Assassin’s Creed is one of the longest-running video game series out there. Fans believe that the series took a wrong turn with the latest trilogy revolving around Layla Hassan. With the fans divided, and a mysterious title on the way; let’s dive into Ubisoft’s popular video game series. And also, which one is the best Assassin’s Creed game?
For most, the Assassin’s Creed franchise lost its essence when it transformed into an RPG series. After Assasin’s Creed Syndicate; Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla trilogy set a new formula for the action-adventure games. The last three mainline installments provided massive open worlds filled with tons of side quests, activities, and collectibles.
The recent trilogy also came with dialogue options and various other gameplay mechanics. From skill upgrades to weapon enhancements, Assassin’s Creed titles turned into massive roleplaying games that take place in different periods of history. But a great majority of fans are not happy with the current state of the franchise.
Which Assassin’s Creed is the best?
The previous games, on the other hand, focused on their main narrative and also offered smaller playspaces. And when we go further back into the series, we see more refined Assassin’s Creed games where there are not any RPG elements at all. From the second game to Brotherhood, the older games of the series focused on one character and offered more linear gameplay. Even though they invited the players to assume the role of the protagonist, they did not have dialogue options or different endings.
But based on the ranking and the general opinions of the fanbase, Assassin’s Creed II remains the best one in the whole franchise. The way it introduced its protagonist still deserves praise after all those years. Meeting Ezio Auditore da Firenze and witnessing how he grows up while getting through a chaotic struggle in Italy was sure an amazing experience. The second game was also a massive step-up as it was a lot bigger and more than the first game in many aspects. But of course, the old Assassin’s Creed is in the past and the new ones are a lot different in many ways.
In the wake of Assassin’s Creed Infinity, we can say that the Assassin’s Creed fan base is divided into two. On the other hand, there are also players who are content with the new AC games with RPG components. But before we proceed and focus on the best Assassin’s Creed game, let’s find out what RPG means and why AC has been following this trend.
What is an RPG?
A game in this genre should come with various components that encourage players to actively take part in the ongoing narrative of the game. An RPG game invites players to take the role of a certain character. The most successful examples of this video game genre also require players to take responsibility for their actions. Decision-making is the most important element of these games.
Why did they turn Assassin’s Creed into an RPG?
It is safe to say that the most recent AC titles are not the perfect examples of a roleplaying game. It is true that they are action-adventure games with a heavy emphasis on RPG elements. That is because they come with dialogue options, skill upgrades, and character development. Yet again, the last three entries in the franchise do not offer a true RPG experience.
That being said, there is no doubt that Ubisoft jumped into the RPG train. The video game giant is definitely among the studios that realized the ongoing trend of open-world games. Ubisoft did deliver massive open worlds in its most recent titles, but the playspaces in the latest titles are filled with activities that are really similar to each other.
It is true that they come with RPG elements and offer a longer playtime. But completing the open-world activities often feels like doing a chore. Ubisoft tried to offer an open-world experience that is similar to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While the source of inspiration is quite amazing, Ubisoft games tend to fail at delivering genuine and immersive worlds regardless. So they did turn the series into an RPG. They wanted to follow the trend of “single-player games with massive open-worlds sell more“. But with the success of Elden Ring and how FromSoftware approached the concept of open-world RPGs, we hope that this will also change in the future.
What is the best Assassin’s Creed game in the latest trilogy?
After the launch of AC: Syndicate, the France-based video game giant released Assassin’s Creed Origins. The 2017 action-adventure game invited players to Ancient Egypt to take the role of Bayek. AC: Origins was the first to introduce RPG elements and a new combat system to the series. It carried heavy inspirations from the combat of Dark Souls and the quest design of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, on the other hand, offers a much bigger open world with a ton of things to do. As it is based on Greek Mythology, it has a great amount of material to come up with solid side-quests that takes place across the islands of Ancient Greece.
What do we know about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
The most recent installment of the franchise is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. As the most-selling title in the whole series, Valhalla proves that Ubisoft followed the right trend when it decided to add RPG elements to its longest-running IP. Unlike the previous titles, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a lot more complex in many aspects. It also invites players to delve into the lore of the Assassin Order as it takes place in a closer timeline. After two games, seeing the very members of the Assassin Brotherhood made us say that “I am finally playing an AC game.“
AC: Valhalla brings a Viking clan in exile and the determined Assassins together. It offers a long journey with its three expansion packs and a ton of post-launch content. Though Dawn of Ragnarok did not meet expectations, the most recent Assassin’s Creed game is the best one in the trilogy.
Even though our love and admiration for Ezio Auditore da Firenze will never be over, it seems like Ubisoft will not return to its roots when it comes to its longest-running IP. So if you want to give a chance to the series and dive into the world of Assassins, the best game in the series is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. That is of course if you enjoy playing open-world games with RPG elements.