When the rumour about Ubisoft planning to show off the new Assassin’s Creed game came today, I was on the fence. I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen much less imagining it to happen the way it did – in a painfully long Live video showing a Ubisoft employed Artist drawing out the whole poster for the reveal from scratch.
All credit to the Artist, BossLogic, he truly is a skilful artist and a pleasure to watch. I just wish the occasion didn’t take as dreadfully long as this. It’s hard to believe anyone has planned to spend 8-hours long watching a video game reveal.
The very long new Assassin’s Creed Teaser.
It’s called a tease for a reason. A tease is meant to be brief and mischievous yet enjoyable. This has been going on so long it qualifies as mental torture. While I love watching a true master at work, I loathe being forced to sit through this long and painful process but the fault is none of his and all Ubisoft’s.
I pity those who waited to watch this on their phone, relying only on limited mobile data. They would have to wait for this whole thing to be over and just follow the end result. There’d be no sense of participation for them this round, to be there for their beloved IP as the publisher unveils it for the first time.
Players’ Protest.
The crowd watching the stream, on the other hand, has another matter to protest about other than just complaints on the long video hours. Thousands of #NO RPG tags were water falling down the chats, as players protest against the franchise moving towards the Loot-based RPG road. Gathering from the comments, it seems most of those who responded in the chats favoured the franchise returning to its more linear approach and stay relevant to the AC lore.
But alas, this reveal is not about gameplay and mechanism. This is about showcasing the new Assassin’s Creed game and announcing its theme and intention for all that matters.
Looking Back Before We Look Forward.
Is the theme really going to be Nordic this time? Was something many have wondered for a while before this reveal, and despite some rumours and confirmations here and there of Nordic elements, I was still not completely convinced, and for good reasons.
Assassin’s Creed Origins did an excellent job in breathing a new life into a stale franchise by offering new combat mechanics, a bigger and more responsive world, and most importantly the creed relevant storyline and grim tales of loss that fans have loved since Assassin’s Creed 2.
Odyssey, however, created a huge division among fans. While some praised and worshipped its scale and overall improvements from Origins, many on the other hand didn’t find the game’s storyline relevant to the AC lore.
So, what will going Norse bring to the table? Will it just be another Odyssey where the game pretends to be an Assassin’s Creed game while storywise it’s actually something else? Or will it finally live up to the promising standards laid in Origins?
The Reveal.
What the drawing has shown is a picture of two worlds with an Assassin standing in between. One of the worlds can be easily associated with the cold icy Scandinavian climate with a Viking era Longship that would confirm Nordic representation in the game. The visible Aurora in the sky further reinforces the geographical accuracy of this claim. On the longship, the markings on the sail looked like a pair of Raven, a common marking used by the Vikings on their banners and flags.
The other, a warm plane of green fields with a European styled castle ruin sitting on top of a hill bearing a strong English/Saxon vibe and a scene of infantries doing battle.
The face of the Assassin is hidden, understandably to protect the identity of our hero and to create a sense of mystery. Though we now know the gender is male.
Traditionally, Assassin’s in previous AC games have always been accompanied by an eagle or associated with one. The Raven behind the Assassin is a testimony of the protagonist’s nordic origins and shift from tradition.
The Assassin is holding an Axe with both hands which quickly reminds us of another past Assassin who also wields an Axe, Connor or his real name Ratonhnhaké:ton, from Assassin’s Creed 3. Though the huge gap between the AC 3 and this Viking timeline would eliminate any chance of Connor being our new hero.
The final work after 8-hours.
The bracers on both hands looked like they could house hidden blades and I can only hope this iconic Assassin weapon returns.
There’s a quiver with arrows at the side of the belt, the position of the quiver seems to suggest that they are short arrows/bolts commonly used on crossbows.
The beard, ponytail, pattern on the sleeve and the overall fashion donned by our new Assassin seem to verify his Nordic origins.
What about the game trailer? Read on.
After watching the whole video from A-Z for 8 damning hours, finally, we get to see a wonderful poster from Ubisoft telling us to watch the World Premiere Trailer TOMORROW on April 30, 8 AM PDT / 5 PM CEST. The name of the game is Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, by the way.
With no warning whatsoever on how long this video was going to be. With no indication whatsoever on whether or not what everybody came here for (the trailer, by the way, if it’s not clear yet by now) will be available. Without any regards at all to everyone who has waited fruitlessly for 8 mighty long hours, some who lives far east who had been watching since their late evenings until now, 2 hours shy of 6 AM. Only to be told to come back tomorrow for the most important thing everybody came for.
And what did Ubisoft called this session?
“Assassin’s Creed: Teaser | LIVE with Bosslogic”
A teaser.
I seriously wonder which fucker thought it was a great idea to waste 8 hours of everybody’s time just so that they can tell them to come back tomorrow.
