One of the most unforgettable moments in the entire Assassin’s Creed series occurs early in Assassin’s Creed 3, when Haytham Kenway completes his mission to gather a group of what the player initially believes are assassins in the New World. Haytham's use of a hidden blade, his charisma reminiscent of Ezio Auditore, and his heroic actions—such as liberating Native Americans and confronting British redcoats—deftly portray him as a protagonist. However, when he utters the phrase, "May the Father of Understanding guide us," it becomes shockingly clear that we have been following the Templars, the sworn enemies of the Assassins.
This twist exemplifies the pinnacle of Assassin’s Creed's storytelling potential. The original game introduced the concept of tracking down and assassinating targets, but it lacked depth in its narrative, with both protagonist Altaïr and his targets lacking personality. Assassin’s Creed 2 improved upon this by introducing the iconic Ezio, yet failed to give the same attention to his adversaries, with Cesare Borgia in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood being particularly underdeveloped. It was not until Assassin’s Creed 3, set during the American Revolution, that Ubisoft fully committed to developing both the hunter and the hunted. This balanced approach created a seamless flow from setup to payoff, resulting in a harmonious blend of gameplay and narrative that has yet to be replicated in subsequent games.
While the current RPG-focused era of the series has garnered positive feedback from players and critics, there is a consensus among many that Assassin’s Creed has been on a downward trajectory. The reasons for this perceived decline are debated; some argue it's due to the increasingly fantastical elements like battling gods such as Anubis and Fenrir, while others criticize the introduction of diverse romance options or the use of real historical figures like the African samurai Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. However, I believe the series' true decline stems from its shift away from character-driven narratives, which have become overshadowed by the expansive sandbox environments.
Over the years, Assassin’s Creed has expanded its original action-adventure framework to include RPG elements such as dialogue trees, XP-based leveling systems, loot boxes, microtransactions, and gear customization. Yet, as the games have grown larger, they have begun to feel more hollow, not just in terms of repetitive side missions but also in their storytelling. While Assassin’s Creed Odyssey offers more content than Assassin’s Creed 2, much of it feels less refined and immersive. The addition of multiple choice scenarios in dialogue can theoretically enhance immersion, but in practice, it often leads to scripts that feel less polished and characters that lack depth due to the need to accommodate various player choices.
As a result, even though Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has more content than Assassin’s Creed 2, it often feels less engaging and more artificial. This contrasts sharply with the Xbox 360/PS3 era, which I believe produced some of the best writing in gaming, exemplified by Ezio’s passionate speech after defeating Savonarola and Haytham’s poignant final words to his son, Connor:
“Don't think I have any intention of caressing your cheek and saying I was wrong. I will not weep and wonder what might have been. I'm sure you understand. Still, I'm proud of you in a way. You have shown great conviction. Strength. Courage. All noble qualities. I should have killed you long ago.”
The narrative quality has also declined in other ways. Modern games tend to oversimplify the moral dichotomy between Assassins and Templars, whereas earlier games explored the nuances and blurred lines between the two factions. In Assassin’s Creed 3, each Templar's dying words challenge Connor's beliefs, prompting the player to question the righteousness of their cause. Haytham’s efforts to undermine Connor’s faith in George Washington further complicate the narrative, revealing that the command to burn Connor's village came from Washington himself, not Haytham’s associate Charles Lee. By the game's end, the player is left with more questions than answers, which ultimately strengthens the story.
Reflecting on the franchise's history, it's clear why "Ezio’s Family" from the Assassin’s Creed 2 soundtrack resonated so deeply with players, becoming the series’ unofficial theme. The PS3-era games, especially Assassin’s Creed 2 and Assassin’s Creed 3, were fundamentally character-driven experiences. The melancholic guitar strings of "Ezio’s Family" were meant to evoke Ezio’s personal trauma rather than merely the Renaissance setting. While I appreciate the expansive worldbuilding and high graphical quality of the current Assassin’s Creed titles, I hope the franchise will eventually return to delivering the focused, character-centric stories that initially captivated me. However, in today's market dominated by vast sandboxes and live service ambitions, such a return may not align with "good business" practices.
