Assassin's Creed III

He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. This template should be removed from the article three months after release.

"On this land, I am torn. Part of me wants to fight and repel all outsiders. The other part of me is the outsider. In the name of liberty, I will fight the enemy regardless of their allegiance. While men of courage write history of this day, the future of our land depends on those who are truly free."

―Connor Kenway, Assassin's Creed III Gameplay Trailer.

Assassin's Creed III is an upcoming game developed by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Assassin's Creed series, and is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Ubisoft has claimed that the game will be bigger than its previous console installments, and will complete the story of Desmond Miles.

The game will be set between 1753 and 1783, and will focus on a new ancestor, Connor Kenway, who fought during the American Revolution.

Assassin's Creed III will be released on October 30 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 (October 31 in Europe), while the PC version will be released on November 20 for the United States and November 23 for the UK. Though the Wii U will launch on November 18 in North America, and on November 30 in Europe, it is unknown if Assassin's Creed III will be available on that date.

Development

With the game in development since January 2010, by its release date, Ubisoft will have worked on the title for almost three years. In a statement made by Yves Guillemot, he shared that "what we have seen is just fabulous."

Despite the many possibilities for a new setting, according to creative director Alex Hutchinson, the team settled on the American Revolution "once we realized you could meet Washington, sail a boat, leap from tree to tree in the middle of winter and hunt wildlife".

The game runs on a new version of the Anvil game engine called AnvilNext, which improves environmental effects. There will also be seasonal changes; the landscape is warm and open in the summer, but is covered in snow during winter, which subsequently affects gameplay.

In winter, thick snow will cause people to move more slowly and stumble about in the drifts, and lakes and rivers will freeze over, allowing Connor to access new areas. Although the seasons will change in line with specific memories, fog and rain will change naturally.

Another technical aspect of the engine is that it can depict up to two thousand troops engaged in battle, in contrast to previous games' one hundred, along with detailed close-ups.

Gameplay

Navigation

Connor free-running.

Exploration will be based around a large countryside area known as the Frontier, which is one and a half times larger than Rome in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and not as empty as the Kingdom in Assassin's Creed, as one third of the quests and gameplay content are in the Frontier. The cities of Boston and New York may also be explored, and will have new details and ambiance.

Since there will be a lot more travel included within the game, the fast travel mechanic is making a return, though there is now a whole new system of unlocking it, which is integrated into the natural game progress.

More varied methods of movement have been added as well, including climbing trees, cliffs, and other natural elements, leaping over wagons, or sliding under obstacles. Other freerunning elements also have Connor jumping through windows, to trees, and then onto rooftops.

Combat

Connor in a fight with three British soldiers.

Players can dual wield weapons, while fighting and stealth have been completely overhauled with new features, such as "double-counters," "multiple takedowns," and chain kills. Connor will go into battle with a wide variety of weapons at his disposal, including the knife, tomahawk, flintlock pistols, bow and arrow, and Hidden Blades.

Context sensitive actions, such as using enemies as human shields, will also be included. The target locking system has been removed and replaced by automated enemy selection, effectively changing the combat dynamics. In addition, assassinations can now be performed with weapons other than the Hidden Blades, most notably the tomahawk and bayonet.

The combat system has been greatly improved, as there are thousands of new animations, few of which are carried over from previous installments. Simple defense and counter-attacks become more difficult, and combat is now focused on putting the player on the offensive, with attacks based on both speed and momentum.

Memories

Desmond will use the new Animus 3.0, and will find himself reliving "significant events". 100% synchronization in memories returns, though synchronization will be treated more like experience in an RPG leveling system, except with a finite amount available.

Activities completed within missions have their own value. The more synchronized Desmond become, the more the sync bar is filled, which can also be increased through replaying missions. Checkpoints will also be introduced to mission replay, meaning that entire memories need not have to be replayed in order to achieve the 100% synchronization requirement.

Other

Connor hunting an elk.

Economy in the game will be different, as Connor can now hunt animals, and sell the resources gathered from them. The quality of the kill also increases the value of the resource. Along with this, a new property system will be implemented.

The regenerative health system similar to the type featured in Assassin's Creed will return. In order to regain his health, Connor must escape from combat and rest.

There will also be puzzles similar to the Glyphs, but they will not be given by Subject 16.

Platforming missions, like the Assassin Tombs or Lairs of Romulus, are making a return, though it is unconfirmed in what way they will be implemented. As stated by Corey May, "People like those. We like those. It's not something we'd remove."

Multiplayer

Ubisoft Annecy, who developed the multiplayer components for Brotherhood and Revelations, has been tasked with bringing multiplayer back with this installment, though they are staying tight-lipped about it and its features.

So far, there will be a co-operative mode named Wolf Pack, where 2 to 4 players have to kill NPCs during a time limit, possessing 25 sequences. There is also the addition of Domination, a team mode, where Abstergo recruits will need to capture areas of the virtual map they are on, before protecting them from the opposite team.

Characters

So far, 12 Animi Avatars have been announced for Assassin's Creed III's multiplayer.

• Black Bird
• Carpenter
• Commander
• Huntsman
• Independant
• Lady Maverick
• Mountebank
• Night Stalker
• Pioneer
• Redcoat
• Robber
• Sharpshooter

Locations

Accompanying the Animi Avatars, four locations are currently known for multiplayer.

• Boston Harbor
• Fort Wolcott
• Iceberg
• Northwest Passage

Marketing

Following the official reveal, Ubisoft announced incentives for gamers who pre-ordered Assassin's Creed III from Amazon, GameStop, or BestBuy, in the form of a free steelbook casing that featured artwork by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross.

For newcomers to the series, the Assassin's Creed Double Edition was released on the PlayStation Network, which brought together Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II in a virtual compilation box.

Assassin's Creed III will also have four missions exclusive to the PS3, which will be available for download on the game's launch date. The storyline will be based around Benedict Arnold, a Continental Army general who later defected to the British Army.

With Assassin's Creed III: Liberation set to be released for the PlayStation Vita alongside Assassin's Creed III, linking the two titles will unlock Connor's tomahawk for the Assassin Aveline de Grandpré to use.

Criticisms

Connor assassinating a Redcoat with a bayonet.

Initially, the pre-release media for Assassin's Creed III came under heavy criticism by some fans and critics for its portrayal of Loyalist Redcoats. This was mainly because, in every trailer and image released since the reveal in March 2012, the victims of the game's protagonist Connor Kenway were almost exclusively of British allegiance; leading some to suggest that the game would be an America versus Britain story.

This claim was repeatedly contested by the game's developers, with lead writer Matt Turner denying it would be an "America Ra Ra" story, and that there were members of the Templar Order on both sides of the conflict. Despite these assurances, criticisms for the decidedly one-sided portrayal of Loyalists continued. This biased representation went on until the release of the AnvilNext trailer on 2 August 2012. In the trailer, Connor was depicted killing several Continental soldiers, finally supporting the assurances made by the developers.

Editions

Ubisoft has announced several collector's editions of Assassin's Creed III; with three available in Europe and Australia, one available worldwide, and two available for North and Latin America.

Freedom EditionJoin Or Die EditionSpecial Edition

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• A steel book case, with cover art drawn by award-winning comic artist Alex Ross.
• A collector's box.
• A 24 centimeter high quality figurine of Connor.
• An exclusive lithograph.
• George Washington's notebook.
• An additional Animi Avatar, the Sharpshooter.
• Two exclusive single player missions, Lost Mayan Ruins and Ghost of War.

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• A collector's box.
• Connor Kenway's medallion.
• George Washington's notebook.
• An exclusive single player mission, Ghost of War.
• An additional Animi Avatar, the Sharpshooter.

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• Special packaging.
• An exclusive single player mission, A Dangerous Secret.

UbiWorkshop EditionDigital Deluxe EditionLimited Edition

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• Assassin's Creed: Subject Four.
• Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia Second Edition.

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• George Washington's notebook. (PDF file)
• Three single-player missions.
• The Captain of the Aquila's uniform and traditional Colonial Assassin outfit.
• Two additional Animi Avatars, the Sharpshooter and Redcoat.
• Best of audio tracks collection from previous Assassin's Creed games.

• A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
• George Washington's notebook.
• A statue of Connor, with tomahawk and Hidden Blade.
• Assassin's Creed-inspired colonial flag.
• A metal belt buckle.

Gallery

Concept artScreenshotsVideos

• 
  Concept art of the Frontier.
• 
  Continental and British troops prepare to engage.
• 
  Connor climbing a mountain in the Frontier.
• 
  The city of Boston.
• 
  Connor riding through Boston.
• 
  A Redcoat troop patrolling New York.
• 
  A battalion of Continental soldiers.
• 
  Concept art of a Mohawk hut.
• 
  Connor on horseback in the Frontier.
• 
  Concept of a battle charge.
• The Lost Mayan Ruins.
  The Lost Mayan Ruins.
• 
  Connor surveying a Redcoat camp.
• 
  Concept art of wolves.
• 
  Continental soldiers walking through a forest.

• 
  Connor watching a Redcoat patrol.
• Connor carrying a musket.
  Connor carrying a musket.
• 
  Connor surveying an enemy camp.
• 
  Connor passing a Redcoat in Boston.
• 
  Connor with George Washington in the Frontier.
• 
  Charles Lee grabbing a young Connor.
• 
  Connor holding his tomahawk.
• 
  Connor in a canoe.
• 
  Connor duel-wielding his pistol and tomahawk.
• 
  Connor perched in a tree above a Redcoat patrol.
• 
  Connor fighting Redcoats with a pistol and tomahawk.
• 
  Connor overlooking the Port of Boston.
• 
  A group of Redcoats in Boston.
• 
  Connor hiding behind a tree.
• 
  Connor climbing a cliff face.
• 
  Connor assassinating a Redcoat using his tomahawk.
• 
  Snowbound Frontier.
• 
  Connor climbing through treetops.
• 
  Connor hunting a target.
• 
  Connor about to assassinate a Redcoat.
• 
  Connor hunting in the Frontier.
• 
  Connor charging a British troop.
• 
  Connor about to assassinate a Continental officer.
• 
  Connor watching a British patrol.

• Reveal Trailer.
  Reveal Trailer.
• Connor's Weapons Trailer.
  Connor's Weapons Trailer.
• Making of Alex Ross Art.
  Making of Alex Ross Art.
• Unite to Unlock the World Gameplay Premiere.
  Unite to Unlock the World Gameplay Premiere.
• World Gameplay Premiere.
  World Gameplay Premiere.
• E3 Cinematic Trailer.
  E3 Cinematic Trailer.
• E3 Multiplayer Gameplay Demo.
  E3 Multiplayer Gameplay Demo.
• E3 Gameplay Trailer.
  E3 Gameplay Trailer.
• E3 Frontier Gameplay Demo.
  E3 Frontier Gameplay Demo.
• E3 Naval Battle Gameplay Demo.
  E3 Naval Battle Gameplay Demo.
• Independence Day Trailer.
  Independence Day Trailer.
• Rise Trailer.
  Rise Trailer.
• Boston Gameplay Demo with developer commentary.
  Boston Gameplay Demo with developer commentary.
• AnvilNext Trailer.
  AnvilNext Trailer.
• Gamescom Naval Battle Trailer.
  Gamescom Naval Battle Trailer.
• Naval Battle Demo with developer commentary.
  Naval Battle Demo with developer commentary.
• Inside Assassin's Creed 3: Episode 1.
  Inside Assassin's Creed 3: Episode 1.
• Inside Assassin's Creed 3: Episode 2.
  Inside Assassin's Creed 3: Episode 2.
• Inside Assassin's Creed 3 Episode 3.
  Inside Assassin's Creed 3 Episode 3.
• Assassin's Creed 3 Television Commercial.
  Assassin's Creed 3 Television Commercial.
• Lost Mayan Ruins Trailer.
  Lost Mayan Ruins Trailer.