More franchises have been dabbling into mythological history in recent years, and Assassin's Creed has found itself as one of the genre's pioneers with its iconic Valhalla and Odyssey titles leveraging on Viking and Spartan folklore respectively. However, this direction hasn't done much to follow in the footsteps of what made the franchise a household name in the first place, and with gamers growing weary of the newer RPG-focused dynamics, Assassin's Creed Mirage heralds a much-needed reset. Ubisoft's decision to place its stock in tactical assassinations and old-fashioned espionage has resonated with the fan base. With the announcement of new features, excitement is building fast to see what Assassin's CreedMirage has in store.
Assassin's Creed titles have lofty standards to live up to, given the groundbreaking successes of the early games. After lukewarm Assassin's Creed Valhalla reviews, it was clear Ubisoft needed to take the franchise in another direction to sustain its glory. Mirage, by all indications, is set to give fans what they want, albeit with some new twists to its traditional gameplay mechanics. As the latest installment prepares to take players into the streets of Baghdad in ninth-century Iraq, Mirage promises to be an intriguing experience.
Stealth and Movement Mechanics Take Center Stage in Mirage
- Stealth and parkour emphasis
- Upgradable assassination tools
- Enkidu eagle companion
- Eagle Vision assassination targeting
- Improved AI
- History of Baghdad education/lore feature
Parkour has been a defining characteristic of Assassin's Creed historically, and the dynamic is getting a revamp for Mirage, with new protagonist Basim able to traverse up and across buildings at enhanced speeds. Assassin's Creed Mirage's map is dotted with large obstacles and gaps between its infrastructure, and players can scale past such impediments with a pole vault. The emphasis on speedy spatial navigation is evident, with the return of the iconic corner swing from early Assassin's Creed titles and Ubisoft's outfitting of Basim with new animations that make players move faster than in previous installments.
The assassination feature is also getting touched up, sporting upgradable Assassin Tools, traps, and tracking of targets via rooftops and blending into crowds. Additionally, the Eagle Vision allows Basim to mark several enemies for chained assassination, borrowing Splinter Cell Blacklist's Mark and Execute feature. However, using Enkidu -- Mirage's eagle companion -- does not come without its risks, as it is no longer untouchable like its predecessors and can be shot out of the skies by Basim's enemies, so players have to scout bases quicker or navigate solo, allowing for higher-stakes gameplay.
While Ubisoft has centered its focus on movement and assassination, there are also a few other notable changes that are coming to Assassin's Creed Mirage. NPCs in the early franchise games detected players with uncanny ease, and Mirage's enhanced AI detection challenges gamers' stealth skills. Basim can be sighted from further distances, and this mechanic calls for better in-game strategies to lure enemies for elimination. Similarly, Assassin's Creed's staple Leap of Faith move is also seeing some changes for Mirage, as it is no longer a cheat code to jump into haystacks. Baghdad's spearmen occasionally poke these hiding spots, forcing Basim out of his haven and exposing him.
Assassin's Creed Mirage's improved stealth mechanics want gamers to find creative ways to hide and execute missions, and players will get some needed assistance by way of tools. Among these, the detection mine is a new item that can cloud armsmen's vision and send them to the floor, so Basim can use the tool to escape from a pinch or cause chaos while on the attack. Along with gameplay improvements, Ubisoft is also introducing the History of Baghdad feature to educate players with historical facts about items, locations, and events that Basim will discover throughout his journey in Assassin's Creed Mirage. There's a lot for gamers to look forward to in the new title, and Mirage could set the franchise's trajectory back on the right path.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is set to release on October 12 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
