No we won’t be counting down towards the best Assassin’s Creed game. We’ll instead be listing out all the main entries to the series to give you a thorough lowdown on what they brought to the table, and how the games have evolved over the years to gain the kind of popularity they enjoy today. And perhaps then, you’ll have a clear idea of what the series has on offer for you, and which is the game that suits your liking the most. Right from the first title which came out in 2007 to the latest one, we have been blessed with completely new experiences by the series time and again. The historical scenarios, famous personalities from the past, sprawling environments and of course the parkour filled action-adventure gameplay with a tinge of stealth, all make these games absolutely enjoyable. Let’s have a look at them in detail.
1 – Assassin’s Creed
Introducing us to the unending templar-assassin conflict which is the main backdrop of the series, Assassin’s Creed also managed to showcase Ubisoft’s new gameplay vision. Building on elements established by the new-age Prince of Persia titles, this game provided us with the freedom to roam around a city in a completely free-flowing manner. Its assassination missions and other features like eavesdropping, interrogation and pickpocketing were a treat to revel in. The cities of Jerusalem, Acre and Damascus can be experienced through Assassin’s Creed, and so can events during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land.
2 – Assassin’s Creed 2
Like many other instances, it took a second game for the series to realize its full potential. 2009’s Assassin’s Creed 2 is considered by many as the finest title from the entire series. It introduced a new hero in the form of Ezio, and took us on a journey through the Renaissance period of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Set in Italy, it provides a massive open world which is swarming with lively atmospheres and lots of unique missions to undertake. Combat received a huge boost with this game, and so did the exploration and interaction aspects of the series. Moreover, other factors like non-linear gameplay and an new economic system made Assassin’s Creed 2 absolutely irresistible.
3 – Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood
And so began the yearly doling out of new games from the AC series. 2010 witnessed the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, with its continuation of the Renaissance storyline featuring Ezio. Its narrative was the main highlight for this game, and gameplay additions such as horse-riding in the city, mounted combat, new assassination abilities and more made it a huge success. Moreover, this game experimented with a unique multiplayer mode which worked in its favour, and in turn established a multiplayer model which was to be seen in all other AC titles that followed.
4 – Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Assassin’s Creed: Revelations marked the lowest point for the series. It was a game riddled with strange choices made by the developers, and moreover, the repetitiveness of the series had also started to show. Letting you explore the city of Constantinopole, it concluded the Ezio saga, and despite questionable additions like tower defense mini-games, its gameplay felt like the same familiar enjoyable experience we were used to. The addition of a hookblade also provided some much needed novelty. The multiplayer component received a number of new additions, and was a much more refined and pleasing experience than the one present in its predecessor. Despite a comparatively cold critical response, this 2011 game was a commercial success.
5 – Assassin’s Creed III
From the Renaissance era, we were thrown into the British colonial era by Assassin’s Creed III which again gave us a new protagonist in the form of Connor. The game revolves around the American Revolution, and takes place in huge open world environments from Boston and New York, apart from wilderness areas. Hunting and tree-navigating were also introduced by Assassin’s Creed III, aside from naval battles. Built using a new engine, this game was grand, but was criticized for its languid first act. Other than that however, this visually stunning game had no hindering elements overall. Assassin’s Creed III was the first title from the series to be launched for the Wii U, apart from the regular PS3, Xbox 360 and PC editions.
6 – Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag took things up a notch by incorporating the largest game map the series had ever seen. It chose the pirate theme for its story, and focused on the eighteenth century period considered to be the golden era of piracy. Ship-based exploration and naval battles of course form a huge part of the game, and there’s great diversity brought in by this addition. Our new protagonist is a notorious pirate named Edward Kenway, and historical faces like Edward ‘Blackbeard’ Thatch, Benjamin Hornigold and more have been beautifully incorporated into its story. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s land environments include large renderings of Havana, Kingston, Nassau, Bahamas and other small islands, while its seemingly unending sea portion is something that’s hard to stop coming back to. Apart from the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U and PC, this game has also been made available for the PS4 and the Xbox One.
Conclusion:
It’s up to you now to play and choose the best Assassin’s Creed game. Read through their descriptions carefully to see whether they suit your needs or not before buying them.