Don't get me wrong, I enjoy AC as much as the next person. Stalking your target through a variety on landscapes, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to strike, darting into the crowds to escape your would be captors, that's all good stuff. My problem is that every game is essentially the same. You are an unlikely anti-hero who is wronged in some way, and becomes an Assassin to get revenge. Sigh.
Couldn't we get something a little more three dimensional? After playing through this formula several times already, and with the imminent release of ACIV: Black Flag, I'm sad to say that I'm just not sure that I care anymore.
Couldn't we get something a little more three dimensional? After playing through this formula several times already, and with the imminent release of ACIV: Black Flag, I'm sad to say that I'm just not sure that I care anymore.
Giving credit where it's due, I have to give props to Ubisoft. The advancements in game play for the franchise have been spot on. The series has evolved from a clunky action game to a fluid, modern day wonder of third person bliss. But here in lies the problem, the franchise is built solely on combat.
Yes, there is a story. Yes it evolves from game to game. But does anyone actually care about Desmond or the Animus? The war between the Assassin's and the Templar's? The ridiculous and confusing plot/subplot about the creators of mankind, and the hidden relics that will save Earth from it's ultimate demise? Seriously, this story is a mess. On the surface the game is about Assassin's. That's fine, but the story arc is like something out of a Dan Brown novel. That's what's both fascinating and perplexing about AC, the game isn't about what it's actually about.
Ok, I'm getting confused just talking about it so lets keep this simple. Perhaps I'm alone in this, but I simply couldn't get invested in the plight of Connor. But to be fair, the same can be said about Ezio and Altiar. They are all fine characters and perfectly suited for the lead roles in an action game, but when you layer on a convoluted plot involving science fiction, quasi time travel, and the role of the metaphysical in human affairs, I'm afraid my attention span just shuts down.
I'm fine with a story that must unravel over time. I like uncovering mysteries. I have no problem what-so-ever, with ideas and philosophies that aren't fully explained and are left partially to the player's imagination. But once again, this is not what the game is actually about! The game is about Assassin's who are trying to kill people. Roughly 90 percent of each game focuses on characters and events that have little impact on the main character.
I understand that Desmond has been replaying the events of his ancestors in order to track down these items that will prevent the destruction of man kind. I get that. I understand that that fact holds the relevance of these past events and without replaying them, the main character will lose, but that is exactly my point. For seven years, and after playing through multiple games, I still for the life of me can not understand why Desmond has been a part of this story.
Sure, Desmond ties all of these stories together, but why is that necessary? The fact is that all of these games could have been self contained stories about Assassin's throughout history. You give an alternate view of historical events, and show how the Brotherhood has helped shape the world from the shadows. Story done. Each game works just fine on it's own, and doesn't need to be padded out with a connecting story arc.
Admittedly, the concept of a present day person reliving the events of his ancestors is pretty cool. It's an original idea that hadn't previously been seen in a mainstream video game franchise. My problem with the format is that it actively damages the overall experience.
The reason we play a video game is simple. It looks fun. The reason we KEEP playing a video game is that we become attached to the characters, and sympathetic to their plight. We root for them, and guide them through their challenges. We project ourselves into the character. So what happens when we have no character to identify with?
From the onset of the first game and sporadically throughout, we are reminded that the events that we are experiencing are not actually happening in the game world. They are simply a recording or sorts. Altiar, Ezio, and Conner are all dead and have been for hundreds of years. Everything they are doing...has already happened. They have already succeeded. So where's the conflict? What is the goal we are working towards? Oh right...there's something going on with the actual main character who we hardly know and often forget about. Awesome.
The Desmond plot/subplot (I'm not even sure what to refer to it as.), takes us out of the story that we care about and have spent time with. It prevents us from forming an emotional connection with the characters we are playing. We are constantly reminded that the decisions we make, and the goals we accomplish, don't matter.
So what can be done to change the franchise for the better? Well, for starters, get rid of the whole Animus subplot (I'm now calling it a subplot). SPOILERS: We know that Desmond is no longer a part of the story, which is a start, but I will be supremely disappointed if he is replaced by another meaningless character who must follow in his footsteps.
Aside from that, I think Ubisoft are taking steps in the right direction. Naval combat was a hit in ACIII, and I'm excited to see how they elaborate on that. What's largely been missing from the franchise is a sense of exploration. Up to this point the games have been fairly linear and I'm looking to setting sail and discovering the hidden secrets of the Caribbean.
Time will tell, but I'll probably wait for the reviews to come flowing in before I pick up Ubisoft's next Slash n' Dash. Assassin's Creed IV: Black flag is set to release on October 29th, 2013.
Yes, there is a story. Yes it evolves from game to game. But does anyone actually care about Desmond or the Animus? The war between the Assassin's and the Templar's? The ridiculous and confusing plot/subplot about the creators of mankind, and the hidden relics that will save Earth from it's ultimate demise? Seriously, this story is a mess. On the surface the game is about Assassin's. That's fine, but the story arc is like something out of a Dan Brown novel. That's what's both fascinating and perplexing about AC, the game isn't about what it's actually about.
Ok, I'm getting confused just talking about it so lets keep this simple. Perhaps I'm alone in this, but I simply couldn't get invested in the plight of Connor. But to be fair, the same can be said about Ezio and Altiar. They are all fine characters and perfectly suited for the lead roles in an action game, but when you layer on a convoluted plot involving science fiction, quasi time travel, and the role of the metaphysical in human affairs, I'm afraid my attention span just shuts down.
I'm fine with a story that must unravel over time. I like uncovering mysteries. I have no problem what-so-ever, with ideas and philosophies that aren't fully explained and are left partially to the player's imagination. But once again, this is not what the game is actually about! The game is about Assassin's who are trying to kill people. Roughly 90 percent of each game focuses on characters and events that have little impact on the main character.
I understand that Desmond has been replaying the events of his ancestors in order to track down these items that will prevent the destruction of man kind. I get that. I understand that that fact holds the relevance of these past events and without replaying them, the main character will lose, but that is exactly my point. For seven years, and after playing through multiple games, I still for the life of me can not understand why Desmond has been a part of this story.
Sure, Desmond ties all of these stories together, but why is that necessary? The fact is that all of these games could have been self contained stories about Assassin's throughout history. You give an alternate view of historical events, and show how the Brotherhood has helped shape the world from the shadows. Story done. Each game works just fine on it's own, and doesn't need to be padded out with a connecting story arc.
Admittedly, the concept of a present day person reliving the events of his ancestors is pretty cool. It's an original idea that hadn't previously been seen in a mainstream video game franchise. My problem with the format is that it actively damages the overall experience.
The reason we play a video game is simple. It looks fun. The reason we KEEP playing a video game is that we become attached to the characters, and sympathetic to their plight. We root for them, and guide them through their challenges. We project ourselves into the character. So what happens when we have no character to identify with?
From the onset of the first game and sporadically throughout, we are reminded that the events that we are experiencing are not actually happening in the game world. They are simply a recording or sorts. Altiar, Ezio, and Conner are all dead and have been for hundreds of years. Everything they are doing...has already happened. They have already succeeded. So where's the conflict? What is the goal we are working towards? Oh right...there's something going on with the actual main character who we hardly know and often forget about. Awesome.
The Desmond plot/subplot (I'm not even sure what to refer to it as.), takes us out of the story that we care about and have spent time with. It prevents us from forming an emotional connection with the characters we are playing. We are constantly reminded that the decisions we make, and the goals we accomplish, don't matter.
So what can be done to change the franchise for the better? Well, for starters, get rid of the whole Animus subplot (I'm now calling it a subplot). SPOILERS: We know that Desmond is no longer a part of the story, which is a start, but I will be supremely disappointed if he is replaced by another meaningless character who must follow in his footsteps.
Aside from that, I think Ubisoft are taking steps in the right direction. Naval combat was a hit in ACIII, and I'm excited to see how they elaborate on that. What's largely been missing from the franchise is a sense of exploration. Up to this point the games have been fairly linear and I'm looking to setting sail and discovering the hidden secrets of the Caribbean.
Time will tell, but I'll probably wait for the reviews to come flowing in before I pick up Ubisoft's next Slash n' Dash. Assassin's Creed IV: Black flag is set to release on October 29th, 2013.
