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This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: 20th - 26th August 2022 Community Share 27 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 capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Kassandra & Ikaros Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey This week’s first capture comes from @ thewolfkissedVP a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. First up we have a delightful shot of Kassandra and Ikaros having an intimate moment. The timing to achieve such a capture is impeccable. This has to be up there with one of my favourite photos from Assassin's Creed Odyssey. I have to mention the use of colour, it really is done to perfection. The photo looks almost painting like in how it is presented. I think Kevin has really captured the bond between Kassandra and Ikaros, beautiful work. 2) Scenic Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Photo number two comes from @ Huldera1 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Next up we have a wonderful shot of the sun reflecting off the water in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. At first glance this photo could be mistaken for real life. The details and ambiance are so magnificently captured. I really like the person out on the boat, and the snow topped mountains in the distance. It is worth checking out the full set using the link below. These are some of the best atmospheric shots I have seen. Link to set 3) Brotherhood Game: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood This week’s third shot comes from @ FrameHoldPhotos a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. It is Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood week for the AC15 celebration, and it felt wrong not to include a shot from that game. Lucky for me we have someone who is great at capturing moments in the older games. What I love about this shot is how it represents playing the game. We are in the perspective of the player and that is something not often seen in the newer games. The deep colours in this shot are splendid and the red of Ezio’s outfit really stands out. A classical capture from a legendary game. 4) Altair Game: Assassin’s Creed VP number four comes from @ Subject_72 a member of our Assassin’s Creed VP Twitter Community. Photo number four continues the themes of the previous shot. Traditional in style, we see the Assassin who started it all. This is a beautifully constructed shot that amplifies a game that is 15 years old. You can see why a remake is so sort after. The colours here are fantastic and I love how Altar stands out amongst the crowd. It is great to see lots of captures from the older games, I hope it continues after the celebrations come to an end. 5) Ice Cold Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla The final capture of the week comes from @ Spiggy_Smalls over on Twitter. The final shot appeared on my feed this week and I could not help but admire it. There is so much to like about this photo. Obviously the positioning of this shot is the standout with the camera looking through the trees. However that is not the only thing I love about this capture. I really like that Eivor’s sat on the horse atop a rock, looking out over the lands. The church in the distance, masked by the fog is a fantastic addition. What a stunning photo, worthy of being on a canvas. 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

🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! Review Share 20 Nov 2010 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) WIP Back To Database Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! 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)

Assassin's Creed: Dawn of Ragnarok Promo Event: Life-Sized Ice Sculptures Events Share 18 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database During the promotional campaign for Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok in March 2022, Ubisoft hosted a unique one-day pop-up event outside of the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall in Utrecht, Netherlands. The mall, which is also connected to Utrecht Station Central, hosted two life-sized ice sculptures of Odin and Surtr, and acted as an excellent photo opportunity for both shoppers and travellers alike. Ubisoft also invited a number of social media influencers to promote the event, such as Instagram star Rudi Wijnen and Streamer Joost Bouhof. This event no doubt took a lot of effort to maintain due to the cold temperatures needed to prevent the ice from melting, making it easily one of the most unusual and memorable Assassin's Creed promotional stunts in recent memory, largely due to the difficulties caused by the pandemic. We here at TOWCB noticed that this event slid under the radar for many fans, so we wanted to recognise and highlight the creative efforts of those involved. We hope to see more Assassin's Creed ice sculptures at future events! Here are some images from the event from a variety of sources. Image by Rick Broers https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6-GCcAYxv/ Photo by officialyarasky https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7BZsigTjF/ Images by uberquin Photo by officialyarasky https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7BZsigTjF/ Image via Ubisoft Belgium https://twitter.com/ubisoftbe/status/1501931592570204165 Image via Rudi Wijnen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roediementair/ Image via Joost Bouhof https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca60eRxNTw7/ Image via Joost Bouhof https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca60eRxNTw7/ Photo by kayip_c_gaming Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7B4EMopIH/ Promo event by kayip_c_gaming Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca7B4EMopIH/ Photo by uberquin Sutr the Frost Giant by uberquin https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6-oMAo4pc/ Photo by uberquin https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca6-oMAo4pc/ Image by gamemeneer Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca61L6pMwR6/ Image by gamemeneer Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca61L6pMwR6/ Image by meesdix Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca69dWGKh4f/ Ice Ice Image by itzseda https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbss6h1In9h/ Ice tease Image via PopUpBrandStores https://www.instagram.com/popupbrandstores/ Here is a promotional video produced by Ubisoft showcasing the event. Source 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)

Full Breakdown of the Launch Trailer for Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC Analysis Share 15 Nov 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Hayden Bird Back To Database The launch trailer for Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory has finally arrived, giving us our best look yet at the story, characters, locations, and new features coming with this highly anticipated DLC. Here’s a complete breakdown of everything shown in the trailer. First of all, a big thanks to Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed community team for providing us early access to the launch trailer. A Deadly Chase in AlUla The trailer opens with an intense scene set in AlUla, where Basim is seen chasing down a member of a new enemy faction known as the Robbers. He quickly catches the target and eliminates him with his hidden blade in an action-packed start to the adventure. How the DLC Begins We then jump to a moment that takes place before the DLC story starts. Players must visit Dervis in his shop in Baghdad to begin the new quest titled “A Call from the Past.” Interestingly, the DLC is also accessible in two ways: It unlocks naturally when players begin the Head of the Snake mission in the base game. OR it can be started immediately from the main menu when launching a new game. Arriving in AlUla Next, we see Basim finally arriving in AlUla with some beautiful shots of the region, including a cinematic moment of him riding a camel through Hegra. The region looks stunning and packed with exploration potential. Basim’s Personal Journey We then see Basim and Dervis resting at a campfire during their journey. Basim holds a brooch crafted from a blue ceramic tile, taken from the home where he once lived with his father. This is a strong emotional anchor for the story. Basim reveals that he has come to AlUla to seek out his father, who he hasn’t seen in many years. New Faces and Rising Tensions A new character appears in the trailer, telling Basim that lawlessness has plagued the AlUla region for a long time. This reinforces just how dangerous the area has become. Basim later infiltrates a fortified location in search of his father. By this point, he has already learned that the Robbers are involved in his father’s disappearance, leading to several tense confrontations. Landmarks & Parkour Moments The trailer then highlights several iconic locations and dynamic shots: Basim standing before Elephant Rock after defeating a group of enemies. A great parkour sequence near Musa ibn Nusayr Fort. These visuals suggest that AlUla will be one of Mirage’s most visually unique regions. Fears and Hopes In a small camp outside the town, Basim tells Dervis that he is unsure what scares him more, finding his father’s resting place, or finding nothing at all. Dervis reassures him that there is still hope. Captured on Purpose? In the following scene, we see another new character who warns Basim that the men he seeks are very dangerous. In the next moment, Basim is surrounded and captured by enemies. It appears Basim intentionally allowed himself to be captured to reach the leader of this new enemy faction. Meet the Robbers' Leader: ‘Abis We then get our first official look at the Robbers’ leader, ‘Abis, who threatens Basim. Basim asks him why he was involved with his father, saying the conflict was only with him. Somehow, Basim escapes from the prison and attempts to attack ‘Abis, but ‘Abis anticipates Basim’s moves and counters his attacks. New Features & Improvements The trailer also showcases several updates coming to Assassin’s Creed Mirage , including: Enhanced parkour mechanics New Animus Sequence missions Additional gameplay improvements New Outfits and Weapons Next, we get a look at the three new outfits, three new dagger skins, and two new sword skins that will be available in the upcoming updates. The third purple outfit could be a reward from the Animus Sequences. It looks really cool and now it's actually a Hidden One outfit, so we can’t see Basim’s face, haha. A Final, Mysterious Tease In the final scene, we see Basim walking toward a mysterious cave. Inside, there is an Assassin’s Creed insignia banner. It could be an Isu cave or a new Hidden One bureau in AlUla. We’ll have to wait until November 18 to find out. Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory launches on November 18 and adds more than six hours of new content to Assassin's Creed Mirage, and it will be free for all players. What do you think about the new launch trailer, and how excited are you for the Assassin's Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory DLC? Share your thoughts below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Zephryss is a passionate social media manager based in India who joined TOWCB's Social Media Team in Summer 2024 to help the team prepare for coverage of Assassin's Creed Shadows news and updates. Recently, he completed his Masters degree in Electrical Engineering and is now preparing to take on a PhD. He loves video games very much, and since childhood has enjoyed playing various types of games in different genres He also has 3 gaming channels (Zephryss, Assassin Zephryss & Spider Zephryss) where he uploads gameplay videos regularly. Zephryss

6 ways to stay entertained in the Assassin's Creed Community during Isolation Other Share 14 Apr 2020 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Self-isolating can be draining, leaving you feeling unmotivated and bored. Thankfully, members of the Assassin's Creed community have been coming up with ways to keep us all entertained during these difficult times. Here are six things to do in the Assassin's Creed community during isolation. 6: Support Streamers A number of streamers are playing Assassin's Creed games on a regular basis, giving you the chance to return to the series. Even if you miss a stream, you can still watch it at a later date. Here are a number of channels providing regular streams. Did we miss you? Send us a message , and we'll add you to the list! Phantom Blade Cosplay Fizhy KingZeke92 LazerzZ 5: Assassin's Creed Board Games Board games are a great way to pass the time and can provide hours of entertainment for all the family. Our fan Stuart has been playing Assassin's Creed Monopoly, but a number of games are available. You can even pick up a pack of Assassin's Creed Top Trumps if you're looking for something simple! 4: HomeCon 2020 HomeCon 2020 may be over, but you can still watch all of the panels on Twitch for £4.99 or free with Amazon Prime. It really was a fantastic event, and you can learn more about it here. Paul Amos has also announced that 'Creed-Con', an online Assassin's Creed event will be happening next month, so stay tuned! 3: Fanart Community members have been producing a ton of fan art, and it's a great time to hone your skills and perfect your techniques! Here are some of our favourites so far! 2: Assassin's Creed Jigsaws Jigsaws are another great way to pass the time, and can keep you entertained for days, possibly even weeks! Our fan Vale has been piecing together Connor from Assassin's Creed III, but a number of puzzles are available. 1: Play the games Assassin's Creed is a huge series, and there's a ton of content you may have missed upon release. Now is the perfect time to purchase that DLC, pick up the spin-off games you never had time to play, or just fill the gap in your collection. Who knows, you might even pick up another language and learn some history! Most importantly though, it's something to keep you entertained during isolation. 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)

Quick-Fire Community Questions - Round 6: Daniel Nagy (AC Hungaria Admin) Community Interview Share 30 Apr 2019 Written By: Edited By: Ashlea Blackett Colum Blackett Back To Database Ashlea: Please tell us a little bit about yourself? Daniel: Thanks for having me. My name’s Daniel Nagy, but in the virtual world a lot of people know me as AidanLynge. I’m one of the admin of the Assassin’s Creed Hungária community, which is a hungarian group with a lot of good people. I’m 25 years old. I’m still a student but still learning programming for my future job. Ashlea: When did you become a fan of Assassin's Creed? Daniel: A day after my elementary school we went to my friend’s house and decided to play something cool. We first played Need for Speed, but that doesn’t help us to relax, after that he showed a DVD box, the name’s Assassin’s Creed. I think we played it on XP, so it was really cool and enjoyable. That’s the time I still playing this awesome franchise. Ashlea: Which was the first game you played? Daniel: Just as I mentioned before, Assassin’s Creed was the first one I played, I really enjoyed, at first I didn’t care about the lore or the main characters, but then it really got me. Ashlea: How did the Assassin's Creed Hungary Fan Community arrise? How big is the community? Daniel: This is a hard job to keep the balance in the community. To be honest, I was once another "group" or "community” admin, but that was not working properly. After that I met this one, which is very attractive and developing, and the perfect place for me. The community is very big, if I count the facebook page and group, I can say we are definitely growing and we want to keep that going. We have great admins, who are the biggest fans in the community, and that’s why they’re the best, but the community as well. Ashlea: What projects have Assassin's Creed Hungary worked on? Daniel: My personal project is kinda like a lore base series which will be the Assassin’s Creed Hungary Lore in our mother language, so it takes a lot of time to work on this project. With the other admins we have a plan to participate in an IT event to represent us. Also we’re planning to go one of the AC Symphony concert in the future from Milano. Ashlea: What are the challenges you have found in managing a community? Daniel: Stay active! That’s our motto, but this is the truth. Beside of the work in AC Hungária, we’re managing this community as a hobby as well. We’re really like to work as main job in this community and everyday give content to our loyal members. Ashlea: Have you attended any Assassin's Creed events? Daniel: We had little events when Assassin’s Creed Revelations and Black Flag came out. The company who worked in as a publisher in our country organised these events. We could try the new games before the day it should be released and there were a lot of competition where you could win a lot of AC related gifts. Ashlea: Have you ever attended any events in cosplay? Daniel: Actually not, I didn’t do any cosplay at all, but it’s good to see that our community are trying to make awesome outfits and collectibles on their own creativity. Ashlea: What are the future plans of your community? Where do you See yourselves in one year? Daniel: We have high hope to work with Ubisoft on our common project as well. Ashlea: What are your prediction for Assassin's Creed in 2020? Daniel: I really want to go back to Rome, which was a rumour, that we could able to go back to the ancient Rome, but honestly, I really love playing in different eras, but I could see an AC, which could be play in Hungary. I don’t say that’s impossible, but our history is not so popular abroad. My fellow admins say they could really imagine a Far East or a Viking story as well…which could be possible because of the new rumours. I could really enjoy that as well. Ashlea: What is your favourite part of being a community member? Daniel: To belong somewhere. I’m not a popular guy, who really enjoys the late night’s or drinking parties. I really like helping people to understand this amazing world of Assassin’s Creed. This is my relief, this is my "job”, but also a hobby as well and I could see myself as a director of our community later. Ashlea: What are your highlights from being a part of the Assassin's Creed community? Daniel: I joined this community about half a year ago and we’re planning to celebrate the 2nd anniversary. This is a really big step for me as well, because we can meet each other, not just sitting behind our desk and chat with each other. We’re really proud of the community. They’re the best for us and we love this feeling. Ashlea: Which is your favourite Assassin's Creed game? Daniel: Hard to decide on that, because i really loved every part of it, but if I have to decide, then I should say Rogue. Strange, but it was a really big turn on the franchise where we were Assassins once, but then joined the Templars. I also love Revelations, it was an emotionally rich game of the franchise where we finished the Ezio’s line, I really like that as well. But in the new direction of the game, I really love Odyssey as well. I’ve never played an RPG before Origins, so it was a really good way to know this RPG world, also loves Greek history as well. Which game made you fall in love with the franchise? The first one. If I don’t know that I could barely imagine myself in here as well. It started me thinking that could be an awesome franchise and here we are after so many games of it, and still loving it. Ashlea: What is your favourite item in your assassin's creed collection? Daniel: I wish I could collect more of these thing, because I only buy the books/comics and the games, but I have the Freedom Cry edition of AC3 and Buccaneer Edition of Black Flag. When I set my own apartment, I’m going to start collecting every collectible I could have. We would like to thank Daniel for joining us for this round of Quick-Fire Community Questions. You can find the AC Hungaria Community on: Facebook (Group) Website 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

TOWCB 5 Year Anniversary News Share 18 Sept 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Check out the ways in which we celebrated our 5 year anniversary! New Website Launched On the 10th August 2019 we launched our new website! The site is one of our most ambitious projects to date, and provides an interactive platform for members of our passionate community. We will be working hard to provide regular content that is both interesting and engaging. Stay tuned for more. Brotherhood of Venice Interview We released an interview with Thibaud de la Touanne, Founder of Triton Noir, the Montreal based studio behind Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice. You can read it here. Follower of Romulus Giveaway We ran a giveaway for an exclusive Follower of Romulus Figure from the AC Brotherhood of Venice tabletop board game, kindly donated by the Triton Noir team! Congrats to our fan Shell from the UK for winning this limited edition prize! Bundle Giveaways To celebrate the launch of our new website, and 5 years as an Assassin's Creed community, Ubisoft kindly donated a range of items for a giveaway! Congrats to our fans Cole from the US and Nader from Egypt for winning the epic merchandise bundles! Assassin's Creed Movie Interview We released an interview with Chris Wildgoose, Weapons Concept Artist on the Assassin's Creed Movie! You can read it here Giveaway We teamed up with Lisa Zaman and ran an art giveaway! Three lucky winners received exclusive art prints to add to their collections! Congratulations to Peter from Denmark, Joseph from Michigan and Adrienn from Hungary! We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported TOWCB, and hope to see you all again in August of next year for the year 6 celebrations! 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)

Q&A with Nadia Verrucci Interview Share 10 Jun 2017 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Our Admin Col_96 and several Assassin's Creed Community Members had the opportunity to ask Nadia Verrucci questions on her Assassin's Creed experience. (Voice of Juno, Teodora Cobntano and Dilara in Assassin's Creed) Col: Hey Nadia, thanks for joining us today! Before we get started with the Q&A, could you tell us a bit about your work for Assassin’s Creed? Nadia: My work with Assassin's Creed has been very fun! I went in to audition for Sister Teodora, and then I didn't hear back for quite awhile so it was a really nice surprise when I landed the role. I thought an Assassin/Nun/Brothel Owner was a pretty kick-ass part! Somehow, that role segued into voicing Juno...I can't remember an actual audition for that, so I'm not sure if I went in or if it was just offered. I have a terrible memory! And of course, playing Juno has been so fun, I love that people have such different opinions and responses to her character. Col: Juno was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, when she spoke with Desmond Miles. Since then, she has appeared in nearly every Assassin’s Creed Game. What do you like about playing Juno? What attracted you to her? Nadia: I love that Juno is a complicated character. I know that she's a main villain in the series but she's not a cardboard cutout baddie. She's definitely a manipulator - she has a goal and she'll do what she needs to do to achieve it. But what she went through with Aita allowed us to see a different side of her, which I think makes her so much more interesting to watch and portray. Col: How much editing is required to make Juno’s voice sound the way it does? Nadia: To be honest, I'm not exactly sure what they do in the studio once I'm done voicing. As far as I can tell, there's an echo added to varying degrees and (in later games) whatever effects they need to make her voice sound like it's coming through the wires/equipment. But it definitely sounds like my own voice underneath all that! Col: How many of the Assassin’s Creed Games have you played? Nadia: I've watched a lot of the cutscenes, and I've even watched some videos of other people making their way through various games, but I've never actually played one the games myself! Col: Did you see the Assassin’s Creed Movie. If so, what did you think of it? Nadia: Oh boy, everyone asks me that question and honestly, I felt a bit lukewarm about it. I thought it started off quite interestingly, but there was a "glossing over" of characters and storyline that I didn't enjoy. The look of the movie was great, though; the action and parkour was pretty amazing. Col: Juno was recently revealed on the Cover of Assassin’s Creed: Uprising #6 . Have you read any of the Titan Comics? Nadia: Someone else mentioned that to me recently so of course I went online to check it out! It's a pretty nice cover, I quite liked it. I've never been into comic books in general, but I think I'm actually going to pick a few up and give them a try; I love to read and having recently met many artists at the Utica Comicon, I have a new appreciation for the work that goes into creating them. So get back to me in a few months and I'll tell you what I thought of them! Community Questions Claudio Canfora: What is your opinion of the evolution of Juno through the differents games and other media platforms? Nadia: I'm not sure where Juno has appeared on other media platforms, other than perhaps the comics. As far as I know she doesn't appear in any of the short films, but never having seen them I'm not 100% sure. As for her evolution throughout the games, I feel like she was given a really great back story that not only helped make the FC storyline clear, but allowed her to be a nicely fleshed out character. She has been relegated to The Grey to try to regain strength, so now I'm just hoping she can break out and take over the world!! ;) Pan Demonium: How do you prepare for your voice acting role? Do you play the games or just watch gameplay, footage etc? Nadia: When I go into the studio there's only the text to work off of. I can't remember every game situation, but I think there have been times when I received the script in advance and instances when I didn't, but in the latter case it would've been just to record a few lines. Oftentimes while I'm recording they'll do what's called "performance capture", which is like motion capture but just for your face, so they'll use that later to help create Juno’s scenes. From one game to the next it can quite awhile, so I just go back to review where we left off in terms of her storyline, so that I can get back into the swing of it. Sorrosyss : Did anything directly inspire your voice for Juno? Nadia: I didn't really have any kind of reference point for Juno before I started voicing her, so I really went off of her text at the beginning. And of course, the writers and voice directors have input, too! I felt like the spirit of her character came pretty easily, I just played around with the best way to place my voice. I ended up pitching a bit lower, since I felt that sounded more grounded and commanding, and smoothed it out a bit for a more mysterious and hypnotic feel. I hope that comes across! Special Thanks to Nadia for taking part in the Q+A, and to everyone who sent in a question. You can find Nadia on: Instagram 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 Bold Assassin's Creed Syndicate Analysis Share 9 Aug 2024 Written By: Edited By: Hayden Bird Colum Blackett Back To Database ‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ was released by Ubisoft in October 2015, and was immediately greeted with fan love and appreciation. This game was the next title in the long-running ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise, and it had fans excited because the historical setting of this game would be the most “modern” game yet in the series, meaning it is the closest time period yet to modern day, set during the year 1868 in London, England during the famous Industrial Revolution. This era in history was a great setting for the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series to visit, as ‘Syndicate’ had to change things up in order to accurately match the authenticity of London during this time. Previous games in the series were set further back in history, so certain elements of the era then were quite different from that of previous historical settings. Specifically the way people lived and acted during the Industrial Revolution. People did not walk around carrying swords on their hip anymore, so Ubisoft had a challenge to be different from the past games, while also making the game realistic to players. Ubisoft took a different path than what fans were used to in prior ‘Assassin’s Creed’ games, by still giving players the option to carry around and customize their weapons, but not sacrificing the authenticity of the era. Ubisoft introduced new weapons and elements to the game that made sense in this era. Instead of the protagonists carrying around swords and daggers strapped to their belt, they instead introduced weapons like cane swords, which were common during that era, having a large blade hidden inside a cane like one used for walking with. Ubisoft also brought in brass knuckles for the very first time, which also made sense in this era. Gang members and fight clubs used these weapons frequently, making Ubisoft’s attempt at historical accuracy a win for the company, and still giving fans the full experience of an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game without worsening the experience for players and still being true to the Industrial Revolution in London. Aside from the weapons that were introduced in ‘Syndicate’ , Ubisoft also had to face the challenge of transportation. People in this era got places in different ways. Horse pulled carriages were very popular at the time, the majority of all major streets in the Industrial Revolution London were filled with carriages. So, Ubisoft brought the idea of being able to ride or hijack carriages seen throughout London, and being able to use them as destruction devices. You were able to ram other carriages to damage or destroy enemies pursuing you, or to catch the enemies running away you had to chase down. It was a breath of fresh air for the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, as mechanics like this were brand new in the franchise. Ubisoft also had to introduce the important railroad system. Trains were all the rage in this time period in London, the railroads were used for everything back then, meaning Ubisoft had a challenge to implement this important factor in history into their game. Ubisoft took advantage of the opportunity and made the trains a big part of the game itself. A little bit into the story, gamers had access to their own train. It was a full on homebase almost, as everything you did in the game, a lot of it came down to your train. You could earn money through a safe on the train or upgrade your supplies needed within your group. It was a great deal of creativity from Ubisoft, as they had to face big challenges by being authentic to 1860’s London. Ubisoft also introduced the first dual-protagonist system, a first for the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series. Previous games had you mostly playing as one character throughout the majority of the game, so having the choice to switch characters freely at any time was a welcome addition to the series. Ubisoft also allowed gamers to play as a female protagonist for the very first time. This was significant as every prior playable main character in the games were all males. The two characters were twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye, who you could switch to either character at any time during the game. The game even had missions designated for both Jacob and Evie, meaning you got to use both of them equally in the story, and still have the freedom to play as whichever Assassin you wanted while exploring London and what the massive city had to offer. Many fans had been asking for years to finally play as a female protagonist, and Ubisoft delivered in ‘Syndicate’ . The template of a male and female lead-character in an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game was in a way, a precursor to the future of the series. Each game following ‘Syndicate’ offered the choice to play as either a male or female protagonist, showing the importance that ‘Syndicate’ provided. Ubisoft also brought in a very unique addition to the series by introducing a new way to scale and zip across buildings and towers across London, a new rope launching grappling hook. This device was used to quickly climb buildings and structures without the need to take time to physically scale the walls. This was a very unique addition for fans as it was something unseen in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series before. Gamers could use the rope launcher to escape combat against enemies and quickly disappear without taking too much damage or being outnumbered, and the players were also able to use this launcher as a zipline. If two buildings were far apart and separated, gamers could zipline across the two structures and get there fast without having to possibly encounter enemies and be spotted in your stealth mission. There were also unique things you could do while on the zipline, such as assassinating enemies from above. This addition to the game is still a fan-favorite feature in the series that made ‘Syndicate’ more unique than any other ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game. ‘ Syndicate ’ faced a hefty challenge for its release. The ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game released prior to this one, ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ in 2014 was met with criticism upon its launch. There were a significant amount of bugs and glitches that hurt the fan experience when the game was released. These issues put Ubisoft in a tough position. They now had to gain the trust back from the fanbase, and also had to deliver a relatively bug-free game after ‘Unity’ . Ubisoft had not been in this position before, so they knew they had to recover with ‘Syndicate’ as expectations were high and fans wanted to see a game that was well-polished and fun to play. ‘Syndicate’ , however, did in fact, deliver to fans who were anticipating its launch. The game ran and played particularly well when fans got their hands on the game in late 2015. ‘Syndicate’ also marks a significant timeline for the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series. It is considered the “final” game of the original formula that the series was created in. After the launch of ‘Syndicate’ , Ubisoft took a full year off from creating an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game. This was a major decision from Ubisoft, as all games in the series were annual releases, meaning a new game was launched every calendar year. The tradition of annual releases in the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series began in the early days of the franchise. The last time an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game before ‘Syndicate’ took a year break was 2009’s ‘Assassin’s Creed II’ . Which was released two years after the original game in the series which began in 2007. Ever since then, an ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game was released every single year until the break in 2016. Ubisoft decided to reevaluate the series after ‘Syndicate’ and instead of releasing a major game that year, they focused their time on the anticipated release of the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ movie, and also released a collection of remastered games in the series that were heavily popular among fans, which was always labeled ‘The Ezio Collection’ which was a tribute to the franchises most famous protagonist, Ezio Auditore, who had three main solo games to himself, a feat still no other game in the series has yet to touch, as Ezio is still the only main character to receive more than one game. So the launch of this collection of his three games were a requested bundle from fans and gamers alike. While 2016 was technically a year off for the franchise, it was still filled with great and exciting projects for fans to enjoy while they waited for the next installment in the series. ‘Syndicate’ still marks the close of the classic format the series had grown so accustomed to, because after the 2016 pause, Ubisoft rebooted the franchise with ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ in October 2017. This game was very unlike any previous games in the series. It introduced new gameplay mechanics the series had never seen, and created features like a new leveling system, RPG elements, an abilities tab where you can equip special abilities to give you an edge against enemies, and even the option to scan and examine your surroundings with your own pet eagle. These features were brand new to the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series, and for the majority of the fanbase, were a welcome sight. The significance of ‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ still remains evident today. It was clearly the most creatively bold game in the series to date, and also the end of a long run of recurring mechanics and gameplay styles that the series had known for so long. Ubisoft had to be bold with ‘Syndicate’ as they knew the importance of the game, knowing they were under pressure to regain fan trust and to create a game that plays and feels authentic to the Industrial Revolution in London. It took a lot of creative gambles and choices to historically honor this era of history while also remaining true to the ‘Assassin’s Creed’ series and its fanbase. It's unclear if Ubisoft will touch on a similar time period again as we have seen with ‘Syndicate’ , or if the series will visit another era this relatively far up in history, but the importance and relevance of this game remains vital. Ubisoft faced a big challenge while creating ‘Syndicate’ , as they had many important factors to take into account while creating this game. To many gamers today, ‘Syndicate’ remains a fan favorite for the series, and clearly the boldest ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game to date. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Hayden is a passionate Freelance Writer based in South Carolina who joined TOWCB's Writing Team in 2020 during the Covid-19 Pandemic, writing articles on all things Assassin's Creed Valhalla. He left the group to focus on studies, joining our Alumni program, but triumphantly returned with fresh ideas in 2024 to pick up where he left off, only this time covering Assassin's Creed Shadows. In 2025, Hayden took on the position of Team Leader for TOWCB's Writing Team, overseeing article releases, assisting with recruitment and providing assistance with internal operations. Hayden Bird

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Review - A Return to Form for the Series Reviews Share 1 Feb 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Review contains MAJOR Spoilers Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes players on an adventure like no other, offering stunning landscapes and captivating story arcs that make it both refreshing and memorable. At times, it feels like the missing link for the franchise, striking a good balance between the classic Assassin's Creed games and the new RPG formula, masterfully bridging the gap. The game carefully finds a way of improving upon many of the core Assassin's Creed pillars, by adding more options than ever before. Although marketed as a Viking adventure game, Valhalla takes a successful leap of faith towards taking the series back to its roots, easily making it one of the most exciting and ambitious Assassin’s Creed projects in recent years. It’s a return to form for the series, offering countless opportunities for the player to master their own playstyle, and immerse themselves in another historical adventure. Valhalla is a game that looks to the past to drive the series forward, and operates in the space between old and new, making it feel both familiar and original. The narrative arc story structure overseen by the guiding hand of Assassin's Creed legend Darby McDevitt and his team of scribes are proof that the series should never be afraid to move away from annual releases, and take the time it needs to improve. It’s immediately clear that a great deal of thought and care went into building the game, that goes way beyond simple fan service. It's an injection of pure creativity, and a game that should not be missed. The World There's never a dull moment whilst exploring the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, as it continues to find ways to surprise the player at every turn. It's the first game in the series to properly fill the open world, making it feel dynamic and life-like. As you navigate the Kingdom's of England, you'll discover endless activities such as flyting challenges, cursed areas, world events and more. Exploration is encouraged, and the game rewards you for your efforts, generously offering XP points (skill levels) and loot upon completion. The open world experience is unlocked early on in the game, and as you tie up loose ends in Norway, you can sale across the sea to England to begin the adventure. On your travels you'll begin to uncover the mysteries of England, as you encounter numerous puzzles that keep the player guessing. Puzzles are a nice feature that really add to the experience, taking different forms throughout the game. Valhalla always finds a new way to challenge the player, and encourages the use of all the tools at your disposal to overcome them. Sometimes you need to destroy a weak wooden wall to loot a chest, or shoot at a door's barricade through a slightly open window to enter. There are a ton of scenarios like this that test your skills as a player, and require a bit of thought before gaining a reward. There's also a great range of environments to explore, from the snow-covered mountains of Norway, to the swamps of East Anglia, so don't be surprised if you start to clock up hours using the photo mode tool as you capture each perfect moment. It's easily one of the most visually impressive games ever created, and it's immediately noticeable. England is vast in Assassins' Creed Valhalla, and each kingdom feels different to the last. There's always something new to discover, so look out for the coloured dots on your mini map to uncover loot that will improve your progress. You can hit bandit camps to gain supplies such as leather and iron ore, which can be used to upgrade weaponry and armour, or complete a raid on a monastery to steal riches that can be used to expand the Ravensthorpe settlement. Crafting is an essential part of the game, and you use the spoils of your adventures to do this. One thing that sets Valhalla apart from recent entries is the unpredictability of the world. In some ways, it feels like a Far Cry game, where many animals will attack on sight. It's not just animals though, as Eivor will be pursued from all angles whilst navigating the world. Bandits hide in bushes, waiting for your arrival. Zealots track you across the map. Snakes crawl out from under barrels. Wolves strike as you stalk the perimeter of an enemy camp. You never know when you may need to defend yourself, the world you explore is as deadly as it is beautiful. This level of unpredictability adds to the experience and brings it to life. It's extremely easy to gain XP just by playing the game, and you are constantly rewarded just for taking part. The cities of England bare a resemblance to that of Assassin's Creed I, taking the series all the way back to its origins. London has featured in the franchise several times, but the version you see in Valhalla is very different, a city built in the shadow of Roman ruins. All across England you'll see the ruins, and get a sense of the widespread influence the Romans had over the land. Even the Ravensthorpe settlement holds a memory of the past, as the pillars of an ancient structure can be seen near the longhouse. Later in the game you can even help local resident Octavian establish a museum, to house all of the Roman artefacts you discover. As the game progresses, you will also travel to surprise locations, such as Vinland and Jotunheim, expanding your reach even further. There's so much to see and do in Valhalla, and all your adventures start from Ravensthorpe. The settlement itself is right in the heart of England, and acts as a base for Eivor and the Raven clan. It's in a good central location, close to the city of Leicester. All narrative arcs begin and end here, as the wind calls you back to Randvi to report your progress. By upgrading and improving the settlement, you open up new opportunities such as ship customisation, romance options and legendary animal hunting rewards. You also give the members of Ravensthorpe a purpose within the clan, and make it feel more like a bustling hub. It's worth taking the time to familarise yourself with the settlement, as the traders and locals are essential to Eivor's progression. For example, Gunnar the blacksmith will upgrade weaponary and armour, whilst Reda will supply new contracts and rare items. The cultural differences are represented well in Valhalla, as Saxon cities feel completely different to those inhabited by Vikings. Architecturally, the structures are also different, and even the layout of the cities differ. Religious beliefs are also depicted well in Valhalla, as Viking sites such as Jorvik have statues for the Gods, and locals will even reference them in conversation. You will hear talk of Thor, Freja and Tyr as you walk the streets of Jorvik, whilst you will hear about Jesus Christ and God when wandering a Saxon city. Even the camps held by bandits or cultists all contrast each other. Accents also appear in the game depending on location, making a southern territory easily distinguishable from a Northern one. The team did a great job at adding variety in all areas, and that's just one of the reasons players will get lost in the expansive world, and fall in love with the game. Story The main story of Assassin's Creed Valhalla is both interesting and memorable by using creative storytelling methods to slot nicely into Assassin's Creed lore. Players will embark on a twisting adventure with many story arcs, all different from one another and each with their own characters, plot twists and outcomes. There's no doubt that it's a great story set in the Assassin's Creed universe, and one of the longest games in the series. Completing Valhalla's main storyline will easily take you over 100 hours, but that's not a bad thing. It's a gripping tale with many twists and turns, and you'll notice that each quest has a purpose, as Eivor looks to build alliances across the map. Both Cecilie Stenspil and Magnus Bruun deliver a solid performance, full of charisma and making Eivor an instantly likeable character. Valhalla immediately gives you the key to your own destiny, as for the first time ever, you play as one character with a male and female counterpart. You can let the Animus decide, or change Eivor's appearance at any time. The reasoning behind this is explained later in the game, and it's a clever take on previously established Assassin's Creed lore. The game is, in some ways, the spiritual successor to Black Flag, as Eivor works alongside the Assassins (Hidden Ones), without joining them, as their motives align. Both sides benefit from this union, and even manage to cooperate without any disagreements. Basim sees potential in Eivor straight away, even when Hytham questions it. You have the opportunity to play like a true Assassin, without even joining the Brotherhood. The Order of Ancients returns, once again acting as a shadow group influencing the land. Information on the group is scarce, so Eivor has to investigate to find out names and motives. Once you commence your hunt, taking down one member will lead to information on another, making it possible to track them all down. All information gained on the order will be stored in the inventory, giving you hints on where to begin your search. In this sense, it's more like the original Assassin's Creed game, where Altair had to learn information before beginning an assassination mission. It really adds to the game, as you focus your efforts on wiping out the Order. There's also an incredible new animation when you assassinate a target, rewarding players with some of the best white room conversations in the entire franchise. By eliminating members of the Order, you also gain new abilities and skills from Hytham, such as the Leap of Faith, making it worthwhile, and maintaining the 'Assassin's Creed' elements of the game. As we have already mentioned, all narrative arcs begin and end at the Ravensthorpe homestead. This is thanks to a new feature called the Alliance Map. Eivor pledges allegiance to a cause taking part in one of England's territorys, and travels there to form an alliance for the Raven Clan. The new quest system introduces self contained story arcs that act more like chapters of a book than scattered missions. Each quest has a purpose, and brings Eivor closer to a resolution in the area. Some are definitely stronger and more memorable than others, with some feeling like filler content at times, but they all come together eventually to form a solid conclusion. Although the game moves away from side quests, and replaces them with narrative moments and activities such as World Events and Cursed Areas, it does a really good job at filling the open world, and even provides some great moments for Eivor. World Events are some of the best side activities since AC III's homestead missions, and really help to develop Eivor's character further. You don't have to take part in them, as they are not tracked on the quest radar, but should you choose to ignore them, you are missing out on some great content. They all vary in tone, but it's worth taking some time away from the main storyline to focus on the other activities available in the world, even just to increase your XP or improve your charisma through flyting battles. You won't regret it. In regards to Isu lore and First Civilisation history, Ubisoft really cranks it up a notch. By completing the Animus Anomalies, the secrets of the past begin to unravel, and with the help of the settlement seer, Eivor begins to understand. For new players, the twist regarding Havi and Eivor is no doubt confusing, but for old fans, it makes a lot of sense. Assassin's Creed Black Flag introduced the concept of Sages, reincarnations of Juno's husband Aita. Valhalla takes this notion even further, as the Scandinavian Isu look to return after the impending disaster known as the Great Catastrophe using a supercomputer that can insert DNA and memories into the human gene pool. Essentially, the Isu technology leads to reincarnation, explaining the gender choice option in Valhalla. Later on in the story, players will begin to understand the true motives of Loki, another member of the Scandanavian Isu known for his trickery and mischief. The story also replicates the end game of the series protagonist Juno, who returned using cloning before being destroyed by Charlotte de la Cruz in the comics. It's a really interesting twist for the series that takes Isu lore to another level, and adds a fresh layer. The end sequence in the vault also ties up a number of loose ends, regarding Layla and the fate of Desmond Miles. The ending of AC III finally has consequences, and the modern day storyline in Valhalla finds a way to resolve another potential disaster. The Heir of Memories arc also concludes, and a new chapter begins with Isu antagonists, which could ultimately lead to Loki becoming a bigger threat than Juno ever was. It's an interesting conclusion and drives the series forward by adapting established plot points. Hopefully we see this storyline progress further in the DLC content One big difference to its predecessor Assassin's Creed Odyssey is that a romance option doesn't lurk around every corner, but when they do, they generally occur through the main storyline. Romances in Valhalla feel more developed than the previous entry, as it requires Eivor to spend time with them on quests before anything blossoms, rather than rushing into a forced connection. It's also possible to be rejected for the first time, something which occurs if an NPC already has a partner or simply isn't interested, adding increased depth to the romance options. Another change is the replacement of the usual eagle companion in favour of a raven, something which roots itself in Norse mythology, as Odin had two ravens called Huginn and Muninn. Although Valhalla has brutality in combat, the tone of the game never really drops to a dark place like in previous games, and even when faced with loss, Eivor remains determined and composed. The character is clearly very different to what the marketing campaign tried to portray. One thing I did notice however is that the game sometimes shies away from the dark history of Viking culture, with themes such as slavery and pillaging barely even getting a mention. Assassin's Creed should never be afraid to tackle difficult topics, especially those which are a part of history, and it's interesting that these themes didn't really surface. Characters in the main storyline are all very different from each other, and each narrative arc introduces a conflict which Eivor can resolve. The game does a really good job at hiding character motives, making betrayal even more surprising. Basim for example arouses suspicion early on, but it takes a full playthrough to discover his true intentions. Each arc has you question those around you, as you secure the future of the kingdom. The wrong decision can have catastrophic consequences, as seen in Linconshire when selecting a new ealdorman. Choices never stray too far from a fixed narrative, and although the game has multiple endings, they all follow a similar pattern. The dialogue options have also been improved, and do a good job at reflecting Eivor's personality, rather than giving options that don't line up with their personality. Eivor isn't a blank slate, and no matter which version you play, you're going to see the same character traits. Voice acting in particular is solid across the board, with a number of stand-out performances making the game even more immersive. Players feel compelled to resolve each narrative arc, and return back to the settlement to progress. The balance of tone is well executed, and although the game is long, it's worth the time spent. The big issue with the main storyline is that the Hidden Ones are completely sidelined, barely featuring in comparison to the alliance objectives. New fans to the series can't learn much about the Brotherhood, as Eivor doesn't join them in the main storyline. At times it feels like the Hidden Ones don't matter to the story, as you can go several narrative arcs without speaking to Hytham or Basim. You always have the chance to wipe out members of the Order, but the majority of members are just ordinary civilians, and unless you read all the documents, you don't even know why you're eliminating them. You do get a satisfactory white room conversation, but there are only a few members of the Order you will actually remember upon completion. It's such a shame to see the Assassin / Templar conflict becoming an afterthought. Even though the game has a great story set in the Assassin's Creed world in terms of lore, the pre-cursor Assassins are barely involved in that. It's clear that this has to be the last 'warrior' game, and future instalments need to circle back to playing as an established Assassin before the franchise loses it's identity entirely. That being said, Valhalla finds a different narrative to explore, and finds a way to bring history to life. Perhaps Viking Assassins are not to be, but there is still time for DLC content to explore a different path for Eivor. Parkour Parkour is a fundamental pillar of the Assassin's Creed series, and is probably the only franchise pillar that Valhalla hasn't progressed forward with in some way. At times it can be frustrating, as Eivor takes a long time to navigate rooftops, making a direct approach more and more tempting. Although parkour feels slow and uninspired, the game offers a huge variety of environments that increase opportunities. There are more chances than ever before to use parkour to your advantage, with many climbable buildings. Scaffolding is also something that features in the game, making it easy to navigate from above. Some buildings such as churches and longhouses also have open windows which can act as an entry point, or you can destroy a stained glass window to gain entry, all of which are accessible thanks to parkour. Beams and ropes also string houses together to increase parkour opportunities, and cities such as York also have Roman ruins scattered around which can also be navigated. Tree parkour makes a return, and is a useful feature that should never have been removed. Some of the trees you scale are incredibly impressive, especially in Jötunheimr, and it's great to see this feature restored. Don't expect style though, as Eivor's parkour technique is basic at best. With Basim away and Hytham injured it's clear that not much (if any) training was given. It can be argued that Vikings didn't know parkour, but it's something players expect in an Assassin's Creed game. Parkour in Valhalla isn't great, but the opportunities to do so are. It's clear that the team spent a great deal of time creating parkour environments, and even when it feels sluggish, it can be to the players benefit to use it. Animus Anomalies are probably biggest parkour failure in the game, as players control Layla Hassan through tedious platform challenges to gain information. Although the feature itself is a cool idea, parkour makes it difficult to enjoy, as it lacks any sense of urgency. Looking back to Arno Dorian, or even Desmond Miles, it's clear that parkour has drastically lost any sense of speed or style, which is a shame. Valhalla brings back floating pages to collect, which takes Eivor on numerous parkour routes. It's nice to see them return, but they can take a few attempts to collect. Parkour clearly needs to be revamped, but the many opportunities that Valhalla introduces to do so are a welcome addition to the franchise, opening many new doors and avenues of exploration. Some of the best parkour opportunities in the game are at the Hidden Ones bureaus, which are scattered across the map. Not only do they provide a glimpse at the history of an Assassin precursor group that once worked in the shadows, but they also store unique gear and codex pages. Each bureau is different, but they all require puzzle solving and parkour to unlock their secrets. To find them, you have to think like an Assassin in the cities of England. That may mean performing a leap of faith, or climbing down into the sewers to remain undetected. Parkour is the theme that links them all, as players will navigate platforms and beams resembling the Assassin tombs from the earlier games. Some of the bureaus even require swimming from room to room to gain the rewards. Once inside, you'll notice that the main areas resemble the bureaus visited by Altair in Assassin's Creed 1, and show that the order worked in similar ways hundreds of years before the days of Masyaf. Valhalla provides countless parkour opportunities, but the bureaus are a great example of how the game at times encourages players to use it to gain rewards, something that should definitely make a comeback in the next game. Stealth There's a lot to be said about the stealth in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Essentially, some of the features are the peak of the series, and others are below the standard we expect. Stealth in general is excellent, but social stealth needs to be improved. At times. Valhalla feels like the stealthiest Assassin's Creed game, thanks to fresh kill animations, new environments such as corn fields, and the return of bushes, haybales and tree parkour. As was the case with parkour, the game also provides many opportunities to be stealthy, with the majority of quests accommodating to both a direct or sneaky approach. Enemy camps can be cleared out without arousing suspicions. Air assassinations, sleep/poison arrows, haybale kills and distraction techniques can all be used to replicate an Assassin approach. The whistle also returns, drawing enemies towards their swift end, and bodies can be hidden to prevent the alarm being raised. Alarms, which first appeared in AC4, can also be destroyed to prevent the arrival of reinforcements. In cult camps, bone charms will rattle if you proceed too quickly, alerting enemies. The best stealth feature that makes a return is the instant kill hidden blade assassination, which now has a timing mechanism to dispatch your enemies. Odyssey had enemies that would survive a hidden blade assassination, no matter how much you upgraded your weapons, and in turn encouraged players to ignore stealth and use combat instead. Valhalla takes the best elements of stealth from previous entries and adds even more to make it better than ever. At the start of the game, players choose a level of social stealth. Selecting the hardest difficulty makes it nearly impossible, no matter how hard you try. Blending with crowds returns, as guards protect entry points. Distrust areas are introduced, meaning Eivor wears a hooded cloak to avoid detection. Numerous social stealth mechanics return, and new ones are added so that hiding in plain sight is no longer a thing of the past. Monks walk the streets in groups, imitating the original game, and the very first trailer ever released for the franchise. It's great to see so many old features such as bench stealth find their way back to the series. Eivor can also pretend to cook food, or weave fabric in social spaces, but with guards on high alert in distrust areas, it can be very difficult. The point of social stealth is to be inconspicuous in public spaces, and mask within surroundings. Valhalla has many great stealth features, but social stealth is something that definitely needs more work to be useful. The main problem is that guards see everything, and immediately attack. After 150 hours of game time, I'm still not sure if I have managed to perfect social stealth. You can also lure drunks to distract guards, or throw your torch to make them move. This is extremely useful if you're looking to enter a restricted area. Shooting from a haybale, or destroying hanging objects to make a kill look like an accident can also be used. It's clear that stealth has been expanded upon, and is much better than the options available in Odyssey. Odin's sight is a watered down version of eagle vision, acting as a short burst, but seems to be much more useful than 'Animus pulse'. Improvements have definitely been made in this field, as it highlights everything from loot chests to story hints. Order of Ancient members are taken out using the Hidden Blade, which has a new kill animation. Sýnin can distract guards, and locate points of entry. There are so many ways to be stealthy in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and although it can be challenging, mastering it and all the tools you posses is no doubt one of the best stealth experiences created by Ubisoft. Take the time you need to become the stealthy Viking the marketing campaign tried to hide. There's much more to Valhalla than raids and brutality. The only tools that are missing really are throwing knives and varied smoke bombs (Revelations). Combat In combat, timing is everything. Every enemy has a weakness, and Eivor can exploit that. The game highlights them so it's obvious where to aim. Valhalla has a huge variety of attacks that can be used, including abilities that you unlock throughout the game. Successful blocks or attacks build up adrenaline which make abilities available to use, and severely damage or finish off opponents in a brutal fashion. New animations have been created especially for the game, which is immediately clear, as Eivor will decapitate or even impale enemies with their own weapons. Even after 60+ hours, you will encounter new enemies in the world, waiting to finish you off with their unique attacks. Some kick dirt to distract, and others spill oil and light it to set you ablaze. The great variety of enemies makes the game more interesting, as combat requires a balance between timing and thought to determine how to proceed. Dodging is another good way to beat enemies, but stamina does deplete, leaving you open to attacks. It's also worth noting that not all attacks can be blocked, making dodging or even a well timed shot a better solution. The Rope Dart from Assassin's Creed III makes a return in the form of a harpoon, which is an ability you earn through skill points, and it's more lethal than ever. Rather than hanging enemies from trees as Connor did, Eivor lasso's them closer before striking. At any moment in the main storyline, a boss battle can occur. You can literally be thrown into a fight at any moment, sometimes after a tough battle mission, leaving you unprepared. Another problem the boss battles present are the locations in which they take place. The worst offenders in the game for this are the Faravid, where you unexpectedly fight in a tiny room, and Ivar the Boneless, where you fight on the edge of a cliff. The environments in which you fight make all the difference, and small spaces make it even more difficult. In general, most fights will take place in the open world, which can be used to your advantage. The new health system means that you restore depleting health through the rations bag, which you fill with berries and other food sources on your travels. You can also leave a fight at any point to find food, as raspberry bushes are scattered across the land. Mushrooms are another food source, but some will make Eivor sick, so choose carefully. Crafting returns in a basic form, giving you the option to upgrade quivers and ration bags, increasing their effectiveness. Gear and Weapons also also upgradable through collected resources, improving your stats. You can visit the settlement blacksmith to improve the quality of gear and weaponry, but this does change it's appearance, and not always for the better. Arrows can't be crafted like they could be in Origins and Odyssey, but there's a good chance you'll find them in the world, especially close to a boss fight or random tree stumps in forests. The three hardest enemies to defeat in the game are: The Daughters of Lerion, Zealots and Legendary Beasts. Defeating all of them will take time, as each of them need to be slowly weakened in different ways. There are so many different abilities in the game that can be used in combat, so you have to find the ones that work for your own personal playstyle. Valhalla brings back the three bow options, resembling Bayek's weaponry choices. Each of them are useful in different situations, and mixed with abilities are a deadly combination. If an enemy camp is near water, Eivor can blow a horn to signal a raid. This can be especially useful in a higher level area. Combat is diverse and interesting in Valhalla, and is the most improved upon feature from Odyssey other than having a more dynamic open world. It's a standout feature, and really improves upon everything that has come before. Customisation Customisation certainly is mixed in Valhalla, as you can edit Eivor's gender, hair or tattoos at any point. There are so many combinations that can make the character look like a different person entirely, if you choose to. Ubisoft even added the AC Sisterhood logo as a tattoo, a nice touch and something which means a lot to fans. Unfortunately there are a lack of in-game clothing options, with limited rewards for players. You can randomly stumble across cloaks, pants and other gear items in the world, or pay a random wanderer for their location. They come in the form of sets, but there are only nine to be discovered. Rather than unique loot everywhere. the game focusses on the player unearthing set pieces through completing puzzles and raiding tombs. You can also unlock a few gear pieces through the Ubisoft Store rewards, such as Bayek's Robes, or as always, visit the Helix Store to pay for a better set. It's a shame that there are such limited options in the game, as most RPG's usually reward the player in this way. For example, it would have been nice if every Zealot defeated unlocked new and unique armour pieces or weaponry, rather than gaining a medallion for Hytham and another name ticked off a list. In comparison to Origins and Odyssey, Valhalla really does limit the player's look, with only a few customisation options. Items do change upon upgrading with the Blacksmith at the settlement, but until the Transmogrification feature is introduced, players are left with the gear quality they have upgraded to, which isn't always the best visually. You can of course, visit Reda, the local trader, but it's highly unlikely he will have anything of value in terms of gear. Although gear and weapons are limited in Valhalla, what the game does have can sometimes be enough. You can unlock First Civilisation weapons such as Excalibur and Mjolnir, a must-have for fans of the Isu. These weapons take a great deal of time and effort to unlock, but they are amongst the best in the game. You are also, on occasion, be randomly rewarded for your choices in the game. For example, Petra will gift Eivor a bow, and Ubba will send a weapon if your relationship with him is intact. If Assassin's Creed continues to go down the RPG road, it should consider rewarding players more frequently. Another feature that should return in future games is the robe dye from Assassin's Creed Brotherhood era. There's no reason why we shouldn't be able to determine clothing colours. Simple features like this, and the increased gear options would have dramatically improved the overall player customisation experience. It would have been nice if Basim had gifted Eivor a version of his own gear, which features a unique blade and similar robes to Altair. When travelling to Vinland, Eivor unlocks a special Native American inspired outfit, but unfortunately it can't be brought back to England. The same goes for the Gloucestshire narrative arc, where Eivor wears a skull mask. There's no real reason to take these items out of players inventory, but the game does, and you can only wear them during the short time you spend in each area. The Drakkar owned by Eivor can also be customized upon upgrading the settlement, but again, the options are limited, with most unique and interesting appearance choices purchasable on the Helix Store. Figureheads are the best in-game Drakkar options, really changing the look and making it more interesting. The settlement itself has a few cosmetic features that you can edit as you play, to make make it feel more like home. Add a little figure of Odin to Immerse yourself in Norse culture before you raid, or head to the stables to change the appearance of your horse. There are a few options in-game, my favourite of which turns the horse into a giant wolf. You can also change the appearance of the bird companion, something which is new to Valhalla. Sýnin can change colour, or even into a different bird entirely such as a pigeon. The most useful customisation features added in the game are the horse upgrades, where you can train your mount to swim or improve its speed and stamina. This makes a real difference when exploring the open world. The options that are available in-game are pretty good, but it's clear that players are limited when you look at the crazy items available for purchase in the Helix store. Hopefully future updates will make more items available. Conclusion There's no doubt that Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a great game, and feels like a real adventure for the player. Although it's probably the longest game in the series, it's well worth diving into and exploring in detail. The gender options and exceptional voice acting performances make the game worth playing twice, so you might get 400+ hours out of Valhalla and really get your money's worth. It's a dynamic experience with a real variety of opportunities that'll still bring surprises even after 150+ hours of gaming. The open world is expansive and interesting, full of activities scattered around beautiful landscapes. Dig beneath the surface and discover new Desmond Miles audio clips and the return of the Database, once again written by Shaun Hastings. The story has meaning, in terms of the overarching narrative. Assassin's Creed often has a problem of carrying forward plot points and acting as stand-alone entries. Valhalla is a conclusion in some ways, wrapping up multiple plot points dating back years, and in other ways, it's the start of something new. The rebirth of the Hidden Ones in England and even the evolution of the Order of Ancients into the Templar Orders slowly begins to take place. There's no doubt that future Assassin's Creed games will be exciting, and the series is certainly heading in the right direction. Valhalla has a great story set in the Assassin's Creed universe, and is the first game in years to provide an actual cliffhanger ending with consequences for the modern day. Eivor is a great character, who only gets better as the game goes on. One thing that stands out for me is the amount of care that went into producing the game. There are so many features from the older games such as social stealth, and even sounds from previous entries that find their way back to the series. The game provides a unique perspective on the series, and develops lore plot points further that were established years ago. It's clear that the series should never rush to meet annual releases, and should take whatever time required to produce games of this quality. In my opinion, Valhalla is the last pre-cursor Assassin game needed, and stories of this kind have now wrapped up, establishing how and why the two orders were created. Future games should once again explore an established brotherhood, with players being a member of the Assassin order. That being said, this is an extremely strong entry that has a great story and characters, and is a game that will be remembered. Valhalla is the final piece of the puzzle, and a return to form for the series. 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)

“Odin-sama is with us!”: A Product Review for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor Nendoroid Figure Review Share 7 Jun 2022 Written By: Edited By: Michael Smith Ashlea Blackett Back To Database From the latest entry in the popular stealth action game series "Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla" comes a Nendoroid of Eivor! The fine details of Eivor's head tattoo and his weapons have been faithfully captured in Nendoroid form. Optional parts include Eivor's axes, shield and the Hidden Blade, allowing you to recreate stealth poses and action scenes alike! Eivor's companion Sýnin is included in the set as well so you can enjoy displaying them together! Good Smile Company is a Japanese figurine manufacturer for pop culture properties that was founded in 2001. Their most recognisable line of products is their Nendoroid Series of figures. This series takes characters from various properties (primarily anime) and creates a chibi (“small person”) version in a vinyl figurine that is articulated and provided with multiple parts to allow the user to pose their character in different positions for display. Pre-orders for the “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Eivor” Nendoroid started in the summer of 2021 and after a brief delay, was released in May 2022. The Eivor (technically Havi) Nendoroid comes packaged with an assembled figurine in the Raven Clan armor, two axes (Varin’s Axe and the Raider Axe), the Raven Clan Shield, two sets of arms, hands, and legs in either straight or bent poses, two hidden blades (retracted and extended) and a base with stand to pose your Nendoroid. In addition, a mini version of Eivor’s animal companion Sýnin is included with two sets of wings and a separate stand to pose the bird. The included instruction pamphlet comes in Japanese and English, and provides a breakdown of the included 38 pieces and instructions on how to attach the parts to pose the Nendoroid in multiple poses, as well as how to interchange the faceplate from the stern gaze to the battle cry face, giving the figure even more personality and options for display. The Nendoroid stands at approximately 100mm in height with the included stand. Posing the Nendoroid is a simple process of snapping ball-jointed pieces into the figure and rotating the multiple locations throughout the figure until you reach the pose of choice. The included base provides support as the figure cannot stand on its own (easily). The small pieces can be hard to handle in humid or warm environments as while I was playing with the figure in the Texas humidity, I started dropping the tiny pieces such as the hands and hidden blade, as my skin was becoming slick with sweat. However, the paint on the figure did not show any wear to my oily skin, which is a plus in my eyes. This figure also comes with an extra neck joint which to my dismay, I broke the original joint when trying to remove it as I believed it to be a different type of joint. This was broken as I was wiggling the piece out of its holder in the neck with a pair of pliers. The instructions inform that if you have issues removing a piece, to run it under warm water to relax the vinyl (something I did not read). I spent the morning recreating the instructions and taking photos. The Nendroid has such a personality that with camera angles and patience, I was able to take some fun action shots that reminded me of the Photo Mode within Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This figurine looks great amongst my other Eivor statues and adds a lot to my collection in whole as having not only a licensed product from Ubisoft, but one that is in an animated style that the standard moulded pose of a statue allows me to change up how I want to display the figure. I also love seeing a poseable Sýnin as the support animals of the games do not get enough love in the merchandise. The Nendoroid Series #1661 - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor is available now from the Good Smile Company website for $54.99 USD. Prices and availability will vary by location. The Nendoroid line will also be releasing an Ezio Auditore figure later this year, which I hope to purchase once they are out of the currently closed pre-order phase. Add the Eivor Nendoroid to your collection today! Amazon comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Mike Smith is a collector of all things Assassin's Creed and a major supporter of transmedia who joined TOWCB as a writer from 2021 - 2024 With nearly a full library of Assassin's Creed media, his work explored the universe in order of Genetic Memory. Notably, his Assassin's Creed Timeline became an essential tool for fans of the franchise looking to complete their collection and consume AC media in a particular order. Michael Smith

Art Reveal: Hidden Blade by Shaya Fury Other Share 2 Aug 2025 Written By: Edited By: Shaya Fury Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to reveal a new piece of art by a member of TOWCB's Art Team! Shaya Fury is a talented watercolour artist who is known in the community for vibrant paintings, fusing together a blend of colours and styles. We particularly admire the use of red droplets in this piece which act as blood, bringing a sense of danger to the still, majestic beauty of the blade. Shaya states on X that this piece was created in her travel sketch book, making it even more impressive as she may have been at work or on the move at the time of it's inception. It's easy to see why this piece has already picked up praise online from the official Assassin's Creed X account, and we hope to see her tackle more interpretations of Ezio in future art projects. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Stay tuned for more exclusive art reveals here at The Ones Who Came Before. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Shaya Fury is an Artist/Freelance Illustrator who blends a mix of traditional methods with digital designs to create art pieces that are bursting with colour. Shaya Fury

Mentor Memories: Remembering the Mentors Guild In Memoriam Share 19 Jul 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Just before the unexpected closure of The Mentors Guild program, members of the Assassin's Creed community shared their favourite memories in the now deleted Discord server, all of which we saved just in time. A huge network of AC Community members came together to reflect on their fondest moments and accomplishments. In Part one of this two-part series, we share with you some of those wonderful memories so that TMG is never forgotten. Many members of the Mentors Guild (TMG) have now been moved across to the Star Player 2.0 Program, which is set to be bigger and better for community members, increasing opportunities by merging several Ubisoft community programs together. It's clear that TMG meant a lot to the AC Community, and its closure leaves a huge gap. We here at TOWCB will miss The Mentors Guild, especially what it became in its later days, where it opened the doors to hundreds of community members around the world, but we also look forward to seeing what comes next with the creation of the Star Player 2.0 program, which will hopefully be just as rewarding for content creators and community members. LOADING FIRMWARE..... ANIMUS 2.02....... MEMORIES SYNCHRONISING...... Memory by Kim Beacham from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''I have started getting voice actors from the AC series to sign my Mentors Guild T-shirt that we got last year with their favourite quotes or character names. Only a few weeks ago added to it, were Nolan North (Desmond Miles) and Matt Ryan. I'm going to get it signed by as many Assassin's Creed voice actors as I can by attending events and cons to then frame it once full, front and back!'' By Dave Woodward from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom My fondest Mentors Guild Memories. ''Getting the opportunity to represent the AC brand through The Mentors Guild and wearing the t-shirt with pride, and letting people in our amazing community know what TMG is and what we do as fans. I got to meet the amazing members of our community. I was invited to London to see the AC Symphony and had the opportunity to go an amazing tour of London with my fellow UK member, enjoying the scenery and the company. To top the evening off, through TMG, an Assassin's Creed meet-up in a local pub was arranged before the start of the London premier of the AC Symphony, which saw Alexios himself, Michael Antonakos as a surprise guest, which made everyone attending really happy. Being able to see the AC Symphony live was something which I'll never forget. Also through myself and our Mentors in the Assassin's Creed United Kingdom group, we arranged several cosplay meet-ups which saw members of our community attending and getting the chance to meet the stars of AC franchise such as Matt Ryan (Edward Kenway), Abubakar Salim (Bayek) and Paul Amos (Jacob Frye).'' 13/7/22: '' Today marks the sad day that the Mentors Guild program will close after 5 years, I am truly grateful to have been apart of this program for the last 2 years, thank you to the Com Devs for everyone you've done Looking forward what we can do in the Star Player 2.0 program'' Memory by Louise Chase (TheNerdyArcher) from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''I think the Weapons Workshop last year was so much fun and it was great to work with some of the other Mentors! Also it got me set on the idea of making prop weapons and cosplay so I have it to thank; maybe one day I'll reveal the final piece.'' 'So you've seen the Mentor's Guild weapons which will be added into AC Valhalla - but what about the other concepts? Presenting: Viggo's Brandr'' Memory by Declan from Let's Talk Assassin's Creed ''I had no idea what to send at first but then I remembered this moment that still makes me laugh. Attending a Discord call with the epic UK Mentors in my blanket as I had Covid, and now it's become standard for me to arrive in any Discord Call wearing the blanket.'' ''I learned a lot from The Mentors Guild and made a ton of amazing friends and I hope to continue to do so with fellow Star Players'' Memory by Siobhan from Assassin's Creed United Kingdom ''So many memories to chose from! Up in the top few moments would definitely be getting our Christmas Jumpers'' ''Absolutely delighted to announce I've been invited to join the Star Player 2.0 programme! I've had a blast as part of the Mentor's Guild so I'm really looking forward to where this leads. Thank you @Ubisoft_UK and @Assassins_UK for this amazing opportunity.'' Memory by Anastasia Neuer ''I've always really liked the modern-day storyline of AC and it's a huge inspiration for my art. The majority of my AC art is dedicated to modern-day characters and Sofia Rikkin in particular. This fan art of her is the most important one for me. I want modern-day characters to get more recognition within the AC community and I'm so happy to be a part of the Mentors Guild for the chance to share my love for these characters with more people.'' Memory by Mikael from Assassin's Creed France ''Shortly after the official release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, we were offered a pack with several objects including the French press kit and the AC Valhalla face masks. It was a great moment. We opened our packages at the same time on a video call. I loved seeing the reaction of my Mentor friends when they opened and discovered their package. Fun fact: I had fun putting the AC Valhalla mask on my life-sized statue of Arno'' Memory by Kangarrru (Valorianru) Although I've only been with the guild a short time. It's been an incredible privilege. I'm from a small town outside Melbourne so the opportunities in gaming are few and far between. Joining the Guild was the biggest opportunity I'd ever received. The Guild encouraged me to create, to make new friends and engage with a community. TMG got me through the longest lockdowns in the world and gave me a support network across the world. Being able to talk with people who love something like I do. It's been an incredible opportunity and I wish I had the headspace to express just how something like this has meant to me. Thank you to all the Ubisoft team and thank you to each and every Mentor. Safety and Peace. Gratitude by GronnUlv ''Thanks to Ubisoft for their support, nothing like this has ever happened in my life before. Thank you so much for this opportunity to be a part of the Mentors Guild. I'm sad that I didn't have the opportunity to do more. But I hope that someday in this life something will get better and I will be able to return to drawing fanarts for Assassins Creed. Still, this universe occupies an important part of my life and without it I wouldn't have met many wonderful people'' We would like to say a huge thank you to all the Mentors who shared their touching stories. Do you have any Mentors Guild Memories you would like to share? Get in touch with The Ones Who Came Before ( @ACFirstCiv ) on Twitter to be featured in part 2 of this mini series dedicated to The Mentors Guild! 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)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Odin's Rune Mystery Theory Share 23 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Buckley Back To Database Numerous unexplained runes have been found around England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, a mystery that has yet to be solved. Here we will be logging all of the locations (in no particular order), and taking a deeper look at the mysterious runes, and the theories surrounding their purpose. Before we start, I'd like to thank the efforts of DarkStrider19, Jayvee and the Ubisoft Forum/ Reddit communities for all of the progress made on the mystery so far. The logo represents Odin's rune of camouflage and deception. Could that be a clue? We are encouraging our community members to continue the search, with the ultimate aim of solving the mystery. It seems that the runes are somehow connected, but the correct way to activate them has not yet been discovered. Are they leading to somewhere, like coordinates on a map, or is an action needed to begin a quest? UPDATE 24/3/21 Our article on the Odin's Rune Mystery prompted a response from Narrative Director Darby McDevitt, who confirmed that the mysterious symbols are part of a mystery that cannot be fully solved yet. After months of theorising and searching, community members can finally stop their investigations. It seems that the mystery will probably be continued in the upcoming DLC's or Seasonal Updates, but we look forward to joining the community once again one day to conclude this puzzling enigma. Rune 1 Located only a short distance away from the Ravensthorpe Settlement, the first rune can be found carved into rocks near the River Nene. Source: Jayvee Rune 2 Discovered by Reddit user Valentin0813, the second mysterious symbol can be found in Suthsexe, west of Brimclif Monastery along the coast line. You can also discover a hidden cave beneath the rune! Source Rune 3 Another rune was discovered by the Reddit community, this time in East Anglia, west of Elmenham. The marking is located next to a small pond on nearby rocks. Apparently, walking over or standing near this rune can activate a noise! You can listen to it below. Source Rune 4 Community member Andrew discovered this well hidden rune in Northern Hamtunshire, just south of Uffentune. After discovering the mysterious marking, he sent the location over to Youtuber Jayvee who covered it a video. As this rune is so hard to find, requiring Eivor to jump down several levels of mountain cliff, I highly recommend checking out the video if you're looking to find it yourself. Source Rune 5 The fifth rune was discovered members of the U bisoft Forums. In a thread dedica ted to the mystery, multiple theories are being crafted, many of which dive deep into Norse/ Isu lore. This rune can be found in Sciropshire, west of the Trent river on the base of a cliff. Once again, we see the same L shaped lettering, except this one is elevated in comparison to the first four. Rune 6 A sixth rune was found by community member Shane Reneaux, and covered by Youtuber Dark Strider in this video. To find this rune, head to Anlaf's lookout in Eurvicscire, and move a short distance away from the tower towards the steps, away from the scaffolding. Map Six Runes, or more? It seems that the runes may follow a pattern in terms of location and distance. Could another one be located in this area? It might even be that the mystery is somehow connected to the UK's leylines, areas often associated with mysterious earth energies or supernatural powers. As nine is such an important number in Norse mythology, it seems logical that there would be nine runes in the game. Are we missing three? Perhaps a sacrifice is needed near the runes to activate them? Fan Theories Twitter user BigDaddy1150 believes that the runes are of Icelandic origin, hinting at a possible meeting between The Raven Clan and Icelandic Vikings during Eivor's time in Ireland, which will be explored in the Wrath of the Druids DLC! He also adds that Odin's Illusionary Rune was used to make the bearer invisible or shape shift, such as the Viking berzerkers who took on the form, strength, and courage of bears in battle. Viking Repose By Seb McKinnon Pattinsondom from the Ubisoft Forums suggests that the mystery may be connected to a series of notes that can be found within the game. For example, a strange note that someone tried to hide from Odin can be found beneath the Well of Urdr in Asgard. Could it be connected? Stonesie87 from the Ubisoft Forums believes that the current rune locations may match the nine markers that can se seen on Eivor's skeleton! Jayvee revealed in a video that his followers have also found different strange markings. This symbol can be found on a tree in Gloucester, and also inside a tower that can only be found via an illusion Jotunheim. He suggests that perhaps Valhalla's main game may also have illusions for Eivor, rather than purely inside the dream state. Is an undiscovered item needed to trigger the illusions? Some fans claim to have discovered secret caves near the runes, so maybe one day a secret item will be found. Reddit user Acedyn22 suggests that the five Odin runes may be linked to the five senses: Touch, Sight, Taste, Smell, Sound, and maybe even Eagle Vision. Suthsexe: Illusionary Birds (Sight) East Anglia: Chime Sounds (Sound) Could there be more connections? We've hit a dead end with this mystery until future updates are made to the game, so hopefully together as a community we can find the answers! Huge thanks you to all the community members who have put so much time and energy into resolving this puzzle so far! Updates will be made to this article if more of Odin's Runes are discovered. 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)

Assassin's Creed Codename Red confirmed for 2024 release by Ubisoft Employee News Share 31 Jan 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database It seems that Assassin's Creed Codename Red has been officially confirmed for a 2024 release by a Ubisoft Employee on LinkedIn! In a post created last year advertising marketing opportunities between Ubisoft and potential partners, Arisa Lagunzad, (Business Development and Brand Partnership at Ubisoft Shanghai), stated that ''Assassin's Creed Red is set to be the biggest blockbuster of 2024”. The post has since been edited, removing the release date, suggesting that this confirmation of a release window wasn't supposed to be shared yet. According to numerous LinkedIn profiles related to employees currently assigned to Assassin's Creed: Codename Red, it would seem that the game's marketing campaign is currently being worked on behind the scenes in preparation for a full reveal, given the role of Philippe Bellemare Fraser; ''promotional trailers and announcement video editor.'' Another developer's profile suggests that the game may include naval elements, a key detail spotted by eagle-eyed Assassins. According to history, the Samurai were also seamen. It is well documented that they had their fair share of piracy as well, with the Japanese pirates roaming along the coast of China under the name of Wokou. One of the most famous examples of Japanese naval warfare supremacy was Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga had six iron-covered Ō-atakebune (Great Atakebune) made in 1576. These ships were called Tekkōsen, (iron armored ships), armed with multiple cannons and large calibre rifles leaving no quarter to the wooden enemy vessels he mostly faced). Finally, Ubisoft Shanghai revealed at their Annual Meeting 2024 meeting that they are working on Assassin's Creed Codename Red! #AssassinsCreedCodenameRed . We can't wait to learn more about Assassin's Creed: Codename Red! Stay tuned for more news and updates on Assassin's Creed here at The Ones Who Came Before. Credits Updates by Assassin's Creed News ( @ _L3vi3 ) Translation by NerdLad 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)

Christmas Giveaway: Lisa Zaman Art Community Share 24 Dec 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're proud to announce that we have collaborated with graphite portrait artist Lisa Zaman to produce a special Christmas themed Assassin's Creed art piece for our festive giveaway. Although this is new territory for Lisa, she has exceeded our expectations in producing a unique and interesting design capturing the essence of Christmas in the world of Assassins Creed. As a member of the AC Partnership Program, Lisa will be producing a variety of content for TOWCB. Back in May, she turned her attentions to the world of Assassin's Creed art, and began creating lifelike portraits of key characters. By joining the program, Lisa's work will be viewed by a larger number of community members, allowing her to build a captive audience. The partnership also means that we will be working closely with Lisa for more future art giveaways and competitions for the community. Stay tuned for more projects! 1x A5 art print for one lucky member of our community! To Enter: Follow @ACFirstCiv Follow @LisaZamanArt RT Ends 30/12/19. Open Worldwide. Good luck Assassins! Merry Christmas from TOWCB Admin Team and all our Partners! 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)

Remembering the Star Player Program In Memoriam Share 28 Nov 2023 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database After months of speculation regarding it's future, Ubisoft has officially announced that the Ubisoft Star Player program is set to be discontinued with immediate effect. The news comes as another blow to community members trying to make a name for themselves in the world of content creation. For Ubisoft community members, an invitiation to The Star Player Program meant official recognition and support, early access and attending various events around the world. It was led by a special group of people within Ubisoft who went above and beyond to create amazing opportunities for fans, and its presence will be sorely missed. Replacing The Star Player Program is The 'Ubisoft Creators Program', a new initiative which recruits members via an application process, taking into account a person's social media influence, past projects, and consistent view counts. It can be tough to gain access to the program, and the whole system seems to be focussed around providing opportunities, such as 'drops', for streamers. Of course, for former Star Players or content creators with a small audience, the new shift in structure is a disappointing one, as it may feel like Ubisoft are no longer supporting small-scale community members. Also with the termination of The Star Player Program dies 'The Mentors Order', which was supposed to replace The Mentors Guild, another well-known community initative which was disbanded back in 2022. It's currently unknown why Ubisoft keeps on shutting down fan services which give so much to community members, but we can only guess that it's related to finances or staffing shortages. Everyone who was involved in the Star Player Program knows how special it was, and it's a real shame that content creators making a name for themselves going forward will never know the excitement it brought and passion for gaming it generated. Remembering The Star Players Program Do you have any memories of the Star Player program that would like to share? Let us hear them in the comments section below! 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 Launches Educational Discovery Tour for Assassin's Creed Valhalla News Share 19 Oct 2021 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft has now launched the third entry in the Discovery Tour series, Viking Age. The non-combat educational experience allows players to explore and learn more about the places, people, and cultures of ninth-century England and Norway. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla's new educational expansion builds upon the prior releases covering Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, allowing players to freely roam the Viking era to discover more about the history and traditions of the time. This entry however takes a new approach to how players explore history. Instead of embarking on guided tours, players will assume the roles of different characters and take on quests, which aim to bring them closer to the material by putting them at the center of it. (Ubisoft Blog) Another new introduction is the inclusion of Discovery Sites, that each focus on a different element of the Vikings / Anglo-Saxons culture, including Viking Age: War & Politics, Daily Life, Religion & Magic, Myths & Legends, Science, Law & Justice, Art & Culture and Trade & Economy. Players embark on 8 quests that feature such sites that host images of items housed within the collections of Discovery Tour’s museum partners: UK’s Hampshire Cultural Trust, Preston Park Museum & Grounds, York Archaeological Trust, The British Library; Réunion des Musées Nationaux; National Museum of Denmark. The entry actively encourages players to explore the time period in an authentic, narrative driven way, in comparison to the digital museum exhibitions of Greece and Egypt, making it feel more lifelike. By engaging with stories and playing as historical characters, new opportunities for learning are created. Although the quests are relatively short, each arc contains a wealth of history in a playable format that makes the educational platform feel more personal and memorable than ever before. The two new creative pillars, “History through stories” and “Learning by doing'', really are the driving force, combining narrative threads with historical information and virtual artefacts, bringing it to life. Viking Age is the strongest entry in the Discovery Tour series, and pushes the boundaries of virtual learning even further. Storytelling is at the heart of the experience, and was designed in close collaboration with historians and archaeologists. The non-combat approach also means that the tool can be used around the world to educate pupils on historical culture, with Ubisoft recently renewing its partnership with UKIE on the Digital Schoolhouse project. This saw the company release 5000 PC codes to 52 primary schools, who are now able to access the platform in unique lessons split between virtual education and traditional. Ubisoft has also developed curriculum guides that offer customised activities and lesson plans based on the field of study and the level of the students, in partnership with the Montréal McGill University, with a grant from Mitacs. (Via Ubi Press Release) Discovery Tour: Viking Age also treats all Assassin’s Creed Valhalla fans with 11 exclusive rewards to unlock in the main game, 25 Behind-The-Scenes stations about the main game development, and 24 exploration characters. Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be free for all owners of Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla and will be available on the same platforms as the main game. The PC standalone version of Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be available via Ubisoft Connect and on the Epic Games Store for £16.99. For the very first time in the Discovery Tour franchise, Discovery Tour: Viking Age will also release as a standalone on Stadia, Luna, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S | X in early 2022. History is our playground 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)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Press Event Round-up Events Share 13 Feb 2022 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We can now reveal that on the 2nd February 2022 we attended an online Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok Press event! Here are some of the key points! - Dawn of Ragnarok (DOR) kicks off Year 2 of Assassin's Creed Valhalla Content. - It follows the personal saga of Odin, as he attempts to rescue his son, Baldr. - DOR Expands Viking Mythology: Svartalfheim, a realm torn by war. - DOR Introduces Dwarven Race. Odin needs help from the Dwarves, who are hidden in 'shelters'. Follow clues to find them. Shelters vary: unusual crystal caves with vendors that can help Odin. - Odin's powers enhance core pillars. - New Divine Quality gear. - New 'Arena' Combat Game Mode - Players see a new side of Odin's personality. - Surtur's family introduced. Son of Surtur, Glod (below) - New weapon: Atgeir (polearm) - AC III DLC style powers: Upgradable. Shapeshift into a raven. X3 powers equipped at a time. System based on 'Hugr'. Rip the life force from enemies. Power of Rebirth. Reanimate the dead to join Odin. You can exchange health for more Hugr. - Power of Muspelheim: Odin becomes a Musphel to leave combat. Social Stealth Tool. Blend In. - New DLC HUD. Greener. - You can exchange health for more Hugr. - New enemies: Musphels. There are various Musphel enemies: Flame Keepers can reanimate fallen foe so best to kill them first. Fire combat: Musphels use lava attacks - Recommended power level: 340. - Game requires you to adapt: change powers often. We would like to say a big thank you to Ubisoft_UK and The Mentors Guild for the opportunity! Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, the most ambitious expansion in franchise history releases 10th March 2022. 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)

Announcement: Two of our admins are joining The Mentors Guild! News Share 19 Oct 2020 Written By: Edited By: Ashlea Blackett Colum Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to announce that two members of TOWCB admin team, Col and Ash are officially joining The Mentors Guild! This is a huge opportunity for our community that will hopefully open many doors, and we are extremely excited to join a network of Assassin's Creed leaders around the world. We hope to help bridge the gap between community members and developers, and look forward to the future projects this community initiative will provide. We would like to say a huge thank you to the Assassin's Creed Community Development team for inviting us to join the program. What is the Mentors Guild? The Mentors Guild is a collection of Assassin’s Creed Community leaders, ranging in skillsets and areas of expertise. Members include cosplayers, artists, content creators, opinion leaders, and fan site administrators. The Mentors Guild was initiated by Ubisoft, spearheaded by Assassin's Creed Community Development team, and its members are hand chosen by Ubisoft. The Mentors Guild’s main purposes are to connect disparate community members together, assist in grass-roots community initiatives, and act as a bridge of communication between the developers and the fans for both criticism and praise. Our Admins Colum Blackett ( Col_96 // Col ) is the community admin for The Ones Who Came Before, and is joining the Mentors Guild as a community builder. Col has been a community ambassador in the UK for the last 4 years, and created TOWCB in 2014. It took a great deal of time to grow, but six years later TOWCB is a community that can be found across several different platforms and has an overall number of around 30,000 members. "It's a great honour to be selected for the Mentors Guild community program. I've spent many years within the Assassin's Creed community, and I can't wait to get started. I hope to bring a fresh wave of ideas to TMG that will help with its future. I have a ton of experience when it comes to community building, and hope to work together with fellow Mentors to create opportunities that will benefit the entire community." Trivia: Col is also an Assassin's Creed merchandise collector, and has one of the biggest collections in the UK! See more Ashlea Buckley ( Ashlea_97 // Ash) is the Editor/ Charity Project Coordinator for The Ones Who Came Before, and is joining the Mentors Guild as a community builder. Ash joined the Assassin's Creed community in 2016 during the promotional campaign for the movie, working from the shadows to keep our social media spoiler-free. She later took on the bigger role of Editor, where she reviews and edits all content published by TOWCB. At University, Ash was the Charity Officer for the Fencing society, where she helped raise money for various charities. Upon leaving, this was something she wanted to continue, and took on the additional role of Charity Project Coordinator. Ash has created several fundraising projects since joining TOWCB, most recently for The Italian Red Cross during the Coronavirus pandemic, supporting the efforts to combat the virus by providing resources and aid. To date, Ash has helped to raise over £1000 for various campaigns through Assassin's Creed community fundraisers. "It is such an honour to be selected as part of the Mentors Guild. It was definitely unexpected as I have not been involved in the Assassin's Creed community for as long as the other people in the program, having only been on the scene for the last 4 years, but it is great to see that even when working mostly behind the scenes the work I do as a part of The Ones Who Came Before doesn't go unnoticed. I really appreciate being given this opportunity to further my contributions to the franchise" Trivia: Ash has also cosplayed at several UK events, and is the host of the Rally the Creed podcast! Going Forward A new wave of members are joining the ranks from across the globe, and it's exciting times ahead for all involved. You can expect a ton of fan-led initiatives in the future, as we aim to help and inspire content creators to take the next step. We'll also be sharing community projects over on TMG social media accounts, so keep an eye out for that! Until then, you can find everything you need regarding AC here at the home of Assassin's Creed community content. 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