It’s Time To Admit Assassin’s Creed 3 Wasn’t That Bad

Assassin’s Creed is one of the most popular gaming IPs of all time. However, no one can argue that the series is different from when it began and how it is today. While many players claim that the first proper RPG game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Origin, was when they dropped it, others argue that Assassin’s Creed 3 was when they started losing interest.

Assassin’s Creed 3 is the third main game in the series, but far from being the actual third game. While it took many risks that were unheard of from a Ubisoft Assassin’s Creed at that time, countless players claim it’s one of the worst games in the series. However, I think it doesn’t deserve most of the hate it gets.

Assassin’s Creed’s 3’s Shift In Tone And Setting

Assassin’s Creed 3 shifted the tone from Ezio’s liveliness to Connor’s serious tone. While Ezio was a casanova who was accidentally brought into the world of Assassins, Connor grew up training for one thing; to stop the Templars.

I don’t understand the hate around ACIII
byu/Dr_couch_potato inassassinscreed

The shift in location also played a huge role in giving Assassin’s Creed 3 its identity. Gone was the Italian Renaissance in exchange for the American Revolution which I absolutely adored. After all, it helps to paint a proper image of something when it didn’t happen hundreds of years ago.

Finally, the game has some much-needed native diversity. Without shoving it down our throats, Assassin’s Creed 3 tells the tale of a wronged American native who is in touch with his heritage. Hunting, archery, and setting traps all felt so real and lively, and Connor’s prologue mission is probably my favorite for how simple and refreshing it is.

The Modern World Is Your Oyster

Assassin’s Creed games had traditionally focused on major past events. There are instances where the player is brought to the present thanks to Desmond, but all of the juicy assassination gameplay is done in the past. Assassin’s Creed 3 broke the mold by introducing more modern elements.

Perhaps the best thing about the game is how much freedom it gives you. Players can do whatever they want, from hunting to naval missions to regular assassination contracts. There’s nothing as satisfying as laying out a trap and catching a rare animal or going out to sea with the ship you upgraded.

Naturally, the story isn’t anything to laugh at either. Starting as the Templar Haytham Kenway and seeing the group’s inner workings before changing to Connor and hunting Haytham down was excellent. We learn how powerful Haytham is before the game establishes him as its primary antagonist, showcasing Connor’s struggles.

An Iconic Legacy To Live Up To

I personally went through all of the Assassin’s Creed games recently and might have identified why Assassin’s Creed 3 was received poorly. Ezio was an iconic protagonist; witty, and charming with his iconic wrist blades. We see him go from a wet-behind-the-ears lover-boy to the master we see in Revelations. Fans wanted another Ezio.

After the amazing Ezio trilogy, Assassin’s Creed 3 had much to live up to and unimaginable hype. It was borderline impossible for any new protagonist to make fans happy, but Connor had a lot going for him. He wasn’t like Ezio or even Altair, since he was a young assassin who acted more on emotion than logic. This trait made Connor a more relatable protagonist than most characters I played. However, we see him slowly morph into an excellent assassin and person.

While it’s true that Assassin’s Creed 3 had too many glitches, especially at launch, the remastered version fixes most of that. With over a decade since the game was first released, I highly recommend fans of the old games check it out with an unbiased mind. While you won’t find the beautiful wonders of architecture the Ezio trilogy had, I’m sure you’ll warm up to Assassin’s Creed 3’s expansive world.