How Teleportation And Microtransactions In Mirage Can Ruin The Assassin’s Creed Experience

The Assassin’s Creed series has seen a significant transformation in recent years, moving away from its traditional stealth-oriented gameplay and embracing action RPG elements. Numerous fans have voiced their longing for Ubisoft to return to its roots, and it seemed like they were heeding those calls with the introduction of Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

With promises of a more compact and tightly focused game world, Ubisoft is also taking a breather from the epic, but tiring, 100-hour-long adventures seen in games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This choice garnered widespread acclaim from both new and long-time fans, turning Assassin’s Creed Mirage into one of the most highly anticipated AC games in quite a while.

Much has changed since the last time Assassin’s Creed prioritized its signature stealthy gameplay. The parkour mechanics specifically, despite being a fundamental element of the series, given the fact that it literally has Assassin in the name, haven’t received as much attention in recent titles due to a greater emphasis on combat.

Considering Mirage’s intention to revisit the franchise’s origins, many fans anticipated that this philosophy would extend to Assassin’s Creed’s once intricate parkour systems. Since these mechanics were once the primary attraction for many gamers, how Mirage handled parkour was going to be a critical factor in determining whether the new installment truly captured the essence of a classic Assassin’s Creed experience, but if you’re reading this right now, clearly that didn’t end up being the case.

Replacing Parkour with Magic

If you thought the Steam controversy was the only problem fans had with the new installment, social media has been buzzing with early glimpses of the game, offering insights into its gameplay and narrative. Amidst these sneak peeks though, one particular snippet showcasing the use of an apparent “teleportation skill” has become the subject of debate amongst the franchise’s countless fans.

In a clip shared on Twitter, the game’s main character, Basim (Yes, the same Basim we see at the beginning of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla), demonstrates the astonishing ability to teleport to a rooftop and swiftly kill an enemy NPC with remarkable ease. This teleportation skill, coupled with other more “mythical” elements, has sparked concerns among fans who believe it strays from the franchise’s intended “back to basics” promise.

Yes you can…#AssassinsCreedMirage pic.twitter.com/ZG9NKMpJ4J

— JorRaptor (@Jorraptor) September 12, 2023

While the video also showcased the game’s impressive visuals, some of the more critical fans argue that the introduction of fantastical powers like teleportation contradicts the fundamental spirit of Assassin’s Creed. The series has always centered on stealth and historical accuracy, and there are concerns that these fresh elements might disrupt the overall gaming experience.

It’s also important to know that there is an explanation for Basim’s teleportation abilities, but explaining it here would be a major spoiler for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s story, a game released three years ago. Those who haven’t played Valhalla might want to catch up first in order to understand Basim’s involvement in Mirage. Still, despite the debate surrounding the teleportation feature, it’s important to recognize that Assassin’s Creed Mirage introduces other elements that enhance the game’s fluidity.

While they push the boundaries, these additions are unlikely to be game-breaking and will probably be explained within the game’s storyline. Whether long-time fans of the series will accept these explanations, however, is a completely different story. For that though, you’ll have to wait for the game’s release on October 5th and make your own judgment.

We should give Assassin’s Creed Mirage a chance
byu/NuriTheFury inassassinscreed

If It Isn’t Broken, Why Fix It?

Fifteen years ago, when the first Assassin’s Creed game gave us Altair’s story, it dazzled gamers with its unique approach to mobility. Never before had players seen this level of freedom of mobility, not to mention the iconic “leap of faith” in a generation of gaming where jumping off a ledge took away half of your health. Though it may seem somewhat antiquated by contemporary standards, back then, it represented a genuine revolution in gaming.

As the series evolved, the parkour mechanics grew increasingly intricate. Assassin’s Creed 3 introduced the thrill of freerunning through trees, and the fairly controversial Assassin’s Creed Unity title introduced new dynamic movements such as jumping through windows. When Assassin’s Creed Syndicate introduced grappling hooks, the art of movement had reached a level of fluidity beyond the wildest dreams of anyone who had experienced the series’ first installment.

The evolution of assassins creed leap of faith ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1FJ7ZeShkx

— Tariq (@techNerdGuy) November 29, 2021

However, as Assassin’s Creed shifted towards an action-RPG framework, the once-prized movement systems began to lose their depth. While sliding down pyramids in Assassin’s Creed Origins was a fun experience on its own, Ubisoft began to downplay the finesse of freerunning in favor of adding more depth to the combat mechanics.

When Assassin’s Creed Valhalla arrived on the scene, the seamless parkour of Unity and Syndicate felt like a distant memory. Players were limited to clambering up vertical surfaces, simply vaulting over obstacles in their path, or trying to force their horses to jump over a fence as though they had regressed to the days of the original Assassin’s Creed games.

[Assassin’s creed Mirage]New Parkour Gameplay
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Why Is Parkour So Important To The Assassin’s Creed Franchise?

Beyond its undeniable coolness factor – and you must admit, it’s undeniably cool – Assassin’s Creed Mirage needs to embrace the core principles of the original AC formula, and parkour is a major part of it. Ubisoft has a solid track record in this regard, with titles like AC Unity, a game nearly a decade old that many fans still praise for its outstanding parkour mechanics.

Given Mirage’s vibrant backdrop in Baghdad, it doesn’t appear to encounter the same issues as a game like Valhalla, which featured vast, desolate landscapes. The unveiling trailer for Mirage has already showcased bustling markets and thriving towns, all of which present exciting opportunities for parkour that feel both familiar and innovative.

Parkour lies at the very heart of the Assassin’s Creed experience, and Mirage would be devoid of its soul if it failed to deliver movement mechanics that truly immerse players in the role of a highly skilled assassin. Ubisoft has set the bar exceptionally high for itself with this latest addition to the franchise, and if it stumbles in providing an experience that recaptures the essence of the early AC games, it could potentially erode the trust of countless long-standing fans.

While stealth-based gameplay and a compelling narrative are undoubtedly crucial components in capturing that essence, satisfying parkour mechanics serve as the backbone holding it all together. As previously mentioned, a captivating storyline is only truly elevated by equally impressive gameplay. Eliminating one of the franchise’s most iconic elements – the art of scaling skyscrapers to let an unsuspecting Templar have a taste of your hidden blade – might not be a wise decision.

Why Search For Legendary Armor When You Can Just Buy It?

If the magic wasn’t problem enough, a recent leak within the gaming community has ignited quite a stir among devoted followers of the franchise, and it’s not the stuff about the trophy list leaks either. Word on the digital street suggests that the much-anticipated Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be introducing one of the most divisive features in the history of video games, microtransactions, locking away certain content behind a paywall.

This revelation emerged via an image shared on the r/assassinscreed subreddit, sourced from a tweet by @xj0nathan, which has since been removed by a copyright strike by Ubisoft themselves, raising more questions than it had originally done. The image revealed a gear bundle known as the Fire Demon Pack, featuring an infernal-themed armor set, a blazing sword, and a hellishly striking mount.

AC Mirage gear pack leak. looks like we’ll have microtransactions after all.
byu/KvasirTheOld inassassinscreed

The inclusion of microtransactions in Assassin’s Creed Mirage doesn’t come as a surprise, considering their lucrative track record in the previous three games. But here’s where things get interesting. Amidst the commotion, the game secured a USK 16 rating in Germany, as per the country’s Children and Young Persons Protection Act .

This rating only permits teenagers aged 16 and older to play the game as it bears the label “In-Game Purchases.” According to the rating system’s description “In-Game Purchases” signifies the presence of options to acquire additional in-game content directly. These usually encompass smaller add-ons such as skins, virtual currency, subscriptions, and upgrades that you could either find or don’t exist at all in the game.

Although the specific in-game elements that warranted the “in-game purchases” label and the 16+ rating by the German authority weren’t explicitly outlined, Ubisoft has stepped in to provide some clarification. A representative from the company, communicating via Discord, assured concerned gamers that the game doesn’t incorporate any distinct subscription model, but there was no comment made on the existence of exclusive content.

Ubisoft clarifies the situation with the ratings in Germany
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There Will Be No Back-To-The-Future Sections Either

According to Ubisoft’s Narrative Director, Sarah Beaulieu, while Basim’s backstory rekindles an emphasis on stealth and parkour, one of the most contentious story elements in the franchise won’t be revisited in Mirage. That is, the modern-day escapades of the Assassins who are operating the Animus and fighting against the Templars in the 21st Century.

Assassin’s Creed is renowned for its historical settings, but it’s easy to overlook the fact that the series also unfolds in contemporary times, where each new tale is primarily experienced through a device known as the Animus, allowing individuals to bear witness to past events. The modern-day storyline introduces its own array of characters and conflicts, yet it has never garnered the same level of affection as the game’s historical settings, and Mirage is taking that into account.

This doesn’t mean that Ubisoft is completely ignoring the sci-fi aspect of Assassin’s Creed, though. When players kick off their Mirage adventure, they’ll be greeted with a brief narrated introduction by William Miles, the father of the original Assassin’s Creed protagonist, Desmond, which is ironic since the first few games featuring the character had extended sections where you explore ruins and even fight people as Desmond himself.

“We chose early on not to put any of the modern-day story in Mirage. You are in the animus. That’s something we haven’t changed.” – Sarah Beaulieu.

The might of the Animus still remains evident though, especially with the teleportation feature, a result of the story being held within a simulation. However, this time around, the overarching modern-day struggle between the Assassins and the Templars will take a backseat to the main story, which Beaulieu intends to use to direct players’ attention squarely toward Basim and the mesmerizing backdrop of Baghdad. This much is evident in the fact that the game is also coming with Arabic dubbing for all regions.