A code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this Assassin’s Creed Mirage review.
It has been a long road for Assassin’s Creed. The original, which came out sixteen years ago, inspired a wave of sequels. Some of them were great, others were good, and a few were just OK. But one thing that has always been clear is that the legacy of the first two games has proved weighty enough to support an enduring franchise, even when newer instalments didn’t quite hit the mark.
In the spirit of those original two games, Assassin’s Creed Mirage has been touted as a return to the series’ roots after three entries which transformed the franchise into an RPG experience.
While the new formula certainly has its fans, I felt that it departed from what made the series special in the first place: being a badass assassin sneaking your way around a wonderfully recreated world from the past.
I was somewhat wary of the claim that Mirage would take the series back to where it all began. However, I’m pleased to report that I had no reason to be. Ubisoft Bordeaux’s efforts are incredibly reminiscent of the original Assassin’s Creed – almost to a fault. Everything from the Middle Eastern setting to the renewed focus on stealth and assassinations feels like something I experienced back in 2007.
What struck me, though, is that Assassin’s Creed Mirage is far from a revolutionary genre leap akin to the first two titles. We are now a decade and a half removed from those games and it is difficult to see how the traditional AC formula has been improved upon, especially when it comes to immersion. The cities of Assassin’s Creed have always been fascinating to look at but they have also lacked depth – and that’s the case here, too. Similarly, gameplay mechanics feel disappointingly stagnant despite years of technological advancements.
The tried and true Brotherhood mantra of blending in with crowds, sitting on benches and eavesdropping, hiding in rooftop gardens, and pickpocketing market shoppers is alive and well in Mirage. While it is still mostly fun, it feels somewhat rudimentary when you consider that all this was present in the same form back in 2007.
Having said that, Mirage does succeed in blending elements from both iterations of the series. Features like the eagle companion, weapon/outfit customisation, the levelling and skill system, and the freedom to tackle missions feel at home here despite being right out of the previous few games’ handbook. Assassin’s Creed always leaned into RPG-lite features, though, and that trend continues in Mirage.
Assassin’s Creed has never failed to excel when it comes to recreating great cities and civilisations from humanity’s past and this game is no different.
Mirage follows Basim Ibn Ishaq (who fans will recognise from Valhalla) during his formative years in 9th century Baghdad. Set during the Islamic Golden Age, Baghdad is shown as a thriving, culturally and intellectually rich city that is a joy to explore. While the character model details leave something to be desired, the same cannot be said for the gorgeous and vibrant land and city-scapes in Mirage.
The scale of Baghdad is similar in scope to Paris from Assassin’s Creed Unity as opposed to the larger open worlds of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. While this might sound like a downgrade, it perfectly suits the more concise and linear story of Basim’s ascension from street-thief to Assassin. What’s more, the focus on a singular city and its outlying settlements has allowed Ubisoft Bordeaux to create a world that feels richer in detail than the repetitive nature of the towns from Valhalla.
As always, the game is steeped in history with the opportunity to learn about and visit awe-inspiring landmarks from the past such as the fabled House of Wisdom. The Islamic Golden Age is a period often overlooked in Western schooling, so Mirage presents an excellent opportunity for players to learn about a fascinating part of history.
I found Basim’s story to be mostly engaging even if quite generic. This plucky underdog’s rise to become a member of the Hidden Ones feels like a tale as old as time. As for Basim himself, he is no Ezio Auditore da Firenze – which seems like a problem Ubisoft has been battling ever since Ezio’s final appearance in Revelations.
The game’s script and run-of-the-mill voice acting don’t help matters either. Dialogue often sounds unnatural and forced with a distinct lack of genuine emotion that players have come to expect in modern, story-driven games.
I’m pleased to say that technical issues were rare during my time with Assassin’s Creed Mirage. I only experienced minor graphical and gameplay bugs that occasionally hampered immersion but were far from game breaking.
Similarly, performance problems were virtually non-existent. I got a steady 60 frames-per-second out of my Nvidia RTX 3070 while playing the game in 1440p on Ultra High settings. Even in more resource-intensive scenes, the frame rate held steady.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage review: Verdict
For years, I’ve longed for an Assassin’s Creed game that goes back to the series’ roots. Mirage succeeds in shedding the RPG skin of the most recent entries and will transport you right back to the first time we were introduced to the Assassin Brotherhood.
While that’s mostly a good thing, I wish more would have been done to level up that original formula to the standard players expect in 2023. As it stands, Assassin’s Creed Mirage‘s stealth mechanics feel unrefined and somewhat outdated – especially when compared to a stealth game like Metal Gear Solid V (which, itself, is eight years old).
Mirage‘s story and characters aren’t going to win any awards for originality or depth either, but it is serviceable and engaging even if in the most generic way possible.
Despite these factors, fans of stealth-action Assassin’s Creed will be satisfied with Mirage as a game that delivers on its central promise to revisit what first made the series so special all those years ago.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Version played: PC
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