9 Huge Assassin’s Creed Changes That Ubisoft Are Considering, According to Official Survey

J Station X writes

"Breathing fresh air into the Assassin’s Creed series is what Ubisoft needs to do to keep the series original, because eventually, sticking yet more daggers into the backs of even more Loyalist Lobsters is going to grate on us. That’s likely the reason why they’ve recently put out a survey asking players for their thoughts.

But this isn’t your average run of the mill ‘did getting blasted to smithereens by a Man O’ War in Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag make you cry like a wimp or spur you on?’ as Ubi’s suggested changes could be completely mind blowing or utterly disastrous for the series. Having taken the survey, I’ve rounded up the juiciest bits of info from it, which you can read about here."

[-Foxtrot]

"1. Was There Too Much Naval/Land Gameplay?"

For an Assassins Creed game...yeah

"2. Did The Pirate Theme Fit The Game?"

Nope...Assassin - Pirate, they couldn't be different

"Would The Pirate Theme Work as Standalone Gameplay? Would You Be Interested in Playing a Pirate Game?"

It would have to be seperate from Assassins Creed and worked into a new IP, with no AC ties to it.

"4. Was Assassin’s Creed as Open World as GTA V and Skyrim?"

Not really, the sea pretty much was half the map.

"5. Did You Like Charles Vane and James Kidd"

Yup

"6. Tablet and Smartphone Apps"

Hell No

"7. Multiple Historical Figures"

I wouldn't go overboard with it

"8. Customisable Hero"

Just have to expand on the stuff we have now, I would like to choose my own colours for the Assassins Robes instead of pre sets. Oh and maybe even the smaller things like the handles to a sword or the designs on a gun for example.

"9. Adewale and Aveline"

To be honest, since we've had Liberation and Freedom Cry I rather they focus on other characters.

What about Anne Bonny, I'm guessing she could be trained as an Assassin.

[UnHoly_One]

This doesn't surprise me, but I disagree with nearly every one of your answers. lol

[-Foxtrot]

Why

Do you want it to be an ASSASSINS Creed game or a shadow of it's former self.

Seriously it's not like people who call the pirate theme are calling the actual game but at the end of the day good or not AC4 was not a good ASSASSINS CREED game. It would be better off as a new IP.

You have all this Naval combat stuff and Pirate themed content yet hardly no stealth elements like a simple crouch button what a game like AC needs.

@HumanAfterAll

Oh shutup, don't call someone just because you don't agree with them. Cherry picking comments as usual. I've said good things about AC4, I just don't agree with the Pirate theme because it dosen't fit the ASSASSINS theme the game set off with in the beginning. Whats wrong about that, I'm just too much of a fan to let turn into a shadow of it's former self.

If it was a game set in China with Ninjas and stuff then at least that fits in with the Assassins theme better then bloody Pirates

[-Foxtrot]

@HumanAfterAll

Most of time when I actually do, but like most people you cherry pick comments to try and make your comment look better.

You could that to anyone on this site if you sive through their comments.

Stay on topic for goodness sake, I'm sick to death of off topic comments on this site instead of people talking about the actuall article...they'd rather call the users, I mean whats the point. It's just sad at the end of the day.

"AC IV was the best AC game since 2"

I didn't say it wasn't, it was a good game just not a good "Assasins" Creed game.

"Now you done acting like a keyboard warrior? "

Says the guy who's just wrote all that s*** in his own comment and started this in the first place when he decided to call a user instead of talking about the article....yeah sure ok.

[erathaol]

Darn, one of the questions isn't "Would it be better if only a single studio worked on the next Assassin's Creed?"

Yes!

[Akuma07]

AC4 was the best Assassins Creed since ACII.

I loved the entire theme, and you are totally wrong about Pirate's and Assassins being far apart. Pirates were sea faring freedom fighters, the Assassins fought for freedom of all peoples from the Templars.

You have 2 kinds of people who played AC4. Those who loved it, and those who didn't. The ones who didn't love it, are the same people who hate the annual releases, and think the game should go back to what it was in ACII.

I have liked most of the AC games. Revelations was the worst. I loved the direction they took with AC4, and Edward Kenway is my favourite Assassin so far.

[PhantomT1412]

@erathaol

I think it's one of those games that manages to work pretty well with multiple studios (on the exact same project, unlike Call of Duty with alternate studios).
Anyway, why would you want less people working on it and have a lesser quality (or content) product for the same price? (they won't rise the price because more people are working on it, they just expect better sales).

[DragonKnight]

1. There was too much Naval gameplay for sure, but it wasn't bad so I didn't hate it. That said, AC games were always about the free running and it seems that Ubisoft just keep moving away from that.

2. No, the Pirate theme didn't at all fit the game. AC4 wasn't about Assassins or Templars, it was about Edward Kenway and his life. It got to the point that the Assassins, Templars, and even the First Civ. was just a framing device for Edward Kenway, and that was off putting.

3. Yes, the Pirate game would work on its own, but it wouldn't stand on its own if it was at all attached to AC. Make it its own franchise, add some stuff to it to make it unique (maybe make it a Pirate RPG) and you'll have something.

4. No. GTAV and Skyrim were more open world because they had varying landscapes and locations. ACIV was lots and lots of water for the most part. Didn't feel too varied. That said, and open world AC RPG sounds interesting.

5. Yes. Particularly James Kidd. Awesome character.

6. NO! MOVE AWAY FROM THE TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES! DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER.

7. I like having multiple historic characters, but having the key enemy switch between them is rather annoying.

8. A customizable hero would depend on what the customization is. Making your own Assassin would only work if Ubisoft made an AC game where you start out as an Assassin trainee, go on missions to improve your skills, and work your way up the ranks. Otherwise, that particular cusomization wouldn't mesh with a main AC game. But if we could customize the look, or fighting style of an Assassin in a main game, that might be cool.

9. I'm indifferent.

AC4 was a good game, definitely better than AC3 but it doesn't touch AC1 or the AC2 trilogy.

I can go back to AC1 or any of the AC2 trilogy and replay those games. Why? AC1 has the best setting and story of the entire series. AC2 trilogy combines many story plots together so that any weaknesses of the individual games are made up by the whole trilogy. AC3 is awful and AC4 is good but I probably won't go back to play it again unless I'm very bored.

Edward is a better character than his grandson, but he tends to fall into the same issue his grandson had. That being that he is used to do other people's bidding too much. Altair in AC1 fought for redemption and later to save his order from betrayal. Ezio started out seeking nothing but vengeance, but growing to realize vengeance wouldn't make him happy, and eventually realizing he gave too much to the Brotherhood.

Connor was a lackey. He wanted to help his people, but really all he ended up doing was the dirty work for the Colonials and he seemed like a perpetual teenager always pissed off. Haytham was by far a better character.

Edward was so focused on making a fortune that he never saw how he was being used just because people knew his weakness. By the time he opened his eyes, the game was pretty much over and any interaction with the Assassins or the Templars seemed out of place and unnecessary.

AC5 really needs to remember what made AC1 and AC2 so great and stop trying so hard to tell the story of one person.

[starchild]

I have enjoyed all the Assassin's Creed games. I only hope they improve the stealth mechanics and the next one is set in feudal Japan. That would make me very happy.

[theDivision]

Customisable Hero:

Yeah... for me games are about immersion, I have a disconnect when forced to play as a pre created character. I want to make my character from head to toe and be able to build him to fit myself.

[Vashv17]

I agree with most of your points. I love AC4, I platinumed it, and spent over 70 hours with it. They could add some more customization. I wouldn't mind playing as either Adewale or Aveline in another DLC or main story, although I agree we should see some new faces. If AC4 would have had more side missions like non repetitive ones I would have loved it more. So yes they could do with more open world. As far as the too much naval/land thing i'm in the middle. There could have been less naval but it would have taken away from the whole pirate theme a bit. All in all I can't wait for the next AC.

[-Foxtrot]

Thank you...for actually talking about the article unlike some people

"I platinumed it"

Lucky you I couldn't, I wanted to but the online trophies were a joke. "Reach Level 55", I tried playing a few matches and GOD it was so boring, plus you hardly level up.

I didn't realise this though until I had worked at getting the single player ones.

[Akuma07]

You know Fox, it sounds like you just don't enjoy playing AC games. I know someone else like you, he hates every game he plays, but yet, still buys and plays them all.

[-Foxtrot]

@Akuma07

Really, your doing the "I'm going to make out I know you to try and take a dig at you" act...how lame

I do enjoy them, I've enjoyed every one up to revelations. Enjoyed AC4 but not as an Assassins Creed game.

So really at the end of the day the only one I hated was the third one.

Try harder next one

[Mr Pumblechook]

They should've asked "do you want an Assassin's Creed game without all that present day rubbish constantly interrupting your game?"

[Akuma07]

I like a little mystery. The present day story in AC4 was one of the better ones.

[DeadAccount69]

How was it not an AC game? Because I could have sworn AC was about exploring different points in history. So if AC4 is a story of how Edward became an assassin, and naval battles were a part of that time in history, then how is it not an AC game?

And us real AC fans know about how the devs want future AC games to be more like 4, in that they take aspects of that time period to make gameplay out of (like naval battles).

I see you complaining on every AC4 article, but you don't even know what an AC game actually is...

[-Foxtrot]

Because it was Pirates Creed, about Pirates, with Pirate themed missions, gameplay and even characters

Edward never became an Assassin, so obviously you didn't play it all the way through, he only helped them and that was only at the end.

"And us real AC fans know about how the devs want future AC games to be more like 4"

LOL...get over yourself man

"us real AC fans"

Says the guy who just said Edward becomes an Assassin....FAIL

All I see you do is post on N4G, trolling in capital letters....pretty sad I reckon.

Next time, catch up on some AC history.

[3-4-5]

I think they accidentally stumbled upon a new UBISOFT game type that will now be made.

It will have elements of Assassins Creed in it, but will be free to be it's own thing and will honestly probably end up becoming the better quality franchise.

There is endless possibilities for the future of that gameplay type.

AC4 is the best Pirate game ever made.....by far.

Mary Read & Anne Bonney were two the most likeable females in any game ever....more likeable than most females in movies or TV even.

They seemed real....

I loved the cast of AC4, and I think a Prequel Pirate game could be awesome.

[dcj0524]

Idk man princess peach is a very rich character /s

[CrossingEden]

"Assassins and pirates are different" god forbid we allow developers to use creativity right? No no, let's just keep these things the same to appeal to a crowd that refuses to allow any change to a series. And god forbid we have a protagonist who starts out selfish and learns to become humble and mature, it's almost as if *GASP* that's the kinda story they were going for in AC4!

[DeadAccount69]

lol you're view on AC4 is a total joke dude. Like I said, the devs said they included naval battles, drinking, and all other pirate themed bits of gameplay, because the location is about pirates, just like AC2 dealt with Catholics and had you parkour thru churches, and you used Leonardo's inventions, because it was set in Italy during the Renaissance...

[ReesesPuffs]

What they should be considering is how they can make the free running flow better like Sleeping Dogs or even Splinter Cell Blacklist. They should also be looking in to changing up their combat for the next iteration because it doesn't challenge me at all and can get repetitive while also defeating the point of being a stealthy assassin. Why sneak when you're practically a tank. Oh and get rid of all of the trailing missions please.

[elninels]

I agree, I began by restarting when I wouls get caught trying to maintain stealth, but the stealth gameplay is so shallow, as is the combat, that I tired of all land activities rather quickly. I'd like a true stealthy assassins game.

[wls1012]

I loved it.

[fanta_claus]

I just want a wild west Assassin's Creed

[alexkoepp]

guessing that one will be coming sooner rather than later

[PhantomT1412]

I'm not one of those people that say a pirate themed Assassin's Creed Game isn't an Assassin's Creed game. But an Assassin's Creed set in the wild west would be closer to Red Dead Redemption than an AC game.

[KentBlake]

No more eavesdropping and tailing missions, and I'm good.

And that Kenway's Fleet thing felt more like work than fun.

[Lucreto]

I don't understand why people don't like eavesdropping and tailing missions.

You are an Assassin you need to gather information on your target through eavesdropping and then find their location by following know associates.

If you take them out how would you find your target?

I loved the fleet game. I had the phone app and I kept my fleet moving each evening even if I couldn't get to the game. I raised 200,000 over a week I was away from my machine.

[Vashv17]

I understand where you're coming from but there are way too many. It gets repetitive fast, gameplay wise. Story/lore wise it makes sense to eeavesdrop but not every other mission has to have it.

[Lucreto]

@Vashv17

What would you change it with?

I know it gets old but there is no other way on finding your target. The Assassin can't automatically know there he is.

Eavesdropping and tailing missions are fundamental part of the series and can't be just gotten rid of. If people don't like them there are plenty of other games out there.

[PhantomT1412]

I wouldn't say no more tailing missions but definitely less of it. It's more annoying than challenging.

As for the eavesdropping, I think it can be quite challenging (especially those in AC4), but they shouldn't put big narrative info in them, it's quite difficult to actually listen to what they say when you're struggling to follow them.

[DragonKnight]

I'm fine with tailing, I enjoy it. It's like a hunter stalking prey. But those eavesdropping missions are awful. I like how AC1 did it, but having to stay in a circle in some of these areas is just too much.

[PhantomT1412]

@DragonKnight

Lol, eavesdropping in the first AC was a joke. You just had to sit back, relax, and listen.

[Vashv17]

@Lucreto

I don't know honestly. I'm not saying take it out of the game entirely. I'd just like more variety that's all.

[Bathyj]

Can I have a crouch button please. And more stealth and better/challenging AI.

[starchild]

I agree with you. They need to make it more of an actual stealth game.

[Lucreto]

I loved ACIV one of the best games last year. I am a huge AC fan and I love everything about it including the modern day stuff.

The only changes I would make would be to change the combat around a bit and add a crouch button.

[Master-H]

I'd buy a Ninja Creed game, mostly because the Tenchu nostalgia is hitting me so bad right now i'd even tolerate AC's crappy combat system.

[Bathyj]

God, I'd take a (well made) Tenchu over just about any other game past present or future. Yes, thats how much I love Tenchu.

[Tex117]

I wish Ubi sent me that survey.

One thing I do have to hand it to Ubisoft, they are at least trying to get it right.

I think they are on to something with the Pirate thing, but really doesn't need to be associated with an Assassins game.

If they make it a stand alone game, they need to do a few things.

(1) Get some great writers to make a great pirate tale...drop the AC stuff. Make it "Pirates of the Carribean" with ridiculous people and story.

(2) Take a much harder look at the "collectables." That was a map full of busy work. Make the side stuff meaningful. Gives us some side "story arc" (kinda like the Templar brother quest...but longer and more invovled).

Loved the ship upgrades and a reason to get them...(ie take down legendary ships) You could feel yourself getting stronger.

(3) RE-WORK THE DAMN COMBAT. If they can somehow put a degree of skill into the sword play and pistols...holy eff. (Making upgrading swords and pistols necessary would also be great).

[SnotyTheRocket]

They need to take a page from the Batman Arkham games, in terms of combat AND stealth.

[DragonKnight]

No. Batman Arkham combat is pretty much the same thing as AC. Punch until the guy behind you goes to attack, counter, rinse and repeat. Throw in some enemies that don't immediately die from counters (Brutes or Captains in AC4, Shield guys in Batman Arkham games) to poorly mix it up.

Stealth in Batman Arkham games isn't much better either. Grapple hook to the roof of some place, wait, move if light or sensor is near. Rinse and repeat.

[Bathyj]

I dont get why Batman enjoys such a good reputation for its combat. Its just as Dragon said. Mash mash mash counter. The first 3 or so AC games had better combat. You needed a degree of timing and skill. Now you can take on a dozen guys at once no problem. As soon as you kill one, you just keep that kill combo going.

[jimjam3442]

assassins creed defined itself by being a stealth game set in the renaissance, and the first game (i never played the first one) were going too far into the future imo. lets have an assassins creed game where you kill jesus!!!

[dcj0524]

Dude that game would be on the news world wide as a anti-christain satanic game. "them gamers need JESUS!"

[giovonni]

I actually enjoyed this assassin's creed black flag. The game was very well put together, with a lot of side quests to do. The story was decent nothing to marvel over. The sea battles, hunting, and different assassin factions were good too.
The problems I had were the same as I had from the last few Assassin Creeds. The controls need to be tweaked. Do you know how annoying it is to hold down the action button, chasing a target and you are about to catch his a$$, and Edward runs up on the wall for no reason at all, or runs up the wall and hangs for a good 2.5 seconds?