Assassin’s Creed Mirage

When I first heard about Assassin’s Creed Mirage, I was very excited. I am a huge fan of this franchise and for the most part, I have found enjoyment in all of the games that have been released so far. While I do think that Ubisoft has perhaps lost their way just a tad with the focus on RPG like elements in the last game which really took it over, I still enjoyed it. However, I would be lying if I said I was not hyped when it was said that the next game would return things back a bit more to the roots of the series as far as the gameplay goes.

A Coming Of Age Story

One of the most interesting things Assassin’s Creed Mirage has going on for it is the story. It is set in Baghdad during the 9th century and if you played Assassin’s Creed Valhalla you may recognize the main character, Basim Ibn Ishaq. He is basically a street thief who is just living a rather pointless and crime filled life. Until one day, he finds a cause greater than anything he could imagine as he joins the Assassin Brotherhood as he tries to fight against the Templar Order! Ubisoft has promised that the game will be a more “linear” and story focused experience this time around which has me very excited.

Stripping It Back

While I am all in on the story that Assassin’s Creed Mirage is telling, it is the gameplay that has me most excited for this game. Look, I enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but that was a game that was far too big for its own good. They went way over the top with all the RPG mechanics and with this game they are stripping that back so it is more straightforward. I know this on one hand sounds like a downgrade, but I think this is just what the series needed to give it a shot in the arm and move away from The Witcher/Cyberpunk 2077 style RPG it was becoming.

Making Your Move

They have also said that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will feature a bit more of a classic style of gameplay too. You will have to be much sneakier as you move around the different parts of Baghdad to find the perfect way to take out your target. With parkour and close quarters hand to hand combat being focusses once again, I think that this sounds like it is going to be a much more intimate kind of experience than the last few games in the franchise have offered.

Is It Time To Move On?

From what little we have seen so far; Baghdad looks incredible and is going to make for an excellent playground to run around and assassinate people in. However, Assassin’s Creed Mirage currently is still listed as being available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Look, these games always look great and the last game, Valhalla took things to a whole new level. However, I do wonder if still having these games on the older hardware is going to hold things back in terms of the presentation of the game. It is awesome that those still on those consoles can play the game, but I do wonder what a true next-gen game could look like.

Pros:

• The setting is very cool
• I am interested in playing as Basim Ibn Ishaq and experiencing his story
• The gameplay is more like classic Assassin’s Creed and that is cool
• It is good that Ubisoft has listened to what the fans want

Cons:

• Those who love the RPG direction in the last few games too may be disappointed
• Are the last generation consoles holding the game back?