Why did Assassin’s Creed change to RPG?

Why Did Assassin’s Creed Change to RPG?

Assassin’s Creed, the popular action-adventure series, underwent a significant change with the release of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey in 2018. The game introduced Role-Playing Game (RPG) elements to the franchise, altering the core gameplay experience for fans of the series. But what led to this change?

Ubisoft’s Top-Down Approach

In an interview with Eurogamer, a senior designer at Ubisoft revealed that the company aimed to increase the amount of content and provide players with a better sense of progression and immersion in the game world. According to the designer, Ubisoft wanted to create a experience that would keep players engaged for a longer period by offering more depth, complexity, and variety.

Influence of Single-Player Games

In recent years, the role-playing game genre has grown in popularity, and gamers have become accustomed to immersive, engaging experiences with well-developed characters and deep storylines. Assassin’s Creed, too, was influenced by single-player games, with creators seeking to incorporate these features into the franchise. As a result, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey featured longer narratives, bigger choices, and a deeper emotional impact on the player’s experience.

Mechanical Evolution

The Assassin’s Creed series has undergone constant evolution since its inception in 2007. Mechanics such as free-roaming, parkour, and assassin abilities have become cornerstones of the franchise’s identity. With Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Ubisoft pushed the series forward by adding RPG elements, allowing players to create custom characters, build party members, and decide on the story path. This evolution signified a significant departure from the linear narrative-driven experience of earlier titles.

Key Changes Introduced

Several key changes defined the transition to RPG territory:

• Customize Your Assassin: Create custom characters, selecting from a range of skills, equipment, and abilities that impact gameplay.
• Build Party Members: Recruiting mercenaries, archers, and other party members to aid in battles, exploration, and puzzles.
• Branching Narratives: The game introduces key choices with far-reaching consequences that impact the story.
• Exploration-Based Gameplay: The focus on exploration encourages discovery, scavenger hunts, and mastery of the game’s world.

Evolving the Assassin’s Creed Series

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey represents the next stage in the franchise’s evolution, with significant changes designed to keep gamers engaged. The departure from linearity marked a major shift towards offering a more dynamic and immersive experience.

Innovative Approach

The successful implementation of RPG elements signals a promising future for Assassin’s Creed. With further innovation, the series will need to maintain its appeal as the gaming landscape continues to evolve. The change to RPG serves as a testament to Assassin’s Creed’s capacity for growth, adaptation, and innovation, ensuring the series remains relevant and beloved.

Table Comparison: Pre-RPG (Assassin’s Creed Unity) vs. Post-RPG (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)

This table illustrates the notable differences between the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s pre-RPG iteration (Assassin’s Creed: Unity) and the post-RPG iteration (Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey).