Ben-DutkaThere's no doubt that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a great game. Greater than I thought it would be.
But now it seems that we may once again be changing assassins and settings, if a survey leaked to IGN is any indication. It appears the publisher is asking gamers what they want to see in the next Assassin's Creed entry, and it also hints at the possibility of a separate pirate-themed title.
Naval combat was introduced in the series in Assassin's Creed III , and it of course hit a fever pitch in the recently released Black Flag . Ubisoft has proven that they can create a fantastic naval mechanic, so it might not be a bad idea to produce a game based solely on pirates. Besides, it would free up the AC franchise and bring it back to its roots, so-to-speak. I don't mean to say that this year's effort is a huge departure, but ships are indeed a big part of the game. The survey asks all sorts of questions, including whether or not we might want more stealth-oriented missions, or the ability to explore the interiors of more buildings.
But as always, the most intriguing possibility is a whole new setting and hero. Thus far, my favorite is the 15th and 16th century Renaissance periods – I adore Italy! – in the Ezio trilogy (ACII, Brotherhood and Revelations ), although I absolutely appreciated the ambition put into the Revolutionary War era in ACIII. The original was set earlier than them all, way back in the Middle Ages and Constantinople. So, what's next? Me, I've always wanted to see a medieval environment, and it'd be awesome if the hero was somehow an actual Knight. Not the Knights Templar, of course, but there could be some intriguing connections…
Above all else, I definitely don't want a futuristic setting. Thankfully, though, Ubisoft says that idea doesn't really fit the series, and I wholeheartedly agree. Where do you want AC to go?
