Assassin's Creed 2017: 10 Time Periods We Want To See
How to revitalise the franchise in style.
The one thing Assassin’s Creed has always got right, regardless of any other flaws, is the locale. The time periods in which the games are set are often some of the most interesting and intriguing points in history. The French Revolution and The Golden Age of Piracy for example, have done wonders to accentuate the story and gameplay of the series.
Admittedly, colonial America was a bit of a dip in the formula, but we don’t talk about that game…
While the places that have been visited have been remarkable in their own ways, there is a great deal of locations and points in time that are crying out for their own game. Ancient history and more modern escapades can seem so perfect for a setting of the next Assassin’s Creed, that it seems as if history has been written explicitly for the series.
With the game being postponed for at least a year, we are left to speculate on exactly where the hoods of our favourite hidden blade-users will resurface in the coming year. So, with that in mind, I will be delving through history to list the 10 time periods we desperately want to see - some obvious, and others that might just stoke your curiosity.
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10. WWI Or WWII
I was hesitant to include this, but when considering the tiny titbit, we were presented with in Unity, I have faith that an Assassin’s Creed game in one of the World Wars could be exceptional. The scenario presented in Unity had little background information and was a whole load of style, but it was a brilliant experience. Dodging the beams of light from massive airships before climbing the Eiffel Tower and gunning down fighters was a fantastically thrilling setup - and one that might just make for a full game, The Saboteur-style.
Indeed, there is a wealth of opportunity to tell a far grittier Assassin’s Creed story, one lacking in the dreamy romanticism that's dogged more recent entries. Sneaking through trenches or exploring Nazi-occupied Europe could be thrilling and dark in its own way, if done correctly and tastefully. The narrative could be far less fantastical, and a lot more grounded in such a dreary setting.
Admittedly, this would be as far into the 'modern day' they could go, unless it was literally the present day. Going any further than the wars would risk the stealth aspects of the game dissipating into more of a shooter, simply thanks to the development of ranged warfare. And we don’t need Assassin’s Creed to become yet another mass-marketed shooter.