Was Basim a good guy?

As an avid gamer and industry commentator, I get asked a lot about Basim‘s heel turn in Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla‘s story. Many fans felt betrayed when the ally they‘d come to know revealed his secret agenda of vengeance against their protagonist, Eivor.

So let‘s analyze: was Basim truly a "good guy" in Valhalla? After reviewing the story arcs and characterization, the answer is clearly no. While he aided Eivor at times, his motivations were selfish and vengeful due to ancient grudges. His pretense gave way to stereotypical villainy.

Uncovering Basim‘s Origins as Loki

To understand Basim‘s arc, we must first delve into his backstory from the AC universe lore. Long before the events of Valhalla, Basim was known as Loki – a member of the influential Isu civilization that ruled Earth. The Isu play a pivotal role in the franchise mythos.

Loki felt betrayed by his fellow Isu council members, especially his once-friend Odin. This fuels a deep-seated drive for vengeance that carries through the centuries. Parts of these ancient beings‘ consciousness were eventually reborn as two people – Basim and Eivor.

Herein lies the core of Basim‘s motivations; his facade in Valhalla masks a single-minded quest to exact revenge upon Eivor for Odin‘s past wrongdoings. This critical backstory gives essential context.

Behind the Betrayal: Basim‘s Schemes and Revenge

Throughout Valhalla, Basim appears as an ally providing intelligence and even gifting Eivor a priceless Hidden Blade. But his amity disguises ulterior motives – secretly manipulating events to locate artifacts enabling access to the Isu‘s powerful Yggdrasil supercomputer.

Basim intends to use this technology to reshape the world by compromising the free will of its inhabitants – seemingly to upend power structures that caused his ancient suffering. His role as a helpful Hidden One facilitates this conspiracy.

Upon his plans unraveling, Basim‘s true nature erupts to the forefront. He attacks and maims protagonist Eivor – his closest contemporary link to Odin – in order to sate his long-simmering fury. This betrayal cements Basim‘s heel turn into the story‘s central villain.

Analyzing Basim‘s Characterization: Did It Work?

For some AC fans and critics, Basim‘s emergence as Valhalla‘s surprise villain worked well within the interconnected transmedia narrative. It actualized a classic trope – the ally who betrays the protagonist in an unexpected third act turn.

However, others felt Basim‘s characterization was not properly earned. His single-minded vengeance seemingly arose abruptly, without adequate build-up or complexity – overly sudden to logically follow from his initial introduction.

Rather than a layered descent towards necessary antagonism, Basim rapidly devolved into a hammy, shallow villain bent solely on petty score-settling despite nobler causes indicated. This stark contrast violated principles of good storytelling for some reviewers.

Overall the fanbase remains divided; many still found Basim‘s arc satisfying and the hidden depths true-to-form for AC‘s elaborate, intricate lore. But flaws in execution caused cognitive dissonance for a portion of the players.

Presumptive Data: What‘s Next for Basim?

According to my industry sources, Basim returns as the protagonist for the next franchise title in development, Assassin‘s Creed Mirage. Set years before Valhalla, Mirage will showcase Basim‘s early days as a Hidden One trained in Baghdad by his mentor, Roshan.

Presumptive data analysis indicates Basim‘s characterization in Mirage will add complexity and more logical motivation leading up to the single-minded vengeance embodied in Valhalla. Events that harden his heart may unfold on-screen.

If later betrayals and disillusionments are shown eroding Basim‘s empathetic traits and optimism over time, his villainous turn could feel properly set up and earned. Mirage may build player investment for a redemption arc to follow.

Early rumors suggest the gameplay pivot to a smaller scale, more stealth-focused direction aligns well with Basim‘s skill set as an assassin rather than a viking raider. The setting and game structure changes appear tailored to his strengths as a protagonist.

Theories Around Possible Character Growth

My early theorycrafting based on the presumptive details suggests Basim‘s journey in Mirage will lay groundwork for more organic emotional beats leading into Valhalla events:

• Young Basim retaining some idealism and principles from his upbringing
• Mentor Roshan‘s early lessons steering him towards compassion
• Disillusioning events that start the gradual erosion of innocence over time

If the above elements manifest in Mirage‘s narrative and gameplay, Basim has strong potential for nuanced characterization. His ultimate choices could elicit more empathy, building player investment towards a redemptive conclusion.

In Summary: An Ally Who Betrayed Too Abruptly

So in closing my analysis on fan questions around "was Basim a good guy in AC Valhalla" – the clear answer remains a resounding no. While helping the player early on, his friendly facade disguised vengeful motivations. He manipulated events, attacked Eivor, and devolved into a more cliched villain archetype than some fans felt was earned.

However, the context around Basim‘s ancient past provides compelling underpinnings for the plot. With refinement, his planned role as the protagonist of Assassin‘s Creed Mirage shows strong potential to add the requisite dimension and relatable traits that enhance viewer empathy and buy-in for his eventual redemption. Ubisoft has demonstrated good instincts pivoting gameplay and locations to highlight these unique characters.

As an ardent long-time gamer myself, I believe Basim and the ever-evolving AC universe still have rich stories left to tell. What did you think of his arc in Valhalla, and what other elements would you like explore around the character? Let me know in the comments!