You've been waiting for the next Assassin's Creed game for what seems like ages. The rumors have been swirling for months about a new title set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Well, the wait is finally over - Ubisoft has officially announced Assassin's Creed Mirage, the next installment in the blockbuster franchise. Set in 9th century Baghdad, you'll take on the role of Basim Ibn Ishaq, a cunning street thief with mysterious ties to the Hidden Ones. Mirage is shaping up to be an exciting return to the series roots with a greater focus on stealth, parkour, and assassinations. The sprawling streets of Baghdad will be your playground as you sneak, climb, and leap across the city in pursuit of your targets. If you've been longing for the glory days of the first Assassin's Creed games, it looks like Mirage may be just what you've been waiting for. The future of the franchise has never looked brighter.
Return to the Origins: Setting and Story
The latest installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise is taking you back to where it all began. Assassin's Creed Mirage is set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, between the 9th and 13th centuries. You'll explore the bustling city as Basim, a cunning street thief with mysterious origins, as he navigates dangerous political intrigue and joins the Hidden Ones, the precursor to the Assassin Brotherhood.- Return to a smaller, more focused map. After the sprawling worlds of recent games like Valhalla and Odyssey, Mirage goes back to a single city, allowing for more detail and verticality. Climb minarets, sneak across rooftops, and parkour over narrow alleys in the city that was once the center of the world.
- Experience a story of intrigue and betrayal. As Basim, you'll encounter historical figures like the Caliph al-Mustansir and vizier Nizam al-Mulk. Make alliances and enemies as you work behind the scenes to influence the political landscape. But be careful who you trust--not everything is as it seems.
- Employ stealth and agility. Blend into crowds, hide in plain sight, and strike from the shadows. Use throwing knives, your hidden blade, and the environment to your advantage as you navigate perilous missions. Combat is challenging, so stealth is often the key to success.
- Learn the truth about Basim's past. As the story unfolds, you'll discover more about Basim's mysterious origins and gain insight into what shaped him into the man he becomes. Connections to other Assassin's Creed titles may also be revealed...
Less RPG, More Action-Adventure
The latest installment in the Assassin's Creed franchise is going back to its roots. Assassin's Creed Mirage will focus more on action-adventure gameplay rather than heavy RPG elements.
If you've played the recent AC titles like Odyssey or Valhalla, you'll notice some big changes. Gone are the dialog options, branching storylines and level-gating. Instead, Mirage will feature a more linear story like the earlier games. The world will still be open, but the path through the main quest will be straightforward.
Combat is also getting rebalanced. Enemies won't have levels and stats quite as inflated as in recent games. Skill and timing will matter more than just having high enough numbers. Stealth will play a bigger role again, with more opportunities to assassinate targets without being seen.
While the RPG trilogy brought some welcome changes, Mirage aims to recapture what made the first several AC games so magical. The immersive historical settings, compelling stories of assassins vs. Templars, and satisfying stealth-action gameplay are all poised to make a comeback.
For long-time fans of the franchise, AC Mirage looks to be a return to form. The focus on a cohesive story and more grounded combat could be just what the series needs after becoming somewhat bloated. When it releases in 2023, Mirage may turn out to be an oasis for Assassin's Creed devotees thirsty for the classic experience.
Familiar Yet Refined Parkour and Combat
Assassin's Creed Mirage brings back the familiar parkour and combat mechanics from previous games, with some refinements that provide a nostalgic yet upgraded experience.
Refined Movement
The parkour system has been refined to feel more fluid and responsive. You'll still climb, run, and leap across rooftops, but movement feels tighter and more natural. Contextual actions like grabbing ledges, sliding under obstacles, and vaulting over barriers happen automatically when in range. This allows for seamless navigation without interrupting the flow of movement.Combat also feels familiar yet enhanced. You have light and heavy attacks, parries, dodges, and counters at your disposal. However, the timing windows for parries and counters feel more forgiving. Enemies are a bit less aggressive in their attacks, giving you more opportunities to go on the offensive. The end result is combat that feels challenging but fair.
Upgraded Gear
As you progress, you'll acquire new weapons, armor, and gear that provide boosts to your stats and abilities. Different swords, daggers, and axes offer increased damage, new combo attacks, and unique finishing moves. New armor sets increase your health, improve stealth, and reduce damage from certain enemy types like archers or brutes.Customization Options
You have more options to customize your assassin's look. Change hairstyles, outfits, armor, and weapons to create a unique style. Want to make a charismatic assassin who uses charm to get close to targets? Or an intimidating enforcer who relies on brute force? The choices are yours. Customization allows you to role play and make the experience personal.While the parkour and combat will feel familiar, the refinements and upgrades provide a nostalgic yet fresh experience. The enhanced movement and combat, gear progression, and customization options give you more control and ownership over your assassin's development. Mirage looks to hit the sweet spot between the old and the new.
Into the Desert: Exploring the Open World
Vast Desert Landscapes
Assassin's Creed Mirage takes you to 9th century Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Outside the city walls lies a massive open desert world for you to explore. Saddle up your horse and gallop across the dunes, oases and canyons surrounding Baghdad. The environment is stunning, with realistic sand textures, swaying palm trees, and atmospheric lighting and weather effects.As an assassin, the desert provides opportunities for stealth and surprise attacks. Bandit camps are scattered throughout where you can hone your blade in combat. Ancient ruins poke up from beneath the sand, hiding valuable loot and clues to mysteries of the past. You may even stumble upon a mirage or two in the shimmering heat.
Secrets Beneath the Sand
While riding through a canyon pass, your eagle companion spots something strange below. Dismounting to investigate, you brush away sand to uncover a hidden entrance. Descending into the ruins, you find an underground temple filled with traps and treasures that hasn't seen the light of day for centuries. Solving puzzles and navigating obstacles, you make your way to a chamber housing an artifact of immense power. Claiming your prize, you emerge from the desert depths with a new tool to aid your assassin's creed.Oasis Outposts
Palm groves dotting the sea of sand provide respite from the harsh elements. At oases, you'll find small settlements where you can replenish supplies, pick up missions, and glean information from locals. However, some oases are occupied by bandits preying on merchants and travelers. Liberating an outpost from these desert thugs earns you rewards and makes the roads safer for all.The open desert of Assassin's Creed Mirage invites you to make your own adventures between assassinations in Baghdad. What mysteries lie beneath the dunes or within an oasis hideout? Saddle up your steed, pack some dates and water, and find out! The desert holds secrets for you to uncover.
