A couple weeks ago during the big PlayStation Showcase, we got our first look at Assassin’s Creed Mirage in action, and the reaction was somewhat mixed. While many were excited about its back-to-basics action, the game’s visual presentation wasn’t exactly groundbreaking. Some also wondered if this is really going to be the old-school AC Ubisoft is promising.
Well, today Ubisoft released a new Assassin’s Creed Mirage deep dive developer video, and the extra detail they provide may change some minds. Developers Ubisoft Bordeaux and Ubisoft Montreal truly seem to be trying to recapture the feel of the original AC Trilogy, and as such, are really doubling down on parkour and stealthy assassinations. You can check the video out for yourself, below.
While clearly built on the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla engine, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is totally revamping Basim’s movement. He’s speedier, more agile, and parkour looks to be properly fluid, with plenty of old moves joining some new ones.
“Many elements from past games are making a return. We have the corner swing, the ability to vault over objects, elevators to quickly reach high ground. There are also new ingredients, such as the pole vault, allowing you to cross large gaps between two rooftops. Of course, Basim is faster and more agile than Eivor was, and to give that feeling, we’ve reworked our animations to enforce the sense of speed when jumping, vaulting, and free-roaming.”
As mentioned, stealth is also a big focus this time around, with head-on battles being discouraged. Thankfully, Basim will have a wide array of different assassination animations. Ubisoft is actually pushing stealth further than they did in the old AC titles, with enemy AI being smarter, with some being able to do things like find you in haystacks or shoot down your scouting eagle. “Social stealth” also returns, and in perhaps Mirage’s coolest addition, you can now hire a group of people to move around with you, so you can sneak into areas where crowds aren’t already readily available.
“[We’ve] reworked our enemy AI to improve detection and vanishing loops, making guard behaviors more responsive and readable. New enemy archetypes will also increase the stakes. The marksman can shoot your eagle, the spearman pokes through haystacks, and the horn bearer can call in reinforcements. That’s where your assassin skills come in handy.
Social stealth makes a return. We’re bringing back the systemic blending with larger crowds, that allow you to move undetected through the busiest locations. But you can also bribe factions with specific tokens in order to control AI groups and make your way through guarded areas.”
Assassin’s Creed Mirage sneaks onto PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Luna on October 12. What do you think? Ready to kick it old-school in Baghdad?
