8. Emergent Gameplay/Narrative
UbisoftPossessing emergent gameplay and narrative elements is all the rage in the blockbusters of the contemporary video gaming world and it is certainly something Ubisoft should seek to employ in Assassins Creed Unity. The taste of 18th century Paris we were given in the E3 demo with a large crowd baying for blood at the sight of a clergyman being dragged from the cathedral suggests that the environment of Unity will be far more organic than in past titles. The narrator claimed that the citys populace will feel far more vibrantly realised than in past games (thanks in no small part to the overhauled Anvil game engine), going about their business, getting robbed and investigating curious events. It is the reference to these intriguing events which has got many Assassins Creed fans excited and hopeful. In recent times we have seen games like Skyrim and GTA V show just how effective emergent gameplay elements can be. No longer did the gamer have to go to some clumsy checkpoint or marker to get their mission. Instead the gameplay unfolded naturally in front of them and they didnt have to suspend their disbelief as they rode to Joe Bloggs Inn to initiate an encounter with a dragon. We know for a fact that Paris looks gorgeous in Unity so it will be very interesting if these excellent graphics are complimented by a natural, emergent gameplay style. The thought of travelling around the French capital and seeing these so-called curious events randomly happening before becoming involved ourselves is a very compelling one. We saw in the E3 demo how Arno can become seamlessly involved in a murder mystery mission after just encountering some distressed peasants but we hope that this isnt just an anomaly and that a good amount of the games missions are initiated in this way.