Source: http://www.thenerdpocalypse.com
hey guys! recently, I had the privilege of seeing Assassin’s Creed, the movie, in theaters. While I found the film to be lacking, its story line sparked an interest in replaying the original video game. Now, when I first played Assassin’s Creed, I couldn’t really get into it, but this time around I found myself fascinated. What had me hooked was the fact that the video game’s story was more than just a little different than the movie. From the names of the characters, to the nature of their interactions, the game is VASTLY different than the film. There are similar themes, to be certain, but they are more unalike than they are the same. But I digress, we aren’t here to delve into the movie – let’s put our focus into the Assassin’s Creed story line, and what turned this game into a franchise.
Source: de.ign.com
The game opens following an Assassin in 16th century Spain. He’s sifting through the crowd, watching as Knights Templar address the public from a platform. It’s obvious they’re about to execute someone via a hanging, but before they can, this Assassin attacks and kills every Knight in the vicinity. As guards chase him through the city, he vanishes among a crowd of monks.
Fast forward to 2012…to everyone who visited his bar, Desmond Miles was an average bartender. But Abstergo industries, secretly run by the Knights Templar, know better. Desmond was an Assassin, a man who followed the Assassin’s Creed and protected the world from corruption by the Knights. He gave up his life to pursue some form of normalcy, but the Knights Templar kidnap him regardless. They force him into a machine known as “The Animus,” which can project not only the user’s memories, but the memories of their ancestors. According to the scientists in charge, Desmond’s ancestors can help locate the “Pieces of Eden,” which are mystical artifacts that can take free will away from the entire population of the world. Through a series of events, Desmond stumbles upon a handful of modern-day Assassins, and attempts to take steps to prevent the Knights Templar from achieving their world-conquering goals.
Now, the controls of this game are entirely unique to its franchise. I can promise that there are no games that follow the same controls as this one. Once you enter the animus and relive the memories of your ancestors, you’re given a “synchronization bar.” It’s essentially your health bar; so long as you remain synced, you’ll remain in the memory. If your synchronization bar is completely full, you’re given “eagle vision,” which can aid you in locating your targets, enemies, and allies. Assassin’s Creed is very much a game of stealth and strategy, and each “level/memory” requires a certain amount of thought as you go through it. This game didn’t start a franchise for no reason, and while it has its flaws, it remains one of the most popular and beloved games known to players. The game is available for play on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows, and is even backward compatible for the Xbox One! I give this game a solid 4 out of 5 glasses, and if you’ve never played the franchise, I definitely recommend it. Take it from someone who had at first been skeptical of the series! Thanks for reading!
