Assassin’s Creed Returns to Its Roots
Assassin’s Creed Returns to Its Roots Step into the bustling streets of ninth-century Baghdad, where the canals wind through the city like veins, their waters stained with a vivid red hue. Follow the crimson currents and they will lead you to a dye factory, where workers meticulously stir cloth in vibrant colored waters.
This is just one of the captivating sights that awaits you in Ubisoft’s highly anticipated open-world game, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. Prepare to embark on a journey back to the roots of the iconic franchise, as Mirage offers a return to the basics of assassination and a renewed focus on stealth gameplay. Join us as we dive into the world of Mirage and uncover its secrets, one stab at a time.
Mirage Overview
Step into the sun-drenched streets of ninth-century Baghdad, as Assassin’s Creed: Mirage takes you on a thrilling journey back to the roots of the iconic franchise. Set in the years preceding Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Mirage introduces us to Basim Ibn Ishaq, a former pickpocket who finds himself thrown into the world of assassination.
Fleeing his village, Basim is thrust into the dangerous and clandestine world of the Hidden Ones, a group of skilled assassins fighting against the nefarious Order. While the Hidden Ones carry out their murders with honor, the Order is steeped in malevolence and secrecy.
As Basim, players have the opportunity to master the art of thievery, using their skills to steal from unsuspecting targets. From snatching jewelry from the nurses in the Baghdad hospital’s burns ward to emptying the pockets of corrupt officials, Basim’s pickpocket abilities are an essential tool in his quest for justice.
Mirage offers players a choice between the good murderers in hoods and the bad murderers in masks. It is up to you to navigate the dangerous web of conspiracy, assassinate key targets, and uncover the truth behind the Order’s dark deeds.
A Return to the Basics of Assassination
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage brings players back to the basics of assassination, embracing the franchise’s origins while adding a modern twist. Ubisoft Bordeaux, the team behind Mirage, has chosen the first Assassin’s Creed as its north star, aiming to capture the essence of what made the series so compelling in the beginning.
In Mirage, players step into the shoes of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a central character from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Basim’s story is a gripping tale of revenge and redemption, as he navigates the dangerous world of assassination. The game beautifully marries Ubi Montreal’s original vision of social stealth with a fresh interpretation of what a good stealth level looks like today.
Basim comes equipped with an arsenal of tools to aid in his silent kills. From sleep darts to non-lethal traps, noisemakers to smoke bombs, and a few trusty throwing knives, Basim is a force to be reckoned with. His signature move, the hidden blade, is also back in action, allowing players to execute swift and lethal assassinations.
One of the highlights of Mirage is the “black box” missions, which provide players with multiple paths to approach their targets. Whether it’s blending into a crowd of concubines or infiltrating a compound as a personal merchant escort, Basim has various options at his disposal. Even heavily guarded entrances can be dealt with creatively, such as hiring mercenaries or distracting guards with a coin tossed to a nearby musician.
Enhanced Stealth Gameplay
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage offers a mixed bag when it comes to stealth gameplay. On one hand, the combat feels like a strange reconstruction of the series’ classic sword fighting. The addition of a counter-kill move allows Basim to instantly finish off guards after a successful parry.
However, the enemies’ lack of reaction to powerful hits and the awkward animations canceling between each other detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the glowing effect on characters when they attack can come off as a bit silly.
Luckily, the lackluster combat isn’t as big of a drawback as one might expect. Basim is a glass cannon, meaning he can dish out a lot of damage but also goes down quickly with just a few hits. This puts a greater emphasis on stealth and encourages players to stick to the shadows.
Breaking stealth with a few guards in an isolated room won’t immediately blow your cover everywhere else. The game’s mechanics are forgiving enough that you can recover from a misstep without ruining the entire mission.
However, it’s worth noting that the parkour system has experienced a similarly awkward transition from the Valhalla engine. Basim can sometimes stutter on the lip of an edge or leap unnaturally high up walls, which can break immersion at times.
Furthermore, the spacing of buildings can be frustrating. Some are just far enough apart that Basim can’t make a clean leap between them. The side leaps from wall runs, a staple of previous games, are noticeably absent, making traversing the environment less fluid than expected.
More Focused and Shorter Storytelling
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage offers a more focused and shorter storytelling experience compared to its sprawling open-world counterparts. A playthrough of the game will take around 20-25 hours, providing a concise and engaging narrative without overwhelming the player with endless side quests and collectibles.
The map in Mirage is sparse, with large gaps between story missions and contracts. While this may disappoint those looking for a fully immersive open-world experience, it works in favor of Mirage’s more focused approach. The game prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring that each mission and interaction feels purposeful and meaningful.
Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter plenty of Hidden Ones, the skilled assassins fighting against the nefarious Order of the Ancients. However, it’s worth noting that the Order feels more like set-dressing than anything driving the plot forward.
The story surrounding the Order of the Ancients misses the mark, failing to create a sense of urgency and depth that previous Assassin’s Creed games have achieved.
The Verdict: Is Mirage Worth Your Time?
Mirage is definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series and enjoy stealth gameplay. The game takes the best elements from the franchise and polishes them up, offering a smaller, more focused experience that doesn’t leave players feeling like they missed out on anything.
When you finish Mirage, you don’t walk away feeling like you wasted your time. This is a prime example of how big companies can make better games by prioritizing quality over quantity. So, if you’re looking for a return to the roots of Assassin’s Creed, Mirage is a must-play.
