Option Two: Paris, 1789:
Political upheaval, social discord, civil unrest, all played out in a bustling cosmopolitan city famed for its art and its architecture. Put simply, the French Revolution offers a fantastic setting for the next Assassins Creed title. One suggestion which has been made time and time again is that of a female protagonist. Why not after all, women are typically more lithe and agile than males, a factor which could easily be fed into the game play. In addition, it would allow Ubisoft to give the assassin robes, the weapons and the mission scenarios a twist, all without compromising the overarching DNA narrative. Perhaps this would be seen as a bit of a departure from the previous instalments, but change can sometimes be for the better, right? So how would the Templars and assassins fit into the framework of the revolution? Perhaps the former would be represented within the royal family, with the assassins emerging from the lower orders? If this were considered a bit too political, why not have the Templars infiltrate both sides of the conflict, manipulating events for their own gain (as is rumoured for the war of independence in Assassins Creed 3)? Again, with the right story this type of setting could allow for some incredibly complex narrative work and a truly engaging plot. Landmarks available for exploration in Paris are just as numerous as they are in London: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc D Triumphe could all provide interesting places to store loot and access viewpoints, while the Seine offers a place to hide from enemies and access underground locations. Also similar to London, the different areas of the city could be marked by different characters and environments, allowing players to immerse themselves in a living, breathing world as they work through their contracts and achieve their objectives. In terms of weapons, many old favourites could return including the hidden blades, swords, daggers, muskets, flintlocks and crossbows. However, perhaps longbows and cannons could be implemented too, fitting as they are within this time period? Also, the relationship between the guillotine and the revolution is well known, so why not bring this into play with side missions to save people from their executioners, thereby winning their allegiance to the cause? Other side missions could include pick pocketing nobles, working with the riotous crowd to create diversions, sabotaging strategic locations, kidnapping / rescuing political prisoners and giving Jacobins a taste of their own medicine? Its very difficult to guess what Ubisofts next move could be regarding the Assassins Creed franchise, especially when the third main title has not even made release yet. However, with any luck this article has highlighted a couple of contrasting approaches as to where the journey may be headed. Undoubtedly you will all have your own ideas and opinions, so please dont hesitate to share them below! Equally, if you have any ideas as to how the scenarios above could be improved, dont be afraid to let us know what you think!