TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise is in an unusual state. The past two games have feature protagonists that aren’t and do not become Assassins. There’s even enough time, narratively speaking, to makeEivor and Kassandra Hidden Ones inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s DLC, but that doesn’t quite change the fact that neither of them plays like Assassins.
The move from action-adventure to action RPG has muddied the waters of the franchise’s identity, no matter how one approaches the game. Beyond all of that, it hasn’t really been so much about the Assassins or the Templars, either. Many are concerned about the franchise losing its identity, and with good reason. While Valhalla is still getting support,Assassin’s Creed Infinitypromises to be the next stage inAC’s lifecycle, and no one knows what that will look like.
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In the meantime, fans often lament that there are so few games out there that scratch the particular itch of Assassin’s Creed. The gameplay, lore, and more were once so integral that they defined the experience, and many feel some of that is lost. To twist a dagger in the situation, Ubisoft is clearly aware of its roots. Not only was there an “AC” Easter egg in The Siege of Paris that further split fans, but it seems thatWatch Dogs: Legionis set to feature more true-to-rootsAssassin’s Creedcontent than the franchise itself is.
Watch Dogs: Legion’s Darcy of the Assassin Brotherhood
Fans have known thatWatch Dog: Legionwould feature anAssassin’s Creedcrossoverfor quite some time now, but with Darcy finally arriving on August 24, all of the new details sound mightily impressive on paper. While Darcy is non-canon, it’s not clear why. Many believe thatWatch Dogsis essentially modern-dayAssassin’s Creed, and Darcy is clearly taking advantage of that idea. Ubisoft would do well to embrace it at this point, but as it stands, the two rivers are separated.
Darcy is a modern-day member of the Assassin Brotherhood, descended from Jacob Frye. She’s not the only one of Frye’s relatives alive in London, as Sandra Cassidy is a playable, professional Hitman who is also related to Jacob Frye. Darcy is a bit more than just one ofWatch Dogs: Legions’ recruitable NPCsthough, as she comes with her own story and world missions.
Through theseWatch Dogs: Legionstory elements, players as Darcy will be going up against a modern Templar, discovering Assassin bureaus, and utilizing classic synchronization gameplay in some fashion. In other words, whileAssassin’s Creed Syndicateis the latest time period in a mainlineACgame(withAC Chronicles: Russiaholding that spot overall ), Darcy finds herself in the most modern gameplay setting yet.
To step into an Assassin’s shoes once more, players can go back toAC UnityorAC Syndicate(or sooner). Theoretically, they can even playAssassin’s Creed Origins,as Bayek is closer to Assassin gameplayas a proto-Hidden One than either Kassandra or Eivor. Or, starting August 24, it seems they can playWatch Dogs: Legion. The writers have mentioned that they take a few liberties with her character since she isn’t canon, but she certainly sounds more Assassin-y than some recentACprotagonists.
Darcy, An Assassin Protagonist
As part of her own DLC with her own story, Darcy is a playable Assassin protagonist.Jacob and Evie Fryewere the last this time happened with no half-measures (such as being a proto-Hidden One). She even comes equipped with a Hidden Blade, and while it’s hard to imagineWatch Dogs: Legionworking in a lot of parkour for her, it’s hard not to see her for everything she is.
And, simply put, that’s acharacter designed withAssassin’s Creedin mind. It’ll be interesting to see how she claims that identity inWatch Dogs: Legion, and whether or not her story can live up to past games is up in the air. Still, for fans of the franchise, she seems worth checking out.
Watch Dogs: Legionis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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