While I may not express it harshly, my enthusiasm for the recent trajectory of the Assassin’s Creed franchise has dwindled. Once celebrated for its stealth-centric gameplay, the series gradually evolved into a sprawling RPG focused on endless quests, an intricate gear system, and more aggressive combat. The latest entries have deviated so far from the franchise’s original ethos that a rebranding by Ubisoft might not even raise eyebrows. Though these games sold well, the formula eventually became tiresome, highlighting a pressing need for a revival. Ubisoft’s response involves a return to its roots, transforming what was initially an expansion for AC Valhalla into a standalone game that revisits the classic Assassin’s Creed experience, set against the backdrop of ninth-century Baghdad.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: Story and character shortcomings
In Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the narrative swiftly introduces Basim Ibn Ishaq, a skilled thief with dreams of becoming an assassin. Orphaned and desperate for recognition, his early antics can feel more pitiable than inspiring, marked by reckless bravado that showcases his talents without caution. This changes dramatically during a palace heist gone awry, leading him to encounter the Order of the Ancients, a shadowy cult preceding the Templars. Here, he manages to steal an Isu artifact that links him with the Hidden Ones. Despite the personal turmoil and consequences he faces, Basim achieves his aspiration of joining the Assassins, seeming almost proud of his status. While the game frames this development as a means of channeling his fear and anger, the rapid pacing undermines any grief over his tragic backstory.
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While hastily transitioning Basim into an assassin may serve to set the stage for action, the writing falls flat, leaving him as a one-dimensional character devoid of complexities. By the end of the game, I struggled to identify any distinctive traits in him. A reunion with an old friend lacked emotional resonance due to its casual and stilted execution, absent of the tension or awkwardness you might expect from former companions who have since diverged. Notably, the dialogue pauses felt so abrupt that they suggested the voice actors may not have recorded together, leading to further disconnection.
Characters rarely interact fluidly, and their statuses can become irrelevant in moments of action, detracting from the immersion. A particularly memorable mission involves infiltrating a prison to rescue a tortured rebel leader. The game builds urgency through the atmospheric setting, but the subsequent encounter with the jailer feels anticlimactic. After the dramatic build-up, the rescued leader stands unharmed and ready to fight, betraying the intensity of his prior ordeal. With NPCs lacking depth and realism, the only aspect holding my attention was the mysterious presence of a shape-shifting Djinn troubling Basim in his dreams, creating a curious yet disjointed subplot.
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I found Basim’s nightmares to be the most compelling plot thread in the game
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: Smaller scope complements immersion
The disconnection within the game is also linked to poorly structured missions, which often devolve into self-contained investigations. The goal is usually to pursue minor leads before unveiling the main antagonist behind Baghdad’s corruption, but these missions tend to feel disjointed and lack meaningful connections to one another. Consequently, players may not develop any real relationship with these antagonists before confronting them, resulting in anticlimactic encounters. The freedom to tackle missions in any order diminishes character progression, and without cohesive dialogue that reflects past choices, the experience can feel segmented.
Promising a classic approach that harkens back to the series’ roots, Assassin’s Creed Mirage attempts to distance itself from the extensive open-world bloat of its predecessors. Ubisoft delivers a concise adventure lasting around 16 hours, priced at Rs. 2,499 or $49.99. It spares players from overwhelming dialogue trees or cluttered maps, a welcome change from the earlier entries like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, which prioritized quantity over quality.
These expansive adventures may define the franchise’s future, yet one can only hope that AC Mirage represents a genuine return to form. The familiar thrill of dashing through Baghdad is sure to evoke nostalgic feelings, allowing players to blend into crowds or stealthily lift coin purses. The mechanics give way to a timed button-press approach where success leads to a smooth getaway, while failure results in instant exposure and guard alertness.
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Handling Basim during parkour feels incredibly smooth and flowing
Photo Credit: Ubisoft
Players must also contend with the notoriety system, a feature returning from Assassin’s Creed 2 that adds an element of realism to the gameplay. As players commit crimes, their notoriety meter increases, altering the population’s perception and reactions. At the lowest level, players may only face minor recognition, while the highest elevates them to a sought-after criminal, resulting in heightened vigilance from NPCs. Reducing notoriety requires strategies like removing wanted posters or paying local officials, effectively urging players to proceed as authentic assassins while reviving cherished memories of earlier games.
Unfortunately, nostalgia appears to be the main selling point of Assassin’s Creed Mirage in terms of gameplay, as Ubisoft seems reluctant to innovate its core mechanics. While returning to the series’ roots yields engaging gameplay, the developers have seamlessly integrated a fluid parkour system that allows Basim to navigate the environment smoothly. Some glitches persist, causing him to get stuck or halt after jumps, but overall, the controls are tight and responsive. One might wish to experience this title anew as a fresh player due to its refined handling.
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The city of Baghdad is brought to life by its clamouring crowds, merchants, and flowerbeds
Photo Credit: Screenshot/Rahul Chettiyar
Yet narrowing the game’s focus to a single location also presents challenges in distinguishing Baghdad’s various districts, some of which lack individuality. This issue is mirrored in other aspects of the game, where players encounter limited enemy types and stores. Exploring the city reveals a few noteworthy landmarks, but the overall experience may remain homogeneous, with little visual diversity aside from the occasional differing terrain.
Those thoroughly combing through one area may feel like they have experienced everything the city offers, prompting faster travel between objectives. Nevertheless, searching the environments may lead players to discover codex entries, continuing Ubisoft’s tradition of infusing historical context into the narrative. During quieter moments, I found it quite enlightening to delve into descriptions of real historical structures and the evolution of art and science in ancient Baghdad.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: Stealth, combat, and tools of trade
In Mirage, the assassination tactics players have honed in earlier installments remain effective, emphasizing the necessity for stealth. This stealthier approach compels players to utilize shadows and distractions, allowing for quick eliminations. However, inconsistencies in enemy AI can disrupt immersion, as guards may not react convincingly to their comrades’ disappearances. Despite maintaining familiarity in gameplay mechanics, the game’s lack of fresh challenges leads to repetitive scenarios. Even after several hours, the core gameplay loop feels stagnant, though new tools could introduce variety, ultimately making stealth too easy.
The assassination tools are all variations of each other and feel rather optional
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Among the five assassination tools, most serve as similar variations. I found the throwing knives enjoyable, capable of eliminating enemies from various distances, while exploding spice bags created chaos that allowed for stealthy kills. However, many tools felt either overpowered or ineffective. Non-lethal options like blow darts may ease passage but lack appeal for players already adept at stealth and observation. Other gadgets included noisemakers and traps, which often created distractions rather than solving challenges. While a supernatural ability enables Basim to execute swift kills, it feels incongruous within the grounded narrative.
Getting surrounded by enemies in Assassin’s Creed Mirage is pretty much a death sentence
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Returning to Basim’s core strengths, his prowess lies primarily in stealth, making direct combat a last resort. Encounters in open conflict can feel overwhelming, particularly when outnumbered, leading to chaotic battles. The combat mechanics are straightforward, relying on light and heavy strikes and a parry feature. A momentary lapse in strategy may have dire consequences due to a stamina system that limits dodging frequency. For players who prefer the stealth-centric gameplay of yore, this punishing combat style can reinforce the need for careful planning.
However, modern fans accustomed to flashy, spell-filled combat may find this approach underwhelming. A compelling aspect is that enemies seem less reactive to being struck in real time. Damage occurs, but the lack of appropriate animations makes attacks feel less impactful.
This feeds into the game’s progression system, which deviates from traditional XP grinding. Assassin’s Creed Mirage incorporates a simplified skill tree that enhances stealth, weaponry, and reconnaissance, offering straightforward skill acquisition. While this may facilitate mastery, it risks making the gameplay too easy, particularly when the challenges in previous missions rarely warrant such upgrades.
Skill upgrades essentially function as god mode in this game, diminishing any element of challenge or strategy
Photo Credit: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
For example, the ‘Knife Recovery’ ability allows you to retrieve thrown knives, essentially removing the need for inventory management. Players can rely on these blades throughout missions without needing to adapt their strategies. A few advanced Predator-class abilities grant insight into enemy movements, diminishing suspense as players can predict behavior in real-time.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: Verdict
While Assassin’s Creed Mirage isn’t groundbreaking, it offers a streamlined and enjoyable experience for longtime fans of the series. It doesn’t revolutionize gameplay mechanics but effectively reduces the bloat associated with recent titles, showcasing a beautifully constructed Baghdad perfect for parkour and exploration. This historically rich city allows players to immerse themselves in its culture, trade practices, and artistic heritage. However, the overarching narrative falters, with Basim portrayed as a somewhat bland character.
The narrative is hampered by a disjointed mission structure that can feel prolonged. Although close-quarters combat reflects a realistic approach encouraging stealth, it may deter those desiring a gameplay dynamic synonymous with the more RPG-focused Assassin’s Creed titles. This return to basics resonates with the series’ soul, offering hope that Ubisoft will continue in this direction. Despite its flaws, prowling the rooftops with a hidden blade in hand remains a thrilling experience, proving that a return to its roots could still bring forth enjoyable gameplay with fresh ideas.
Rating (out of 10): 7
Assassin’s Creed Mirage was released on October 5 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X.
Pricing begins at Rs. 2,499 for the Standard Edition on the Epic Games Store for PC, with Ubisoft’s prices at €49.99 (around Rs. 3,499). The PlayStation and Xbox versions are listed at Rs. 3,499.
