The Assassin’s Creed series has seen monumental growth in its world-building and progression systems in recent games. However, it’s fascinating to look back at its origins as a detective game. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the upcoming release from Ubisoft Bordeaux, seeks to remind us of that foundation while also initiating a reset in the franchise, possibly steering its course towards something different for the future.
This article provides a comprehensive Assassin’s Creed Mirage Preview, detailing the gameplay experience, characters, and the general feel of the game based on a two and a half-hour play-through of the demo.
Gameplay: A Trip Down Memory Lane
The gameplay experience of Assassin’s Creed Mirage splits into three distinct non-sequential chapters. Each of these sections offers a unique look into the world of Assassin’s Creed, bringing back elements from its early days while also introducing new features and tweaks.
Exploring Baghdad as Basim Ibn Ishaq
The first chapter allows players to assume the role of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character familiar to players as the mentor from Valhalla. Mirage sets Basim’s story before Valhalla, portraying him as a skilled street thief in the city of Baghdad whose talents pique the interest of the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassins we all know today.
Engaging in various activities, such as running errands, picking pockets in markets, and traversing the rooftops of Baghdad, players get a taste of the local, intimate feel that was a staple in the early series entries. The game also allows interactions with local inhabitants, fellow thieves, and even the city’s feline population.
The Initiation into the Hidden Ones
The second segment of the demo introduces players to the process of Basim’s initiation into the Hidden Ones, the forging of his first sword, and an overview of Mirage’s combat system. The combat mechanics in Mirage are straightforward, following the attack, dodge, parry, counterattack, repeat routine that many third-person games adopted in the 2010s. However, there is a certain visual flair to it, with Basim dual-wielding a sword and a dagger, showcasing some unique choreography.
The Multi-Step Mission
The third and longest section of the demo introduces players to a multi-step mission, where the objective is to assassinate a suspiciously powerful merchant who has arrived in Baghdad. Unlike the recent entries in the franchise, where tracking targets involved moving across sprawling landscapes, Mirage revisits the early days of the series. Players must gather local intel before launching their attack, emphasizing the detective aspect of the game.
City Life in Baghdad
Despite the restrictions on initiating side quests during the demo, the game still offers a sneak peek into the life within the city. The demo version of the Assassin’s Creed Mirage preview allows players to interact with Basim’s neighbors and fellow thieves, and even pet the cats roaming the city streets.
Basim’s world is bustling with activity, and players can witness the ordinary citizens of Baghdad living out their lives, further contributing to the game’s local and intimate feel. The demo only showcases a fraction of the game’s map, which primarily focuses on Baghdad but also includes several other provinces and unsettled areas.
Length of the Game
Mirage is predicted to take around 20 hours to complete for players who wish to explore every corner and complete all tasks. This estimate comes from the lead producer of the game, Fabian Salomon. This relatively modest length compared to recent entries in the franchise is indicative of a more focused, narrative-driven experience.
Also Read: Now.gg Roblox Explained : Power of Cloud Gaming
Combat System
The combat system in Assassin’s Creed Mirage Preview is described as extremely simple yet visually appealing. Players control Basim, who dual-wields a sword and a dagger, resulting in unique choreography not seen in the series before. The combat mechanics are reminiscent of many third-person games from the 2010s, sticking to the familiar attack, dodge, parry, counterattack routine.
Mission Structure
The missions in Assassin’s Creed Mirage Preview involve gathering local intel before launching an attack, a structure that harkens back to the franchise’s early days. The game goes out of its way to emphasize Basim’s role as a detective, a Robin Hood-esque figure whose most potent asset is his connection to the people of Baghdad.
Also Read: Best Offline Football Games for Android
Mechanical Challenges
Despite its promise and potential, there are some mechanical challenges in the game. Players may find themselves climbing walls unintentionally or jumping to ledges they weren’t aiming for. There are also some issues with the game’s traversal mechanics, making stealth sequences more challenging than they need to be.
Conclusion
After spending a few hours with the Assassin’s Creed Mirage demo, it appears as though Mirage has a lot of potential. It brings back elements of the early Assassin’s Creed games while introducing new features and tweaks. However, it also has a few mechanical issues that could hamper the overall experience. Mirage is set to release on October 5 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.