Why Assassin's Creed Mirage's Absence of a Modern-Day Segment Makes it the Perfect Game

Highlights

Assassin's Creed Mirage breaks from the series' usual modern-day segments, which have been divisive and considered a distraction from the historical gameplay.

Previous entries, such as Black Flag, were marred by tedious and frequent modern-day portions that interrupted the enjoyment and excitement of the game.

Mirage, on the other hand, concentrates entirely on the historical narrative, completely discarding any modern-day segments, thereby fostering a stronger sense of connection between players and the protagonist, Basim.

Assassin's Creed offers a familiar gameplay experience where players assume the role of a skilled Master Assassin navigating historical landscapes, identifying targets, and carrying out assassinations. This dynamic loop has remained a core feature of the series, including the most recent release, Assassin's Creed Mirage. Despite minor adjustments over the past 15 years, this cycle remains consistent and engaging, drawing fans back for more. However, the franchise has often interrupted the historical action with a mundane modern-day sequence. Assassin's Creed Mirage, however, may have revolutionized this aspect for the better.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Feels Better Without a Modern-Day Segment

Since its debut in 2007, the modern-day segments of Assassin's Creed have been a source of division among fans. However, complaints were less common during the earlier years of the series. In Assassin's Creed 1, players are introduced to Desmond Miles, a man in the present day who agrees to be a test subject for Abstergo Industries. Using his DNA, he is able to relive the memories of his ancestor Altair. Voiced by Nolan North, Desmond is a likable protagonist who gradually becomes an Assassin throughout Assassin's Creed 1 and the Ezio trilogy. This narrative intertwines smoothly with the historical events of the game.

However, in recent years, Assassin's Creed has faced criticism for its modern-day sequences. These segments often take players away from the enjoyable aspects of the game without a clear purpose, other than to provide a mediocre story that lacks meaningful connections to the historical or future narratives of the franchise. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is particularly guilty of this, as it includes frequent and out-of-place first-person modern-day sections. These dull sequences stand out in a game that is otherwise full of exciting adventures and exploration, and they detract from the overall experience for all the wrong reasons.

The recent Assassin's Creed games have improved on Black Flag's modern-day sequences, integrating Layla's journey into the past events she experiences. However, these sequences have not been a standout aspect of the overall experience. The franchise has always prioritized parkouring through historical settings, stealth assassinations, and when players are forced to divert from this gameplay to explore ruins or interact with irrelevant characters, the game loses its identity and momentum.

Enter Assassin's Creed Mirage, which may mark the end of modern-day sequences in the series. Mirage is the first mainline game to completely exclude modern-day sections, and this decision greatly benefits the overall storytelling. By focusing solely on Basim's personal journey, players feel a stronger connection to the protagonist. In September of last year, the franchise's Vice President Executive Producer, Marc-Alexis Cote, hinted at the gradual removal of modern-day sequences from future mainline entries, and it seems that Mirage is leading the way in this direction.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.