infexxionDoes Assassin's Creed Need A Break?
We've had a yearly installment of this franchise since 2009. We've seen revisions to the single player game kick the series up to AAA status, we've embraced and let go of a new protagonist, and seen a multiplayer component work its way into, and become an integral part of, the series. But with Assassin's Creed 3 announced and coming out later this year, along with a Vita entry in the series, isn't it about time for a break?
Assassin's Creed blew onto the scene, albeit a bit underwhelmingly if you ask most gamers, in 2007. The series had garned some hype from trailers and previews, the much-touted free run system worked just as promised, but a repetitive mission structure amidst other shortcomings kept the series back until 2009, where the direct sequel, Assassin's Creed 2, came along and really pushed the game to where the series had aimed to be with the first.
Of course the success of the second entry led to spin-offish sequels that, while not a direct numbered entry in the series, followed the protagonist of Assassin's Creed 2, Ezio, through his life, until he was pushing his mid-50s if I remember it right. We also had a DS game, movies, you get the picture.
2010 and 2011 respectively both featured these spin-off sequels focused on Ezio, and introduced a multiplayer component to keep things fresh in the series. But while the series stands strong, declining sales numbers aren't a relative factor to be ignored.
Thus, this year, we receive our first real numbered entry in the series since 2009's Assassin's Cred 2. This year we can set sail quite literally with Connor, another assassin. Multiplayer's back, many refinements and enhancements to the single player game are present, such as the aforementioned sailing, running through houses, trees, guns are far more integral, hunting, you name it.
This will be the first true sequel since 2009, but I can't help but feel we've just been overdosed on Assassin's Creed in the last half decade. Ideally, I'd like to see the series go out strong with Assassin's Creed 3 and come back next generation as a leading launch title. Realistically speaking that's simply not going to happen. Whether we see more spin off sequels featuring Connor or get another direct sequel in Assassin's Creed 4 relatively soon, Ubisoft seem determined to create a yearly franchise in Assassin's Creed, and with the third entry garnering some hype, it's simply not appropriate to say they'll be slowing down any time soon. I'll make this clear: Assassin's Creed has my favorite multiplayer out of any game on the market today, and even I think it's a good idea to slow down.
What do you think? Do you want more and more of Assassin's Creed? Do you love everything about it? Is it time for a break? What would you change about the series? Let me know in the comments, and as always, thanks for reading!
