We want Ubisoft to wrap up the trilogy right. Here's how.
December 4, 2009 -
If a game makes money you can guarantee there will be a sequel. The Assassin's Creed series was originally conceived as a trilogy, with a traditional three-part story arc. That's not to say there won't be hundreds of spin-offs and sequels outside of the trinity, but we fully expect the main storyline to close out winter of 2011. Not only does that bring present day up to speed with the setting of the game (which is 2012), but the storyline also overlaps nicely with the popular "end-time" warnings we've associated with that year.
So fresh off our experience with Assassin's Creed II, and in anticipation of the third installment of Ubisoft Montreal's conspiratorial epic, we have five quick suggestions to help make the series go out with a bang.
5. The New Prince
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Now that we've experienced the Prince of Persia-influenced sections of Assassin's Creed II, we want a whole lot more. These closed off set-pieces are both intriguing for their puzzle elements and because they really showed off how much range the free-running mechanic has when used correctly. And because these sections have been painstakingly laid out by the developers, they allow for a more successful implementation of stealth mechanics. Players can plan out their approach, dependent on an enemy's location and pattern. In Assassin's Creed II there was no penalty for raising the alarm in the tombs, but completing one perfectly, without ever alerting your foes, was incredibly rewarding.
4. Home Improvement
One of finest additions to the sequel was Ezio's Villa in the Italian countryside. It gave us the opportunity to put all of our collectibles on display in one location, but more importantly the small town evolved as Ezio invested more in its construction. It would be amazing to see this mechanic extended to all of the locations a player visits, and not just through the monetary system. Seeing a city and its inhabitants change and react due to the actions of the Assassin would be a great reward.
3. Advance the Acrobatics
The free running mechanic was sped up significantly for Assassin's Creed II. It might not have been as realistic as the meticulous set of climbing animations in the first game, but it was a hell of a lot more fun. The third installment should continue the trend and spiff up some of the movement animations. Ezio still runs like he's dragging a ball and chain behind him. It could even give the series a dose of the free running style portrayed in Mirror's Edge. Desmond should be able to roll, wall run, slide on his knees, and generally move more quickly than his ancestors.
2. Don't Flash Us Too Far Forward
Assassin's Creed II moved us forward in time significantly, with the Renaissance setting taking place about 300 years after the events of the first game. And it's not likely that we'll jump further back in time. A natural conclusion is to move the game to the new world during the time of the American Revolutionary War. The late 1700s were a fascinating time in history, and the time period opens up all sorts of possibilities for the Assassin's Creed storyline. Meanwhile, Desmond can enjoy sitting in an animus. The last thing we want to see is the compelling historical fiction angle ruined by the addition of skyscrapers and machine guns.
1. Wrap it Up Right
Assassin's Creed II was a blast to play, but the ending (like that of its predecessor) left something to be desired. Without getting into spoilers, we'll just say that the combat was rather unsatisfying and the closing cinematic sequences raised more questions than they answered. When the close-out to your game borders on the comical, you know you have some issues. When Assassin's Creed III finally rolls to a close, we want two things: a thrilling combat/assassination sequence and a mind-blowing reveal that wraps up the entire series in a shocking (and coherent) package. That doesn't mean there shouldn't be room for expansion of the Assassin's universe, but we definitely want the main Desmond storyline to be cleaned up and put to bed.
Those are our top five suggestions, but there are certainly some smaller tweaks we'd like to see too. Is the "gentle push" really necessary? Take it out and beef up the combat animations even more. Races seem like holdovers from the first game and should be removed in favor of meatier side-missions. We're sure the wizards at Ubi are already hard at work on Assassin's Creed III, but now's your chance to make your voice heard. What would you like to see in the next installment? Hit the comments section below and let us know.
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