Evolution of Assassin’s Creed 2007-2021

Assassin’s Creed – 2007

In the inaugural chapter of Assassin’s Creed, the character Desmond Miles, portrayed by Nolan North, awakens within the Animus, a device enabling him to experience his ancestor’s memories. Within this setting, he confronts the individual responsible for immersing him in the Animus. However, he becomes subject to manipulation by Vidic (voiced by Phil Proctor), who coerces him into procuring information solely attainable by reliving Altair’s life.

As Desmond delves into the Animus, Altair’s narrative unfurls, revolving around the quest for the golden orb. After a mission failure, Altair loses his rank and weaponry. To regain his former status, he embarks on a mission targeting nine Templar members. Throughout this journey, Altair is also tasked with gathering intel on each target and providing updates.

Intermittent breaks in Altair’s trials allow Desmond to establish a close bond with Dr. Vidic’s aide, Lucy Stillman, voiced by Kristen Bell. In these brief respites, Desmond gains insights into contemporary Templars and their aspirations.

Assassin’s Creed II (2009)

In the second chapter of the Assassin’s Creed saga, Desmond engages in training to become a contemporary assassin, aided by insights from yet another ancestral figure. The Animus delves into the recollections of Ezio, whose story commences amid the Renaissance of the 15th century. Witnessing the execution of his father and siblings, Ezio’s path leads him away from the city and towards his uncle Mario’s villa.

As Ezio embarks on his quest for vengeance, he forges alliances, including one with the renowned Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo enhances several of the assassin tools inherited by Ezio from his father, employing blueprints discovered within Altair’s Codex pages.

Meanwhile, Desmond and Dr. Vidic encounter an obstacle when they uncover that segments of Ezio’s memories are shielded, eluding detection by the Animus.

 Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (2010)

The game “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” continues the narrative from the preceding installments. Desmond, Lucy, Rebecca, and their companions establish a refuge within the ruins of the Villa Auditore to evade the Templars. With the Templars temporarily thwarted, Desmond reenters the memories of Ezio to continue his journey.

Ezio’s storyline resumes in 1499, as he emerges from the Vault. He reunites with his uncle Mario (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) and returns home, only for Cesare to murder Mario and seize the Apple for the Templars.

After the loss of his uncle, Ezio endeavors to resurrect Rome’s former glory. He does so by assassinating pivotal figures within Cesare’s organization and undermining his resources. Over time, Ezio reclaims the Apple and conceals it. When Desmond reawakens, he leverages the knowledge gleaned from Ezio’s recollections to retrieve the Apple.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011)

In this chapter of the Assassin’s Creed Saga, the narrative converges around the three primary characters: Altair, Ezio, and Desmond. Ezio’s journey takes him to Constantinople in the year 1511. The city is divided into four distinct districts: Constantine, Bayezid, Imperial, and Galata. The Templars exert their influence over much of the underground expanse of Cappadocia, which forms the starting point of Ezio’s adventure.

Amid his time in Cappadocia, Ezio discovers that Altair has concealed an ancient artifact with the potential to bring an end to the Templars’ reign. Employing relics from the First Civilization, Ezio immerses himself in Altair’s memories, mirroring the process Desmond has been utilizing.

In the present era, however, Desmond becomes ensnared within the Animus 2.0. Within this predicament, he stumbles upon a secure mode referred to as the Black Room. Within this space, he must locate a pivotal memory that will reestablish his connection with Altair and Ezio, subsequently rousing him from his comatose state.

Assassin’s Creed III (2012)

The fifth installment within this expansive saga unfolds against the backdrop of 18th century America, amidst the turbulence of the American Revolution. “Assassin’s Creed III” introduces a fresh protagonist named Ratonhnhake:ton, more commonly known as Connor. Notably, Connor’s father holds the esteemed position of Grand Master within the Templar Order within the colonies.

Immediately following the events recounted in “Revelations,” Desmond and his comrades locate the Temple of the First Civilization in New York. By utilizing the potent Apple of Eden, they secure entry to this enigmatic site. The influence of Juno prompts a sequence of events wherein Desmond relives the life of Haytham Kenway during the year 1754 in England, once he returns to the Animus. Amid his sojourn within his ancestor’s memories, Desmond gains insight that the Key does not in fact grant access to the Temple itself.

The narrative perspective subsequently transitions from Haytham to Ratonhnhake:ton (Connor) upon his birth. The chronicle delves into Connor’s evolution, chronicling his ascension to the role of an assassin. Throughout this process, players bear witness to the challenges he faces and the adversaries he confronts.

 Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

One might assume that Desmond’s demise would mark the termination of Abstergo’s utilization of his ancestral memories, yet such is not the case. Even in death, his remains serve as a resource from which Abstergo extracts samples. These biological materials enable them to persist in their exploration of his lineage through the Animus’ cloud computing capabilities. Subsequently, Abstergo enlists an individual skilled in delving into memories to relive the life of Edward Kenway.

Edward Kenway, a pirate of the 18th century and the grandfather of Connor from the preceding installment, becomes the focal point. His narrative unfurls as he unveils a conspiracy that intertwines Templars within the British and Spanish empires. This alliance exploits their positions of authority to locate the enigmatic Sage. This Sage stands as the sole individual capable of leading them to the Observatory—a device crafted by the First Civilization with the capacity to surveil anyone, anywhere.

Following an inadvertent act leading to the demise of Duncan, Edward finds himself thrust into the complex fabric of the Templar-Assassin conflict, ushering him into the heart of their societal clash.

 Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (2014)

In this chapter, the Colonial Brotherhood of Assassins introduces a fresh addition to their ranks: Shay Patrick Cormac. During his training in the North Atlantic division, Shay crosses paths with another Assassin named Adewale, who bears grave tidings of a devastating earthquake that has decimated Port-au-Prince.

Shay is subsequently enlisted to investigate the Templars’ keen interest in a Precursor artifact and manuscript, inextricably linked to a temple located within Port-au-Prince. Assuming the guise of a Templar courier, Shay successfully delivers the artifact to Benjamin Franklin, portrayed by Rick Jones. Benjamin’s electrical experiments yield a map revealing the locations of numerous Precursor temples. Among these, a temple in Lisbon holds a coveted Piece of Eden, a powerful artifact. Shay is assigned the task of retrieving it.

However, as he delves deeper into the mission, Shay grasps the peril inherent in handling a Piece of Eden. Recognizing the potential for further devastation, he alters his course and decides to abscond with the manuscript to prevent more harm. Regrettably, Shay’s actions are discovered by the Brotherhood. In an attempt to thwart his intentions, they open fire, wounding him before he can destroy the manuscript.

Assassin’s Creed: Unity (2014)

Assassin’s Creed: Unity commences in the year 1307, when a Templar conceals a sword and a book within a crypt prior to his assassination. The memory then transitions to a later point, depicting the demise of de Molay and his curses directed at King Phillip IV and Pope Clement V.

In the contemporary era, Bishop, a member of the modern Assassin Brotherhood, takes the reins of this memory. The narrative shifts ahead to Versailles in 1776, where Arno Dorian’s path crosses with Elise De La Serre. Elise is the daughter of the Templar Grand Master. The story then jumps to Arno’s infiltration of a party, where he intends to meet with Elise. However, after leaving the party, he discovers the lifeless body of the Grand Master and is mistakenly identified as the perpetrator.

Following his escape from a prison cell, Arno seeks solace with Elise, only to be rebuffed. Subsequently, he joins forces with the Brotherhood and dedicates himself to uncovering the identities of all Templars implicated in De La Serre’s murder, making them his prime targets.

 Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate (2015)

In this iteration, an initiate of the Assassin Brotherhood is once again called upon to retrace the steps of a new set of assassins. This time, the focus falls on twins Jacob and Evie Frye. Their mission: to locate a potent artifact, a Piece of Eden, hidden within the sprawling expanse of London.

However, procuring the coveted Piece of Eden proves to be a formidable challenge, given that London is now under the dominion of the Templar Grand Master, Crawford Starrick. Starrick is fervently devoted to expanding the Templars’ political influence on a global scale. Unbeknownst to him, the Frye twins have embarked on a covert mission to undermine his ambitions, operating from the shadows of London’s clandestine underbelly.

Electing to defy the Brotherhood’s directives, the twins venture into London. There, they forge an alliance with an associate of their father. Collaboratively, they engage in a campaign to dismantle the gangs controlled by the Templars and eliminate their high-ranking members. As their efforts take shape, they organize a formidable criminal syndicate known as the Rooks. This organization thrives on unity, recruiting individuals from various walks of life who share their commitment to thwarting the Templar agenda.

 Assassin’s Creed: Origins (2017)

In the tenth installment of the series, the narrative transports players back to the year 49 BCE, immersing them in the experiences of Bayek and his son Khemu. An unforeseen turn of events unfolds as they are abducted by enigmatic masked figures and forcibly taken to a concealed vault within the Temple of Amun. Within this hidden chamber, Bayek is handed a dormant Apple of Eden and coerced into unlocking a cryptic vault. Amid the struggle to break free from their captors, a tragic accident transpires, leading to Khemu’s untimely demise.

Devastated by the loss of his son, Bayek’s purpose transforms into a quest for vengeance against all those complicit in his son’s death. His relentless pursuit takes him through a series of locales, including Siwa and Alexandria. In the latter city, Bayek’s path intersects with Cleopatra, who confirms the existence of a larger network involved in his son’s demise. This group is revealed as the Order of Ancients, a malevolent organization with aspirations of seizing control over Egypt.

Cleopatra’s revelations subsequently unveil more members of the Order of Ancients and their ominous plans. She enlists Bayek to undertake the mission of eliminating these individuals, thus initiating a campaign to thwart their ambitions and safeguard Egypt from their sinister designs.

 Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey (2018)

The narrative of this particular Assassin’s Creed installment commences with the historic Battle of Thermopylae, where the Spartan forces, led by King Leonidas, achieve victory over the Persians. However, their triumph is short-lived as news arrives that the Persians have uncovered an alternate mountain passage.

In the present day, the recovery of King Leonidas’ spear holds genetic material capable of triggering the Animus, a pivotal device in reliving ancestral memories. Within the Animus, the recollections commence with the Misthios in their childhood. After surviving a harrowing fall from a mountain, the Misthios flees to the sanctuary of Kephallonis.

Subsequently, the Misthios receives a contract to eliminate the enigmatic figure known as the “wolf of Sparta,” only to discover that this individual is none other than Nikolaos. Their journey leads them to Delphi, where an encounter with Herodotos warns them about the looming threat of the Cult of Kosmos. This clandestine organization seeks to eliminate the Misthios and their family. Faced with this peril, the Misthios embarks on a mission to dismantle the Cult’s influence before they can seize dominion over Greece and eradicate the Misthios and their kin.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (2021)

If you’re a fan of Vikings, then the latest addition to the Assassin’s Creed series, “Valhalla,” is definitely worth exploring. The game kicks off by transporting you back to 9th-century Norway, where you witness the brutal raid of a Viking settlement by the warlord Kjotve. This event unfolds through the eyes of Eivor Varinsdottir.

As you progress through the game, taking on the role of Eivor, you guide your clan to England as part of the larger Norse invasion, and you chart a path forward for your fellow clanspeople. Amid your journey, Eivor encounters the Hidden Ones and becomes an ally in their struggle against the Order of the Ancients.

Notably, on March 10th, 2022, Ubisoft launched the Dawn of Ragnarok expansion for Valhalla. This expansion introduces an impressive 30+ hours of fresh gameplay content, accompanied by a diverse range of new features that enrich the Valhalla experience.

What’s Your Favorite Assassin’s Creed Game?

Have you experienced all of the Assassin’s Creed games? If you have, we’d love to hear which ones stand out as your favorites. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below!