Great video dude, though one thing I want to point out is that the pieces of Eden aren't magical. Rather they're advanced pieces of technology which appears magical because we can't understand them. Just a minor nitpick, lol. Don't mind me nerding out. Absolutely agree with everything you said. Btw here's an interesting fact. Altair is from Desmond's mother's side whereas Ezio is from Desmond's father's side. So it's kinda cool how their stories intertwine for Desmond to see, and the two of them have no clue that Desmond is a descendant of both of them. Lore like that will never happen in the new AC games.
Thanks, I appreciate you checking out my video! That's a fair nitpick, I like AC lore but am far from an expert. I was unaware of the split with the sides of the family for Desmond. That's really interesting. I wish they kept building that world out, it seems like the modern day part of AC is basically non existent in the new games. Or at least, it doesn't interest me like it used to when Desmond was still the protagonist
As someone who is in a similar situation to you: growing up with AC2 and experiencing a full-blown emotional meltdown during our high-school graduation trip to Italy I went back to the games recently. I also revisited some older games from other franchises such as Mafia 2 and the thing that stuck out in both cases was the attention to fitting the actions into a narrative. Story-driven games have been dead for a while and I can see why. The urge to push as many micro-transaction-driven elements into a game and follow it up with cash-grab DLCs has ruined gaming to the point where people can't appreciate a slower, more methodical yet meaningful game. AC2 is very slow when you start but it was never boring. From the moment you are born and get a half-life-esque tutorial and take your first breath to helping your family with daily chores it always has meaning and purpose. Everything is tied up. You meet Leonardo as a family friend, get to bond with your brothers and the game reveals your love interest that will go on to linger for 3 games to follow with the Christina missions being seriously underrated. Yes, you feel like an assassin but not just an, you feel like Ezio. You get to see him mature, and as the game moves on regardless of your age, you get to mature as well and discover the true meaning of the creed as you look at the progression from a flamboyant cocky young man to someone who seeks wisdom, and looks up to Altair.
I would definitely make that argument. There's a reason they still use "Assassin's Creed' in the title even though it's far from the game it used to be. But at the same time the changes made the franchise appeal to a wider audience which definitely helped the sales
I will say Ac 2 is a fantastic game and I prefer it to the newer ones. but I do think nostalgia does help that "magic" you're talking about. The reason you care so much about Ezio, and his story is because thats the story of what shaped assassins' creed for you as a kid. Ac unity is my fav in the series, for a few reasons, but part of it is that while it was a broken mess at launch i was only 11 at the time. So I didn't really care. I just palyed it anyway and loved it. ive always loved love and romance so a romance being the main center plot appealed to me even then. So when I go back and replay I feel the "magic" in unity that you said wasnt there and when I go back to Ac 2 and replay that one I stil lfeel some "magic"" but not as strongly as you do. Its because they are the games that made us fall in love with assassins creed. I do agree the new games are missing something, but I don't think unity is when they lost it.
My Opinion of the state of the series: Black Flag was Ubisoft's greatest innovation and greatest curse. The depth of the characters, mixed with more of "mythological" heroes and relevant people of the era, the less "assassin"-like combat, the open world sea. Every new iteration felt lacking and less impactful than black flag, even if it was more similar to the successful beginning of the series. And the new trilogy of games seems more alike Black Flag than the rest of the series. While both Origins and Valhalla were pretty meh games in my opinion, unlike Black Flag or Odyssey which were amazing, it shows that what people liked the most about the series is the battle mechanics mixed with an interesting historical setting, with characters they can recognize, with a continuing subplot that gives a sense of continuity between games. Not necessarily the stealth gameplay.
Not a popular opinion, but I wasn't a big fan of Black Flag. I didn't like the focus on ship combat and being a pirate. But I realize most people have Black Flag as the best AC game. Just goes to show you that you can't please everyone
Assassin's Creed 2 is the best one in my opinion. Brotherhood was just DLC sold for full price. And then Ubisoft was pumping out Assassin's Creed games just because money instead of making them feel like actual good games worth buying.
Yeah I agree, I lost interest for a while even when they were making classic style games. But once I came back for more Assassins Creed, I liked those games I skipped more than the new RPG takes on the franchise
I don't care what anyone says, Assassin's Creed 2 is a masterpiece
Great video dude, though one thing I want to point out is that the pieces of Eden aren't magical. Rather they're advanced pieces of technology which appears magical because we can't understand them. Just a minor nitpick, lol. Don't mind me nerding out. Absolutely agree with everything you said.
Btw here's an interesting fact. Altair is from Desmond's mother's side whereas Ezio is from Desmond's father's side. So it's kinda cool how their stories intertwine for Desmond to see, and the two of them have no clue that Desmond is a descendant of both of them. Lore like that will never happen in the new AC games.
Thanks, I appreciate you checking out my video! That's a fair nitpick, I like AC lore but am far from an expert.
I was unaware of the split with the sides of the family for Desmond. That's really interesting. I wish they kept building that world out, it seems like the modern day part of AC is basically non existent in the new games. Or at least, it doesn't interest me like it used to when Desmond was still the protagonist
Ezio was so good he was the only protagonist to get multiple games
As someone who is in a similar situation to you: growing up with AC2 and experiencing a full-blown emotional meltdown during our high-school graduation trip to Italy I went back to the games recently. I also revisited some older games from other franchises such as Mafia 2 and the thing that stuck out in both cases was the attention to fitting the actions into a narrative.
Story-driven games have been dead for a while and I can see why. The urge to push as many micro-transaction-driven elements into a game and follow it up with cash-grab DLCs has ruined gaming to the point where people can't appreciate a slower, more methodical yet meaningful game.
AC2 is very slow when you start but it was never boring. From the moment you are born and get a half-life-esque tutorial and take your first breath to helping your family with daily chores it always has meaning and purpose. Everything is tied up. You meet Leonardo as a family friend, get to bond with your brothers and the game reveals your love interest that will go on to linger for 3 games to follow with the Christina missions being seriously underrated.
Yes, you feel like an assassin but not just an, you feel like Ezio. You get to see him mature, and as the game moves on regardless of your age, you get to mature as well and discover the true meaning of the creed as you look at the progression from a flamboyant cocky young man to someone who seeks wisdom, and looks up to Altair.
I couldn't have said it better myself
story driven games are absolutely not dead, God Of War, Spider-man, Ghost Of Tsushima, TLOU, RDR2, Disco Elysium, Baldurs Gate etc. etc.
Great game, the fistfight with the pope is the cherry on top
To this day there hasn't been an AC protagonist like Ezio. They got it right the second time and haven't been able to replicate it since
Brotherhood next?
I think you could argue that the newer games has so many sales because the great games that came before it.
I would definitely make that argument. There's a reason they still use "Assassin's Creed' in the title even though it's far from the game it used to be. But at the same time the changes made the franchise appeal to a wider audience which definitely helped the sales
I will say Ac 2 is a fantastic game and I prefer it to the newer ones. but I do think nostalgia does help that "magic" you're talking about. The reason you care so much about Ezio, and his story is because thats the story of what shaped assassins' creed for you as a kid. Ac unity is my fav in the series, for a few reasons, but part of it is that while it was a broken mess at launch i was only 11 at the time. So I didn't really care. I just palyed it anyway and loved it. ive always loved love and romance so a romance being the main center plot appealed to me even then. So when I go back and replay I feel the "magic" in unity that you said wasnt there and when I go back to Ac 2 and replay that one I stil lfeel some "magic"" but not as strongly as you do. Its because they are the games that made us fall in love with assassins creed. I do agree the new games are missing something, but I don't think unity is when they lost it.
That was really well put. Games all affect us differently
A legendary game
My Opinion of the state of the series: Black Flag was Ubisoft's greatest innovation and greatest curse. The depth of the characters, mixed with more of "mythological" heroes and relevant people of the era, the less "assassin"-like combat, the open world sea. Every new iteration felt lacking and less impactful than black flag, even if it was more similar to the successful beginning of the series. And the new trilogy of games seems more alike Black Flag than the rest of the series. While both Origins and Valhalla were pretty meh games in my opinion, unlike Black Flag or Odyssey which were amazing, it shows that what people liked the most about the series is the battle mechanics mixed with an interesting historical setting, with characters they can recognize, with a continuing subplot that gives a sense of continuity between games. Not necessarily the stealth gameplay.
Not a popular opinion, but I wasn't a big fan of Black Flag. I didn't like the focus on ship combat and being a pirate. But I realize most people have Black Flag as the best AC game. Just goes to show you that you can't please everyone
Assassin's Creed 2 is the best one in my opinion.
Brotherhood was just DLC sold for full price.
And then Ubisoft was pumping out Assassin's Creed games just because money instead of making them feel like actual good games worth buying.
Yeah I agree, I lost interest for a while even when they were making classic style games. But once I came back for more Assassins Creed, I liked those games I skipped more than the new RPG takes on the franchise
For me, Valhalla was the best
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