I'm New to Assassin's Creed

[TheGavGav7]

I'm really excited to play - it should be okay to jump into this without prior knowledge of the series, right? I mean, I had Assassin's Creed 3 on the PS3 years ago but didn't really touch it, I maybe played the first 10 minutes but can't remember anything past the theatre (I think it was the 3rd one anyway). Not that I didn't enjoy it, I was just a really casual player back then. But Origins looks awesome, so I bought the game while it was on sale.

 

Any advice for a totally new AC player jumping into the series with Origins?

[Waddlingdan]

Actually this could provide you with a unique opportunity. I recently started a new account (however I’ve played every single game before) and decided I’ll play all of the Assassin’s Creed games in chronological order based on their time that they are set, which should be awesome. I’d recommend you did the same!  

 

Here’ a link if your looking for guidelines, it even includes chronicles and the book and films for anyone looking to learn about some of the character’s pasts:

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.techtimes.com/amp/articles/123237/20160111/the-complete-assassins-creed-chronology-for-now.htm

[madbuk]

It doesn't seem to have any relation to the other AC games in regards to the plot from what I've played, so it's fine to start here. It's an awful representation of the AC franchise though, it's barely recognizable as an AC game in regards to gameplay at all, should've been a new IP.

[Crispy_Oglop]

I think that you could probably do okay starting with Assassin's Creed Origins, as far as the historical gameplay goes. It's the earliest depiction of the Assassin's and pretty much how they get founded.

 

That being said, the story telling in AC games as a whole aren't that linear and even as someone who played most of them at one point or another - it can be hard to follow. AC games pretty much run on two main story threads: The present/near future time period and the old history time periods which you will be spending most of your game time in.

 

These would be the high-notes for the series for me (in order)

 

Assassin's Creed:Origins (PS4)

You get to see the birth of the Assassin's Order and it's also one of the prettiest game worlds i've ever played in.

 

Assassin's Creed: (PS3)(Optional - Read the wiki)

Highly optional - first Assassin's Creed game to be released - no trophy support - good to read up on as it establishes the animus and the first modern day protagonist - Desmond. I would recommend not playing this, but just reading up on what happens in the game.

 

Assassin's Creed: Ezio Collection (PS4) [contains AC 2, AC Brotherhood, AC Revelations]

The trilogy which put the series on the map and largely everyone's favourite Assassin story arc. This was re-released for the PS4, remastered and with all those pesky multiplayer trophies stripped out. 3 very satisfying platinums.

 

Assassin's Creed: Embers (short movie)

This was a 25 minute short animated movie which was written to finish off the Ezio storyline and takes place in his elderly years. There are tonnes of uploads up on YouTube at the moment too so it's easy to find.

 

Assassin's Creed 3 (PS3)(Optional - read the wiki)

Introduces a new Assassin and new time period. Closes off the modern day Desmond storyline. This is my least favourite AC game but I think i'm just bitter because I missed Ezio. If they did a remaster for the PS4 i'd definitely go back to it.

 

Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation (PS3)(Optional - read the wiki)

Spin-off DLC with a new character set in the same time period as AC 3

 

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (PS3/PS4)

Another new Assassin but adds in a beautiful world with a seafaring theme - hands down some of the best ship battles i've ever played in a videogame. It was such a breath of fresh air after AC 3. The Assassin is also related to one of the main characters in AC 3. This also marked a change in the modern story arc and for many the point where people started to get annoyed with that part of the story.

 

Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry (PS4)(Optional - read the wiki)

Originally a DLC to Black Flag - it got a re-release later on PS4. A side story of sorts where you play Adewale, one of the main characters in AC4.

 

Assassin's Creed: Rogue (PS3/PS4)

A side story of sorts in the franchise, where you play an Assassin turncoat who becomes a Templar. One of the most interesting entries as it is told from the perspective of the Assassin's nemesis organization. It's a huge huge game and includes gameplay elements from most of the previous games. PS4 remaster is coming this year.

 

Assassin's Creed: Unity (PS4)(Optional - read the wiki)

First dedicated next gen AC game sporting the new Unity game engine. Notorious for being one of the glitchiest AC games in history. I really dig the French Revolution setting and the game world is lovely. 

 

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (PS4)(Optional - read the wiki)

This was the first AC game I really truly enjoyed since AC 4. I'm originally from London and it was amazing to zip about an old version of the city. You can also play a female or male assassin (sister and brother) who have different combat styles. They introduced a zip line/grappling hook tool in there which kind of made free-climbing a bit redundant later on though.

 

Assassin's Creed (Movie)(Optional - read the wiki)

I really didn't like this film, they retconned the animus technology for this weird spine robot thing. Then when AC Origins came out, they retconned it again to be able to write it into the main game story lore.

 

Bonus optional - Assassin's Creed Chronicles - a triple pack of 2D scrolling Assassin platforming. I haven't played these, so am defaulting to optional.

[demonoutcast]

Assassin's Creed 3...man that game had a rocky launch and minefield of patches. Play the other games, don't bother with 3.

Edited January 22, 2018 by demonoutcast

[madbuk]

11 minutes ago, demonoutcast said:

Assassin's Creed 3...man that game had a rocky launch and minefield of patches. Play the other games, don't bother with 3.

But 3 is very important to the plot, it concludes the first story arc...

 

44 minutes ago, Waddlingdan said:

Actually this could provide you with a unique opportunity. I recently started a new account (however I’ve played every single game before) and decided I’ll play all of the Assassin’s Creed games in chronological order based on their time that they are set, which should be awesome. I’d recommend you did the same!  

 

Here’ a link if your looking for guidelines, it even includes chronicles and the book and films for anyone looking to learn about some of the character’s pasts:

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.techtimes.com/amp/articles/123237/20160111/the-complete-assassins-creed-chronology-for-now.htm

Why would you play IV before III? It spoils III

[Aeoniangel]

I too didn't play the series despite having most of them o.o it never occured to me that the games have some connections with each others...but I'm interested in doing a marathon for this series whenever possible so playing it chronologically would be the best choice I think ^.^  

[sh4d0wzcs]

Theres little bits here and there that mention what happens in past games, but you wouldn't know unless told and know exactly what to look for especially being completely new to the series. 

 

You'll be fine, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it like so many others have.

[demonoutcast]

52 minutes ago, madbuk said:

But 3 is very important to the plot, it concludes the first story arc...

I wasn't referring to the story, but like Crispy suggested..

 

1 hour ago, Crispy_Oglop said:

Assassin's Creed 3 (PS3)(Optional - read the wiki)

 

Edited January 22, 2018 by demonoutcast

[Waddlingdan]

3 hours ago, madbuk said:

But 3 is very important to the plot, it concludes the first story arc...

 

Why would you play IV before III? It spoils III

Hardly, it only spoils some minor future day stuff, and even then it isn’t that bad.

[TheGavGav7]

13 hours ago, Waddlingdan said:

Actually this could provide you with a unique opportunity. I recently started a new account (however I’ve played every single game before) and decided I’ll play all of the Assassin’s Creed games in chronological order based on their time that they are set, which should be awesome. I’d recommend you did the same!  

 

Here’ a link if your looking for guidelines, it even includes chronicles and the book and films for anyone looking to learn about some of the character’s pasts:

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.techtimes.com/amp/articles/123237/20160111/the-complete-assassins-creed-chronology-for-now.htm

 

Awesome, thanks for this! Chronological order sounds pretty fun actually, should I love Origins, I'm sure I'll want to play through more AC games.

13 hours ago, Crispy_Oglop said:

I think that you could probably do okay starting with Assassin's Creed Origins, as far as the historical gameplay goes. It's the earliest depiction of the Assassin's and pretty much how they get founded.

 

That being said, the story telling in AC games as a whole aren't that linear and even as someone who played most of them at one point or another - it can be hard to follow. AC games pretty much run on two main story threads: The present/near future time period and the old history time periods which you will be spending most of your game time in.

 

These would be the high-notes for the series for me (in order)

 

This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing that, after reading through, I'm really excited to play the Ezio Collection, it sounds great (and 3 Platinums wouldn't be so bad). Quite a few games to get into but that's even better, I love the historical time periods and getting to explore them. London, I live up North, but I visit London regularly, so Syndicate (though low on your list) also doesn't sound too bad. Thanks again, I appreciate this!

[Waddlingdan]

I thought Sydicate was up there with AC3, Black Flag, Origins, Rogue and The Ezio Trilogy. The only let downs were Unity and Liberations, although after my third playthrough of Unity I’ve found the story isn’t too bad.

[Oobedoob S Benubi]

As others have said, you can very well play Origins without playing the rest.

 

The highlights from the series for me are II/Brotherhood (though II really isn't aging well in my eyes), Black Flag, and Origins.

 

On 22/01/2018 at 10:08 AM, madbuk said:

It's an awful representation of the AC franchise though, it's barely recognizable as an AC game in regards to gameplay at all, should've been a new IP.

 

People complain that Unity and Syndicate are too much like the old games, people complain that Black Flag and Origins change too much to the formula.

 

Some creators get flack whatever they do.

 

"Boo, The Force Awakens is too much like A New Hope!" - "Boo, The Last Jedi changes too much to what I think Star Wars is about!"

 

Personally I think the gameplay in this case is secondary to the story being told, and I always thought the AC games could do with some better gameplay. Except Black Flag, in terms of gameplay that one was brilliant (sole exception for the eavesdropping missions, which they fortunately stopped doing after Black Flag).

[TheGavGav7]

Update: I've been playing Origins for the past week or so and I am loving it. There is sooooo much exploration but I love the environments so it's really great to try and do everything, rather than it being tedious. I've done about 70 side quests and I've done the majority of the main quests (according to trophies, I only have 3 main quests left to do). I'm at Level 33 (so hopefully that's a decent level before tackling the final stages of the main quests). I've bought the season pass now so I look forward to playing the DLCs once I've completed the main campaign. Thanks for all the recommendations everyone, I'm definitely checking out other AC games now.

[Gengarbey]

On 22.01.2018 at 11:06 AM, Waddlingdan said:

Actually this could provide you with a unique opportunity. I recently started a new account (however I’ve played every single game before) and decided I’ll play all of the Assassin’s Creed games in chronological order based on their time that they are set, which should be awesome. I’d recommend you did the same!  

 

Here’ a link if your looking for guidelines, it even includes chronicles and the book and films for anyone looking to learn about some of the character’s pasts:

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.techtimes.com/amp/articles/123237/20160111/the-complete-assassins-creed-chronology-for-now.htm

 

I agree with this. You have no disadvantage but a chance to experience the serie by another way.