First Impressions Of 'Assassin's Creed: Mirage'
Image Source: Game Spot
The Assassin’s Creed franchise spans many years, and many games that have taken us all around the world, at different points in time. Ubisoft’s newest installment, Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is no different. We are taken to 9th-century Baghdad, where we play as Basim, a street thief turned assassin. If fans played the previous installment, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, then those fans would know who Basim is, and what happens. As a huge fan of the series, the game has definitely gone back to its roots, and the early days of the franchise. The world doesn’t appear as big, and the story is relatively short. From the first few hours, it appears this will indeed be like the early days of AC.
Stealth will be a major element in this game, unlike the previous installments. Since Basim is still in his early days of being a Hidden One, he is not as tough and experienced as others, so running into a heavily guarded area is not a good idea. You can utilize eagle vision, or Enkidu to help you see enemies from a distance. These have been a feature in the previous games and have always come in handy. With this game relying more on stealth, these two features are more important than ever. The Hidden Blade is also back, which is great to see, and very important when it comes to stealth. While the Hidden Blade was in the previous games, there were better weapons that could be used, this time around, however, it's essential to Basim’s arsenal.
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Image Source: Game Leap
Blending in is also back. This is a tactic Basim will use a lot, to steal or to get away from guards. While the guards sometimes seem obvilous, they are not when they’re chasing Basim through the streets, and the rooftops, of Bagdad. Benches, haybales, closets, and groups of people are all available around the city for Basim to use to get away from the guards. My favorite method, however, is hiding underwater, until the meter turns yellow. It’s harder to avoid guards this time around than it has been in previous games.
The mission list in this game is different from the mission lists in any of the games. While the missions themselves are similar, Basim has to uncover different elements of the mission, before he can complete it. The missions will then branch off of one another as well. Side missions come in the form of contracts. These are various tasks Basim can do and are entirely optional. They range from escorting someone or stealing something, which, if done correctly, can give you an advantage with the local factions, and is something Basim will need in his fight against the order.
Image Source: Polygon
Pickpocketing is a mechanic that has been missing as well. In the early days of the franchise, one of the easiest ways to earn a quick buck was to pickpocket the locals. It was as easy as pressing a button on your controller. While you still hit a button to pickpocket, it’s a bit more complicated, as you have to hit it at the right time, otherwise, you may get caught.
Basim is an interesting character, and I am glad we have a game giving us his backstory. Hopefully, it will enlighten us, as to how he became the person he was during the events of Valhalla. This game feels like classic Assassin's Creed, which most fans will like. Like the other games, there is also an added history element, and it’s great that we’re able to learn a bit more about Baghdad as we’re playing the game. As someone who would rush in with Eivor or Kassandra, having to take a step back, and think about my next steps before fighting is a welcome change. If you’re on the fence about Mirage, after the previous games, this one is worth picking up.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
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