Summary
Not many games dabble in historical fiction as successfully asAssassin’s Creed.The franchise has made taking gamers back in time to long-lost civilizations with detailed renditions of some of the world’s most iconic cities of all time into its bread and butter. From the Crusade-era adventures of the very first installment to its upcoming Baghdad chapter, Ubisoft has found a way to convey history lessons to its audience through its deadly espionage-focused gameplay. WithAssassin’s Creed Mirageset to re-enact 9th-century Baghdad through the lens of Basim, the franchise has touched on just about every state of European and Middle Eastern history. Still, locations like colonial Australia need some representation in theAssassin’s Creeduniverse.
Ubisoft loves mythological fantasies and cultural representation, and the developer has doubled down on these themes in its most recent RPG-focusedgames likeAssassin’s CreedValhallaandOdyssey. The RPG elements left a sour taste with some die-hard fans, and many appreciate the franchise’s upcoming return to stealth-dominated gameplay inMirage. Despite its recent perceived shortcomings,Assassin’s Creedhas never lacked an intriguing plot. IfMiragefollows suit with an iconic Baghdad tale, colonial Australia should be the next setting to carry the franchise’s torch into the future.
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Assassin’s Creed’s World Tour Needs to Make a Pit Stop in Australia
Historical fiction-themed gameplay would be incomplete withoutAssassin’s Creed, as the most successful franchise in the genre visits different timeframes and places in world history to give a glimpse into the traditions of times long gone. Since its debut,Assassin’s Creedhas visited over 15 locations, and as more are poised to host upcomingMirageandCodenameprojects, the question of ignored continents comes into play. Ubisoft’s commitment to taking theAssassin’s Creedexperience around the globe is remarkable, but the Australian map is notably missing from any of the developer’s public plans. The Australian continent doesn’t lack for history, and the Aboriginal people deserve representation in a future iteration of the series.
WithAssassin’s Creedreturning to its more realistic roots inMirageafter stints withmythological elements inValhallaandOdyssey, colonial Australia provides the perfect setting for the series to solidify its footing. The arrival of the British in 1788 spelled doom for the indigenous people of the First Nations, who were driven back before the mighty wave of imperialist culture. The natives initially welcomed the foreigners' arrival, often making compromises to accommodate the colonists. However, as the British settlement expanded its reach further into the continent, clashes with the Aboriginals became commonplace due to conflicting interests over land and economic activities.
The colonists had disdain for the Aboriginal hunting-gathering way of life, and the disagreements often turned violent due to the practically nonexistent lines of communication. Thus, a frontier was established, akin to thesetting ofAssassin’s Creed 3, which took players to the forefront of the American Revolution. Although the firepower of the Aborigines doesn’t compare to that of the Americans, there is similar potential for Ubisoft to explore the struggle between the indigenous people and the colonialists. The people of the First Nations waged guerrilla campaigns against the invading force using innovative bushcraft, and this lines up withAssassin’s Creedcore dynamic of stealth.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s castle invasions can provide a blueprint for strike missions to sabotage the colonialist settlements in Australia, and indigenous people’s bushcraft also offers an opportunity to expandAssassin’s Creed’s array of weaponry. The region has some mainstay series weapons like spears and clubs, but the boomerang, Woomera (spear thrower), and bone needles are novelties that could help the protagonist take out targets from afar. Given the franchise’s themes in its early games of the Brotherhood’s struggles with theTemplar Order, the fight against colonialist oppression through the lens of a native protagonist fits theAssassin’s Creedaesthetic.
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