Over the years, Assassin's Creed has explored a lot of interesting and visually impressive historical settings. From the pyramids of Ancient Egypt to the foggy streets of Victorian London, it's impressive to think of how many locations and periods the games have managed to cover. However, from the beginning of the series, gamers have been begging Ubisoft to bring Assassin's Creed to Feudal Japan. Earlier this year, the announcement of Assassin's Creed Red gave fans the news they'd all been hoping for, confirming that an upcoming entry in the franchise will be set in Japan.
While this is an exciting development on its own, and Assassin's Creed Red is likely to do well in terms of sales based purely on the fact it finally gives fans the Japanese Assassin's Creed experience they've been wanting for so long, there is more that the upcoming open-world RPG can do besides bring a new setting. Should Ubisoft take its time in perfecting Assassin's Creed Red, it could be a title that stands out as one of the greats in the franchise.
Assassin's Creed Red Should Change the Formula
Assassin's Creed has become a household name in gaming not only due to the recognizable characters and settings that have come out of the series but also because a lot of players know what they're getting into when they pick one of the games up. Once, a lot of Assassin's Creed games were known for simple combat, escort missions, and smaller, more contained worlds with a few major areas to explore. However, that all changed with the release of Assassin's Creed Origins.
As Ubisoft took its first break from the franchise's yearly releases, fans were left wondering how things would change, and when Assassin's Creed Origins was first shown off it was clear that the series was getting some major alterations. Assassin's Creed was given a complete RPG overhaul. The hidden blade and counters were no longer instant kills, and players would instead have to upgrade their gear and character in order to fight stronger opponents. For some, this proved a controversial change, but the RPG Assassin's Creed games have received a lot of praise from fans and critics alike.
If Assassin's Creed Red wants to be remembered for more than just the game that gave fans Feudal Japan, it should look to change things up similarly to Assassin's Creed Origins. This doesn't mean that the upcoming title has to reinvent the wheel and go to a new genre. Already, fans are expecting Assassin's Creed Hexe to delve into horror, so there isn't really a need for Red to take aim at a new genre, but there are still ways in which the formula of the RPG titles could be switched up in order to give fans a refreshing experience that doesn't solely rely on the hype of a Japanese historical setting.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is returning the franchise to its roots, giving players more of an action-adventure experience than the more recent games. As Assassin's Creed Mirage is the next game in the franchise, it would be interesting to see the open-world RPG that Assassin's Creed Red will take some inspiration from it. Whether that be in the form of a greater focus on stealth in Assassin's Creed Red, or more simplified combat that doesn't revolve around health bars slowly ticking down as big numbers flash on the screen, some form of a combination between the new and older styles of gameplay could make the upcoming open-world RPG feel like an innovative entry in the franchise.
Things Assassin's Creed Red Could Change Besides Gameplay
While it would be interesting to see some change in the gameplay formula of Assassin's Creed to coincide with the release of Red, there are other ways in which Ubisoft could make its Feudal Japanese game stand out. The first way in which it could do this is by giving fans a lot more lore information regarding Japan and where it comes into the story of Assassins and Templars. Already, there have been some nods to Japan in the franchise's past, with the first Assassin's Creed protagonist Altair spreading rumors that the Apple of Eden was hidden there. Also, there are mentions of Assassins and Templars throughout the Sengoku and Edo periods of Japanese history, but it would be interesting to see these connections further explored.
It is highly likely as well considering Japan's isolation for most of its history that Assassin's Creed Red could explore how Japanese Assassins differ from those found in other parts of the world. Exploring the lore of Assassin's Creed, and perhaps even redefining certain elements of it, would make Assassin's Creed Red more than just an open-world RPG set in Feudal Japan, and a stand-out title in a franchise that could do with one.
Moreover, there's the issue of protagonists in Assassin's Creed. In Odyssey and Valhalla, the two most recent RPG titles in the series, players have been allowed to choose between a male and female protagonist. While this allows for some great player choice, Ubisoft confirming which character is the canonical representation of the protagonist takes away slightly from those who prefer Alexios over Kassandra, for example. Assassin's Creed Red could mark a return to one, non-customizable protagonist, which would again make it stand out, particularly if this character could match the love fans have for Ezio or other popular Assassins. This might not be the most popular option, as it would remove some player choice, but as it stands right now Ubisoft is only causing confusion with its canon and non-canon protagonists in Assassin's Creed.
As stated, fans are likely to remember Assassin's Creed Red because it will finally bring the franchise to Feudal Japan. Alongside its setting, though, Assassin's Creed Red has the opportunity to stand out from the crowd through Ubisoft paying particular attention to its characters, gameplay, and lore. These factors, along with ensuring Assassin's Creed Red takes inspiration from a unique point in history, should allow the game to be remembered as a huge change from the series' previous entries, similar to Assassin's Creed Origins. For a setting as demanded and as popular as Feudal Japan, it only makes sense for Ubisoft to put in as much effort this time around.
Assassin's Creed Red is in development.