This year the historical action/adventure-filled Assassin’s Creed game series gives players two comprehensive experience based on different consoles on Tuesday, November 11. Assassin’s Creed Unity will release on the “next-gen” PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Assassin’s Creed Rogue on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which will likely be the last Creed installment on these consoles.
PC gamers will eventually get both releases (Rogue PC version will release in 2015).
Developers Ubisoft Montreal (Unity) and Ubisoft Sofia (Rogue) and publisher Ubisoft omit the sequel numbers and stick to subtitles in these two new offerings Unity will be available in standard, collector’s and gold editions (season pass discontinued for now). Downloadable content (DLC) from this season pass will include additional missions/weapons, customization options, new Dead Kings campaign (set after Unity) and a new stand-alone 2D-style side-scrolling game set in 16th century China called Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, developed by Climax Studios. Rogue will only be available in a standard edition.
The open world focused Unity will carry over all single-player mode gear, progress (skills), items (weapons), and customizations to the series’ first ever co-op multiplayer mode (no competitive mode). This multiplayer gameplay will feature two and four-player formats along with shorter “Brotherhood” missions (up to three other allies) that focus on stealth-filled thefts, mysteries, and assassination contracts. New player action in the single-player mode will include catching pickpockets and interfering in other characters’ fights. Unity will also feature a skill tree based in stealth, mêlée and ranged combat, health and traversal plus a new weapon called the Phantom Blade, which also has crossbow capabilities.
The settings will be one of the most notable differences. Unity will center on main character Arno Dorian and will take place in 18th century Paris while Rogue will let players venture on land as well as the North Atlantic Ocean that showcases some amazing graphics – a great tribute for this series’ swan song on the PS3/Xbox 360. Rogue players will control the warship Morrigan for great naval combat with added icy conditions, which will eliminate the previous character swimming ability. Enemies will be able to board the ship during combat and new weapons will include oil slicks, which can consequently be lit to cause high enemy damage, and Puckle guns (a.k.a. revolver cannons, Defence guns), which were autocannons invented by James Puckle, a British inventor, lawyer and writer.
Rogue’s story will be set in the mid-18th century during the Seven Years’ War and between III and IV and will focus while acting at the sequel to Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. Rogue will also focus on the Templars’ perspective as they rival the Assassins and features popular main character with a beginning story with him as a younger man. Unity’s story focuses urban exploration and action within the French Revolution during the Baroque historical period. New abilities will include enhanced eagle vision while the weapons will expand with grenade launchers and air rifles, which will feature different projectiles.
Music also plays a big role in Unity, which has not one, but two musical scores from composers Chris Tilton (Volume 1) and Sarah Schachner (Volume 2). Both soundtracks are available on iTunes and other venues now.
So, how many Assassin’s Creed game versions will you be getting this holiday season?