'Assassin's Creed 3' North American Launch Trailer

Oct 29, 2012 by Brian Sipple

Where last week’s UK launch trailer for Assassin’s Creed III outlined the origins of Connor’s revolutionary zeal, today’s North American launch trailer for the game shows us just how climactically bloody things are about to get.

Released by Ubisoft on the eve the company’s biggest launch ever – Assassin’s Creed III pre-orders had doubled those of Assassin’s Creed Revelations as of last week – the two-minute clip is more manifesto than melody, and it gives us one final preview of Assasin’s Creed III’s gameplay and cinematic story.

Appropriately, the new Assassin’s Creed III trailer is a snapshot of the story Ubisoft has already let surface: Connor, age 5, witnessing the destruction of his village at the hands of the British; Connor, teenage years, discovering the Assassin Order as his vehicle for vengeance; Connor, fully grown, making acquaintances with George Washington and hitting the revolutionary warpath by land and by sea. Combat, even at a quick-cutting glance, bears the mark of the Anvil-Next Engine’s emphasis on fluidity, and by all outward appearances colonial America hasn’t lost her striking scenic beauty.

There is, however, no sighting of modern day protagonist Desmond Miles.

Much of this is for marketing reasons – Ubisoft has always advertised Assassin’s Creed around its inner-Animus characters and journeys into the past – and there’s an obvious need for continuity in the trailer. But despite releasing the opening cinematic for Assassin’s Creed III this month, teasing Desmond’s path to December 21, 2012 (aka The End of the World), it’s clear Ubisoft wants to guard his segment of the story as tightly as possible. This is, after all, the last game for the descendant of Altair, Ezio and Connor Kenway; the conclusion to Assassin’s Creed III - on Desmond’s end, at least – is arguably the most pivotal point for the franchise to date.

We certainly have theories for the ending of Assassin’s Creed III here at Game Rant; Andrew Dyce has things covered on life after Desmond while I’ve made the historical case for the French Revolution. At any rate (and without spoiling said conclusions), be sure to look shortly for our Assassin’s Creed III review, as one of 2012′s landmark gaming events is just hours away.

Follow me on Twitter @Brian_Sipple.

Assassin’s Creed III releases for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 30, 2012. A PC release is scheduled for November 20, with a Wii U version on November 18.