A review of the Assassin's Creed franchise

Most of the time, a piece of work is not deemed truly successful unless it has produced various related work like knock offs, spin offs, sequels, prequels and other iterations. This is true for television shows, movies and modern fiction novels. It also holds true for gaming, and Assassin's Creed is a perfect example. Counting the main games alone, there are at least seven. Including other games as well as references to it would easily put the total in the double digits.

The Assassin's Creed video game is an action-adventure offering of Ubisoft, developer of the equally famous franchise Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. It may have initially started out as a draft of the latter game, but it has since established its own popular identity.

The story is initially told from the perspective of the protagonist, bartender Desmond Miles. However, his adventures come from generated memories of his ancestor, the original Assassin Altair Ibn-La'Ahad. Setting this game in two different eras with the accompanying time travel allows so many possibilities in terms of the environs for each new version. Other protagonists are introduced over several versions, like Ezio Auditore, Connor Kenway, Edward Kenway and Arno Dorian, and Desmond actually dies in the fifth Assassin's Creed video game installment entitled Assassin's Creed III.

There are two modes for the lead character in the game: Passive and Active. The passive mode employs ordinary motions like walking and blending into the crowds with stealth. The active mode uses parkour-inspired activities like running, climbing walls and buildings and jumping over ordinary objects in the environment. He also has Eagle Vision, a special ability handed down the bloodline that helps with clues and showing important information about the target.

Available weaponry in the Assassin's Creed video game include several possibilities like the enemies' own spears and swords and smaller machetes and blades, including one hidden in the wrist of the lead's armor for silent assassinations. Bombs and small guns are also employed, both to kill and as distraction.

The lead may also be given other game objectives, like training an assassin squadron into master assassins with specific missions, and funneling money into an economy to help rebuild the city.

All in all, this game allows for one thrilling escapade through history!