Assassin’s Creed Shadowsfinally listened to players about its modern-day storyline by not forcing them to play through it again. While it’s great to have a break from the present-day storyline that became a chore once Desmond died, the company can still do more with it. Now that players have some breathing room from it, it’s the perfect time to start something new.
This isn’t the first time Ubisoftdropped an important part ofAssassin’s Creed, but the loss of a present-day plot is probably the most noticeable.The modern storyline was dropped almost entirelyinShadows, which is what I personally wanted, but it would be a shame not to rebuild from the ashes in the same way the company got everyone to care about Desmond Miles.
The Modern Day Story Is Absent From AC Shadows
We Used To Pray For Wins Like This
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsmarks a significant departure for the franchise,entirely foregoing the traditional, modern-day storylinethat has been a staple since the series' inception. Unlike previous entries, where players would regularly shift between historical settings and present-day settings,Shadowsgives players a bare minimum glimpse of the modern day. Before seeing the Animus Hub for the first time, players have a few minutes to see that the Assassin Brotherhood has hacked the Animus to show them more.
I have wanted the series to throw away the awful storyline for a while, but seeing it entirely gone makes me feel like we’re missing the one thing that kept the games connected.
After that, most of the game doesn’t mention it at all. There are a few scenes here and there, butthe game mostly focuses on the story ofShadows. I must admit, I have wanted the series to throw away the awful storyline for a while, but seeing it entirely gone makes me feel like we’re missing the one thing that kept the games connected. Without the present day, the games are truly independent of each other, besides the rare mentions of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Ubisoft had mentionedit was going to fix the modern day, and getting rid of Layla Hassan and her story is a good way to start that. There is likely going to be more given to players as DLC and updates get added in, so I don’t think this is the end of the present-day connection at all. Instead, this is a wayUbisoft can finally give players a chance to breatheafter losing Desmond.
Desmond’s Story Started As A Choice, Not An Obligation
Players Didn’t Have To Learn Much Outside of Altair’s Timeline
Desmond Miles' Introduction in the firstAssassin’s Creedwas not forced on the players. There was some exposition and reveal of Desmond’s past between him and Dr. Warren, but players could go straight to the Animus after every break. Theconversations with Lucy, Dr. Warren, and e-mail reading were completely optional, and the game never forced you out in the middle of something important just for dialogue. Forced interaction with the present-day was a major issue inBlack Flag,Rogue,Origins,andOdyssey.
After Desmond’s controversial death, the seriesforced players to play as and learn about Layla and the unnamed protagonists. In contrast, Desmond’s story was merely teased in his first entry. By the timeAssassin’s Creed 2came out, players had already replayed the story and tried to find out about Desmond on their own. I was one of the people who replayed the game to find out more about Desmond and the present-day assassins. It felt like a reward whenever a new detail was found.
Assassin’s Creed Never Got Over Desmond Miles
Assassin’s Creed’s initial protagonist Desmond Miles was killed off ten years ago, but the games still keep referencing him even after his exit.
Ubisoft earned the right to make players learn more about Desmond in the sequels, and by then, we all wanted to know more. That’s what Ubisoft needs to do, instead of forcing a protagonist on players,give them the option to learn more. Eventually, they will want to go outside the ancestors' memories and see what’s happened in the present day.
That’s how the company can hook fans in. It’sthe sense of mystery and the option to pursue information about the present-daythat will make players want to learn more about a new protagonist. There doesn’t even have to be a big reveal; Desmond has very little information given up in the first game, and that would work for a new modern-day protagonist.
This Should Always Be An Option, But Never Forced
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsintroduces the Animus Hub, a central location accessible from the main menu. It acts as a launch pad for the games in the second phase ofAssassin’s Creed. There isno option to leave this hub and see the real worldlike in theAssassin’s Creedgames that came before. If Ubisoft adds the option to leave and just show a little room or something with details that require snooping, like in the originalAC, it can rope players back in.
Right now, Ubisoft has barred players from leaving the animus, which is smart. Taking away something that is expected in every game is a great way to make you miss it. With thelittle teases about the Templar and Assassin Brotherhood given in the Animus while playingShadows, you at least know that there’s something beyond Feudal Japan in the plotline. However, I would have liked to at least seen some characters to tease what the modern-day has become.
How Future Assassin’s Creed Games Could Bring Back Desmond Miles
Assassin’s Creed’s iconic modern-day protagonist Desmond Miles could return to the series in a major way, judging from AC Valhalla’s ending.
I don’t mean anything too over the top. If playerssee the option to “get up” or something like that in the Animus hub, they will press itto see where it leads. This is similar to how Desmond was able to interact with the other characters in the series. He could just focus on his ancestors, but it felt so fun to see what had changed in Desmond’s time.
The Modern Day Could Tie The Games Together Again, But Only If Done Well
Ubisoft Has An Opportunity For Something New
TheAssassin’s CreedGames with the best modern-day storywere those with Desmond Miles.Ubisoft has done a poor job of making players care about the new protagonistsin the games that came after Desmond’s death. For example, Layla is no longer a protagonist, and there’s not much mention or care about how she was removed. Meanwhile, Lucy’s death inBrotherhood, despite not being the main protagonist, caused an uproar of surprise and questioning.
That shows how much more the players cared back when Desmond was the protagonist. Ubisoft can’t make the mistakes it made when moving past Desmond, because losing a main protagonist should cause some form of alarm. If anything,Mirage’sending proved that Ubisoft needed to restart the modern-day storyline, and try something entirely new.
The Animus Hub isn’t enough, and feels like just another annoying launcher players have to deal with. It feels a lot like the company has given up on the modern-day storyline, which isn’t wise. Since Ubisoft moved away from pushing the Assassins Brotherhood aspect so much,the modern-day is the only big way to tie the games together.
If Ubisoft is going to make players care about any story aside from the protagonists in the past timelines, it needs to do it slowly. Giving players time to care about the present day again will not be easy, but it will be rewarding.Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas the opportunity to give players a worthwhile present-day story again,
