mechanics like inolderAssassin’s Creedgames. IfRedfeatures a shinobi, or shinobi-like gameplay, it would be the perfect opportunity to recommit to the series' stealth roots.
Assassin’s Creed Redwill be facing some stiff competition when it comes to samurai combat, but far fewer modern games have perfected shinobi-style stealth. This could be whereRedexcels.
Assassin’s Creed Red Should Dial Back RPG Elements
The emphasis that modernAssassin’s Creedgames have placed on RPG staples hasn’t been without its benefits, but they aren’t generally considered to be one of the franchise’s greatest strengths. WithAssassin’s CreedRedbeing rumored to stara real historical figure, the RPG elements that have defined the most recent games in the series would be an odd fit. Instead, Ubisoft should aim to deliver a strong, emotionally resonant narrative inAssassin’s Creed Red, prioritizing memorable, well-crafted storytelling over a huge, open-ended, player-driven saga.
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.
