TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has undergone a dramatic amount of change over the last few years, shifting from its usual stealth-centered gameplay to action-RPG mechanics. Many fans have expressed a desire for Ubisoft to go back to basics, and it appears to be doing so withAssassin’s Creed Mirage. With promises of a smaller, more focused world, Ubisoft is taking a break from the 100-hour-long adventures of games likeAssassin’s Creed Valhalla. This decision has been mostly praised by many new and longtime fans, makingAssassin’s Creed Mirageone of the most anticipatedACgames in a long time.
A lot has changed sinceAssassin’s Creedlast focused on tight, stealthy gameplay. One of the core aspects of the franchise, its freerunning mechanics, hasn’t received as much attention over the last few games due to a greater focus on combat. ConsideringMirageis supposed to be going back to the series' roots, many fans will likely expect that philosophy to extend toAC’s once intricate freerunning systems. As it was once the main draw of the franchise for many gamers, howMiragehandles freerunning could be a major deciding factor on whether the new entry really feels like a classicAssassin’s Creedexperience.
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The Progression And Regression Of Freerunning In Assassin’s Creed
When the firstAssassin’s Creedgame released fifteen years ago, one of the standout features was how it handled movement. Few games had ever allowed players to scale buildings with such speed and precision, and even if it appears dated by today’s standards, it was revolutionary at the time. As the series progressed, the freerunning mechanics only became deeper, withAC 3allowing for freerunning in trees, andthe controversialAssassin’s Creed Unityintroducing dozens of dynamic movements. By the timeAC Syndicatecame around, movement was more fluid than anyone who played the firstAssassin’s Creedever could have dreamed.
OnceAssassin’s Creedmade its shift towards an action-RPG structure, those established movement systems began to lose their depth. Sliding down pyramids inAC Originswas fun for many, but Ubisoft began to deemphasize the finesse of freerunning in order to emphasize combat. By the timeAssassin’s Creed Valhallacame around, the seamless freerunning ofUnityandSyndicatewas a distant memory. The most players could do was climb up vertical surfaces or plainly vault over objects in their path, as if they had gone back to playing the originalACgames all over again.
The Importance Of Freerunning In Assassin’s Creed Mirage
IfAssassin’s Creed Mirageis truly going to be an experience that mimics the best parts of the originalACformula, that has to extend to its freerunning. Ubisoft already has a strong foundation in games likeAC Unity, a game that came out almost ten years ago and many fans cite as having the best freerunning in the series. WithMirage’s Baghdad setting, it won’t have the same issues as a game likeValhallawith its open, empty fields.Mirage’s reveal trailer already showed bustling markets and populous towns, all of which opens up opportunities for satisfying freerunning that feels familiar while also providing something new.
Freerunning is at the heart ofAssassin’s Creed, andMiragewould be heartless if it failed to provide players with movement that makes them feel like a skilled assassin. Ubisoft has set expectations very high for itself with this new installment, and if it falters in providing an experience with the essence ofthe first fewACgames, it may thoroughly lose the trust of many longtime fans. While stealth-based gameplay and a focused narrative are instrumental in capturing that essence, satisfying freerunning is the skeleton that helps it all stand up.
Assassin’s Creed Mirageis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
