Assassin's Creed Mirage

Assassin's Creed: Mirage (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S [reviewed on PS5])

Developer: Ubisoft

Publisher: Ubisoft

Release Date: 5 October 2023

We find ourselves with yet another Assassin's Creed game on our hands. It would be so easy to treat it with indifference, especially in a year where AAA games have been coming in a non-stop conga line. However, I find myself spending way more hours with the game than I anticipated. Assassin's Creed isn't the best game this year - not by a long mile - but it says some very important things about the future of the gaming industry and our world. Heed what it says, for it speaks wisdom.

Today, we'll be reviewing Assassin's Creed: Mirage. In the lead-up to the game's release, Ubisoft has very much marketed it as a return to form for the franchise. In many ways, it is. But it also represents the franchise at its most confident, and it is evident that a lot has been learned from the world's reception to Valhalla and the often loathed “Ubisoft formula”.

This is much more than an Assassin's Creed throwback. It's one of the first must-play titles in the franchise in over a decade. Go with me on this journey through the sacred streets of ancient Baghdad. I think you might like what you find.

A word on Islam

In short, Islam is a religion centred on the teaching of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and belief in a divine creator called Allah. The five pillars of Islam are:

• Profession of Faith (shahada) - A true Muslim believes in the Tawhid, the oneness of God.

• Alms (zakat) - You must donate your money to mosques and charity

• Fasting (sawm) - This is practiced during Ramadaan

• Pilgrimage (hajj) - All able-bodied Muslims must make the Pilgrimage to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime

• Prayer (salat) - Prayer is observed five times a day, facing the Kaaba

Islam is one of the youngest major world religions, having only gained its footing in the 7th century. Despite this, it is very easy to make the argument that Islam is the most important religion of our lifetimes and one of the biggest zeitgeist-makers.

Don't believe me? Let's analyse the stats. Islam has 1.9 billion adherents, making it the second-biggest religion sitting just behind Christianity. It is expected to surpass Christianity within the next 30 years to reach a peak of 2.2 billion, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Furthermore, 79 countries will have a million or more Muslim inhabitants in 2030, up from 72 countries today.

What could be fueling this love of such a patriarchal religion? Does society crave order and rules? Does Islam contain a central truth that has managed to shine through the confusion and disquiet of our times? I can't answer these questions, but I can say that Islam is a beautiful religion that has given birth to stunning cultures. We get to explore some of the history of Islam in Assassin's Creed: Mirage, the latest entry in Ubisoft's flagship franchise.

Background

Assassin's Creed: Mirage is one of Ubisoft's most profitable franchises. Unfortunately, it hasn't been doing too well lately, and although Assassin's Creed: Valhalla performed well commercially, it was impossible to ignore the mounting criticisms facing the franchise.

Mirage comes at a time when Ubisoft's future hangs in the balance. Many of its latest titles have failed to reach expected milestones, leading to lower-than-expected financial results. Consequently, several Ubisoft titles have been cancelled (including a Splinter Cell VR game and a new Prince of Persia game).

In many ways, Assassin's Creed: Mirage is a response to the prevailing criticism. The franchise has gone on a diet, and you can complete this in about 20 hours if you rush, 30 if you slow down to take in the sights. Furthermore, it returns to the franchise's roots by focusing on stealth gameplay.

Developers haven't been afraid to reveal just how much they're appealing to nostalgia. For example, you can even throw on a filter that makes the game feel like the first entry in the series. The work wasn't for nothing, at least in my opinion. I'm here today to say that it is the best Assassin's Creed game in recent years.

Story

Admittedly, I haven't played any other prior Assassin's Creed game except for a bit of Liberation on my Vita a few years ago, but I managed to get into the story without any issues.

Assassin's Creed: Mirage stars Basim who you'll recognize from Valhalla. He begins his life as a typical street thief who gets by through pickpocketing. One day, a revenge killing results in the death of a young child, leading Basim on a path to redemption which has him joining the Hidden Ones. He is guided by Roshan though, as you learn, their relationship isn't as it initially seems.

I like Basim as a character, though at times it does feel like the accent is being laid on a little too thick. Furthermore, it is strange to watch him anguish over this one particular death when he commits large-scale atrocities throughout the game's playtime, killing dozens of guards simply doing their jobs. It is hard to believe he cares that much about murder when he murders so frequently.

Although the story is about Basim, it is impossible to not feel like Baghdad is a character as well. The setting oozes personality. The hawkers on the streets, villagers on their way to classes, and wildlife immediately transport you to an Oriental dream. Take me to the Islamic Golden Age, please! One of my favorite details is the fact that if you walk up to a mosque, you can sometimes hear the sacred call to prayer. It is enough to bring me to tears. Baghdad consists of the following areas:

• Abbasiyah – where scholars and scientists congregate

• Karkh – market district

• Harbiyah -The industrial district

• Madinat As-Salam – Baghdad's center

Turn this historical city into your playground, but don't forget to show your proper respects. Oftentimes, media depicts Baghdad as a war-torn place where nothing good happens. Nonsense! This is a cultural hub, and it is great that the region is receiving positive attention.

The game explores Basim's backstory as a young thief in Baghdad, and we learn a lot that expands his character. Nevertheless, you can fully appreciate the game without playing any prior titles. Newcomers won't be lost. In fact, this is a great game for anyone who wants a taste of what the franchise is about. However, if you want to understand the plot in its totality, you need some experience with the franchise, especially the first three games and Valhalla.

Gameplay

From early on, it is evident that we're dealing with a game that is stealth to the core. As you wind through the streets of Baghdad, you have plenty of opportunities to blend into the crowd, leap on roofs, and slide into sidestreets. You're also given plenty of cowtools to enter stealth. This includes noisemakers to distract foes, smoke bombs to conceal yourself, and throwing knives for silent kills.

The stealth gameplay is fun, and this comes from someone who's a big stealth gaming fan. This is easily my favorite part of the game. Nevertheless, it's not perfect. Most notably, you can do many of the annoying stealth cheesing tactics you typically find in bad stealth games. For example, you can just hide in a bush, whistle, and then murder guards one by one, leaving you with a singular pile of dead bodies.

Though the main story is short, there is plenty to do around Baghdad. You can complete World Contracts which earn you Favor Tokens. You can also complete the Tales of Baghdad which teach you more about the region's culture. Do not miss these if you want to learn more about Islam! There are also your typical collectibles including lost books and mysterious shards.

If it pleases you, it is possible to engage in crime and pickpocket locals. Be careful when you're engaging in criminal mischief because if you get caught, you'll be wanted. Allah is watching of course, but you'll face immediate danger from guards.

Like past games, you'll find wanted posters around which you can rip down to reduce the odds of you getting caught. If you're tired of running from the law, you can pay off your bounty. Here are the wanted levels:

• 1st threshold: wanted posters are stuck around

• 2nd threshold: guards and archers look for you, and civilians will report you

• 3rd threshold: The Elite Shakiriyya guard is unleashed

You have an eagle companion! Use it to scout but be careful, as archers can take it down. Lastly, there is a skill tree to focus on, but it doesn't feel like a major part of the game or something you need to grind for. Instead, you have the freedom to enjoy the story, and if you don't want to do any of the side activities, that's perfectly fine as well.

Audio and visuals

The game looks stunning. The streets are vibrant, and you get to enjoy varied environments including deserts, busy markets, and oases, to name a few. On PS5, you have a Quality and PErformance mode. Go for Quality, as you'll still get a consistent 60FPS. You'll also find lots Islamic art, and as you'd expect, none of it depicts any living things.

The music is great, allowing you to easily immerse yourself in the time period. These are the sounds of Islam and I love them.

Criticisms

There are a few things I don't like about the gameplay. Let's start with the minor stuff. You have “eagle vision”, essentially x-ray vision. I hate it, and I hate any game that does it. To me, it just indicates that you haven't designed your world well enough to be organically explored.

There are also those Ubisoft annoyances you can't escape. You can't reasonably without having some degree of a HUD up. The image above is the cleanest your screen is going to get. It is so annoying, especially when we're presented with such a gorgeous world. Modern games have come up with so many solutions to having an ugly compass on your screen. Dynamic HUDs, path indicators, and companion guides are just some of the creative solutions that have become industry standards. For Ubisoft to be lagging behind and still cluttering your screen is just frustrating.

Cats

Cats are beloved in Islam! They are considered to be clean animals, so clean that they are allowed to enter mosques. According to Mohammad (PBUH), "Affection for cats is part of faith”, and according to (often refuted) folklore, the prophet had a cat named Muezza.

Mirage has cats! You'll find them on the streets as you walk through Baghdad. Look out for the ones with the AC crest on their nose.

Conclusion

At present, according to Pew research, there are at least 49 countries that have a Muslim population of over 50%. For a while, Albania and Kosovo have been the only Western countries to have a majority Muslim population.

That's about to change. Why? Well, for starters, the Muslim population is expected to grow by 35% in the next 20 years. In contrast, Christian conversion rates are going down. As research reveals, the following countries are predicted to become majority Muslim within the century:

• Cyprus

• Sweden

• France

• Greece

• Belgium

• Bulgaria

• Italy

• Luxembourg

• UK

• Slovenia

• Switzerland

• Ireland

• Lithuania

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/PRR-12-2018-0034/full/html

Let's get more specific. In the USA, the population projections show the number of Muslims more than doubling over the next two decades, rising from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030. You'll also be interested to learn the following:

>The greatest increases – driven primarily by continued migration – are likely to occur in Western and Northern Europe, where Muslims will be approaching double-digit percentages of the population in several countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, Muslims are expected to comprise 8.2% of the population in 2030, up from an estimated 4.6% today. In Austria, Muslims are projected to reach 9.3% of the population in 2030, up from 5.7% today; in Sweden, 9.9% (up from 4.9% today); in Belgium, 10.2% (up from 6% today); and in France, 10.3% (up from 7.5% today).

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/01/27/the-future-of-the-global-muslim-population

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population-muslim-majority

This is the greatest thing I have ever learned. The world is about to change for the better. You better enjoy Assassin's Creed: Mirage because there will be so many more games that embrace Islam as the beautiful word of Allah penetrates Western society. Once you hear the Word, you can't deny its truth. It is like being in the desert and finding water, like taking a breath of fresh air just when you are about to drown.

AC Mirage gets 65/100 Hollys.