Assassin's Creed Unity Review: Freedom Is Taken By Bloody Force

 Review

November 11, 2014 By Maya Mayfield

Assassin's Creed Unity is set during the historic French Revolution where we are once again confronted with the timeless struggle between the Assassin's and Templars. Our protagonist goes by the name of Arno Dorian. After the death of his Father, Arno sets off on a mission to uncover secrets hidden in shadows and it's through this journey he discovers his own power as an Assassin.

(We promise no more spoilers from this point.)

Now for those who have already played previous iterations of the Assassin's series. Arno's backstory will seem very similar to that of Ezio's Auditore's from Assassin's Creed 2, yet despite this initially obvious comparison right from the get go. I did find myself instantly drawn to his plight eager to know more.

Assassin's Creed Unity is the first time Ubisoft has dedicated a series solely to new consoles and it shows from the moment we arrived in Paris.  The narrative was strong and compelling forcing you to take note of the strong emotional performance from the on screen characters. Maybe it was a combination of the graphic enhancements and clever scripted plots that made Assassin's Creed Unity feel quite new, even if you have seen it all before.

What I have always admired and loved about the Assassin's Creed series is the remarkable efforts and level of astonishing detail Ubisoft puts into each time period and Unity does not disappoint in that department. The plot thickens a few hours in and soon we are introduced to key characters behind the historical French revolution.

Unlike Black Flags that focused on the great wide oceans and buried treasure maps. Paris on the other hand will place you firmly on ground where most of Arno's mission takes place. Although Paris is a massive environment to explore, most of the districts don't have clear distinctions from previous games which unfortunately did make most areas appear similar.

Fans familiar with the series and ongoing story should be well versed in the plot by now, which begins with you working for Abstergo, a secret organization responsible for shaping the world as we know it. An organization so powerful they are solely responsible for global events and Presidential elections and assassinations if their orders are not followed. Every so often you will be contacted by Desmond's team updating you with all that's happening in the real world as you journey to uncover the truth behind the two major groups responsible for the civil unrest.

As far as gameplay is concerned not much has changed, but Ubisoft has fixed a few control issues and bugs from previous iterations, making character control user friendly. Arno's movements look and feel very natural to the style of parkour which was great to experience using the Dualshock 4.

In Unity you will now be able to customize and build Arno's skills your way. By completing more missions, Arno will inherit new powers which can then be used to gain better combat, stealth and health regenerating powers. This new approach to leveling up is much better as it makes actively seeking random missions a rewarding experience rather than checking off a to do list for weapons and armor upgrades.

This new leveling up process doesn't just end here as Ubisoft has also simplified other things too.
Unlike previous AC games that had you searching through a ton of weapons or accessories. Ubisoft has decided to make life much easier by incorporate a handful of useful items including the brand new phantom blade a secret projectile able to silently kill enemies from a distance.

As I played through Unity, one of the biggest awe inspiring moments was to experience the sheer force of the rioting crowd. Although I have caught slight glimpses of this in other Assassin creed games, it was quite apparent thanks to the extra power behind the PlayStation 4 that Ubisoft was now able to truly create a sense of manic and chaos unlike anything I have witnessed in the series so far. The unfolding power struggle between hundreds of citizens against their oppressors was a historical moment in itself for next generation achievement. There were a few odd glitches here and there but nothing too obvious to ruin the overall experience of the revolution on PS4.

Missions aren't very different to what you'd expect from the franchise but I did like the addition of new ways to eradicate or solve problems other than simply assassinating a target. Those who enjoy solving crimes now have the option of playing through a Sherlock Holmes style murder mystery mode where you must collect evidence before making verdict on those responsible for the crime.

Assassin's Creed Unity no longer focuses on Multiplayer modes like previous games, this time Ubisoft has turned their attention to a co-operative experience designed directly within the massive story mode. As you journey through paris, you will be able to join up with friends to take on specific missions within the game. Most missions can be completed in single player mode but it's nice to have the extra option of joining friends to complete various tasks for bonus points.  I think Ubisoft are trying something new with co-op mode and I commend them for at least shaking things up rather than sticking to formula.

Overall 

Assassin's Creed Unity may not have some of the old-ye charm of Black Flag with its open sea ports and islands of buried treasure. But what I did like however was Ubisoft's approach to combining all the best elements from previous series to create a new historical story and hero solely for new generation console owners. If you are a fan of the series then you will no doubt continue to enjoy the incredibly amount of detail, action and adventure Assassin's Creed Unity has to offer the on-going franchise.

Score 5/5