Video Game Review: Assassin's Creed Mirage

The past couple weeks I have done a full emersion into Middle Eastern culture thanks to the newest Assassin's Creed game, Mirage. This is a cultural topic I have always been fascinated with, but have rarely gotten into. The game is set in Baghdad during the Golden Age of Islam (from 800s to 1200s). I have been aware that some of the earliest civilizations in human history took place in the Middle East such as Sumer, the Assyrian Empire, and the Persian Empire. I was not aware that Baghdad was once the largest city in the world, by which the Abbasid Caliphate ushered in a golden renaissance. I intend to further write/study on this historical period so won't focus too much on the game setting here. 

This release by Ubisoft marks an end to an almost three year wait after the release of Valhalla in 2020. The popular video game series is undergoing a major transformation with various new platforms and games slated to release in the next couple years. The game has been one of my favorite franchises for it's open world historical settings. This game, Mirage was a clear break from their previous formats and a return to stealth over combat. It's central character Basim was a part of the Valhalla storyline who introduced the Hidden Ones brotherhood to Eivor. This game takes place several years before the events of Valhalla, and focuses on Basim's story and initiation into the brotherhood. 

The Game-Play

Basim grows up in the outskirts of Baghdad in a city known as Anbar (present day Iraq). He works as a street thief with his friend Nehal, but seeks more purpose and goes on a daring quest to join the Hidden One Brotherhood. He steals an artifact from the Abbasid Caliphate and shows it to the Hidden Ones, who welcome him into their brotherhood. Basim then undergoes training before he is set off on his first assignment in Baghdad to uncover the mysterious cult of the Ancient Order. He undergoes various trials, searches, and assassinations throughout the Round City of Baghdad. He discovers that many of the Abbassid government officials and servicemen are corrupted by this ancient order and seeks to cleans the city from it's wickedness.

Unlike previous games such as Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla that had a power-up feature to the character which put more emphasis on combat, this game does not. Instead it dials down the complexity to a simpler format seen in the earlier games. The gameplay is once again all about stealth and not about magical powers, gear, and weapon upgrades. Basim can hold his own against an enemy, but it is no easy task against multiple enemies. This format requires stealth or flee tactics, rather than fight your way thru things (which makes the game more challenging and enjoyable). The game kind of reminded me of the 1st one (which took place in Israel/Syria) or Assassin's Creed Revelations (which took place in Constantinople). 

Aside from the main story and various collectables there aren't many side-quest interactions in this game. Instead there is a web of investigation pertaining to the main story, and contracts on the side. Performing contracts is good for tokens used to recruit help but not necessary for improving the character's level like in previous games. Basim can collect resources to improve his weapons and gear (but the arsenal is much more limited then before). Weapons include swords, daggers, throwing knives, blowdarts, smoke bombs, and noisemakers. I found the smoke-bombs to be the most effective at easily killing multiple enemies at a time. (I believe this was also the case for Constantinople, which almost felt like a cheat).

The other usual AC features are included like a loyal stead (either horse or camel) that can be called upon at any moment. Also the return of an aerial eagle companion (Enkidu) that offers great overhead eagle-vision. In this game however the bird will get shot at if there is a marksman on duty (which brings an additional challenge to take out the marksman before utilizing Enkidu's vision). Most quests or assassination zones offer various methods and opportunities to perform the task, which makes the game so enjoyable. When all else fails there is still the option to charge, kill, and run but this rarely works well plus it's just not as rewarding. 

Basim has the typical assassin skills, with the iconic assassin's switchblade used for quick stealth kills. He can blend in crowds or use various means of distractions such as hiring singers or mercenaries. The climbing is reminiscent to earlier games with routes to take, rather then the ability to climb anywhere. He can pickpocket which is often needed in main quests or simply collecting additional money or resources. He also has the iconic eagle vision which allows him to identify enemy threats, allies, and even locate treasures. The viewpoints are ideal for uncovering all the map has to offer. 

All-in-all I'd say this was a very limited game compared to previous more ambitious games. I zipped thru the main story rather quickly and effortlessly and probably put no more than 20 hours into the main story, and maybe an additional 5 hours into contracts and exploring. The setting of Baghdad was interesting but hardly offered much awe-inspiring buildings (aside from the House of Wisdom and some mosques here and there). I was glad to see they removed the present-day animus storyline which always takes away from the historical magic. I was overall satisfied and inspired by the game, but don't think it would make my top ten favorite AC games.