Must You Play the First Assassin‘s Creed Before AC2?
As a long-time gamer and aficionado of Ubisoft‘s stealth action series, I‘m often asked by newcomers if playing the inaugural Assassin‘s Creed title is necessary before diving into the fan-favorite sequel set during the Italian Renaissance. While Assassin’s Creed 2 can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone introduction to the epic franchise, the original provides critical backstory and worldbuilding context that ultimately enhances the experience. Allow me – your guide through the expansive lore and history of this iconic franchise – to present the key facts before rendering my personal verdict at the end.
An Ongoing War Between Assassins and Templars
While the visual splendor of 15th century Italy awaits, this gorgeously rendered historical playground serves primarily as the stage for an unseen war raging between two secret organizations vying over humanity‘s fate. The Assassins value free will and progress achieved through peace, while the authoritarian Templars believe strict order and control are necessary to prevent chaos. This ideological conflict spans centuries and continues in the modern day through the memories of ancestors like Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Grasping this perpetual struggle provides essential context.
The Philosophical Divide Between Assassins and Templars
This fundamental dichotomy between freedom and security weaves its way through every Assassin‘s Creed title. Most development studios recognize this underlying ethical tension must be handled delicately rather than simplistically reduced to “good vs evil.” As evidenced through morally gray protagonists like Shay Patrick Cormac or narrative twists revealing Templars‘ noble intentions, creative forces behind AC aim for nuance befitting the series‘ mature themes.
Without spoiling intricate details about this ages-old war, AC1 establishes many foundational elements regarding the Assassins and Templars expanded upon throughout future titles:
| Assassins | Templars |
|---|---|
| Sworn to uphold free will and human progress achieved through peace | Seek to impose strict order and control society for its own good |
| Trace heritage to Hassan-I Sabbah‘s secret order circa 11th century Persia | Evolved from medieval Catholic military order officially endorsed by Church |
| Master stealth, agility, wisdom and use iconic Hidden Blade for covert assassinations | Wield influence, weapons and wealth to manipulate politics, business and other institutions |
Make no mistake – AC2 stands firmly on its own two feet thanks to immediately accessible gameplay wedded with charismatic new protagonist Ezio Auditore and the sun-dappled glory of Renaissance Italy. But time spent with Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad during the initial entry‘s Middle Eastern crusades roots players firmly within centuries of secret conflict.
The Inception of Desmond Miles’ Story
While historical tourism forms the backbone of Assassin’s Creed’s surface appeal, an intricate framing device set in 2012 introduces Desmond Miles. Through a revolutionary technology called the Animus that unlocks ancestral memories lodged within one’s DNA, death row inmate Desmond relives the experiences of predecessors to acquire knowledge critical for saving mankind.
This bleeding effect between historic recreations and Desmond’s present reality intensifies as the series continues. What begins with puzzling glitches and unexplained skills manifesting in AC1 culminates in moments where the very barriers of time and space appear dangerously malleable.
casual fans simply seeking swashbuckling adventures may overlook this component entirely without greatly impacting enjoyment. But Desmond’s odyssey grants deeper significance and emotional investment to exploits within the Animus simulation. Assassin‘s Creed 1 lays vital groundwork as Desmond uncovers secrets of his bloodline tied to larger conspiracies.
Comparing Gameplay and Mechanics Between Titles
While revolutionary at release in 2007, the original Assassin‘s Creed‘s basic gameplay pillars of stealth, parkour navigation and kinetic combat feel dated now. Ubisoft Montreal went back to the drawing board for the sequel, polishing existing systems while introducing welcome new features:
| Gameplay Aspect | Assassin‘s Creed | Assassin‘s Creed 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Stealth | Basic hiding spots and distractions | Smoke bombs, hiring groups to assist |
| Navigation | Climb most structures freely | Swim and fly between rooftops with ease |
| Combat | Counter focused armed/unarmed fights | More weapon variety including disarms/executions |
| Open World | Sparse side content and repetitive quest structure | Dynamic world brimming with varied missions |
| Economy | Collect supplies to build Assassin network | Purchase armor/upgrades. Invest in businesses. |
| Progression | Unlock combat techniques and better gear | Full fledged RPG elements like experience levels |
Burdened by technical ambition without established templates, the inaugural Assassin’s Creed fused organic parkour, social stealth and fierce swordplay into an unforgettable new play style never experienced before. Yet ambitions exceeded realities of the era, resulting in shallow side content. AC2 addressed nearly all criticisms through gameplay refinements across the board while retaining that indescribable free-running finesse, respecting franchise foundations laid by its predecessor.
But make no mistake – while dated visually, that sense of wonder creeping up ancient structures towards unsuspecting targets >100 feet below to silently dispense cold justice remains palpable. Modern titles expand the toolset, but the original fantasy of being a blade in the crowd remains unmatched.
Renaissance Italy Outclasses Medieval Holy Land
Without the atmospheric foundation established by AC1’s 12th century Holy Land oozing mystery and menace despite simplistic structure, Ezio Auditore’s ascension from carefree nobleman to hooded master assassin would lack emotional weight. But in terms of sheer environmental diversity and density of things to do, Renaissance Italy easily outclasses its predecessor.
Sprinting across Vatican City’s imposing architecture en route to intercept a corrupt Cardinal never grows old. Emerging from Carnevale festivities to tail a slaver through Venice’s winding canalways offers endless replay value. Exploring the expansive countryside from quaint villa to quiet monastery by galloping up dirt roads illuminated by the setting sun encapsulates the franchise at its finest.
And these unforgettable scenes merely scratch the surface of 25+ hour epic underscoring Assassin’s Creed 2‘s greatness. Ubisoft Montreal poured heart and soul into this stunning recreation of history’s rebirth appropriately focused on an assassin discovering his life’s renewed purpose.
| Historical Aspect | Assassin's Creed | Assassin's Creed 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Crusades Era Holy Land (1190) | Italian Renaissance (1476 on) |
| Locations | Jerusalem, Acre and Damascus | Florence, Tuscany, Venice, more |
| Protagonist | Altaïr lbn-La’Ahad | Ezio Auditore da Firenze |
| Notoriety System | Basic social stealth/blending | Deeper citizen reactions/bribes |
| Historical Figures | Richard the Lionheart, others | da Vinci, Borgias, Medicis + |
Despite stunning architecture and iconic historical figures brought to life, AC1‘s monotonous side content and empty world undermine Altaïr’s otherwise compelling personal story of redemption. Ubisoft Montreal certainly learned from these shortcomings when crafting AC2‘s lively, unparalleled Renaissance playground.
Franchise Sales, Reviews and Popularity
While success felt guaranteed after 2007‘s strong debut, few predicted just how astoundingly Assassin‘s Creed 2 resonated with gamers worldwide. Strong critical reception coupled with enormous sales cementing Ezio as an instant icon illustrates renewed enthusiasm accompanying this evolutionary leap. Assassin’s Creed ascended to true blockbuster status with a sequel that significantly outpaced its beloved predecessor both financially and culturally:
| Metric | Assassin‘s Creed | Assassin‘s Creed 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic Score | 81% | 91% |
| Sales Numbers | Over 8 million units sold | Over 11.5 units sold |
| Major DLC Expansions | None | 2 Major Single Player Content Packs |
| Main Series Sequels | 0 | 2 (Brotherhood and Revelations) |
| Protagonist Sequels | 0 | 3 Games Cover Ezio‘s Entire Life |
Cementing over $500 million in total revenue by early 2010, AC2 tripled first months sales of the original on route to the 2010 Game of The Year award from The Game Developers Choice Awards. Ezio Auditore’s charismatic swan dive into history‘s turbulent waters certainly made waves whose ripples continue being felt today.
Mature Content Across the Series
Parents should note that Assassin’s Creed games earned their Mature 17+ rating from the ESRB thanks to visceral action and occasionally unsettling themes. While the overall philosophy promotes peace and empathy when possible, players still employ violence dealing with topics like murder, corruption and theft. Certain scenes feature intense fights, blood, scary imagery and other content which may prove disturbing for younger gamers.
Common Sense Media offers reasonable age recommendations:
- Assassin’s Creed (Age 14+)
- Assassin’s Creed II (Age 15+)
Based on personal experience with 13 year old AC fans, I feel teenage minds ready for nuanced perspectives can extract positive meaning from virtual worlds shaped by tireless developers. But personal discretion from legal guardians seems wise.
ESRB Ratings Summaries clearly detail content justifying “Mature” designations:
Assassin's Creed
This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of Altair, a medieval assassin working to uncover the truth behind a secret war between two ancient sects. As players attempt to carry out a series of assassinations, they use swords, daggers, and throwing knives to kill rival soldiers and guards. Fighting is highlighted by realistic slash wounds and large blood-splatter effects. Enemies cry out in pain when stabbed, and they can get impaled or decapitated by Altair‘s blade. Some sequences allow players to interrogate tied-up characters using ‘rough persuasive tactics‘; cries of pain are heard during these sequences. The words "f*k" and "sht" can be heard in the dialogue.
Assassin's Creed II
This is an action-adventure game in which players assume the role of an Italian assassin (Ezio) seeking vengeance for his family‘s betrayal. Players use swords, daggers, maces, smoke bombs, and throwing knives to kill various enemies (e.g., city guards, rival families, thieves) in melee-style combat; combat is often frenetic, and accompanied by realistic cries of pain and large blood-splatter effects. Cutscenes sometimes depict characters getting stabbed in the head or chest; blood pools under dying characters, staining the ground. Ezio can also assassinate enemies from behind – the camera pans to Ezio placing his hand over enemies’ mouths, slitting their throats. The words “f*k” and “cnt” can be heard in dialogue.
Thank you for allowing me to share informed perspectives on deciding whether to play AC1 before AC2. Please reach out with any other questions!
Yours in passing wisdom between worlds ancient and modern,
MasterAssassin75
