So in light of the fact that Ubisoft has already visited the Middle East, Renaissance Italy and the American West, what could the next instalment offer?
The Assassins Creed franchise is one which has become a firm gamer favourite over recent years - I wrote about its best features in my last article, which you can find here; "16 Reasons Why Assassin's Creed Franchise is So Awesome". So in light of the fact that Ubisoft has already visited the Middle East, Renaissance Italy and the American West, what could the next instalment offer? A friend and I have discussed this recently, coming up with two ideas as to what the Animus next outing could provide. If any of you can think of ways to expand on what weve thought up, or if you want to suggest an alternative setting or time period of your own, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
Option One: London, 1829:
For centuries, the British Empire ruled huge areas of the world, with immigration on the rise and trade routes spreading out to all corners of the globe. The result of this on the city of London was its development into a bustling, thriving metropolis teeming with activity and life. However, with this expansion came over crowding, poverty, the effects of rapid industrialisation and plenty of additional reasons to warrant the emergence of an Assassin Order... So what sort of characters could players expect to portray in this kind of atmosphere and, indeed, in the present day levels too? I personally think that with the end of Assassins Creed 3 Desmonds story should be brought to a close. Hes a great character on which to pin the main storyline at the moment, but I think itll soon be time for another central protagonist with a different background (and different motivations) to drive the story forwards. As far as the ancestor is concerned, perhaps they could be a member of the lower orders, out to exact revenge on the Templar elite, or an immigrant from the empire seeking adventure? With the right combination of story elements any character could fit in well among the factory workers, market traders, thieves, highwaymen and austere members of the recently established Metropolitan police force. Once the main character has taken up his role as an assassin recruit or master, they would be able to explore a truly spectacular environment. Landmarks like Big Ben would make great viewpoints, while Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and the Tower and Westminster bridges had all been completed by this time and would provide useful reference points for the player - in addition to a plethora of structures in which to house puzzles, glyths or Templar lairs. The main character would be able to travel from affluent avenues to run down back alley slums, the environment, the npcs and the atmosphere shifting continually and providing the opportunity for different random events think robberies to bar brawls, political manipulation to body disposal in the Thames, the list is nigh on endless. Then we come on to the weapons what would be at the disposal of the assassins in this era? Aside from the rudimentary hidden blades, what about muskets, flintlock pistols, cannons, rapiers and concealed daggers? All could have their own distinct strengths and weaknesses, while offering everything from stealth kills to heavy firepower.