author: Luc
Fewer silent assassinations, more and more brawls. Does Assassin's Creed need serious changes? Our thoughts versus Ubisoft dev
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This is a problem that has been slowly escalating throughout the recent installments, and will probably reach its peak in the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Syndicate. If you remember the first parts in the series, you certainly know what I'm talking about – assassinating a single target required planning, prudent approach to the victim, rapid execution and efficient escape from the "crime” scene, and all of this preferably without crossing paths with the guards. Unfortunately, each subsequent installment departed farther and farther from the original idea. Instead of operating in the shadows we could just waltz into a crowd of opponents, turn everything to dust, kill whoever needed to be killed and then simply escape... Assassination is still an option, that’s for sure, but the game mechanics prefer clashes, and even the stealth sequences are not as satisfying as they once were. Taking up a challenge just to unleash hell a second later, which in fact does not entail any consequences, doesn't appeal to all players... And yet, the evolution of the series in this direction has a reasonable justification.
Assassinations are still what Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate will be about. We made sure that the players know what their target is, but they can go about the task any way they want. I feel like opening up to various opportunities is better than saying: “You must complete it this way”. Giving the players different options lets everyone enjoy the game rather than only those who prefer this style of killing (i.e. assassination – author’s note). In general, that’s a better way to make the game more fun and that’s why we have chosen this approach to our missions. We want to give the players as many opportunities, options, and toys to play in the environment as possible, to really open up that experience and let everyone play it the way they want to. (…) In Syndicate, players that prefer the more old-school approach will have perks and such that will let them play a certain way. Plus, if you complete a task assassin-style, you will get extra experience and level up quicker than someone who goes in guns blazing.
