At this point, theAssassin’s Creedseries contains many entries. The series began in 2007, and there are never more than two years between the launch of an AC title.
In a series withthis many solid games, it’s very unlikely that they all get the respect they deserve. After all, there are always going to be some that aren’t as well-liked as others and several that are pretty much forgotten entirely. In the case of Assassin’s Creed, the likes of Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood, Black Flag, and Origins are praised and talked about regularly. The same can’t be said about the following entries in the series.
When it was originally released, Unity got understandable criticism as it was very buggy. This rough launch did irreparable damage to the game’s reputation. However, after plenty of patches, it became a playable game and a very good one at that.
The story, in particular, is excellent, centering around a well-written bond between protagonist Arno and his Templar friend, Elise. The side missions are compelling, too, and the climbing mechanics are satisfying. It would rank among the best in the series if it weren’t for the glitches.
It’s not surprising that Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China often falls under the radar. It’s a spin-off that offers a different sort of AC experience to the main titles, so it’s understandable that fans of the series skipped it.
Yet, it’s actually a solid 2.5D side-scroller. The experience is very linear, as there aren’t open spaces to explore. But the 2.5D stealth is very enjoyable, and the entire presentation of the game is stunning. Also, the protagonist, Shao Jun, is a decent main character who could’ve been considered amongthe best female characters in the seriesif she were given more screen time.
Upon release, Mirage received a fairly lukewarm reception both from fans and critics. While it isn’t the best in the series, it isn’t a game that should be overlooked. After all, it’s a nice reminder of what Assassin’s Creed used to be before it became an action RPG series.
The story is a nice length, the Assassin Brotherhood is central to everything, and you’re strongly encouraged to use stealth. Overall, it serves as a nice change of pace after playing the likes of Odyssey and Valhalla.
If Liberation had been released on home consoles instead of handheld, it wouldn’t have been a much bigger deal. It eventually got re-released onto other systems, but it was too late for it to become a really beloved AC game.
That isn’t to say it’s among the best Assassin’s Creed games, as it has limitations. However, it’s still a good game with a solid protagonist and story. In fact, the protagonist was the first female playable character in the series, which is another reason why this game deserves extra recognition.
4Assassin’s Creed 2: Discovery
AC2: Discovery was released at the same time as the standard Assassin’s Creed 2, so it was naturally overshadowed. Yet, it is a decent Nintendo DS game that takes place between sequences 12 and 13 of the main AC2 title. You play as Ezio once again; this time, he’s battling Templars in Spain.
It’s a 2.5D side-scroller with climbing mechanics and stealth. The missions aren’t as in-depth or varied as what you see in the main Assassin’s Creed 2, but they’re still fun.
While Assassin’s Creed Bloodlines isn’t the perfect game by any means, it didn’t deserve the bad reviews it got upon release. The game is a PSP-exclusive spin-off that serves as a sequel to the original AC title.
Gameplay-wise, it’s much simpler than the main entries, as expected for a handheld game. Yet, it’s still fun to play. Also, this is the game that explores one ofthe best couples in the series, Altair and Maria, showing how the latter broke away from the Templars. It’s a fascinating and well-told tale.
Freedom Cry began as a DLC for Black Flag. It has since been released as a standalone title. Because it started as a DLC, plenty of fans didn’t pay too much attention to it. Yet, it’s a game worthy of some praise. Much of that is down to the narrative.
The story revolves around Adewale, a former slave turned pirate turned Assassin, attempting to help other slaves. This makes for a powerful and well-written narrative, helped by the fact that Adewale is a great character.
Before release, it was always likely that Rogue would be a bit overlooked. After all, it was released the same day as Assassin’s Creed Unity and was exclusive to the old generation of consoles.
It deserved more attention, as it is a really good Assassin’s Creed game. Its core mechanics are borrowed from Black Flag, so it doesn’t bring a whole lot new to the table. That said, it does have a Templar protagonist, which allows you to see the ordinarily antagonistic organization from a different perspective.
