Despite a recent trend to release annual games based on the Assassin’s Creed franchise, it’s hard to still not love the game. The series is taking its next big step however, by releasing Assassin’s Creed 3, which is reportedly a complete evolution of what has come before it – with a new age to explore in the boots of an American assassin, as he tomahawks his way through redcoats and Templars.
We’ve discovered some details before with regards to our new assassin, Ratohnhaddock Ratohnheynanana Ratohnheygitchiegoo Connor, and now, we have a whole lot more to talk about, thanks to a recent info dump.
Speaking to VG247, Ubisoft IP director Tommy Francois spoke about how the latest game was shaping up to be a mammoth project. “When you move from something that you’ve put so much into, such as Ezio, you’re scared you’ll miss him,” Francois said.
However, we’ve just taken Ezio through a trilogy of games and are ready for something different and it’s important to note that this game has been in development for well over two years.
We have all the Assassin’s teams working on this game, right back to Prince of Persia Sands of Time and Assassin’s 1 and 2. The reason I mention that is to acknowledge that yes, it’s important to appeal to new fans, but it’s also important to show existing fans that we care about them.
We have to show them love for every second they spend in the Assassin’s universe because they are only a click away from another universe.
One other aspect of AC3 that will also differentiate it from previous titles, besides an expanded world with seasonal changes, is that this title will have active wildlife roaming throughout the lands of North America.
“At the time we created the target gameplay footage that featured hunting, it was brand new and there hadn’t been too many games with wildlife,” Francois said.
Then a few months after we created footage, Red Dead Redemption launched and we had to endeavour instead to innovate in other areas. But we do still have a full hunting system.
Not much is known about the hunting system yet, except that animals can be skinned for their pelts in order to earn some coin. But to get the most valuable pelts, players will have to get up close and personal with the beasts, as a knife-kill will earn far more cash than a bear that has been peppered with bullets.
Animals may be challenging, but in age wherein guns had become far more prevalent, it seems that Connor is going to have his work cut out for him when facing a squad of well-armed soldiers.
Fortunately, Ubisoft says that research has shown that only the initial hail of bullets will need to be avoided before Connor can close the gap, using his iconic wrist-blade, dagger and tomahawk to take down a platoon of soldiers.
Of course, while Connor looks like a fascinating character to play as, what about Desmond, our eyes into the past that has been stuck in an animus chair ever since the first game? Will we ever get to play as just Desmond?
“Having Desmond in the Animus allows us to give [Assassin’s Creed] an extremely edgy, breakthrough visual style,” Francois said.
It allows us to have the visual glitches and embrace our culture completely. There are no plans to drop the modern part and the Animus or Desmond, quite the contrary: we will make Desmond more of a hero and we will make it more fun.
We’re doing everything in our power to make sure that the execution of that part of the mythos is getting better and better.
So,while Assassin’s Creed 3 is shaping up rather nicely, some special editions of the upcoming game are also looking quite attractive. Here’s a rundown of the three different versions that will be available. We’ve spoken to the local distributors – and it looks like they’ll all be available locally this time around! Rejoice!
The Freedom Edition
Assassin’s Creed III retail game
A 24-cm high-quality figurine of Connor
A steel book case art drawn by awards-winning comic artist Alex Ross
George Washington’s notebook revealing all the truth & secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution
One exclusive Lithograph
2 in-game Single Player Missions:
Lost Mayan Ruins: Connor’s mission leads him in an old Mayan pyramid, full of mysteries and revelations. Players will be able to unlock Captain Kidd’s fabled cutlass, a deadly, brutal and beautiful piece of steel.
Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favour. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac’s War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.
1 in-game Multiplayer Package:
The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of “The Jester”.
The Join or Die Edition
Assassin’s Creed III retail game
The medallion of the Assassins with its high-quality curd ladle
George Washington’s notebook revealing all the truth & secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution
1 in-game Single Player Mission:
Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favour. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac’s War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.
1 in-game Multiplayer Package:
The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of “The Jester”.
The Special Edition
Special packaging, retail version of the game, single exclusive mission that comes with an exclusive weapon on completion, a flintlock musket.
Last Updated: March 27, 2012
