The Assassin's Creed series houses some of the greatest and most popular games of all time. While some people might not appreciate the copy-paste design present in these games, that doesn't take away from the enjoyable moments they offer. One such title that was unfairly criticized upon release was Assassin's Creed 3, which had to deal with exceedingly high expectations given the legacy of the Ezio Trilogy.
Now, in 2022, players can approach this game with a fresh outlook and appreciate its strengths. The title is a great entry in the series, and playing it in a modern context will reveal why this is the case. Keeping this in mind, here are some reasons why most gamers should check Assassin's Creed 3 out this year.
8 It Marks The End Of Desmond's Story
Desmond Miles was a pretty important character in the AC series. He was a major character in the modern narrative, and played a huge role in unraveling the secrets of the Animus and the long-standing conflict between the Templars and the Assassins.
The third game ends with the character's noble sacrifice and his death. This makes Assassin's Creed 3 a pretty important game for fans of the series who want to understand every aspect of its story, and follow its characters from the beginning to the end of their arcs.
7 It's The Series' First Use Of Naval Combat
Naval combat was a mainstay in the series for a long time. However, most fans seem to overlook the fact that this combat hasn't been around since the beginning, and was actually featured in the third game for the very first time.
This element added a welcome layer to the gameplay of Assassin's Creed 3, even though there were kinks in the system that needed to be worked out. The naval combat aspect is pretty great, and makes for a fun time.
6 Connor Is A Surprisingly Engaging Protagonist
Most people didn't really warm up to Connor in Assassin's Creed 3. While there were many reasons, the fact that he was taking over the charming Ezio was always going to pose its problems. It's difficult to follow in the footsteps of such a strong, beloved protagonist.
As a result, Connor felt way more boring and rigid than Ezio at the time. However, now that some time has passed, players can finally enjoy Connor as a character independent of these comparisons. There are several aspects of his personality that are worth praising, and he deserves to come out from living in Ezio's shadow.
5 The Patented Parkour System
Movement has always been a major focus of most Assassin's Creed games, and AC 3 is no exception to this rule. In fact, this game takes several steps to modernize the movement mechanics, and thus it feels better than ever.
Parkour might be more refined in the modern Assassin's Creed games, but it's still pretty fun to try out in this game as well. This leads to a rather enjoyable parkour system that makes it quite satisfying for players to explore the world of Assassin's Creed 3.
4 Hunting Wild Animals Is A Blast
Assassin's Creed 3 places a lot of emphasis on hunting wild animals to get valuable resources and money. This hunting loop didn't really capture the attention of many players upon release, but has now grown on Assassin's Creed fans.
The mechanics are pretty solid, allowing players to hunt down a bevy of wild animals to complete checklists and get loot. It's actually an engaging gameplay loop that doesn't get too oppressive or overstay its welcome.
3 The Engaging Setting
The Italian Renaissance setting of the Ezio trilogy was quite engaging, and was a crucial component of what made the games so immersive and entertaining. As a result, most people weren't ready to leave this setting behind, and reacted coldly to the new setting of 18th century Colonial America.
However, when it comes to today's gamers, players can appreciate the historical attention to detail of this setting and how it perfectly complemented the plot. It was a great setting that more people need to appreciate in the timeline of Assassin's Creed.
2 Enjoy The Game Without Comparing It To Its Predecessor
Context is important for most video game releases, and often governs how audiences will react to certain releases. As this list has touched on several times already, this is precisely why so many people weren't too keen on Assassin's Creed 3 when it came out. It didn't feel different when compared to the Ezio trilogy, and the elements that were different didn't feel like they held up.
Now, given the current nature of the Assassin's Creed series, most people would consider the third game to be a highlight. It stuck to the roots of the franchise without compromising on its core tenets, allowing for a truer Assassin's Creed experience. Players can pick it up with fresh eyes and enjoy it for what it is.
1 The Impressive Soundtrack
It would be impossible to talk about the best parts of Assassin's Creed 3 without mentioning its powerful soundtrack. The soundtracks of most Assassin's Creed games are quite stellar, and the third game is no exception. It's graced with a bombastic orchestral soundtrack that only enhances the gameplay and story.
This makes for a great experience as players power through the amazing moments of this game. With the soundtrack blasting in the background, it only makes these moments feel even more engaging.