Discussion Tuesday: Assassins Creed

You might have seen this symbol around Sylum lately…

Assassins Creed is a Video Game that became a Worldwide Phenomena.

Assassin’s Creed is a 2007 sandbox style action-adventure-stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. The game was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2007 and for PC in April 2008.

The game centers around the use of a machine dubbed the “Animus”, which allows its user to view the genetic memories of his or her ancestors, centering around the protagonist, a bartender named Desmond Miles. As Desmond relives the memories of one of his ancestors, the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad who lived in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade, details of a battle between two ancient sects – the Knights Templar and the Assassin Order – emerge as both scour for an artifact known only as a “Piece of Eden.”

Now let me say Altair is a little arrogant shit in the beginning. But as you play the game you go through his transformation. The game is very simple – you are set out to Assassinate people who are working for the Templar Knights. You roam through three cities: Damascus, Jerusalem and Acre. Personally I hate Acre and don’t get me started on the beggars. There are side stories and challenges through the game one of them is collecting 100 flags in each city, plus a 100 in the Kingdom. Overall it’s a fun game, with an engaging storyline.

I’m not really a gamer.

So I had never heard of Altair or Assassins Creed. I actually discovered the series through Timothy Quinn, who discovered it through an utter fascination with an Assassin Poster. But it wasn’t Altair that first introduced either of us to this series.

It was Ezio Auditore da Firenze, from Assassins Creed II.

Assassins Creed II is a 2009 video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released on November 17, 2009 (US), November 19, 2009 (AU) and November 20, 2009 (worldwide) on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The PC version was released on March 6, 2010 (UK) and March 9, 2010 (US).

A direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed, the game focuses again on Desmond Miles after he escapes from Abstergo Industries with the help of employee Lucy Stillman. In an attempt to thwart Abstergo and the modern-day Templars, Desmond uses a new Animus to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who lived in Italy during the Renaissance. The player controls Desmond to a degree, but primarily Ezio, who becomes an Assassin after his family is betrayed. While controlling Ezio, the player can explore renditions of major Italian regions and cities through a mixture of action, stealth, and economic gameplay.

It was Ezio that had everyone really falling for the game. There was something about him that just made you want to kill as many Templar’s as you can. (I can feel’s Tony glare from here).

Assassins Creed II was the first game I played and actually have gotten through the whole game. Found all the damn feathers also *damn Petruccio and his feathers*. During the game Ezio is searching for the Codex Pages and information on the ‘Piece of Eden’ – these Codex Pages were left behind by Altair – tying the two games together. It’s a young Leonardo Da Vinci that helps him translate these pages. Instead of being sent on assignments Ezio is seeking revenge for the death of his father and brothers. By hunting down the Templars and killing them until he finds the one who ordered his family’s destruction. So the game takes a different turn than Altair.

Ezio was such a hit that they made two other games based on his life.

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood is a 2010 video game and the direct sequel of 2009’s Assassin’s Creed II, picking up right after the conclusion of the previous game.

The story once again features Ezio Auditore da Firenze, now a legendary Master Assassin, as he strives to rebuild the Assassin Brotherhood in Rome, by bringing down the tyrannical Templar family, the Borgia, and bringing the city into the true wealth and wonder of the Renaissance.

Assassins Creed: Revelations is a 2011 video game published by Ubisoft and was developed by its subsidiary, Ubisoft Montreal. A direct sequel and follow-up to 2010’s Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Revelations is the fourth main installment of theseries.

Set after Brotherhood, Revelations continues the story of Desmond Miles, who has fallen into a coma due to the events of the previous game. In order for him to awaken again, Desmond must relive the last significant memories of his ancestor, the Assassin Mentor Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who sought out the secret library of the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad, in 1511.

Now I haven’t actually got to these yet – I’m still working through Assassins Creed, but I’m getting there.

After Ezio’s storyline finished they released Assassins Creed III – which takes the story to the next level not just in the World of Assassins Creed but also the technology of gaming.

Assassins Creed III is a 2012 sandbox style action-adventure video game that is developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Assassin’s Creed series, and is a direct sequel to Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. The game tells the stories of Haytham Kenway and Ratonhnhaké:ton, ranging from the years 1754 to 1783, and concludes the story of their descendant Desmond Miles. It was released on October 30 in the United States for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and 31 October in Europe and Australia, while the PC version was released on 20 November for the United States and 23 November in Europe. The game was also released for the Wii U in North America on 18 November.

Now since I haven’t actually played this nor read the book centered on it there’s not much I can say on it.

Next up for The Assassin Creed Series is

Assassins Creed: Black Flag is an upcoming action-adventure game, and the sixth main installment in the Assassin’s Creed series. A sequel to 2012’s Assassin’s Creed III, the game will see the player take on the role of an Abstergo Industries research analyst as they explore the story of Edward Kenway – father to Haytham Kenway, grandfather to Ratonhnhaké:ton and an ancestor of Desmond Miles. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be set primarily on and around the islands in the Caribbean Sea during the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century, with three major cities consisting of Havana, Nassau and Kingston.

Now this isn’t your Pirates of Caribbean Pirates – Edward Kenway is a Pirate turned Assassin and everything that entails. It’s dirty, bloody, men who are lawless and would sell their mother for a pint…

I’m actually looking forward to this particular installment mainly for a) storyline b) graphics – what they are saying they’ll be able to do with this game is amazing.

Irony – I stated before I’m not a gamer – still not really. Was introduced to this series through the books that were written off the series. Oliver Bowden has written the ‘story’ of each of the games which really bring an enrichment to the series. If you’re not a gamer – you should really pick the books up and read them.

As for Sylum these guys are in and around the series. You really just need to take a look at the wiki and do some digging. Their storylines, the history of the Assassins, and family ties will start to thread it’s way into many stories. Some of you’ve already seen. You’ve met Ezio in Roads Untraveled and learned that Ernesto has the soul of Giovanni. You won’t have needed to play the game to understand who these guys are, as we’ll introduce them as time goes on. But I do suggest if you do have an X-Box or Playstation – I would grab these games. They are fun and enjoyable. And if you don’t have a gaming system – grab the books.

And just to entice you….

Assassins Creed: Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad

Assassins Creed II: Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

Assassins Creed: Revelations

Assassins Creed III: Conner Kenway

Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag – Edward Kenway