One of the most iconic moments in the entire Assassin's Creed series unfolds near the beginning of Assassin's Creed 3, as Haytham Kenway assembles his team in the New World. Players are initially led to believe these are fellow assassins. Haytham, wielding a hidden blade and displaying the charisma reminiscent of Ezio Auditore, appears heroic, freeing Native Americans and confronting British redcoats. The revelation comes when he utters, "May the Father of Understanding guide us," making it clear that we've been following the Templars, the sworn enemies of the Assassins.
This twist exemplifies the full potential of Assassin's Creed's narrative capabilities. The original game introduced the fascinating concept of knowing and eliminating targets but lacked depth in its storytelling and character development. Assassin's Creed 2 improved with the introduction of the charismatic Ezio, yet his adversaries, such as Cesare Borgia in the spinoff Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, remained underdeveloped. It wasn't until Assassin's Creed 3, set during the American Revolution, that Ubisoft devoted equal attention to both the hunted and the hunter. This approach created a seamless narrative flow and achieved a harmonious balance between gameplay and story that has yet to be replicated.
While the current RPG era of the series has been well-received, many fans and critics argue that Assassin's Creed is in decline. The reasons for this are debated, with some pointing to the increasingly fantastical elements, such as battles against gods like Anubis and Fenrir, while others criticize the introduction of romance options or the use of historical figures like Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows. However, I believe the true cause of this decline is the shift away from character-driven storytelling, which has become overshadowed by expansive sandbox elements.
Over time, Assassin's Creed has incorporated numerous RPG and live service elements, including dialogue trees, XP-based leveling, loot boxes, microtransactions, and gear customization. As the games have grown larger, they've begun to feel less substantial, not only in terms of repetitive side missions but also in their storytelling. While Assassin's Creed Odyssey offers more content than Assassin's Creed 2, much of it feels less polished and immersive. The scripted, focused narratives of the earlier action-adventure games allowed for well-defined characters, unlike the broader, player-driven scenarios of the newer titles, which can dilute character development.
This shift has led to a sense of interacting with generic NPCs rather than complex historical figures, a stark contrast to the rich writing of the Xbox 360/PS3 era. Memorable moments like Ezio's defiant speech after defeating Savonarola or Haytham's poignant final words to his son Connor showcase the depth of character that has been lost:
"Don't think I have any intention of caressing your cheek and saying I was wrong. I will not weep and wonder what might have been. I'm sure you understand. Still, I'm proud of you in a way. You have shown great conviction. Strength. Courage. All noble qualities. I should have killed you long ago."
The narrative quality has also suffered in other ways. Modern games often oversimplify the moral dichotomy between Assassins and Templars, whereas earlier entries explored the gray areas between the two factions. In Assassin's Creed 3, each Templar's final words challenge Connor's beliefs, prompting players to question their own perspectives. Haytham's attempts to undermine Connor's faith in George Washington add layers to the narrative, leaving players with more questions than answers and enriching the story.
Reflecting on the franchise's history, the enduring appeal of "Ezio's Family" from the Assassin's Creed 2 soundtrack underscores the series' strength in character-driven storytelling. The melancholic melody evokes Ezio's personal loss rather than just the game's setting. While I appreciate the expansive worldbuilding and graphics of the current Assassin's Creed games, I hope the series will return to its roots with more focused, character-centric narratives. However, in today's market, dominated by sprawling sandboxes and live service ambitions, such a return might not align with "good business."
