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Colours in Assassin's Creed - a short review Analysis Share 18 Apr 2019 Written By: Edited By: Thea (Moonchildgecko) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database With the white hood and red attire, the hidden blade and a hunt for the Pieces of Eden, it’s not that far-fetched to say the Assassin’s Creed franchise is littered with symbols. Some may be in plain sight and speak for themselves, whilst others are to be found when taking a second look and digging deeper into the symbolic meanings. However, just finding the symbols doesn’t always make it clear what they mean. It’s time to take a closer look into the franchise and see what it can reveal through its symbols, statuses, clothing, attire and weaponry we’ve become all so familiar with. For this article, the focus will be on the different colours that appear throughout the franchise, from the standard red and white, seen with the templars and assassins alike, to a brief look on the differing of colours according to game and historical setting. Why the Red and White? When speaking of colours, the numbers in the spectrum would take ages to describe and decode, some colours barely have names, some only numbers. They are infinite. Yet the three colours it is mainly agreed upon that all the others originate from are blue, red and yellow. Additionally, some are more human made colours like black and white, where white is defined as the absence of colour and black having all the colours combined. Through time we humans have supplemented the colours with a variety of symbolic meanings and usage. Some colours have had totally different meanings through time and place, and some have stayed the same. What then lies beneath the red and white clothing we familiarise with the Assassins? White is the colour of the long robes we are introduced to in the first game. The Assassins, during the crusades, use the clothing to blend in with scholars as a way of disguising themselves while in big crowds or when there was a need to come close to a specific target without them knowing; in most cases simply to slip past guards without any danger. White is mostly associated with purity and peace, quite an ironic choice of wardrobe when our beloved characters dwell in the occupation of assassinations. To choose the white robe as a way of blending in is, of course, ingenious, and it is a tradition the later Assassins keep up. Speaking of purity, wearing white attire in a dessert would keep it somewhat neat, but when rolling around in mud, blood, dust and dirt from the highest rooftop to the lowest sewers and caves, staying white would be a hazardous fulltime job. Traditionally outside of the AC franchise, when introduced to an assassin of any background, be it a ninja, a mercenary or just someone up to no good, they are, more often than not, clothed in black or dark colours to hide their identity and presence. To dress in white may as well be the Assassins way of boldly saying “we are here, and we’re not going anywhere”, as the colour white truly stands out in both night and daytime. If you want to stay hidden, don’t wear white, you’ll be seen from a mile away. Still the Assassins choose to wear it if given the chance. This can be interpreted as a way of letting the enemies know the Assassins don’t doubt their skills and presence, with no fear of being seen. Throughout the franchise, Ubisoft manage to design each character in a way so that they keep their beloved white colour and remain hidden in plain sight. The dressing also alters with the time and place we meet the given character. After a while, it seems like the hood becomes the soul symbol of the Assassins, and the white recedes more. Red is the colour of blood, of love, of hatred and of pulsing life. Its relation to anger, aggression and war also makes it a contradicting colour all depending on which culture the colour is viewed through. The active and masculine colour has been a symbol of both power and peace, of strength and happiness. In Egyptian mythology, the colour is linked to evil, seen as being the colour belonging to the god Seth and the chaos serpent Apep. In the Roman period however, it was a colour of the war god Ares, and was associated with strength and war in a positive way, giving courage to the soldiers. In Chinese tradition, however, the colour is a representative of luck, happiness, fertility, energy, wealth and life. When it comes to Assassin's Creed, the colour red appears together with the main characters throughout the franchise, mostly as a piece of fabric. Its representation can be linked to the colour of blood, a colour of power and strength or a combination of both. To have red being linked to the symbolic meaning of blood isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it appears in the franchise, blood can be viewed as something cleansing. The first time we see this colour in association with an assassin is on Altaïr, as a red fabric underneath his leather belt. This tradition follows the future assassins from Ezio and all the way up to Evie and Jacob Frye. Later in the franchise with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, red is the colour of Sparta; a city and its citizens built for war. Blue is a colour which has been represented for thousands of years. Its meaning is varied and rich. Albeit having different meanings, its foundation lies in the infinite, the divine and heavenly. Blue being the colour of the sky and the ocean, it represents that which is far away and out of reach, a cold and distant colour. This may be why it has represented gods, deities and that which can’t be reached by humans. In ancient Egypt the colour was a representation of the sky and linked to the god Amun who was often painted blue but has also been linked to death. In Assassin’s Creed, the frequent use of blue is in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, where the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens sparks the use of both red and blue. There are no clear sources pinpointing the colour blue to Athens. This link may be a representation from modern times as it is an opposing colour to red, the colour of Sparta. Athens was also right next to the sea, so blue might be a colour they could have chosen to represent themselves. Having Athena as their chosen god could also have amplified this choice of colour, where the colour also represents both wisdom, fertility and the female gender. Gold is a powerful colour, or more correctly speaking , metal. Although gold is not found in the colour spectrum, it is often used as a way to show power, wealth and divinity. It has throughout time been a symbol of the sun, the gods and immortality, used by many cultures from the dawn of human civilisations. The metal is also associated with hidden or illusive treasures that illustrates supreme illumination. In ancient Egypt the flesh of the gods was thought to be made out of gold, hence the gilded face masks and sarcophagus's of royals. Its representation and link to the sun god Ra was also present in the golden pyramid tops, standing as a mountain of gold. The link between golden apples and immortality is also found in both Japanese, Greek and Norse mythology. The golden apple may have given it away, but both gilded and gold objects are to be found throughout the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise. Most notorious are the Pieces of Eden, powerful objects inhabiting great scientific knowledge, history, illusions and the ability to control the free will of humans. They come in several shapes and sizes, most know as apples, but additionally appear in the shape of a scepter, a sword and as the golden fleece (has streaks of gold in it). Black Darkness and the absence of light, shadowy and mysterious. The colour associated with death, dark magic, temptation, grief, loss and old age, black has mainly had this meaning through both time and cultures. Before moving on, its still important to note that black has its feminine side in Yin from the Chinese tai-ji symbol of Yin and Yang, and was associated with the ancient land of Egypt and the gods Anubis and Pluto; though in the latter both are gods of the Underworld. The colour black has also been hard to dye, suggesting its status as a wealthy colour. Moving on, the colour with its grim symbolic meaning may have the larger strategical advantage. If you want to lurk around in the dark and do things which normally would be questioned, like the occasional assassination, roof-observing or casual stalking, black is the go-to-colour. It is also noticeable through the Assassin’s Creed franchise that the colours of the in-game-characters turns to a darker point rather quickly. In this case, but not only, the truly black attire fully emerges with the Frye twins in Victorian London and its darker era. Coal and smog in the air, trains, carriages, mud and blood makes the black colour-of-choice an appropriate candidate, keeping the twins at a rather low key profile (or maybe not, I’m looking at you Jacob) giving them the blending effect and staying classy. Both the twins however also mostly have a tad of red with them, indicating a sense of tradition and salute to the old Assassin Masters. A Colourful Franchise As every Assassin has their own take on the traditional attire, customizing it to their need, time and place, it leaves us with a grand and astounding collection of outfits through the franchise. The traditional hood first used by the mercenaries in Greece. The white as an adaptation to the desert perhaps by Bayek and Aya. Altaïr, Ezio and Ratonhnhaké:ton’s white robes as angels of death. Pirates, rebels, visionaries, brothers and sisters, the colours are many, the stories they tell even more. With black as the leading colour for the more modern Assassins working their way through corrupt regimes, states and organisations, it also may be symbolically fitting to the era. If we take a brief look upon the franchise, the closer we get to today's society, the darker the attire becomes. Mostly as a way of blending in, it could also symbolise the Assassin’s mourning over civilisation. Put in context with the symbolism of black, you could almost suggest the Assassin’s role is needed as a destructive force necessary to keep the balance of civilisation in check. It doesn’t mean they enjoy it, watching society crumble to greed, it simply indicates that they’re not going anywhere for the time being, unaffected by their choice of dressing and colour. Sources Cirlot, J.E. (1983) A Dictionary of Symbols. 2nd edition. London and Henley: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Shepherd, R. and Shepherd, R. (2002) 1000 Symbols. London: Thames and Hudson. Tresidder, J. (2004) The Complete Dictionary of Symbols in Myth, Art and Literature. London: Duncan Baird Publishers. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Thea is a full time student studying archaeology at the University of Bergen in Norway. She is a huge fan of the franchise and enjoys writing both fictional and academic texts. In her spare time, Thea is a passionate artist, creating detailed pencil sketches and watercolour/acrylic paintings. She has even created tattoos and replica historical props/ clothing before! In Summer 2022, Thea joined TOWCB's art team, where she will have the chance to work on a variety of projects and expand her art portfolio. Thea (Moonchildgecko)

Assassin's Creed Mirage: TOWCB Spoiler-Free Review Reviews Share 1 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database ''A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' Assassin's Creed Mirage is here, and our admin team over at The Ones Who Came Before headquarters were lucky enough to play the game early thanks to the Community Development Team at Ubisoft! Taking players back to 9th century Baghdad, Assassin's Creed Mirage is a thrilling stealth game that will surely act as a turning point for the whole series. Recent entries delivered expansive narrative arcs that can be overwhelming for players, but Mirage does everything it can to d eliver a more focussed narrative experience, with a main storyline which can be completed in 15-20 hours. This is a breath of fresh air, and a much needed change, as the risk of getting lost in its own size was beginning to seep in. The biggest strength of Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it isn't afraid to embrace it's identity, proudly reclaiming control over it's own image. The series found itself in a period where it began to lose itself, but Mirage is AC rediscovering itself after an identity crisis, and once again finding what makes it special. The game acts as a very reflective piece of content, and shows great awareness from the development team over the recent issues fans have had in general. I t r eintroduces mechanics which should never have been removed, and builds on the past to deliver an extremely strong and well thought out story that feels like the ultimate culmination of what came before. There's no doubt that Mirage is a solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience. It really is a special game, and fans around the world are in for an absolute treat. After a lackluster marketing campaign, the main driving force of the marketing pushing general interest has been the passion of the development team who have been vocal in their belief in the project through intervews and dev diaries. After the announcement back in 2022, the community immediately got behind the time period and main character, as Basim is someone who immediately generates interest after his intriguing appearance in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. More importantly though, Mirage promised to return Assassin's Creed to its roots, and it certainly delivered. Comparisons can be drawn to just about every other game in the series, most obviously AC1 and AC2, with a parkour system inspired by Unity. The charm of the game is how it acts as a prequel to the original, released back in 2007, but drives the series forward by reintroducing elements from later games such as a notoriety system. To spark interest, Mirage soesn't need to do anything too innovative, past games laid the groundwork for mechanics, and the game just needed to reintroduce rather than reinvent. Rather than trialling new systems, Mirage examines what worked in previous titles and brings them back in a triumphant blend of past and present, colliding to produce the future. ''A triumphant blend of past and present'' Graphics and Stability I was immediately impressed with how stable the game feels at launch, encountering no bugs or glitches whilst running the game on PC with Ultra settings. In what feels like the most stable release in recent memory, Mirage runs on PC at an uncapped framerate, meaning high-powered machines can deliver an incredible experience for gamers. Baghdad and it's surrounding area are incredibly impressive, with the game doing a great job at bringing a real sense of individuality to the Round City, with each district feeling different from the next, something which was also featured in the original game. It's noticable how poorer districts of Baghdad are run-down, and the living conditions for those living there are insufficient. It's clear that the team did their homework when creating the city, taking great care with its overall creation and delivery. Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike. One thing that makes the city feel alive is how NPC's react to Basim's presence when he raises his notoriety. You can hear guards discussing his acts, or comment on his likeness to the culprit they are searching for. Regular civilians will even report Basim to the guards, in the hope that he will be reprimanded for his crimes. This is a first for the series, and a really nice feature to be introduced. Baghdad is a living, breathing environment, and the regularly changing day and night cycle and quest opportunities keep it interesting through the playthrough. The controls feel familiar, something which will be a relief for long-time fans. Change can take a long time to adapt to, but the controls for Mirage feel right, with no remapping needed. Safe parkour routes can be navigated by holding down space, and parkour down returns by pressing 'C', a nice and simple system that is made more dynamic through the flair of freerunning the game adds. One thing I did spot however graphically is how the faces sometimes let the game down. I found that Basim's facial expressions can be comical at times, especially in cutscenes. making him look wide-eyed and youthful. This may be something which the team choose to address in future patches, as releasing a stable and issue-free game at launch is more important. I would be keen to see enhanced details on faces added in a future update later down the line. In order to capture the beauty of the game, Photomode has been available at launch, something which will no doubt thrill the virtual photography community, who are eager to dive in and explore the world. During my playthrough, I frequently found myself stopping to capture the moment with the familiar photomode tool. I can't wait to see what the community manages to produce. ''Mirage re-introduces impressive crowds, and along with it, the notion that an Assassin is but a blade in the crowd, waiting to strike.'' Parkour Parkour is encouraged at every turn in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and the city of Baghdad provides many paths to elevation that compliment the enhanced flair of Basim's movement, which takes inspiration from Assassin's Creed Unity. The dynamic new parkour system is a break away from the wooden, sluggish freerunning styles recent games have provided, opting for a complete overhaul that introduces a splash of intensity and charisma. It feels as if the team behind the parkour animations really wanted to give Basim some personality within his movement, moving away from an uninspired, dated system. Elevators can be found on the streets to take Basim to the rooftops in seconds, giving him the element of surprise over unsuspecting enemies. Movement across the city is aided by the return of the corner swing, which featured heavily in Assassin's Creed Revelations. Ropes bridge the gap between buildings, providing clear routes to navigate. Mirage introduces a new mechanic for parkour, the pole vault, a balanced piece of wood which can be used to cross gaps between buildings or even water. This is a particularly usefu l feature when Basim is being pursued by guards, as each pole has a one-time use, meaning he cannot be followed. Speed of movement is adjustable in the settings, meaning players can tailor their parkour experience. Basim is faster and more agile than Eivor, and animations were produced specially to give players a sense of speed when running, jumping, vaulting and free roaming. Players will notice how the new parkour system allows Basim to glide over objects, moving seamlessly with flair. Also noticable is Basim's ability to jump further than previously possible, leading to more opportunities when on the more. I actually found the new parkour system to be much more realistic than what Assassin's Creed fans have been working with recently, leading me to wonder if the team possibly took inspiration from real-life parkour artists / freerunners. The range of movement in this game is seriously impressive, and it's only a matter of time before we s ee masters honing their craft and navigating the city of Baghdad with creative variety. You can climb fallen trees, which I found to be incredibly useful to gain an aerial advantage. In what is certainly the first 'traditional' Assassin's Creed game in years, Basim certainly has the moves to match his status within the Brotherhood. The game brings back Open windows for Basim to climb through, like in Assassin's Creed Unity,making the game feel more open and lifelike. Overall I think the game lends itself well to parkour, hinting at it's existence at every opportunity. I felt that it was especially pushed within the layout of Baghdad, and missions seem to provide routes for parkour which make quests easier when followed correctly. A good example of this are the tailing missions which make their return. I think Mirage's parkour is way better than the sluggish system we saw in Valhalla, and the introduction of new animations and fluidity makes it interesting and useful rather than a painful hinderence. ''Basim moves seamlessly with flair.'' Stealth Stealth in Assassin's Creed Valhalla was a step in the right direction, but Mirage goes even further fixes all of the issues players had in the previous title. Social stealth has been restored to it's former glory, and feels more alive than ever before. Basim can blend with crowds, pay groups for cover, use benches and hay bales for cover, and finally, stealthily enter a roof garden to dispatch a nearby guard with a whistle. It feels like the series has come full circle, bringing back the original stealth mechanics in a more lively open world. I like how guards are inquisitive, but don't spot you straight away like in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Basim can hide in prayer booths, and use them to hide bodies. The same can be said for the roof gardens, which featured in Assassin's Creed I. The most noticable change from Assassin's Creed Valhalla though are the new kill animations. Whilst waiting on a corner, Basim will cleanly dispatch an enemy with the hidden blade to then calmly drag their body out of sight. It's an instinctive but deadly manouver, and it very often prevents other enemies from spotting a body. Basim also has 'Assassin focus', a rapid series of moves that take out enemies so fast, the Animus simply can't keep up, resulting in a glitch effect. This feature was heavily controversial at first as some fans felt it was a supernatural fast-travel power, but it has since been explained as Basim's lightning fast reflexes. It can be incredibly useful to get out of tricky situations. The system stems from a similar thought process to what we saw in Assassin's Creed Syndicate, where Evie Frye could practically turn invisible by controlling her breathing. Air assassinations are the best they have ever been in the series, aided by Basim's long distance jumps, you can take an enemy out from further away than usual. You don't have to be directly above the target, which makes it fun to run and jump down on a target, dropping in to deliver a killing blow. The game provides great variety when it comes to assassination animations, so with practice, fans will soon be performing incredible speed runs featuring a balance of parkour and aerial assassinations. Death from above is extremely satisfying, and it seems that Basim and his Eagle Enkidu have more in common than first realised, moving swiftly like an Eagle above the crowds. The notoriety system returns in Assassin's Creed Mirage, and will affect all players as it did in the Ezio games. Tear down Wanted posters or pay heralds to reduce Basim's notoriety, reducing the heat as he moves through the city. When the wanted level is at its peak, the city will turn on him, making it incredibly difficult to operate undetected. For the first time, civilians will inform the guards of Basim's actions, and call for them to intervene should you commit a public offence. Information gathering plays a crucial role in the game, with all assassination missions starting out with an investigation. This is a real throwback to the original game, where Altair also had to conduct investigations to discover information before he could act. This is because he was demoted to the rank of a novice, which Basim is at the start of Assassin's Creed Mirage. Eavesdropping returns, and is once again a clever way of gaining information. During my play sessions, I have found it quite rewarding to once again sit on a bench and listen out for intel which could aid a later assassination mission. Basim's tools are essential to unlocking the full potential of stealth, with each tool in his Assassin arsenal acting as a lifeline in the right circumstances. The smoke bomb provides cover, masking his actions. This can be useful for assassinations or even for disorienting targets in order to pickpocket. You can escape guards in a cloud of smoke, as was demonstrated in the first trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage. The Trap is a bomb which condures a plume of gas that renders guards immobile, giving Basim the chance to swoop in and deliver the finishing blow. The blowpipe, which returns from Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, can be used to either knock out or poison enemies from distance. Throwing knives are similar, providing clean kills from distance. As the game does not allow for Basim to carry a bow, this is the main option for long-range distance kills. The noisemaker is a distraction device that can create a diversion, moving guards away from certain areas or clearing the path long enough for Basim to move. Finally, the flame, to light dark tunnels. This is my least favourite tool as I have not yet found a way of making it work in a stealth situation. Ideally, I would like to be able to throw the torch to set oil spillages on fire or even tents, but so far they have simply burnt out. Overall, the tools are incredibly important to increasing Basim's chances of a successful stealth mission, so I recommend unlocking them all as early as possible when playing Mirage. Finally, Basim's Eagle Enkidu can be used to look for opportunities in the world, and highlight the presence of nearby enemies. After a while I found the eagle mechanic to be quite jarring, as it hones in on a particular point of interest, but it certainly gets better with upgrades. Overall, I found the stealth system in Assassin's Creed Mirage to be excellent, restoring old mechanics and making it deadlier than ever. Basim has the killer instrinct, and his actions feels decisive and calculated. I think fans will be extremely pleased that Assassin's Creed is once again focussing on its stealth roots, and is now pushing itself to be better than ever before. ''The player can once again hide in long grass and bushes to keep out of sight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.'' Combat In Assassin's Creed Mirage, combat is a last resort for Basim. Before enhancing skills, the game provides a primitive combat system, which amplifies the overall commitment to providing a masterful stealth experience. Attacks are hit-for-hit, and stamina depletes quickly, so it can be tough for the players who wish to battle their way through Baghdad. It certainly can be challenging, especially when facing numerous adversaries. Basim will be cut down in the street as his stamina depletes. Some attacks cannot be parried, leading Basim with just one option, dodge out of the way, a move which heavily depends on stamina. On hard mode, it's frequent to die whilst trying to take on numerous enemies, something which was never a problem in the RPG games. I like that this is the case though, as it really encourages players to reconcide their method, and resort back to a stealth approach. Skills add another element to the combat system, introducing features that make it easier when facing opponents. 'Kick Back' is a skill which introduces a powerful kick attack upon completion of a successful parry, which can be used to disorientate or even cause the death of an enemy by kicking off buildings or even into wooden structures which can collapse. This skill is similar to the Sparta Kick from Assassin's Creed Odyssey. 'Counter Roll' allows Basim to quickly move out of the way as an unblockable attack is about to land, moving him into a strategist position behind the enemy where he can inflict damage. Finally, 'knife recover', which is also a useful skill for stealth, which adds auto-collecting throwing knives which have already been used. In close-quarters, throwing knives can be used to eleminate enemies who are charging towards the Assassin. Although combat is quite basic in comparison to previous entries, it does provide a real sense of progression, as Basim climbs the ranks within the Brotherhood. The once-charistmastic thief uses his new training to defend himself in a scrape, and that's what the game does well. It feels like Basim only uses combat if there are no other options, as a true Assassin should act as a blade in the crowd. Plot Assassin's Creed Mirage follows the transition of Basim from a street thief to a Master Assassin. Players begin the game in Anbar, where Basim the thief uses his skills to steal money and food to help those around him and him self. The early on pickpocket tutorial introduces players to the timing mechanic, which can be tricky to master, but essential if you wish to avoid conflict. He wants a better life for himself and others around him facing poverty. He is a conflicted character, carrying a family burden, as his father Ishaq was an architect who was simply forgotten after the construction of the Great Mosque of Samarra was completed, when another took credit for the project. Ishaq was exhiled, and died in poverty, scarring Basim foreve r. He also finds himself experiencing nightmares, where a Jinni torments his resting hours. This is the first time seeing recurring dreams in the series, showing their intensity and effect upon his life. Fueled by confidence in himself and his abilities, Basim seeks a better life for himself, setting his sights upon the Assassins, an illusive group who provide work for street thieves. Desperate to prove himself, but lacking discretion, a trait worthy of The Hidden Ones, and something which is noticed by Mentor Roshan, rejecting his initial advance s to join. Basim is aware of the existence of The Hidden Ones and aspires to aid them more, but not to help their cause, but to better his own position in life. The game quickly evolves from tutorial missions to a main mission which gives the player a reason to care about the enemy faction, The Order of Ancients, which Basim stumbles upon. The opening main mission, the Winter Palace infiltration sets this up nicely, introduces the organisation as a powerful faction operating from the shadows, controlling the leaders of the land, and through their influence, the people. The Order operates ina similar way to the version we saw in Assassin's Creed Origins, hiding behind masks and nicknames to keep their identities secret. Upon joining the Assassins, Basim must hunt them down one-by-one to aid the cause of the Assassins. Additional areas in the game are a nice surprise, as the game was purely advertised as Baghdad. In fact, players can also visit the outskirts and other areas such as Alamut and Anbar for plot purposes. Basim is moved across the map seeking information on his targets and reporting to various Hidden Ones Bureaus. In this sense, the game feels very much like Assassin's Creed I, where Altair would travel across The Holy Land. Although short, Mirage features one of the strongest Isu stories we have seen so far, and makes it more personal and import ant than ever, continuing the reincarnation narrative outlined in Valhalla. Unfortunately the game continues the trend of gradually stripping away Modern Day gameplay that has left players with very little since the Desmond games. The narrative pushes an interesting modern day story through cutscenes, which is certainly better than it's entire removal which would probably be easier for new players to understand. For fans following the ongoing Modern Day narrative, Mirage has a lot to be excited about. I like how the Modern Day seems to be once again moving towards making the threat for humanity , similar to what we saw in Assassin's Creed III, where momentum came to it's conclusion as Juno escaped her prison and unleashed herself upon humanity. Shorter stories work so well in the Assassin's Creed series when told correctly, and what I like about Assassin's Creed Mirage is that it feels like it found clever ways of connecting the past and future. Hopefully this trend continues one-day with the introduction of 'Assassin's Creed Infinity', a project which is set to introduce a launcher which features all past and future content. Mirage reflects Basim's clever and cynical nature in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, revealing his troubled past and journey tow ards becoming an Assassin. Basim's actions have consequences, and Mirage takes the time to remind players of what more recent games in the series have been missing. Conclusion Assassin's Creed Mirage delivers a strong narrative which serves as a poignant tribute to Russell Lees, a writer who sadly passed away during the development of the game. Immediately after booting up the game, the award-worthy music takes hold and doesn't stop, providing atmospheric and moving tracks and sounds throughout. Basim becomes the embodiment of the Brotherhood, acting as its blade from the shadows. He is the stealthiest Assassins yet, using his tools to take down targets, masking himself in the crowd and creating opportunities to lure out targets to strike. The Voice acting was excellent throughout, with highlights from Shohreh Aghdashloo ( Roshan), Lee Majdoub (Basim), and notable performances from the voice actors behind Fulash and Rayhan The stand-out performance from Mirage is Baghdad itself, a city which feels bustling with life and diversity. Each district has it's own personality, and the use of Arabic speaking voice actors abd script writers makes the experience feel more authentic. Finally, I think fans will be particularly impressed with how the team behind Mirage hits pause on the RPG direction of the franchise, and sets a new course, rediscovering what makes Assassin's Creed special and reintroducing cut features which feel familar and refreshed. The game feels extremely satisfactory for old fans of the franchise, and is a great place to start for new players looking to kick off their Assassin's Creed journey. I hope that the developers behind Assassin's Creed Mirage go on to work on future AC projects, and that we don't suddenly have a huge surge of rushed content after this huge step in the right direction. Assassin's Creed Mirage: 9.5/10 'A solid entry that recommits the series to providing a memorable stealth experience'' comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Difuzed unveil Assassin's Creed Mirage Merchandise Collection Merchandise Share 17 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Aaron Young Back To Database Difuzed unveiled their Assassin's Creed Mirage merchandise collection, containing apparel, accessories and collectables. Look out for the items as they make their way to retailers later in the year. Updates Article originally published: June 9th 2023 Updated 17/6/23: Assassin's Creed Mirage socks added Clothing Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Feel part of the many generations of assassins that have existed with this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. This sleek black hoodie is made with soft fabric for warmth and comfort. The premium Assassin’s Creed graphic elements are thoughtfully placed for a minimal but sleek look. The Assassin’s Creed logo printed on the chest comes in high-definition rubber, while the larger back print is thinner. You’ll also find a woven damask label stitched on the left sleeve to complete the look. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Zipper Hoodie Transport yourself to medieval Baghdad every time you wear this Assassin’s Creed hoodie. The soft cotton blend material will keep you comfortable and warm during the chilly weather. But it’s the sleek Assassin’s Creed Mirage elements that are the highlights of this gaming merch. On the front, you’ll find a sleek high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol. On the back, there’s a matching character art of Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq, in a tonal thin rubber print. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve for a cool extra detail. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Snake - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin’s Creed fans are all waiting for the upcoming game trilogy and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is the perfect way to show support! Fellow fans will immediately recognize the graphic elements on this gaming t-shirt, which features a high-definition rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed symbol and screen-printed graphic art element from the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game. The large print on the back matches the chest print. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Spider Scorpion & Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect addition to your gaming merch collection. Made with 100% cotton, it’s comfortable and comes in a trendy beige color that will be easy to mix and match with anything in your closet. The front features a high-definition graphic rubber print of the Assassin’s Creed logo on the front chest, along with a tonal screen print of game elements from the Mirage sequel. A larger screen print of the Assassin’s Creed logo can also be found on the back of this gaming t-shirt. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Hero Item Hoodie Assassin's Creed Mirage - Blade - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Are you ready for the latest Assassin’s Creed installment? Not until you have this sleek Assassin’s Creed t-shirt! The eye-catching front graphic element is made with a high-definition rubber print, and features Assassin’s Creed iconic logo. The back features a larger graphic art, which is a combination of screen and high-definition prints that are inspired by Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s main hero, Basim Ibn Ishaq. This Assassin’s Creed t-shirt is made with 100% cotton for comfort and durability. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's AOP Short Sleeved T-shirt Make a fashion statement while showing off your love for gaming when you wear this trendy Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. The trendy navy blue 100% cotton material is both comfortable and flattering. The t-shirt comes with a cool all-over print featuring the iconic Assassin’s Creed symbol. There’s also a woven logo stitched on the left sleeve with the Assassin’s Creed symbol. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Eagle - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt Show your love for one of the best action adventure video games ever made with this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt. Made with comfortable 100% black cotton, you’ll feel comfortable while showing your fandom to everyone else. The front features a white screen print of an iconic game element, the eagle, in contrast to the familiar Assassin’s Creed symbol, which appears as a high-definition rubber print on the chest. Assassin's Creed Mirage - Basim - Men's Short Sleeved T-shirt You might already have your pick of favorite Assassin, but don’t close your doors just yet. Basim Ibn Ishaq might have a place in your heart and this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will be the perfect way to show that. Made with 100% cotton in a trendy navy color, this Assassin’s Creed t-shirt will look good with any outfit, especially with the vibrant front character art of Basim, which is a combination of screen and high-definition rubber prints that gives this gaming t-shirt an elevated premium quality. Accessories Assassin's Creed Mirage - Men's Snapback Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Adjustable Caps Assassin's Creed Mirage - Crew Socks (3Pack) Get this great set of three socks inspired by the iconic game. The first pair features a stunning Bleached Sand color, adorned with the classic Assassin's Creed symbol in a darker shade of beige. The second pair comes in a captivating dark blue shade, embellished with an intricate pattern in Vintage Indigo color, showcasing the famous symbol of the game. Lastly, the set includes a pair of sleek black socks, with beige accents on the heel and front of the foot, and a finely knitted artwork on the side, depicting elements from the game. With their stylish design and subtle references to Assassin's Creed, the Mirage socks are the perfect accessory for fans to showcase their love for the legendary gaming series while keeping their feet comfortable and fashionable. Assassin's Creed Mirage - 3D Metal Keychains & Bifold Wallet Are we missing anything? Let us know and we will update the article. We will endeavour to keep this article up to date as more merchandise is announced. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

AC Community Questions: Michael Doyle Community Interview Share 7 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database For this round of Assassin's Creed Community Questions, we invited Michael Doyle, member of the Assassin's Creed Partnership Program // Isu Network's Writing Team. Col: Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today! Please could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your connection to the Assassin's Creed Community. Michael: Hi I'm Michael, I'm 25 years old and I'm from the UK. I've been playing video games for as long as I can remember, with the first game I ever played being Cool Boarders on the PS1. My connection to Assassin's Creed began when I was about 10/11 years old, getting the first game on release in my local Blockbuster. One of my favourite early memories from Assassin’s Creed is a horse glitch that launched my character across the map. More recently, my close friendship with TOWCB admin team has brought me back into the AC Community. Col: Which Assassin's Creed game is your favourite and why? Michael: AC III - I loved the history, weapons, different environments and Connor’s character development. Especially with the twist that his father was a Templar. I also loved the introduction of the battle ship mechanics, which was a great addition to the franchise. Col : Have you visited any of the locations from the games? Michael: I’ve been to Rome, where I was able to explore the Castel Sant'Angelo, the Pantheon, the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum. Whilst at the Castel Sant’Angelo I also recreated some assassin parkour photos. Col: What would be your dream setting for the upcoming AC Netflix TV show. Michael: My ideal location for an upcoming AC Netflix TV show would be Egypt, as this is one of my favourite historical periods and would be totally unique. Col: Where do you personally think the franchise is heading to next, and are you excited for the future of Assassin's Creed? Michael: I’d love to see the franchise do something in the modern day, almost like the Kingsman, with honour and tradition in todays world. The idea of a modern day assassin in futurist city like Singapore or Dubai would be interesting take. Col: What are some of your most recent Assassin's Creed Community Projects, and what are you working on currently? Michael : As I am new to the community I have only just starting writing content. So far I have recently written a Valhalla weapons guide for a fire build. However, I am looking to do more of this content over the coming months with a focus on how-to, and tips and tricks to optimise gameplay. Col: Do you have any personal AC goals you would like to achieve? Michael: I have always wanted to speed run an assassins creed game, preferably AC III. I have speed ran a number of games in the past such as Skyrim and Crisis 2, but never an AC game. I’d also love to meet the voice actor of Ezio. Col: What do you think Ubisoft are planning to show at the September AC event? Michael: I think Ubisoft are planning to show the new AC Title, in addition to the AC Infinity hub which I can see being marketed as a similar platform to the Halo Master Chief Collection/Halo Waypoint. All we can hope for is that the Ubisoft showcase is going to be more exciting than the September Apple announcements. Col : Do you collect AC merchandise? If so, what if your favourite item? Michael : Not yet… I do collect Marvel, Harry Potter, Pokémon and Star Wars merchandise. The only AC merchandise that I remember owning is an original AC poster from HMV. If I could own any one piece of AC merchandise it would actually be a game, and that would be the Ezio Collection. Col: Where can our community members find you online? Michael: I have a new Twitter account where I keep track of the AC community and all the latest Ubisoft content. We would like to say a huge thank you to Michael for joining us for this round of AC Community Questions! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

Ubisoft Secures Multi-Year Partnership With Funko and Good Smile For Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six Siege News Share 19 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Ashlea Blackett Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft are set to expand their range of collectables for Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six Siege by securing new deals with both Funko and Good Smile Company. According to Licence Global , Funko will create Pop! Vinyl figures for a range of “Assassin’s Creed” titles and “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege” in North America and Latin America. Also in development is a new range of Funko art-style apparel and accessories. The products will be available online and in stores in early 2021. “Partnering with both Funko and Good Smile Company allows us to amplify our immersive worlds our fans love in our games and allow them to experience and collect their favorite characters in highly collectible formats that are high-quality, unique and innovative,” Sarah Buzby, vice president consumer products at Ubisoft. Also in development is a new range of Assassin's Creed figures by Japanese manufacturer Good Smile Company for their Nendoroid line, a popular range of collectable figures. The company are also creating Assassin's Creed action figures for the Figma series, which have smooth joints and full range of motion created by Max Factory. These products will be available globally. "Ubisoft has been a trusted company in the gaming industry for over 30 years and they continue to bring authenticity and creativity in every game they publish,” Takanori Aki, CEO and founder of Good Smile Company. “The formation of this partnership between Ubisoft and Good Smile Company creates new avenues for fans to connect with the games they enjoy and to continue to expand the successes of both organizations. We at Good Smile Company are excited to see this partnership come to fruition.” Merchandise collectors have been asking for new Assassin's Creed Funko Pop! figures for years, with the most recent release being for the movie in 2016. Look out for the new range of products in early 2021, and keep an eye on our social media channels for updates. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Ashlea is the Editor/ Charity Project Coordinator for The Ones Who Came Before on its wide variety of social media platforms. Her main responsibilities for TOWCB involve creating and editing articles, organisation of events and coordinating our charity fundraising, as well as hosting the Rally The Creed Podcast. Ashlea Blackett

Assassin's Creed Origins: Starter Guide Guides Share 15 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Assassin’s Creed Origins is the first entry in the series to fully embrace RPG elements. Origins lays the foundations for both Odyssey and Valhalla, whilst acting as a prequel to Altair’s crusade. Origins alters the formula for the series as it ushers in a new player base, whilst trying to retain the magic of the original games. Origins is a visually magnificent game that will leave you in awe of both its beauty and size. Spanning across the whole of Egypt, you will embark on a journey of revenge to right the wrongs inflicted upon your family. You begin with one of my favourite cinematics in the series. The game will then throw you straight into the action. Origins is not a slow burner, and you will be fully involved from the start. This can lead to a steep learning curve, but one you will soon master. In this guide I will try to give you the best possible start to your Egyptian adventure. Bayek of Siwa Bayek is the protagonist of this story, an Egyptian Medjay, and the first location for you to explore is Siwa. This city is the home of Bayek and his wife Aya, and acts as the introduction to the game. There is much to do in this part of the map and I would recommend exploring it all. The main quests will act as the foundations of what is to come, however the side quests and extra locations will teach you the basics of what to expect throughout the game. Levelling System Origins introduces a levelling system that will define what you can do in the game. You will earn XP for completing activities within the world. By earning XP you will be able to level up and slowly become more powerful. Even in Siwa there will be areas that are initially too dangerous for you, which indicated by red skull icons above enemies. In some cases, it is possible to defeat them or just sneak past, but I highly recommend either matching their level or going just above. To do so you will want to find a balance between story, side quests and undiscovered locations. The main story will provide you with the most XP, however this will not be enough on its own. The game can restrict your progression if you do not deviate from the main story. This isn’t a bad thing as the map is full of interesting things to discover. If you open the map and check each area of Egypt, you will notice that it has been assigned a power level, and visiting there early can be a frustrating task. My advice would be to follow the organic path set out by the game. Ability Points and Playstyles Every time you level up you will be rewarded with an ability point. This can be added to your ability tree in order to gain new skills. It is a relatively common practice in games now, but at the time it took a bit of getting used to. Your ability tree is split into three playstyles. You can choose to master one, or split your abilities to allow for a more balanced experience. Either way, by the time you reach the conclusion of the game, the chances are that you will have all the skills. The three styles are: Hunter: Focuses on ranged abilities Warrior: The emphasis here is on melee Seer: This is for gadgets/perks that lend themselves to an Assassin’s playstyle Weapons and Combat AC Origins has a lot to offer in this department. There is a real magnitude of weapons available to choose from, and each weapon has a rarity ranking. Blue: Regular Purple: Rare Yellow: Legendary The rarer the item, the more you get from it. You can choose to sell these items for Drachma (money) or dismantle them for resources. I would recommend keeping your favourites from each category, and then dismantling any unwanted regular weapons and selling the rare ones. It is good to know that the rarity often links to stats such as critical hit bonuses. Always compare your gear to see which one offers you the best stats for your playstyle. Keep an eye out for attributes assigned to your weapons. Blacks are standard attributes, but gold will provide you with a nice little boost. The red ones (cursed) are the most interesting as they provide you with high damage but at the cost of reducing your health. Don’t worry if you find a weapon that you like but feel that it is too low a level. A trip to one of the many blacksmiths will provide you with the opportunity to boost it up to your current level in exchange for some Drachma. Combat is a lot more difficult in comparison to the blocking and countering of the old games. Now you can go all-out attack if you wish. Be warned though, that you cannot just button bash, and there is still the need to defend and this is where the shields comes in. Bayek’s shield will be your saviour when surrounded. Use it to parry incoming attacks, but also utilise it as cover from enemy archers. Senu and Loot Senu is your eagle and companion as you travel across Egypt. You will not start with Senu but if you follow the main quest you will soon be reunited with your companion. Senu is easily accessible by pressing up on the D-Pad (console). From here you will be able to fly Senu around the map, with the option to scout areas in advance. Use Senu to discover and tag enemies, loot, resources and objectives, however if you over use this function the game can become less challenging. Sync points will give you a stunning view of the surrounding area, but most importantly increase Senu’s perception. In turn, this links to the loot hidden around the map. You will find a lot of chests hidden underwater and the better Senu’s perception, the more likely you are to find them. Just be aware of crocodiles and hippos, as fighting them off in the water can be challenging. The loot in Origins is critical to so many aspects of the game. Just grab as much as you can, and sell or dismantle it to fill your pockets with Drachma or crafting materials. Crafting Crafting in Origins is all about 6 pieces of gear that you secure very early in the game. From this point on you will need to collect resources to upgrade them. When highlighting the gear you will be shown which resources you need to collect. Hidden Blade: Who does not like this, the staple for any assassin? You will get this once you arrive in Alexandria. You have 10 upgrade levels, each adding to the damage the blade can do. Essential for anyone wishing to play the way of the assassin. Quiver: You will only need to upgrade this 5 times, allowing you to carry additional arrows. A big favourite of mine as the introduction of the bow really mixes up the gameplay. Stabilizer Glove: This compliments the quiver, providing you with increased damage with the bow. Just like the Hidden Blade you will need to level the glove 10 times. Bracer: These can be upgraded 10 times for additional melee damage. Breastplate: Upgrade this to further increase your maximum health, there are 10 levels. Tool Pouch: Only 5 upgrades for this one, and one I did not bother with in the early game. If you follow the Seer abilities focus on this gear piece. Outfits and Mounts If you are playing Origins after Valhalla or Odyssey then you may slightly be disappointed with the customisation options. There are many outfits in the game but they do not have interchangeable parts. Bayek’s clothing does come with the same rarity as his weapons but unfortunately they are purely for cosmetic purposes. The same can be said for the mounts, although you can switch out your horse for a camel if you wish. Do not be put off by this though as there are some very nice outfits in the game. Thanks for reading our Assassin's Creed Origins Starter Guide. We hope that you found it useful! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

5 ways you can support TOWCB Other Share 15 Jan 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database 2020 is upon us, and we here at TOWCB Assassin's Creed Fan Community are already working hard behind the scenes on numerous projects set to be released throughout the year. The launch of our new website and AC Partnership Program last year has helped to create more opportunities than ever before, which we are excited to explore in more depth over the coming months. This year we're aiming to grow our social media channels, and release a ton of content for our fans. With the help of our amazing community, we will continue to be the home of Assassin's Creed Community content. Here are five things you can do to support TOWCB in 2020! 5) Bookmark The Website One way in which you can support TOWCB is by bookmarking the website. You can also add the page to your home screen on mobile devices, making it a more frequent visit. This year, we're aiming to climb the Google rankings and improve our S.E.O. By making the website one of your regular online stops, we will continue to improve our web status. We recently finished adding all our past projects into the database, some of which date back to 2015. Head over to the log and explore five years' worth of Assassin's Creed interviews, articles, videos, and more. We're also going to be releasing a wide variety of content throughout the year, so check back with us to see what's going on! 4) Follow Our Social Media Channels Our social media channels have grown massively over the last five years, with our community currently standing at around 20,000 members. We're always looking to expand our reach, and the easiest way to stay up to date on Assassin's Creed news and theories is by liking our Facebook page , and following our Twitter account. You can even go a step further and turn on mobile notifications so that you don't miss a post! 3) Submit Your Ideas We're always working on projects for the Assassin's Creed community, so if you have an idea and want to see it developed, please feel free to get in touch! You never know, your idea may turn out to be a fan favourite project! 2) Join The AC Partnership Program Last year we launched the AC Partnership Program, a community initiative which aims to promote and share content. The program is a great way for content creators to gain recognition for their work within the community, and expand to a wider audience. The program is generating a ton of content, and we're extremely happy with the response it's had so far. We will soon be taking applications for a variety of new positions, so why not apply and add your content to the Community Hub! 1) Use Our Amazon Links We earn a small commission every time you purchase items on Amazon using our special referral links. This small income contributes towards costs such as shipping fees, website hosting, and giveaway prizes. This is the number one way you can help our community, and it's completely free! We are now able to use Amazon UK and .com links, so look out for them on our social media channels to show your support for our community. An increase in earnings will mean that more giveaways will be open internationally, rather than UK only. The next time you use Amazon, shop using one of our links and help our Assassin's Creed Community! You can find our Amazon Associates page at the bottom of every page! Image by Hal Hefner However you choose to support our community, we thank you for your assistance. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

The Memory Corridor: Potential Sequels ft. Irakli Podcast Share 25 Mar 2017 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Sounds Of History - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental project by Gargudon: Influences and Inspirations Other Share 8 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Colum Blackett Back To Database In this article, Gustav Poulsen ( Gargudon ) from the The Ones Who Came Before team talks influences and inspirations, for his upcoming original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental project titled Sounds Of History. Project Synopsis: A unique fan project, never really seen before in the Assassin’s Creed community, featuring five original tracks written, arranged and produced by Gargudon, each inspired by different AC games. A tribute to the soundtrack, to sneaking, fighting and free running throughout the years, and the composers behind them who have shaped the sound of the franchise. French Highlands - Inspired by Assassin’s Creed Unity The project and the whole idea for it started with this track. I was sitting with my acoustic guitar one day just “noodling”, played this random shape, and just from those few notes I suddenly heard this whole piece in my head. Having found the remaining notes and playing the full piece, I realised it had this very cinematic, AC soundtrack leaning vibe to it, and hence the idea for an instrumental project inspired by the games was born. I felt like it had this very prominent Medieval tone to it that reminded me of Unity specifically; the Medieval sequences of that game and various areas of Paris, from old (abandoned) cathedrals to the underground catacombs. To accompany the main guitar piece, I wanted an instrumental relying on a certain ambient soundscape - which among other sounds features direct in-game noise from the Paris catacombs - and all sorts of Medieval sounds and instruments, to really capture that dark vibe and tone of 14th century Medieval France seen and felt in the game, whether in old towns and fortresses or the vast surrounding highlands. ...Away From The Crowds... - Inspired by Assassin’s Creed 2 & Brotherhood This is one of my favorite tracks from the project, and it was a lot of fun to write and work on. I knew early on I wanted this track to capture some of the most prominent sounds and vibes of Jesper Kyd’s iconic Assassin’s Creed 2 soundtrack, which ones and how I wanted to try and do that. Some very certain eerie and ominous ambiences, reminiscent of the old abandoned undergrounds and empty cathedrals explored in AC2 and Brotherhood, the dark secrets of which make the beauty and glamour of the Renaissance, but a facade for something larger. Ultimately, the track is quite simplistic, not relying on much to make it sound big, but achieves a lot and just what I wanted it to with just that. Another major influence for this track would actually be Alternative Rock band Bring Me The Horizon, especially their 2010 album “There Is A Hell Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is A Heaven Let’s Keep It A Secret”. A lot of the sounds and production on that album remind me of Assassin’s Creed 2’s soundtrack; strings, choir voices, glitchy electronics, ambient guitars, big reverbs and many more that brilliantly capture the hidden darkness of the Italian Renaissance. 60’s - Inspired by Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Despite this track being the shortest, it was actually the one that went through the most changes, fully settling upon as to how I wanted it to sound. I did however know from the beginning I wanted something inspired by British Rock, specifically Oasis, their instrumental songs and that whole 90’s Britpop sound. A lot of that music has this certain attitude and rawness to it, reflective of the working classes of England at the core of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Originally I thought of just making this something along the lines of a regular song with the sound of a full band, but that ended up just feeling quite off. Then I tried taking that same idea but stripping it down to just an acoustic arrangement, but that sounded a bit bland. Then finally I got the idea of fusing that Oasis inspired acoustic instrumental, with that ambient Animus leaning soundscape that also comes across on other tracks, and that would turn out to be the best approach for this. Admittedly I might have free styled a bit with this one in some places, at least compared to the official Syndicate soundtrack, but still wanted to stay true to some of the sounds of that, some of which oddly enough also come across in Britpop, hence that influence. Eagle’s Path - Inspired by Assassin’s Creed 3 & Liberation While I have tried to stay true to some of the sounds of Assassin’s Creed 3’s existing soundtrack with this one, I have admittedly also free styled a bit with it, for example with the more Western sounding sections; all intentional though and with good reasoning. I knew I wanted one of the primary tones of this track to be very tribal, Native American sounding, and what better style for that to go with than among other some Western? I also wanted a section of it to capture the tone of AC3’s add-on Liberation, and it’s southern Louisiana setting, hence the middle section that relies on more Cajun and African percussion, to capture the vibe of the bayous explored in that g ame. In addition to the primary tribal aspects, I also wanted the track to be reflective of the American Revolution itself, and American history overall to some degree, past, present and future from the time period of the game. Hence the section with big sounding horns, symbolising the fight for freedom, and once again the Western tone that’s also heavily prominent towards the end with the gunslinger-esque electric guitar, symbolising one of the next big eras awaiting the future of American history. Tales Of The Winds And Waters - Inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag This track has got to be my favorite from the project. I got to play around with so many cool ideas and sounds, capturing the spirit of not only my favorite Assassin’s Creed game, but one of my favorite games overall. I actually fully wrote and made arrangements for this one last, and as it would turn out the track would be a good chunk longer than anticipated, closing in around 10 full minutes; really I suppose it is 2-3 tracks all crammed into one big one. Oddly enough, that process was pretty easy though, and I built most of the track’s foundations fairly quickly not too long after. From the beginning though, I had a good rough idea of how I wanted this track to sound, and what styles I should be tapping into. Black Flag’s soundtrack is ultimately quite diverse, from traditional Spanish, electronic glitchy Animus ambience, Caribbean and tropical, to classic Pirate music with a touch of Celtic to it, so there were a lot of possibilities and I wanted to cover as many of these as possible in my own way. In addition to incorporating these melodies and tapping into various styles, trying to capture the vibe of exploring the Caribbean and its many islands and settlements, I also wanted the chronology of track to try and be a representation of Edward’s journey throughout the game. From first wandering the lively and wild streets of Havana, sailing the vast waters at day and night, reaching Kingston, discovering the Observatory, to having eliminated the Templar threat, meeting his daughter and peacefully being homebound, taking the Jackdaw for one last sail. As a tribute to not only the existing Black Flag soundtrack, which is one of if not the best in the franchise in my book, but composer behind it Brian Tyler overall, I wanted to implement some melodies from other favorite score pieces of his, which oddly enough have some of the same vibes and instrumentation as the tracks from the game. Featured in the beginning during the traditional Spanish section are the melodies from “Letty & Dom” and “Neela Drifts” from the Fast & Furious movies. Beautiful pieces and melodies played on classical guitar, which tones in some ways are similar to the tracks of the Black Flag soundtrack. The Sounds Of History project is coming soon! Stay tuned here on the site and our social media channels for updates and previews! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. 

His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Assassin's Creed Shadows is delayed yet again to March 20th Ubisoft announces News Share 13 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database Yes, this is happening, Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft's most anticipated title for 2025 has been delayed yet again. The sad news delivered by the Assassin's Creed Content Director Marc-Alexis Côté in a official statement made public a little while ago. At this point we can but only speculate what this could mean for the French company looking at the future it may lead its most coveted franchise to. Official statement made by Marc-Alexis Cote -"As part of the renewed focus on gameplay quality and engaging Day-1 experiences, it has been decided to provide an additional month of development to Assassin’s Creed Shadows," -Marc-Alexis Côté said in his statement. Ubisoft is now in a more delicate situation than ever before and albeit the second delay being due to prefectionist reasons aiming to "ensure and even more ambitious and engaging day-one experience" the wave of criticism that will befall on Ubisoft will be even more non-filtered this time. Hopefully, Shadows delivers and is the product we all deserve after all this years craving for a game set in Feudal Japan. Now we will have to wait and see for the upcoming days and weeks what Ubisoft has to offer in compensation for this, specially in terms of marketing and blogposts of which only one remained to be released prior to the announcement of the delay. It is important to note that the pre-orders weren't active still at only a few weeks before its previous accorded release date being February 14 as well as no statements on whether the Game's development achieved GOLD status, normally being a transparent indicator from the company behind a game towards the consumers, which in this case has been absent compared to previous games from the franchise. Lack of confidence or a buggy mess? One only wonders if February 14 was never going to be the real release date and it was but an attempt at handling the situation in a shady way -dare I say. Don't lose hope.🏯🦅 Article adapted from Isu_Network article comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author UbiCypher (Joe) is an Assassin's Creed Transmedia expert who worked as the Lead Admin for the Isu_Network social media team, providing consistent social media content in the form of Assassin's Creed lore trivia, puzzles and news coverage, spending countless hours researching the series and real history. In 2025, he stepped back from his social media duties to pursue other opportunities. UbiCypher (Joe)

Starter Guide focussing on Norway for new players looking to begin their Assassin's Creed Valhalla adventure. Community Guides Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Huntsman Gear Guide By Aaron Young 26/3/21 Share Top Stories The Assassin's Creed Community are raising money for Ocean Conservancy. Donate today After the relatively long intro in Norway, you will no doubt be eager to find a new armour set when you arrive in England. One of the easier sets to claim is the Huntsman, which can be found in the opening areas of England. All items can be found in-game without the need for DLC or micro-transactions. All gear sets in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will not only provide the player with an aesthetic look, but also stats and bonuses that increase Eivor’s strength. Further to this, your gear will also be aligned to one of the three branches of the skill tree. The Huntsman set follows the wolf skill line and therefore will benefit from any skill points you have placed here. It is also good to consider the set bonus perks that are different for each armour set. The Huntsman gear provides you with a nice Viking look and leans heavily into an archer playstyle. The two bonuses for equipping the Huntsman set are in the image below. It is good to remember that the more pieces of the set you wear, the bigger the bonus. It is not essential though, and you can mix gear for interesting perks. Edited by Ashlea Buckley The Huntsman Set Interview with Magnus Bruun - Eivor Assassins' Creed Valhalla Merchandise Guide Q&A with Abubakar Salim - Bayek of Siwa TOWCB Plans for 2021 Netflix announce upcoming live-action Assassin's Creed series Female Vikings: The Real History Building an Assassin's Creed Community: Getting Started Mentors Guild Announcement Interview with Benoit Richer: Valhalla Co-Dev Game Director Interview with Eric Baptizat: AC Valhalla Game Director Interview with Jordan Van Andel (JorRaptor) Colours in Assassin's Creed: A Short Review 6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during isolation Interview with Carlos Ferro - Da Vinci 5 ways you can support TOWCB Interview with Jesper Kyd Top Stories How to Get the Huntsman Gear Set The Huntsman Cape This seems like it could be more difficult than it actually is. Your best route is to take your Longship up river to Templebrough Fort in Ledecestrescire. The Huntsman Helm This one can be a little trickier. The helm can be found at Tonnastadir fort in Ledecestrescire. It is a heavily guarded area, which can be difficult early in the game. You will come here as part of the Ledecestrescire story arc, and I would suggest waiting until then to collect the helm. Hopefully these tips will help you get started on your Viking adventure. Valhalla is a wonderful game full of intrigue and mystery with a story that sucks you in slowly. Be patient and take your time, you will not regret it. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who recently joined TOWCB AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer. Throughout 2021, Aaron and other writers will be joining the admin team in a collaborative effort to create an Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guide Database, which you can find here . Twitter Aaron Young Save 10% on officially licensed Assassin's Creed Origins merchandise with the code "TOWCB" Unfortunately you cannot obtain all of the set pieces in the same region. There are five gear items to collect, with three in Grantebridgescire and the other two in Ledecestrescire. The Power Levels of these regions should not pose too much of a problem, as when you arrive in England both Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are early story destinations. That being said, all of the Huntsman armour is well guarded so you will need to either fight your way to it or use stealth. Grantebridgescire and Ledecestrescire are both Power Level 20, so following the story would be the best way of attaining this set. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has four tiers for gear pieces: Grey (Fine) Red (Superior) Blue (Flawless) Gold (Mythical) When you fine each piece of the Huntsman set it will already be Superior. It is wise to use what resources you have to bring the gear to its highest level, and save your nickel ingots to upgrade the armour to flawless when you return to Gunnar at the Settlement. It is important to note that Ubisoft recently patched Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, implementing the transmogrification feature. This means you can upgrade your gear to the highest level but not have to worry about not liking the look. You can pay fifty coins to Gunnar and he will amend the aesthetic to one of the previous iterations but with the highest stats. The helm is locked behind a gate, so you will first need to head to the longhouse. The key can be found on a table, but be careful as sometimes there will be guards in the room. Once you have the key, head to the metal gate where three guards will be waiting. There is some debris you can drop on them. Either way you will need to dispatch the guards before entering. The helm can be found at the end of the hallway in a chest. The Huntsman Armour The chest piece is probably the most difficult to obtain. It can be found in Ravensburg outpost, Grantebridgescire. This outpost is part of the story arc so waiting until then is a good option. The cloak can be found in a tower situated in the middle of the river. Just climb the tower and shoot the wood hanging to break the floor below. From here jump down and open the chest. There are a few guards so be careful not to been seen, but it is possible to avoid them altogether. You will find the chest containing the armour in the main hut at the centre of the enemy camp. Despite the camp being well guarded it is possible to get all the way to the hut unnoticed. You may wish to tactically remove some of the guards just so if you are caught you will not be overwhelmed. The Huntsman Vambraces The vambraces are hidden behind a waterfall in Grantebridgescire. The location is not too far from your settlement. Just head south of Ravensthorpe and you will see an area with two sections of water. The vambraces can be found in the first section of water, behind a waterfall. Once you enter the cave you will find another section of water. You will need to dive in and swim underwater until you reach the end. Straight after exiting the water you will see the chest in front of you. The Huntsman Breeches Your final piece to collect will be the breeches. They are situated in Soham hideout, which is on a patch of land not too far from Isle of Ely Monastery, Grantebridgescire. You will want to sneak into the camp and head towards the large stone building in the centre. Inside you will find a chest containing the breeches. You may also need to dispatch some of the guards. There are two sat at a table in the main building, making it difficult to sneak up on them, so be careful. Once you have all the gear items, you can return to Gunnar to upgrade them. Don’t forget to take a look at the transmogrification feature. It is also worth mentioning that you can pay travellers for information regarding the location of gear items (represented on the map by a question mark)

Assassins Creed Mirage Character Reference Guide Released Community Share 26 May 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Aaron Young Back To Database Ubisoft has today released a character reference guide for Assassin's Creed Mirage, featuring close-up turnaround images for Basim Ibn Ishaq and his Mentor Roshan. The guide reveals a number of hidden details that will no doubt make it an essential resource for cosplayers looking to replicate the outfits, weaponary and tools. For non-cosplayers, it is a sneak preview at what is to come in Assassin's Creed Mirage. Check out the guide below, and keep an eye on our social media channels (below) to stay up to date on everything Assassin's Creed! PDF File comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Col is one of the UK's leading Assassin's Creed Community members, and is best known for establishing both 'The Ones Who Came Before' fan community and 'Isu_Network' content creation program. As Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, Col was officially recognised by Ubisoft, becoming one the UK Assassin's Creed community ambassadors in 2016. He has attended many events after spending a decade in the AC Community, and has worked on countless projects, all of which you can find here on TOWCB website. He is also a former Ubisoft Star Player and member of The Mentors Guild, two recognisable community programs which opened doors and took his status within the AC Community to the next level. Colum Blackett (Col_96)

How the Community Celebrated AC Day 2019 Events Share 23 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Lauren Harris Ashlea Blackett Back To Database December 21st is an important day in the Assassin’s Creed community. It was the day a solar flare was due to engulf the planet. It was the day Desmond Miles sacrificed himself to save the world. It was the day Juno was released into The Grey. And, of course, outside the AC universe, it was the day the Assassin’s Creed movie was released in the United States. It is a big day for fans of the franchise – affectionally dubbed ‘AC Day’ – and fans all over the world have been celebrating in their own ways. In this article, we will take a look at how the community embraced #ACDay 2019. Image by The Mentor's Guild The official Assassin’s Creed Twitter account kicked off the celebrations with a tweet asking the fandom for their favourite in-game moment of all time. The responses were varied. Twitter user @DCourteneySmith said his favourite moment was “Spartan kicking anything in Odyssey” whilst @LRidgeway14 said his was “everything Ezio has ever done”. Anouk Bachman , a member of the Assassin’s Creed marketing team, said her favourite was the ending of Black Flag, where Anne Bonny sings The Parting Glass. Other popular choices were Ezio and Federico’s scene on the roof just before the titles of ACII, Connor sharing a drink with Charles Lee before stabbing him in ACIII, and Bayek and Aya’s final scene on the beach at the end of Origins. However, the scene that appeared most in the replies was the scene where Ezio found Altair’s body in the library at the end of Revelations. With so many fantastic moments to choose from, it’s not surprising that the fans all have different opinions on which is the best. Other fans took the opportunity to use AC Day to raise money for charity. Twitter user @Blutkatze raised $720 for Child’s Play, a charity which seeks to improve the lives of children in pediatric hospitals through the power of play, through her #ACRaceforCharity which saw her play AC Origins on Twitch and give prizes to fans. Loomer, host of the Assassin’s Den Podcast, admitted that he did not make anything in honour of AC Day – but he did share a very cute photo of his cat, Aya – the Kitten One. Many of the AC fan pages celebrated with competitions and giveaways. Here at The Ones Who Came Before, fans had the chance to win one of five Assassin’s Creed prints courtesy of @katx_404 on Twitter. Access the Animus hosted a giveaway with prizes including 3 copies of The Rebel Collection for the Nintendo Switch, 2 copies of AC Odyssey, 5 Odyssey Season Passes, and 7 copies of the Odyssey novelisation. ATA also shared a review and analysis of chapter 2 of the AC China Manga. Image by Access the Animus The Mentor’s Guild declared a MEGA giveaway, including 5 copies of Odyssey, 5 Odyssey Season Passes, an Alexios statue, and 5 copies of The Rebel Collection. To win in this competition, the Mentor’s Guild asked what setting fans wanted to see in the next game. Responses varied from Central America during the Mayan era, Japanese Samurai era, Germany, Russia during the time of Rasputin, China, Ireland, Ancient Rome, and Medieval England. The cosplay community were embracing AC Day too. @bluemarinvo on Twitter shared her impressive Persephone cosplay, @KeiraSera520, @EvilCleverDog and @jesskerrcosplay posted photos of their respective Kassandra cosplays, and @Shiva_Abarai shared a collage of all her AC cosplays to date – which are really mounting up! Others were sharing their own AC Day inspired art, like @adriennczene who shared her painting of Desmond Miles, @kotorimitz who posted his festive Ezio and Leonardo comic strip, @riicemochii who gave us a picture of Ezio perched on a building, and @bbsketches who shared a collection of AC artwork from several different AC titles. @MlleBellec also created a new tribute video titled ‘Bloodlines’ to honour the occasion. All in all, it has been another incredible AC Day, bringing the fandom together and allowing them to share their creations, their passion, and their memories from twelve years of Assassin’s Creed. With so much to look forward to in 2020 in the world of Assassin’s Creed, who knows where the franchise will take us next. One thing is for sure, though. Wherever the Brotherhood goes, the fans will always follow with love in their hearts and a blade on their wrists. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Lauren is a online article writer who joined the program in 2019, which allowed for her work to be viewed by a larger audience. She is especially interested in Assassin's Creed lore, and wrote a number of thought provoking articles which you can find here in the Community HUB. Lauren left the program in 2021 shortly after the 'Assassin's Creed Infinity' announcement, which understandably left many fans feeling uneasy. We wish her the best of luck with her future projects. Lauren Harris

Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Calligraphy Drawings Analysis Share 22 Jun 2023 Written By: Edited By: Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the first article in a new series dedicated to decoding the secrets hidden within the Assassin's Creed series. In this article, new recruit The Hidden Virtuals examines the drawings featured on the Assassin's Creed Mirage official website, made up of Arabic calligraphy by artist Hatem Arafa . In a social media post, Hatem shared this message covering his time working with Ubisoft on Mirage. Here is our analysis of the drawings! لَدغُ العقَاربِ لَم يَكُن لِعَداوَة A scorpion's sting was never out of spite بُنِيَ بَيْت العَنكَبُوتِ عَلى وَهْن Spiderwebs were built upon frailty وَ قَد دَبَّ مِن أقْصَى المَشَارِق حَيَّة And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east ثُمَّ مِن الظَّلاَمِ تَخرُج نَحوَ النُّور Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light The full message reads: A scorpion's sting was never out of spite. Spiderwebs were built upon frailty. And a serpent slithered/creeped from the far east. Then you emerge out of the darkness towards the light. What could this be referencing? Does Basim encounter an enemy that puts an end to his naivety, kickstarting a path to the Brotherhood? We can't wait to dive even deeper into the hidden mysteries of Assassin's Creed Mirage when more material releases through the marketing campaign and game's launch in October 2023. You can find links to our social media platforms below to stay up to date on everything Assassin's Creed. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Noon (@HiddenOnesN) is a Virtual Photography enthusiast and writer who joined TOWCB social media team in Summer of 2023 as an Arabic Translator. In a series of Twitter threads decoding hidden messages within the Assassin's Creed Mirage Marketing campaign, Noon made a strong impression online as a codebreaker. By joining TOWCB, we boosted her findings with a larger audience, and are working together to improve our social media strategies and grow our community. In late 2023, Noon notably be led our 'Decoding the Creed' series, diving deep into the mysteries hidden within the franchise. She also worked alongside the Virtual Photography Team to grow our Twitter community, and encourage interactions. Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 6th to 12th March Community Share 14 Mar 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed The Battle Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ coalabr14 This week’s showcase begins with an epic battle shot from Odyssey. I am really enjoying the mood of this capture. It has a very cinematic style and reminds me of the Gladiator movie. Kassandra looks like a true warrior, deflecting the Athenian shield while her sword is on fire. I wish these battles were in Valhalla. Would have been great to be part of a shield wall. Link: https://twitter.com/coalabr14/status/1632687287137103873?s=46&t=rIujpeSq9644fgpRWA_xMA The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge - Colum Blackett ( Col_96 ) from TOWCB Core Team I love how Kassandra and her flaming sword take centre stage in this shot, captured during one of the large-scale battles which Odyssey recreated so well. For me, this shot looks good enough to have been an official promotional image for the game, and uses colour particularly well to create an atmosphere. Kassandra almost certainly executed her attacker moments later. Surprise Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ m_nt_13 A bit of comedy for our second shot this week. This capture just brings a smile to my face. My daughter does the same thing to me if I don’t pay her attention. All jokes aside this shot is fantastic, it is the perfect mix of timing and positioning. I applaud m for originality here, really brings something quirky and different to our VP showcase. Women of the Creed Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna It was International Women’s day on Wednesday and what better way to celebrate than this beautiful capture of Eivor. I am always a sucker for black background shots, I feel it elevates the subject so well. The lack of colour in general here adds to a vintage feel that compliments the classic Assassin look. This shot would make a stunning phone wallpaper. Enter the Creed Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Virtual_Polly Valhalla often receives criticism for its lack of Assassin’s, however I enjoyed exploring the hidden Bureaus. This shot certainly shows off why they are such a delight to uncover. I like the angle of this capture as it encompasses the fiery Assassin symbol with Eivor stood in the centre. I love the shadow work, especially Eivor’s. This photo is full of mystery and intent, and it makes me want to fire up the game again. Edward Kenway Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos I had to end this week with a celebration of everyone’s favourite Pirate. It is very much a pirate’s life for this seafaring Assassin. Edward brought about a change to the formula and the reception was favourable. I love this capture, a beautiful celebratory shot in the modern format. The sea, sand, outfit and sky are a pleasure to look at. Happy Birthday Edward Kenway! Link: https://twitter.com/frameholdphotos/status/1634255117544202257?s=46&t=rIujpeSq9644fgpRWA_xMA And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 25th June - 1st July 2022: Origins Edition Community Share 2 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Adventure Begins Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s first capture comes from @ DawnX90 over on Twitter. Let’s start at the beginning, just like the first shot this week. I love the colours of this photo and the way it has been captured. It looks just like concept art to me, with its broad showcase of Siwa. I remember this scene very well and how I felt the first time I experienced it, truly breath-taking stuff. Siwa has to be one of the best looking locations in the game. 2) Vibrant Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Photo number two comes from @ Salad_VP over on Twitter. This capture stood out to me the moment I saw it. In fact, both shots in this set were stunning and it was hard to pick between them. The positioning of Bayek, on what looks like a statue, is perfect against the backdrop of this incredible sky. It feels like Bayek has been teleported here through the spray of purple behind him. Full credit for playing with the colours to create this amazing shot. 3) Minimal Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins This week’s third shot comes from @ _Virtualtourism a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number three comes from a must see set of shots. The minimalist nature of this capture is what makes it so exceptional. What baffles me is how Virtual Tourism even managed to see this moment in the first place. Wonderful timing with Senu flying just above the rocks below. I really like how the colours are toned down to give such a peaceful feel. Definitely checkout the other two shots as they showcase the simplistic brilliance of the Pyramids. 4) Bayek the Warrior Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP number four comes from @ missroseplays a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number four comes from the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC. An overwhelming shot here of Bayek against a deadly foe. I like this shot as it captures Bayek in combat which is something I don’t see as often. The main man looks awesome in his armour with a stance that shows he is ready for anything, even something not of this world. This shot is all about timing and it has been perfectly achieved. 5) Goodbye Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @ CosmosThief over on Twitter. I felt like this shot deserved to be the final selection of our 4 week Assassins Creed Origins celebration showcase. A fine capture of Bayek watching the sun set. I like to think that this is Bayek at the end of his adventure, finding solace after everything that’s happened. A beautiful final shot, thank you to everyone who has taken part. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 13th - 19th August 2022 Community Share 20 Aug 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s showcase is in collaboration with VPGamersUK . Each capture is my pick from the daily themes. Thank you to everyone who participated. 1) Columns Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Theme: Architecture This week’s first capture comes from @ 6VAC1 over on Twitter. First up we have a beautiful shot of some columns in Odyssey. When it comes to architecture the Assassin’s Creed games are some of the best places to take photos. The sheer volume of buildings within a single game is off the scale. I picked this shot due to the angle and colours. This capture really does give off a sense of height and grandeur. The saturation adding to the details, it’s no wonder Ubisoft have been commended for their building design. Link to set 2) Frigg Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Theme: Citizens Photo number two comes from @ dpruttz_vp a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Next up we have a Citizen of Asgard, who is also a former lover of Odin. I did enjoy Frigg and Havi’s team up at the start of the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC. It is a shame it is such a small section. This awesome shot really catches the eye, with the fiery background and the excellent pose from Frigg. I am very impressed with how the details of her outfit have been highlighted, mostly thanks to the blurring of the background. What an amazing piece of virtual photography. 3) Fox Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Theme: Wildlife This week’s third shot comes from @ PodToGo a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number three was an easy choice, I love foxes and this photo is one of the best I have seen of that animal. As I have said before, Ubisoft have been perfecting the art of nature in their games of late. The pose of the fox in this shot is adorable and credit to PodToGo for finding this moment. I would love to know how long the Virtual Photographer waited to get this picture. I am really liking the portrait aspect for this capture as it encompasses the stance of the fox so well. A truly wonderful piece of wildlife VP. Link to set 4) Out of the Desert Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins Theme: Assassins VP number four comes from @ Jakeste66386991 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community . What can I say about this capture other than, it is jaw-dropping. This gorgeous silhouette of Bayek has to be one of my favourite’s pieces of virtual photography since I have been running these articles. I never really add borders to my shots but I must say the white around the edges of this one just makes the photo pop. I love the way Bayek is walking across the dunes towards the sun with the rays casting shadows behind him. What an incredible shot. 5) Sickles Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Theme: Weapons The final capture of the week comes from @ petta_velan a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. This week's final shot depicts an Egyptian Viking readying his sickle swords. I remember when these weapons were added during the Wrath of the Druids DLC, they were a great addition to the game. I actually think they go very well with the Egyptian armour too which, of course, also released with that DLC. I really like how the sickles are showcased here, allowing us to see the engravings. It’s cool how they match the bracers and tattoos, giving Eivor a proper warrior feel. Link to set And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Louise (TheNerdyArcher) Joins The Ones Who Came Before Writing Team News Share 20 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: Louise // TheNerdyArcher Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to announce that community member Louise (@ TheNerdyArcher ) is joining The Ones Who Came Before / Isu_network! Louise is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of ' The Mentor's Guild ' and ' Scholars of the Creed ' . She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB's Writing Team, we aim to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Throughout 2024 and beyond, TOWCB will be working on a variety of projects covering the series 🦅 Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for updates! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Louise (TheNerdyArcher) is a UK Assassin's Creed community ambassador and former member of The Mentor's Guild and 'Scholars of the Creed' community. She is an Archaeology graduate and passionate historian. By joining TOWCB Writing Team, we aimed to provide her with structured guidance, early access to transmedia, and a platform for her written works. Louise left the program in 2025 to focus on her studies. Louise // TheNerdyArcher

Assassin's Creed Winter Wallpaper Collection Released Community Share 20 Dec 2025 Written By: Edited By: Frame Hold Photography TOWCB Team Back To Database We are pleased to announce that our very own Frame Hold Photography from TOWCB Core Team has released an Assassin's Creed Winter Wallpaper collection! Feel free to use them however you see fit, and let us know in the comments which version is your favourite! Merry Creedmas Assassins! Happy Holidays! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Frame Hold Photography is a passionate Virtual Photographer who joined our Video Content Creation Team in Summer 2022, as we began our efforts to break away from solely written content. During a period of uncertainty for TOWCB website, FHP stepped up and took on the role of Site Manager, overseeing our restoration efforts. Our website today now sits at the top of many Google searches📈 Outside of AC, she is also a full time editor and visual effects artist on TV commercials, and has been putting her skills to use in the community by creating epic Assassin's Creed tribute videos, miniature figure painting videos and editing episodes of our Rally the Creed podcast! Frame Hold Photography

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 13th September Community Share 26 Sept 2024 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Renzo Back To Database Welcome to the biweekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every two weeks we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run by the TOWCB VP team. We have been monitoring the hashtag and the community hub to see all your wonderful shots. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed Blade in the Dark Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ saskiaemmischVP The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge: @ CapturesByRenzo Renzo Saskia has recently become one of my favourite artists in the whole virtual photography community, and this shot proves why. During the last couple of weeks, she has consistently delivered so many breathtaking captures for this general theme, and this shot definitely stood out from the rest. This is a wonderful piece of art. I love the way the colours fade from brighter tones in the upper part of the shot to absolute darkness below the protagonist. In addition to that I want to compliment the composition, as well as lighting and the use of depth of field in this capture. Basim’s silhouette looks great with the sun behind him casting rays of light into the scene. In my opinion, this shot is a worthy winner for this general theme, and I want to congratulate Saskia for that. I am looking forward to seeing more of her work in the future. Aaron “I have faced my past. My pain. Embraced it”. If you think back to the release of Assassin’s Creed Mirage there was that standout image of Basim surrounded by the red smoke. For me this shot gives off the same vibes thanks to the gorgeous mix of light, fog and shadows. I adore how well the colours work creating an almost coffee glass approach. That warm orange hue is delightful, and Basim’s stance is so good. Basim appears to be rising from the darkness mirroring the split personality he portrays in the story. The shadows can often betray you but the one who embraces them will be rewarded. I really hope this isn’t the last we see of this complex character. Breathtaking Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ WonDerNooB_VP Selected by @ _Virtualtourism “No man should pass from this world without knowing some kindness”. Assassin’s Creed is one of the video game series that is so much more than its title suggests. Yeah, there is the inevitable battle of good and evil, but it is the locations and landscapes that often have people coming back for more. Here we have a picturesque shot of the environment in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. There is so much to like about this capture with the wide range of landscapes bringing together contrasting colour tones. That snowcapped mountain with the birds in the sky is stunning, and the water with the reflection is ultimately the most impressive part of this shot. A truly spectacular photo of the Greek world. I am Vengeance Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @ PodToGo Selected by @ Falconswift87 “And as for those who thought to bind me…should any of them still walk the earth, I so look forward to our reunion. But until that day…a new world awaits”. I did not need to pick the quote this week, Pod did all the work for me. A chilling yet powerful statement from Basim as Assassin’s Creed Mirage concludes. I feel the black and white really works with this shot, as it resembles a fade out to the story. The whites of the robes really pop and the shadow work on Basim’s face is a dream. Like Pod I too enjoy using the Valhalla outfit at the end of the game. It seems fitting given we know where he is going. Plus, that snake on the arm shows the Loki side has arrived. A fantastic capture of a man focused on his path. Spirit of the Night Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ futurescreed Selected by @ TuridTorkil “Every land has its spirits.” The Glowecestrescire arc is excellent for spooky shots, thanks to the gothic atmosphere and the Mari Lwyd outfit. It then carries over nicely into the Irish DLC where the jump scares intensify. This portrait of Eivor wearing the skull mask and hood looks so intimidating. I really like how the colours look clean and rich. The skull with a sprinkling of light touching it adds to the dramatic effect. I think Eivor plays the role of dark spirit sent from Odin really well. With Halloween just around the corner this shot serves as great inspiration. Senu Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Defalt368 Selected by @ TuridTorkil “May the gods smile upon you.” Senu is such a pivotal character to the Assassin’s Creed Origins story. Her connection to Bayek is deep and becomes somewhat spiritual with Senu reminding Bayek of Khemu. Senu rejoins with Bayek before he sets off on his quest for vengeance and becomes his close companion. I feel Josh has captured the elegance and beauty of the Bonelli Eagle. There is a softness to her look, but you can also tell she means business. With the trees and shrubs in the background it seems like Senu is a wild bird rather than a Medjay’s companion. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young