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Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Merchandise Guide Updated 20/3/21 By Colum Blackett Edited by Ashlea Buckley Share Here we will be logging all of the merchandise we find for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. UbiCollectibles Please note that this guide contains Amazon affiliate links, Learn more The ultimate guide for Assassin's Creed Valhalla Merchandise. Eivor's Hidden Blade Be like Eivor in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla by wearing this faithful and size-adjustable replica of the Hidden Blade or display it in your collection. Available from Ubisoft Store Xzone Cz Amazon Game Game Mania Eivor The Wolf-Kissed Figurine Eivor is a devoted and confident Viking clan leader, who is not scared of dying to protect his people. Despite his deep love for his clan, he is a lone wolf. Available from: Xzone Cz Ubisoft Store Amazon Eivor and Drakkar Figurine (30cm) Only available with the Assassin's Creed Valhalla Collector's Edition. A Viking Statuette of Eivor with her raven and Dane axe (height: 5cm). Exclusively sold on the Ubisoft Store. Apparel Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2020 Announcement T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Northern Lights T-shirt (available in Black, White, Black Heather, Athletic Heather and Ash) Available from the Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Axes T-shirt (available in Black, Black Heather, Athletic Heather and Ash) Available from the Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Eivor T-shirt (available in Black, Black Heather, Athletic Heather and Ash) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Aurora Hoodie (a vailable in Black and Carbon Grey Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Berserker Hoodie (a vailable in Black and Carbon Grey Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Nordic Hoodie Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Vikings Long Sleeve T-shirt (available in Black, Dark Grey Heather, Navy and Athletic Heather. Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Axe Snapback Hat (available in White or Charcoal Grey) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Long Sleeve T-shirt (available in Black, Dark Grey Heather, Navy and Athletic Heather) Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hoodie Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Viking Snapback Hat (available in White/ Charcoal grey) Available from Ubisoft Store Raven's Face mask Available from Ubisoft Store Axes Face mask Available from Ubisoft Store Nordic Face mask Available from Ubisoft Store Northern Lights Face Mask Available from Ubisoft Store Berserker Face Mask Available from Ubisoft Store Valhalla Face Mask Available from Ubisoft Store Viking Face Mask Available from Ubisoft Store Valhalla Crest Banner Hoodie by Difuzed Available from from Merchoid , Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Raven T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Wolf: Raven T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from , Xzone Cz , Gamlery, Fantasy Welt Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Shield T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Shield Hoodie by Difuzed. Available from Merchoid , Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Teddy Women's Hoodie by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Nordic T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Crest T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Axes T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from EMP , Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Eivor T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Women's Teddy Hoodie by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Metal Badge Snapback by Difuzed. Available from Merchoid , Xzone , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla Logo Beanie by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Cz , ActionFiguresItalia Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Tribal Baseball Hat by Difuzed. Available from Merchoid , Gamlery Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Logo Baseball Hat by Difuzed. Location unknown Assassin's Creed Valhalla: T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Snake T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from HMV , FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wolf T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from HMV , FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Woodcut Dragon T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Eivor T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla: T-shirt by Difuzed. Available from FantasyWelt De Assassin's Creed Valhalla Snapback by Difuzed. Available from Xzone Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tie Die T-shirt Available from Xzone Assassin's Creed Valhalla Longsleeve T-Shirt. Available from Merchoid Assassin's Creed Valhalla Viking Hoodie Available from Merchoid Ubisoft Heroes: Female Eivor Chibi figure, inspired from Eivor in the Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla. Available from the Ubisoft Store Ubisoft Heroes: Male Eivor Chibi figure, inspired from Eivor in the Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla. Available from the Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Leggings Available from WildBangarang Assassin's Creed Valhalla Leggings Available from WildBangarang Assassin's Creed Valhalla Pencil Skirt Available from WildBangarang Assassin's Creed Valhalla Snood Available from WildBangarang Assassin's Creed Valhalla Snood Available from WildBangarang Eivor T-shirt Available from GraphMkt Limited edition Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirts by Charli Cohen , featuring augmented reality technology Glow in the dark Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Face Mask by Volante Design Assassin's Creed Valhalla Snapback Cap by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt by AbyStyle Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt. Available from ASDA Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt. Available from ASDA Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt. Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla long sleeve T-shirt Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Sweatshirt Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Wolf T-shirt Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hoodie Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Character T-shirt Available exclusively from HMV Assassin's Creed Valhalla Green Wolf T-shirt Available exclusively from HMV Assassin's Creed Valhalla Logo Cap Available exclusively from HMV Assassin's Creed Valhalla Beanie Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Logo T-shirt Available exclusively from HMV Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raven & Symbol Hoodie Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hooded Sweater (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raven & Symbol Hoodie (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hooded Sweater Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Medium-length dress Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hammer and Symbol Hooded Sweater (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hooded Sweater (Womens) Previusly available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Axe and Hammer Long-sleeved T-shirt (Womens) Available from EMP Grey Assassin's Creed Valhalla Shield T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Feather T-shirt (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hammer and Symbol T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raven and Logo T-shirt Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Hammer and Symbol T-shirt (Womens) Available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla / Reebok Hoodie Available from the Reebok store Assassin's Creed Valhalla / Reebok Hoodie Available from the Reebok store Assassin's Creed Valhalla / Reebok Socks Available from FootLocker and the Reebok store Assassin's Creed Valhalla / Reebok Cap Available from the Reebok store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Dragon Hoodie. Available from Zavvi Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raven and Symbol Tracksuit Trousers, available from EMP Assassin's Creed Valhalla Logo Cap Available from EB Games Assassin's Creed Valhalla Crew Socks Available from EB Games Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt by BioWorld Available from EB Games Assassin's Creed Valhalla Face Masks Previously available from Geek Store Officially licensed Viking wraps by Volante Design Officially licensed Viking belt by Volante Design Officially licensed Viking cloak by Volante Design Eivor Hoodie Available from the Ubisoft Store Sigurd and Eivor Sweatshirt Available from the Ubisoft Store Will Never Die T-shirt (4 colour options) Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comics Sweatshirt Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comics Bomber Jacket Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comics Hoodie Available from the Ubisoft Store Will Never Die Hoodie Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comic Premium T-shirt Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comic Crop Top Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Raid T-shirt (4 colour options) Available from the Ubisoft Store Valhalla Comic Face Mask Available from Ubisoft Store Valhalla Face Mask Available from Volante Designs Valhalla Vintage Cap Available from Alza Assassin's Creed Valhalla Christmas Jumper Available from EMP and Impericon Assassin's Creed Valhalla Christmas Jumper Available from Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Valhalla Raven Cap Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Assassin's Creed Valhalla T-shirt Available exclusively from Ubisoft Store Brazil Previous Guides AC Odyssey AC Movie Funko Pops AC Origins AC Rogue Black Flag PART 2 PART 3 Are we missing anything? Let us know and we'll update the article Did you buy anything from the Merchandise Guide? Let us know in the comments! Merchandise

Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 7th to 25th July Community Share 10 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Back To Database Welcome to the monthly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from the AC Partnership Program. Every four weeks we will be picking our top five favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. This theme has been run alongside @Its__Gurly a valued member of our virtual photography community. Gurly’s a highly talented virtual photographer who often brings her unique style to the world of Assassin’s Creed VP. Gurly specialises in atmospheric photography, and she showcases this in all her shots. We would like to thank Gurly for taking the time to support us with this fantastic theme. Keep an eye on the site as more shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to #ACFirstCivVP for a chance to be featured. Theme: Assassin’s Creed Butterfly Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ValkyrieQ8 The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Theme Judge: @Its__Gurly Gurly I like this shot because it has the perfect amount of light and darkness. The brightness of the butterfly gives it a feel of hopefulness in the dark times we go through. Aaron Assassin’s Creed Shadows is probably one of the brutalist in the series when it comes to combat. The game really ups the gore for this entry and that’s saying something after Viking England. However, scratch the surface and you will uncover a world filled with beauty that can often be missed. I find this capture to be so peaceful and yet troubling. The leaves breaking out from the darkness look so realistic and the lighting really helps achieve this. I love how the white butterfly stands out proudly, catching the eye immediately. I like to think the butterfly is a symbol of the Assassin’s and those leaves are the templars reaching out to drag it into the abyss. Out in the Cold Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ opticsshatter.bsky.social Wildlife has always been such an important part of the Assassin’s Creed universe, probably more so since the RPG series. Ubisoft has used these animals to build a living world that assists in player immersion. You could easily boot up the game and play wildlife photographer for an hour. I have always been fond of fox captures, and this one really is up there as one of my favourites. I can’t get over how close to life it looks. The photo is really showing the graphical prowess of Shadows. The fog and tracks in the snow are amplifying the image, making it seem like an Xmas postcard. I think the winner is the tint, I find it helps elevate the shot and give it an almost artistic feel. Reflection Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @ carlswagen.bsky.social Assassin’s Creed portraits are always impressive, and that is down to the protagonists always being great subjects to capture. Like with most video games people like to shoot the main characters it’s a natural urge. What’s made this even better is the time-of-day function in the photo mode. We can now get the perfect lighting for these wonderful portraits. This shot however breaks the mould a little and that is exactly what makes it standout. The heron looks so graceful wading through the water looking for food. I like how the details of the feathers have been captured thanks to that sharp sunlight. I adore the reflection in the water; it really make the shot for me. The symmetry is so satisfying to look at that you can’t take your eyes away. Archway Game: Assassin’s Creed Shadows VP Artist: @saskiaemmischVP I must say when I started playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows I did not Invision myself capturing the coastal areas as much as I have. I think Ubisoft did a great job at diversifying the landscapes that we get to uncover in Shadows. The seasonal changes also allow for varied shots with no location looking the same throughout a year in Japan. Here we have a solum but striking capture from Saskia. Its photos like this that make you realise the graphical leap in this game. The clouds and rock textures are exceptional, and Saskia has done a fantastic job at showcasing them. I love the balance of sky verses water and that archway with the trading boat floating pass is a nice touch. Through the Streets Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage VP Artist: @Birgamerinalbu1 The murky streets are something of a staple in the Assassin’s Creed series. Most notably in Unity and Syndicate. However, the recent switch to the RPG formula has eradicated some of these more sinister street level missions. Mirage did such a good job at balancing the two styles and that is evident here through this wonderful capture. I am very impressed with the composition and the mood of the shot. The foggy street with the warm glow of the exit really adds a layer of mystic to the photo. At first glance I was convinced this was from Syndicate. I like how Basim is heading towards the light, which is ironic because his character ends up doing the opposite. And that sums it up for this Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out the photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next time keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

Art Reveal: Hytham Sketch SophiaEA16 Art Share 28 Mar 2021 Written By: Edited By: Sophia Ashlea Blackett Back To Database We're pleased to reveal a new piece of art created by our very own SophiaEA16 from the AC Partnership Program! This sketch of Hytham from Assassin's Creed Valhalla was done on toned paper in class, and brings the character to life! One particular feature that stands out for me is the hair, with each individual strand making an impact. You'll soon be able to find more of Sophia's projects in the Community HUB. You can find links to her social media accounts below. comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Sophia is a talented artist and Twitch streamer from Venice who joined the program in early 2021. During her time on the program, Sophia worked closely with our community members on a number of art different projects, such as competitions and fundraising campaigns. Sophia

In late 2024, Taylor (TMAC) joined The Ones Who Came Before's social media team as a guest moderator, providing support to re-energise our Discord server. Taylor is a long-time fan of the series who has spent many years as a moderator on the official Assassin's Creed Discord server. In 2025, the social media team will be working with Taylor to improve engagement on our own Discord server, and learn from his many years as a community moderator. Previous Next Taylor McKay (TMAC) Social Media Team In late 2024, Taylor (TMAC) joined The Ones Who Came Before's social media team as a guest moderator, providing support to re-energise our Discord server. Taylor is a long-time fan of the series who has spent many years as a moderator on the official Assassin's Creed Discord server. In 2025, the social media team will be working with Taylor to improve engagement on our own Discord server, and learn from his many years as a community moderator. Twitter Work

Reviews, Breakdowns, & Analysis Reviews Valley of Memory Spoiler-Free Joint Review 6 December 2025 TOWCB Team Review Read More 5 Small Things I Would Like to See Added to Assassin's Creed Shadows 2 April 2025 Finn Fletcher Review Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Spoiler-Free review & personal impressions. 18 March 2025 UbiCypher (Joe) Review Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: TOWCB Spoiler-Free Review 18 March 2025 TOWCB Team Review Read More Product Review: MADRINAS x Assassin’s Creed Shadows Boba Teas 6 November 2024 Frame Hold Photography Review Read More Product Review: GravaStar’s Mars Pro Limited Edition - Assassin's Creed Apple of Eden Speaker 8 August 2024 Frame Hold Photography Review Read More Journey to the East: A Review of Assassin’s Creed: The Silk Road 14 November 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More From the Desk of Hytham the Acolyte - A Review of AC Valhalla: Journey to the North 26 July 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More No Isu, No Magus: A Review of Assassin’s Creed: The Resurrection Plot (Light Spoilers) 15 April 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More Summon the Brotherhood: A Review of the Summoners War X Assassin’s Creed Crossover Event 10 April 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More Answers Lost in Time: A Review of Assassin’s Creed Escape Room Puzzle Book 17 February 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More Guiding Shadows: A Review of Assassin’s Creed The Golden City (LIGHT SPOILERS) 16 January 2023 Michael Smith Review Read More The Hidden Blade in the Stone: A Review of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse 24 June 2022 Michael Smith Review Read More “Odin-sama is with us!”: A Product Review for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Eivor Nendoroid Figure 7 June 2022 Michael Smith Review Read More Cards, Blades and Detection Rolls: A Review of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice 6 May 2022 Michael Smith Review Read More Education Through Story: An Overview of Discovery Tour: Viking Age 18 December 2021 Michael Smith Review Read More Assassin's Creed Odyssey Review 5 February 2019 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Review Read More 🔧 Restoration In Progress- Check Back Soon! 20 November 2010 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Review Read More Breakdowns FX Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed Netflix and Ubisoft Television’s Future 10 December 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Breakdown Read More What AC Mirage's Expansion & Revival Means for the Franchise & Ubisoft 5 November 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Breakdown Read More New Assassin's Creed Shadows Fall Roadmap Full Breakdown 25 October 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Searching For The Creed - London II 20 October 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Breakdown Read More 5 Things in the Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji Expansion We Want to See More of 15 October 2025 Eric Allen // Milz_VP Breakdown Read More Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC Review – Worth the Hype? 17 September 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More New Assassin's Creed Shadows 1.1.1 Update: Full Breakdown 12 September 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Claws of Awaji DLC New Teaser Breakdown 30 August 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More New Summer Roadmap for Assassin's Creed Shadows, Claws of Awaji DLC Release Date, and More 30 August 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Mirage Is Getting Free Story DLC Releasing Later This Year 24 August 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows New Reddit AMA Full Breakdown 15 August 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Greek Glory 24 June 2025 Hayden Bird Breakdown Read More 5 Reasons to Love Assassin’s Creed Shadows And 5 That Might Let You Down 21 May 2025 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Roman Resistance 25 May 2025 Hayden Bird Breakdown Read More Assassin’s Creed Shadows Music Fan Theme - The Wind Between The Cherry Trees - Available Now! 27 March 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Breakdown Read More 15 Years of Assassin's Creed II: A Developer Retrospective & In-Depth Analysis 22 December 2024 Zephryss Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Teaser Analysis 21 December 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: Reddit AMA session highlights 14 December 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows Stealth Article Breakdown 21 November 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Breakdown Read More Searching For The Creed - Rome 12 September 2024 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Breakdown Read More Why Pirate Assassin's Creed Worked 28 July 2024 Hayden Bird Breakdown Read More Ubisoft Forward 2024 Breakdown: Assassin's Creed Shadows Gameplay Reveal 10 June 2024 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Breakdown Read More Deciphering the Secrets of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Community Challenge and Mystery Box 1 January 2023 TOWCB Team Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows World Premiere Cinematic Trailer Breakdown 17 May 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Breakdown Read More Deciphering the Secrets of the Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Marketing Campaign 14 May 2024 ActualSpider-Man Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed: Heresy Breakdown 1 March 2017 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Breakdown Read More Children of Danu: A History 14 April 2021 Lauren Harris Breakdown Read More John Wick Temporized 3 August 2023 ActualSpider-Man Breakdown Read More The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 4 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Gameplay Trailer 18 June 2023 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 3 - Assassin's Creed Mirage Story Trailer 17 June 2023 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 2 - Assassin's Creed Codename Jade 16 June 2023 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More The Future of Assassin’s Creed at UbiForward 2023 Part 1 - Pre-Show & Assassin's Creed Nexus 15 June 2023 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More Assassin's Beans: An AC Fall Guys Crossover Event 8 July 2022 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More Discovery Tour by Ubisoft: The Educational Software and Books for Exploring History 14 September 2021 Michael Smith Breakdown Read More Assassin's Creed Valhalla Ending Discussion with Darby McDevitt: Information Roundup 13 March 2021 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Breakdown Read More Vikings in Ireland: A History 19 February 2021 Lauren Harris Breakdown Read More Female Vikings: The Real History 27 October 2020 Lauren Harris Breakdown Read More Analysis Assassin's Creed's Gaming Console Farewells 14 January 2026 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Why Assassin's Creed Returning to Steam is Great 27 November 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Full Breakdown of the Launch Trailer for Assassin’s Creed Mirage Valley of Memory DLC 15 November 2025 Zephryss Analysis Read More The Perfect Protagonist: Edward Kenway 7 November 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More The Grand End Of An Era - Assassin's Creed Syndicate 10th Anniversary Special Retrospective 25 October 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Analysis Read More The Time-Defying Assassin's Creed II 3 November 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Black Flag: The original RPG Assassin’s Creed 20 September 2025 James Davis (TopChef1288) Analysis Read More Why Assassin's Creed Shadows Succeeded 29 July 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Assassin’s Creed Shadows Succeeded… What Now For Ubisoft? 5 July 2025 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Movie and its Importance 2 July 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed III: Revolution Reborn 14 May 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More The Bright Future of Assassin's Creed 18 April 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Revelations: a Fitting Finale 17 April 2025 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Kingdom Come's Influence on Assassin's Creed 4 March 2025 Finn Fletcher Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Hideouts Across the Franchise & How it Led to Shadows' New Construction System. 2 February 2025 UbiCypher (Joe) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: First Impressions and Gameplay 23 January 2025 Colum Blackett (Col_96) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: Developer Insights on Story Details & Naoe Background Analysis. 20 December 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Analysis Read More Marc-Alexis Côté and Assassin’s Creed’s narrative paradigm shift 3 December 2024 UbiCypher (Joe) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Modern Day Discussion at BAFTA 2024 Breakdown 5 November 2024 Zephryss Analysis Read More The Impact of Assassin's Creed Origins 16 October 2024 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Revelations - A Decent End To A Perfect Trilogy 28 September 2024 Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Shadows: Should We Be Worried by the Delay? 27 September 2024 Finn Fletcher Analysis Read More Understanding the Isu Language: The Basics 30 September 2024 Edenoi Analysis Read More Understanding the Isu Language: Nouns, Verbs and Adjectives 3 October 2024 Edenoi Analysis Read More Understanding the Isu Language: Particles and Affixes 1 October 2024 Edenoi Analysis Read More Understanding the Isu Language: Grammatical Cases and Pronouns 3 October 2024 Edenoi Analysis Read More The Evolution of Assassin's Creed 27 August 2024 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More The Bold Assassin's Creed Syndicate 9 August 2024 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More The Importance of Assassin's Creed Rogue 3 August 2024 Hayden Bird Analysis Read More Reevaluating Assassin's Creed Valhalla 19 July 2024 Finn Fletcher Analysis Read More Cracking the Isu Code: Part 1 30 December 2021 Preston Carbonaro Analysis Read More What Netflix can learn from Fallout's Success for Upcoming Assassin's Creed Projects 25 April 2024 Finn Fletcher Analysis Read More Opinion: AC Brotherhood didn't know what to do with Ezio 15 April 2024 Finn Fletcher Analysis Read More Codex Transferendum v2.0.2 | The Isu-to-English Dictionary & Language Guide Released 16 March 2024 ActualSpider-Man Analysis Read More Evolution of Modern Day storytelling and structure throughout the Assassin’s Creed franchise. 27 September 2021 UbiCypher (Joe) Analysis Read More Cracking the Isu Code: Part 2 22 January 2022 Preston Carbonaro Analysis Read More Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Arabic Poems 15 July 2023 Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Analysis Read More Decoding the Creed: Assassin's Creed Mirage Calligraphy Drawings 22 June 2023 Noon (TheHiddenVirtuals) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Day - The 21st of December 20 December 2019 Thea (Moonchildgecko) Analysis Read More Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe Teaser Analysis 11 September 2022 Preston Carbonaro Analysis Read More Colours in Assassin's Creed - a short review 18 April 2019 Thea (Moonchildgecko) Analysis Read More

Assassin's Creed Shadows Stealth Article Breakdown Breakdown Share 21 Nov 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database The first Assassin's Creed Shadows article has been released giving us insights on the game's stealth system and how it will apply to the world's environment, enemies and traversal, let's recap the article's highlights! It is abundantly clear that Assassin's Creed Shadows is focusing on stealth making it the prime element to play with in the world Ubisoft will make us explore on February 14th 2025, to the point of borrowing certain elements inspired by other IP's in their roster of games. 👁️ Observe 👁️ This new feature will allow Naoe and Yasuke to display additional information about their targets and environment on-screen as well as loot & collectible locations and quest objectives. It will be possible to pair it with a Synchronization Point to further analyse the area. 🦅Eagle Vision🦅 We know how it works, however, only Naoe will be able to access it hence why the Observe mechanic was developed in order to not undermine Yasuke's involvement in infiltration and exploration since these two mechanics work independently revealing different information for us. The Shinobi Art In the likes of Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, for the first time in the Assassin's Creed Franchise we will see the addition of a feature that will allow us to hide in the shadows as well as create hiding spots by taking out light sources in order to covertly move around. ⛩️Crouching⛩️ They have cranked up the stealth penalties by having the guards extremely sensitive to your movement in order to force you to be thoughtful of your actions pushing you to the limit making the most of the overhauled stealth system allowing you to go prone outdoors and indoors. ⚔️Their Arsenal⚔️ Smoke bombs are making their return -although properly this time- as consumables rather than passive or active perks. We will be able to use throwable Shinobi Bells to distract enemies, Kunais to one-shot enemies with precision and Shurikens to create environmental distractions. ⛩️Hiding Spots⛩️ Given her size, Naoe can squeeze through tiny wall cracks, and she can hide inside small storage spaces and boxes to avoid detection as well as perform assassinations. Now, if you want to take down an enemy from a bush you'll have to manually grab them and drag them in with you. ⚠️Detection System⚠️ When spotted and breaking the enemies line of sight, they will remain in a constant state of alert and "suspicion" that will make them hard to lure into traps and hiding spots, actually, attempting to do so will result in a logical and straightforward reaction from them: spot you. ⛩️Enemy Archetype Reactions⛩️ Samurais won't be able to be One-shotted and will evade the area of effect produced by a smoke bomb, they can also deny your assassination attempt, this will be distinguishable when you'll see a red prompt over their heads meaning they can't be killed via the Hidden Blade. Ashigaru soldiers (weak enemies) are however, easily dispatched, the same goes for the Servants (Alarm Ringers). (It is important to note that Smoke Bombs can be used to disperse Samurai groups ought to engage in combat with you, allowing for a swift escape for Naoe). All in all, the Assassination system will be classified as follows: 🔴 Red for Assassination Denial. (Samurais & Elites). 🟡 Yellow for Assassinations that deal some damage. ⚪️White for Insta-kill Assassinations. ⛩️Stealth for Yasuke⛩️ While the whole article seemed to have centered around Naoe and her Shinobi mastery of assassination and traversal, Yasuke will also have some balanced attributes to level the playing field between the two, of course, keeping in mind that he will be mainly combat-oriented. When he uses his bow for example, Yasuke can deliver stealthy blows without ever needing to draw his katana if precise. He can even sneak behind enemies and assassinate them silently with an aggressive yet swift kill with his devastating arsenal blending close combat with stealth. This is it for now! Ubisoft will be releasing more information soon. Next up, they will drop yet another detailed article about Yasuke's role and gameplay. Stay tuned Assassins!🦅 Did you enjoy our breakdown? Check out the original thread on the Isu_Network X account! 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)

Assassin's Creed Shadows: First Impressions and Gameplay Analysis Share 23 Jan 2025 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) TOWCB Team Back To Database We are now just two months away from the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and we are thrilled to reveal that two of our team members, Col and Taylor were selected by Ubisoft to participate in a remote early-access play session event along with other content creators and media outlets around the world. Below you will find the initial thoughts and feelings written by Assassin's Creed Community Ambassador @ Col_96 after a four hour play session, brand new screenshots, and exclusive gameplay captured during the session. Keep an eye on the page as we will continue adding content throughout the week! Enjoy! Possible spoilers for Assassin's Creed Shadows First Impressions Hello Assassins. I'm Col, Team Leader for The Ones Who Came Before, and I was lucky enough to participate in an early access event for Assassin's Creed Shadows thanks to the AC Community Development team at Ubisoft. I'll start off by saying that I had a really positive experience, as the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows is incredibly beautiful, intertwining two stories in a way that creates an experience that is both shared and standalone, as Naoe and Yasuke, two outsiders in the world, find comfort in each other's pain, and try to make a difference to heal Japan. I think what the development team at Ubisoft has done is incredibly clever, weaving history into the main characters for the first time, selecting Yasuke, a historical character, and Naoe, the fictional daughter of real life ninja Fujibayashi Nagato. For me, both characters make perfect sense, and show a different perspective on the brutal history of the time period. AC Shadows takes a stab at bringing back a sense of mystery that long-time fans of the series will love. The game encourages you to uncover the next secret in a land of danger, something which is incredibly rewarding for players. The passage of time is interesting too with a fixed day/night cycle that provides atmosphere as every storm is different. You can feel the effects of the wind as your riding through an open field. Lightning can flash across the sky and light up the whole scene. Naoe ''The life of an assassin is pain , You suffer it, you inflict it, you watch it happen in the hope that you can make it disappear in time.'' Ezio Auditore I feel that this quote perfectly describes Naoe. Although not strictly an Assassin during my playthrough, or at least, that word was never said, her quest for revenge after the attack on her village is fuelled by a hunger for vengeance. Rather than blind rage, she is incredibly focussed, seeking those who are harming Japan and its citizens. You can feel her pain, and she takes no joy in inflicting it upon others. It is a necessary evil. Throwing knives are lethal when timed correctly, but can also be used to extinguish candles from a distance, creating darkness and the perfect environment for a stealth attack. I particularly liked the dialogue options, as they can make a difference to the outcome of a mission. This is why the team added a canon mode, so that the Animus makes the decision for the player. I like how Naoe is the sum of her history, learning from the past, but also taking onboard the teachings around her. She is thoughtful, reflective, and resourceful. She will no doubt be a fan favourite. Yasuke An outsider in a foreign land, Yasuke has to learn the true meaning of honor and respect when he is stripped of his name, all authority and ownership of his own decisions. He shows a willingness to survive in a hostile environment, learning the language, customs and more, and is rewarded with his life. Often shown as a 'one man army' Yasuke is all that and more. There is a kind side to Yasuke that makes him relatable and more human in side quests. He is not the brute he has been portrayed to be. I was really surprised by this as I suspected it would be the case that he was the brawn and Naoe the brain, but that's not the case. He shows intelligence and understanding, opting for a more physical approach to quests due his size, but I also found stealth with Yasuke to be incredibly satisfying considering his limited capabilities. Combat is great, as Yasuke can take a lot of damage, giving you the chance to recover, reset, change strategy and break down enemy armour before delivering a brutal finishing move. I can see players being very happy with the weapon choices, enemy types, finishing moves and overall effort that is gone into crafting a brutal combat system that is all about breaking the opponent down and destroying their armour. Things I liked The Scout System: You can recruit scouts and send them to attack enemies. It's extremely satisfying, and you can customise everything from their weapons to outfits. Building the network of spies has its benefits as they can also be sent out to collect information across the map! Eagle Vision can be used indefinitely: I didn't notice Eagle Vision timing out, which means it can be used without the worry of it disappearing. You can use it to highlight points of interest or observe and tag enemies. Voice Acting : I was really impressed with the voice acting, from all age ranges. Music: Absolutely incredible score! This will be a soundtrack that players will adore for sure, as it captures a mix of emotions. Sadness, anger, and hype! I was really motivated by an incredible fast paced track at a key moment early on in the game. Facial Expressions: Game looked absolutely incredible on my PC (Nvidia RTX 3070 TI), and the facial expressions, especially in cutscenes were so lifelike! Parkour: Feels quick, rebuilt from the ground up. Naoe is easily the fastest character in an AC game. It feels like a mix of balance and precise manoeuvres. She is lightweight and nimble, moving silently Grappling Hook: Like the rope launcher but more useful. You can swing from trees to perform air assassinations. Extremely satisfying. Tall grass, low grass and prone: The introduction of prone is perfect for an Assassins' Creed game, and I particularly like that AC Shadows has heights of grass. Brutality during combat: Decapitations, impaling, you name it, AC Shadows will shock and surprise with it's brutal combat system. The World has so many opportunities: Uncovering secrets, side quests and moments of tranquillity create a game of many tones, dark and light, and I feel like it encourages the player to get lost in the world. You have to unfog the map yourself, as viewpoints only uncover so much. This is great news for completionists. Enemy Types: Guardians are my current favourites. You'll see why when the game launches! Very similar to the mercenaries in AC Odyssey that hunt the player! Visuals: I didn't get to use photo mode but I know that players are going to have a great time with this game. It's incredibly beautiful. Stealth: It will take some practice, but with more time, I can definitely see players perfecting stealth and using all the tools at their disposal to their advantage. Things I Didn't Like The night is incredibly dark: I had to turn the light off in my office to see the screen as when the game takes place at night, it is incredibly dark. Hills and thick trees: Without the pathfinder, my horse would still be stuck up a mountain somewhere trying to find a way past the incredibly thick trees. Hunting isn't in the game, or at least, I didn't find any way to kill a deer. I thought it would be similar to AC III where pelts could be used for crafting, but I didn't see this in my playthrough. Health potions don't fully heal , or at least, with my current skill level and abilities during the playthrough, I needed to use two to fully reset the health bar. Yasuke doesn't have Eagle Vision: I understand that this could be for a lore reason, but it would have been a useful addition. I didn't see any Modern Day Gameplay. Animus Hub has huge potential though. Enemies can literally walk away from smoke bombs and be unaffected. I died so many times when playing as Naoe in combat situations. Some of the enemies have huge health bars compared to Naoe, and thick armour so it's a real challenge to defeat them in combat. I will say that it is incredibly satisfying when you do though, but similar to Basim in AC Mirage, the game encourages a stealth approach. Not a bad thing, just worth mentioning for those looking for a fight. I genuinely think that fans will be surprised when they pick up Assassin's Creed Shadows in March. There's a lot to love about the game, as you'll see in our exclusive gameplay below! Enjoy! Dev Comments We reached out to the development team at Ubisoft Quebec regarding our experience and received a response from Game Director Charles Benoit! ''I think once settled, you could play with contrast setting for the night. We wanted to have a black night, not a blue one. About Hunting, we saw the hunting wasn't a big thing compare to the respect of nature, so we wanted to turn hunting in something more positive, it's why we introduce the Sumi-e activity instead. For healing potions, it's with some Hideout upgrade that you can boost it. You can boost efficiency and quantity. And about the smoke bombs, it's Only Samurai that deny it by running away, we wanted to avoid cookie cutter strategy and have some enemy "smarter" than other. And yes, Naoe and fight can be challenging, Preview is not the ideal learning curve. But Naoe can be very lethal if you build your gear in some was, using the fight system in the best way too.'' We would like to say a big thank you to Charles for reading our first impressions article and for providing insight into the creative decisions! Animus Hub Welcome to the Assassin's Creed Animus Hub: An Explanatory video by Ubisoft showcasing the Animus Hub, a new platform and gateway to Assassin's Creed content which launches alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows. Analysis by UbiCypher Exclusive Gameplay Stealth and Combat Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Painting Boars Youtube TikTok Naoe Combat Youtube TikTok Desyncronization Youtube TikTok Cherry Blossom Trees Youtube TikTok Deploying scout, combat Youtube TikTok Syncronization Youtube TikTok Shrines Youtube TikTok Failed Assassination Attempt Youtube TikTok Naoe Projectiles Youtube TikTok Assassination Compilation Youtube TikTok Leap of Faith Youtube TikTok Brutal Naoe Finisher Youtube TikTok Naoe Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Yasuke Customisation Options Youtube TikTok Switching Character Youtube TikTok Synchronization Youtube TikTok Horseback Riding Youtube TikTok Yasuke Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Bamboo Destruction Youtube TikTok Brutal Finishing Move Youtube TikTok Sumi-E Activity Youtube TikTok Killing a Guardian Youtube TikTok 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)

This Month in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: April 1st Community Share 1 Apr 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Invisible Man Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ Falconswift87 I would say this is a great start to the week but the NPC in question is hard to see. Most people will see right through this one, but I thought it was worth a mention. You don’t often see things like this in video games. Birb Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ TheLordReylus Photo number two gives us a bird’s eye view. I am loving the pixilation here as it really adds to the feel of the shot. That tree growing out of Senu neck is giving me real hidden blade vibes. Snoozing Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TheaMR1305 Next up we have an after action report from London. Some enemy solider has an arrow in the neck, at least they fell onto something soft. Talk about lying down on the job! A Powerful Stance Game: Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry VP Artist: @ col_96 I had to feature this shot, how often do we get a chance to see some Freedom Cry virtual photography. Fun fact: this shot was first published in April 2022, and went on to become a sensational meme……………….if you get a chance check it out. Comfort Break Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP Artist: @ FrameHoldPhotos We end this week’s showcase with Arno stuck in a prison cell with Bellec. We all know how this one plays out. I love how this shot catches Arno off guard, it’s like he didn’t know that camera was on while taking a pee. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 18th to 24th September Community Share 26 Sept 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Colum Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Enter the Light Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ maddog7794 “The holy women Fulke is close by.” Fulke is a member of the Order of the Ancients, and is also known as the Instrument. She is a devilish character who torments the Raven clan with her wicked ways. She inflicts a lot of pain on Sigurd and in turn makes herself an enemy of Eivor. This incredible capture of her tells the story of a troubled women seeking power. The lighting is exceptional, allowing Fulke to appear as a silhouette. I love how you can see the cross next to her head showing the faith she once had before turning to the dark side. Seeing her walk towards the light is a bit of a metaphor, after her failed attempts to destroy Eivor. The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week Judge : Jack ( @ _Virtualtourism ) - TOWCB Virtual Photography Team ''Fulke's silhouette standing tall breaking through the orange light of the evening sun as it pours through the forest trees, makes for an excellent shot. I feel this image best represents how I imagine Fulke saw her task when she first met Eivor and Sigurd. Represented by the cross on her back, her faith has led her to this moment, she will now lead Eivor and Sigurd into the next (or past) chapters of their lives. Amazing shot, well done Zatoichi!'' Silhouette Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ AkillesDHero “Spartans! Prepare for glory!” Sparta, a small town in Greece is one of the most famous locations in history. Sparta had a reputation of being a production line for the most fearsome warriors. None more so than Kassandra, despite her conflicted upbringing you can definitely see the Spartan in her. This beautiful shot of her standing almost statue-like in front of that warming background is so delightful. The colour tones are captivating, and the silhouette of Kassandra is stunning. I adore how she has the Spartan helmet on but also has the trident on her back, this shot represents Odyssey perfectly. Link to Set: Shield Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ Lucascosta797 “I cannot shed my past like a snake sheds its skin” Despite the Medjay shield being extremely popular it is actually the Alexander shield that you see Bayek with on most promotional material. It is a rare shield in the game that obviously once belonged to Alexander the Great. The winged scarab design fits the Egyptian setting perfectly. This photo flawlessly captures the shield and its impeccable design. I am a fan of the composition here as it allows us to see the shield mounted on Bayek’s back with few arrows still in the quiver. The use of shadows helps the golden wings of the scarab to shine, and I find myself constantly drawn it. Link to Set: Desolate Land Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp “The only thing that awaits you is oblivion” Assassin’s Creed Origins is full of remote deserts for us to explore. The sheer scale of them is so impressive. Venturing into these isolated places is a dangerous pastime. Many suffer from hallucinations due to the extreme heat, something Ubisoft brilliantly added to the game. This remarkable capture showcases the very secluded feel and the minimalism of the shot is quite something. I love how Senu is gliding above Bayek and the shadow of him on the horse is epic. A perfect composition that highlights this striking capture. Synchronisation Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ TuridTorkil “Not one of your prophecies do I understand” Eivor’s destiny is hers to weave and the constant torment of Odin is a chain she would love to break. Life is never easy for the Wolf-Kissed and her battle against the Order and herself take its toll. She will always be the hero of this saga though. This incredible capture of her crouched atop a longhouse feeds both the Viking and Assassin vibes. You could easily see her performing the leap of faith from this point. The black and white style perfectly suits the shot giving it a classic feel. I love the vines connecting to her as they symbolise the roots of the Yggdrasil and Eivor breaking free of them. She is now free to walk her own path, and forge her own destiny. 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

A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. Previous Next TOWCB Team A collection of articles from The Ones Who Came Before team. Work

Chester Comic Con Photo Album Events Share 25 Nov 2016 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database On the 25th September 2016, Col attended Chester Comic Con, and met Neil Edwards (AC Titan Comics Artist). Here are our photos from the event. 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 Shadows World Premiere Cinematic Trailer Breakdown Breakdown Share 17 May 2024 Written By: Edited By: UbiCypher (Joe) Colum Blackett Back To Database We are pleased to release our analysis of the recently released World Premiere Trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows, highlighting some of the things you might have missed! Written by UbiCypher (@ Kenway_Joe ) from Isu_Network . From the Shadows The trailer begins with a target fleeing for his life through a forest. He knows that he is being pursued, but cannot see the identity of those hunting. We see the target remove a throwing star from his armour (Shuriken) . Next we get our first glance at Shinobi Warrior Naoe, who emerges from the shadows. She looks like she is wearing light armour, so should be able to move quickly in comparison to her counterpart, Yasuke. Iga: The land of Ninjas The Ubisoft logo appears over a cinematic representation of Iga, the land of Ninjas. Scattered across the countryside were remote villages training the next generation of Shinobi warriors. After coming into dispute with Military leader Oda Nobunaga over unification , Iga was attacked on two occasions, one of which occurred in 1579, the year in which the game takes place. It is said that the attacked came from three directions, giving the villagers little chance to respond. In Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoe is the daughter of r eal-life shinobi Warrior Fujibayashi Nagato. Naoe's life is turned upside down when enemy forces bring the blade to her village, burning everything in their wake. Dual Protagonists The Fiery Shinobi and the Giant Samurai. It seems that the long rumored dual protagonism is due to make a comeback in this new iteration of the franchise. Missed by many and despised by others, it will most certainly blend well with the story Ubisoft seems eager to tell us in this game which revolves around unity. This concept is on the nose brought back from Assassin's Creed Unity, in this case being an alliance that will, by the looks of it, make you go to war against the ruthless opression spawned by Greed, Power and Vengeance all of them very familiar motives to this franchise. Naoe and Yasuke our protagonists are -according to the Game Director Charles Benoit- designed in a way that focus on their abilites is evident; Stealth for Naoe and Combat for Yasuke although "They can do a bit of both" confirming that you can even the gameplay between the two. Naoe Fujibayashi With a stealth & infiltration-oriented gameplay, you take on a quest of vengeance and honor that will show her cunning and skill in the Iga arts of the Ninja with a set of classic Japanese tools according to the trailer: Shuriken and a Kusarigama. Unexpectedly, she wields a dual-action Hidden Blade similar to the blade worn by Connor Kenway in Assassin's Creed III -which could make one wonder if the hunt mechanic is back- but I digress. Described as fiery she will probably leave her mark on the community. Yasuke the Samuari If you followed my thread on Yasuke a month ago and the countless videos out there that emerged ever since the first rumor leaked, then you should know who he is by now. If not, well, let's do a quick recap! Either from Ethiopia or South Africa, Yasuke was a slave or mercenary -depending on the sources- that was brought on board a ship with Alessandro Valignano a Jesuit that sought to extend the will of Catholicism across Japan in 1579. Due to his appearance and uncommon stature, he impressed the Shogun Oda Nobunaga who made him his vassal. With this in mind, we can understand his status as Samurai in this story and the possible motives behind his actions due to his turbulent past. He's evidently the action/combat oriented character with the ability to crush his enemies with ease, break doors and armor from tougher enemies and such, while the trailer did not show much of his weaponry we can but assume that he will carry what you would expect of a Samurai. Assassination Contracts or Theft missions Oldschool contracts might be back... At some point in the trailer, you can see Naoe passing on a piece of paper to Yasuke, if you translate the note it says "There is Tono Hakeda Catle" which can possibly be read as "It is at the Tono Hakeda Castle" possibly referring to a target or an object to steal. Since the Brotherhood has been established for 14 years by 1579 and many prominent members have been recruited into the Assassins as well, it would be safe to assume that a network of Assassins is already deeply rooted across the Islands, which would explain this informant here. Absence of Templars Nothing in my cross hairs for now... There is no trace of Templar activity in the trailer whatsoever, even though we know that the Tokugawa Clan and Nobunaga Clan have been fighting with Templar-backed clans in the past such as the Takeda Clan. I should add that according to the lore, the Templars were all but exterminated in Japan by 1615, having struggled against the Assassins during all their continued activity in the country ever since the Assassins arrived in between 1565 and 1571, maybe not entirely being present. Personal Commentary As far as I'm concerned, I found this trailer intense and different from other AC trailers, there is something I quite can't get a hold on but I like where this is going, at least according to the official Ubisoft website the game won't be RPG stating "Action/Adventure". Here are a number of other breakdowns of the trailer! Let us know your thoughts down below! 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)

Cracking the Isu Code: Part 1 Analysis Share 30 Dec 2021 Written By: Edited By: Preston Carbonaro Colum Blackett Back To Database Assassin's Creed fans are working hard to crack messages written in the secret language of the highly advanced precursor race known as the Isu, and in the process, decode multiple hidden messages We here at TOWCB have joined the community efforts to try our hands at decoding these messages which are scattered around throughout the game; in Standing Stone puzzles, on Layla’s laptop, and even promotional content. We sincerely hope that none of you experience the Bleeding Effect during the decoding process … Finding the Isu Writing on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) To find the message written by Brendan of Clonfert, players must head to Fairy Glen Standing Stones on the Isle of Skye, and search the area for a note. During the Valhalla crossover, Kassandra and Eivor will visit the area together in an effort to locate the mysterious artefact causing nightmares on the island. At the bottom of the message written by Clonfert, we can see the mysterious Isu writing that has appeared throughout Valhalla. Decoding Brendan of Clonfert’s passage on the Isle of Skye (AC Valhalla) Here’s a step-by-step guide of how a segment in the precursor language was translated by fellow codebreakers, and the methods we used to decipher it. Here are two extracts from the mysterious note. After careful analysis of the text, we can safely assume that the short passage and Isu writings are one and the same. The Isu text in the red boxes are verbs in their past participle tense, which are identified by the Isu letters ‘t’ and ‘o’ (underlined in blue). Therefore, these must be the words “Born”, “Cleansed” and “Wrapped” that Clonfert wrote. Another interesting observation is the above Isu symbol which has a ‘h’ sound, and is usually an adverb. However, it can also represent the instrumental case - a grammatical case used to indicate that a noun is the instrument or means by or with which the subject achieves or accomplishes an action. Using this method, the first two words in the second line are translated to “in cold waters” (or using the instrumental case: with cold waters). The third word in the third line translates to “in the shroud” (or using the instrumental case: by using a shroud). Conclusion Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a game that is filled with hidden secrets, which we aim to uncover in this new series dedicated to deciphering the mysterious language of the Isu. If you have a flair for codebreaking, get in touch with the admin team for writing opportunities. Also, if you discover any more of the secret language in the game, send it over to the team @ ACFirstCiv on Twitter to analyse! Click here for an Access The Animus video for a more in-depth explanation of the Isu language translations: comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Preston is a long-time Assassin's Creed fan of both the games and the soundtracks. He works as a primary school educator, and is also a part-time actor. He takes a keen interest in mythology, symbology, codes and puzzles. Some of his passions include writing, reading, art, gaming, football, and music. Preston Carbonaro

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: November 9th - 15th Community Share 16 Nov 2020 Written By: Edited By: Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome back to a new weekly virtual photography initiative hosted by Gustav Poulsen from The AC Partnership Program. Each week, five Assassin's Creed shots will be showcased here on TOWCB website, in order to promote virtual photography and community contributions. Gustav is a seasoned pro when it comes to virtual photography, and has a keen eye for special shots. Look out for more Photo Logs over the coming weeks, some of which may include Assassin's Creed Valhalla! England With the release of AC Valhalla last week, a new era of Assassin’s Creed has begun! This also means a swarm of new beautiful pictures, capturing the beauty of the North has hit the community. The honor of having the first Valhalla capture featured on the recap list goes to Instagram user @ ladyofthecreed. Kept short, this picture perfectly captures the sun behind a line of trees, spreading its beautiful light rays, as but a fraction of the English coast is illuminated. Be My Eyes, Synin This beautiful portrait of Eïvor’s trusted Eagle companion Synin, is taken by Instagram user @ beloved.of.bayek . Not too much to say about this picture, other than it’s overall awesome looking and well structured. The focus depth has been nicely paid attention to, as Synin in the front is in focus, while the illuminated ocean, snowy mountains & blue winter sky fades into the background. Ancestral Rite This next picture is taken by Instagram user @ acvideos_tiziochesichiamatizio . Judging from the title, this picture finds Eïvor paying his / her respects to the ancestors through a campfire ritual in the night. The photographer has really paid attention to getting the lighting just right, as Eïvor is completely covered in the darkness of the night. Not only is this capture just cool looking, but it also has an overall mysterious & spiritual vibe to it. Beautiful Norway Coming in at slot number four on the list, is a magnificent landscape shot by Twitter user @ jules_vp_ . This picture stunningly captures the sun setting over the snowy cold mountains of Norway, as it illuminates everything from the ocean to the snow. The lighting cast from the sun is on its own extremely beautiful, given its red, purple and golden colors. If anything, this picture is a prime example of how to capture the golden hour. Snowy Rivers Fifth capture on the list is taken by community member @ ckaloush . In it we see one of the many cold snowy rivers of the North, going through a forest filled landscape as a flock of birds soar above it in the distance. Additionally, the picture’s relatively dry and non-warm colour grading, perfectly matches the cold landscapes and winter vibes we see in it. Sunrise Kicking off the latter half of the first AC Valhalla recap list, is a capture by Assassin’s Creed UK founder and admin @ davewoodwardac. In it we see Eïvor on some high ground, watching as the sun rises on the cloudy horizon, casting its light all over the English highlands. This picture is not only extremely pretty, but also has certain cinematic vibe to it. From Norway to England Coming in at the seventh spot, is a beautiful cinematic shot by Twitter user @ G_Assassin90. In this one we see Eïvor having made it to the top of one of the many tall snow filled mountains of Norway, looking out over the ocean and snow filled landscapes. Additionally, this one also captures the stunning purple-esque colors of a Northern sunset. The Light Of Winter We’re obviously big fans of the early captures of the golden hour, and here is yet another picture of just that; this one by Twitter user @ 3mpireTimes. Not too much to say about this one, other than it once again beautifully captures the magic warm colours of a Northern winter sunset, as it also lights up all the magnificent surrounding landscapes. A Northern World On the second last spot on the first Valhalla recap list, we have just one more sunset capture for now, this one by Twitter user @ Leromir . This one stunningly captures another Norwegian landscape, as it, the ocean below and the clouds above are all coloured purple by the imminent sunset. The colours of a cold winter sunset do have a certain magic to them in the real world, and it looks like the new game has done a great job replicating that very magic. We can’t wait to see more pictures like this! A Viking’s Destiny Finally, coming in at the tenth and final spot on this week’s list, is an Eïvor portrait by Instagram user @ theguyinthespacesuit. A beautiful close up portrait taken from the side of our Viking protagonist, as he sees the sunset light casting over the Norwegian mountains. Right by his side, soaring above him, is his trusted raven companion Synin. This picture has a certain epicness to it to say the least. As one would presume by his facial expressions, this portrait is Eïvor getting ready to conquer the entirety of the map. Thanks for checking our this weeks's photo log, and to all of the virtual photographers who contributed towards this article! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Gustav / Gargudon is an active community member, who started out in podcast hosting in 2016, but today mostly specialises in video creation, interviews & composing. By joining The Ones Who Came Before in 2019, originally reviving 'The Memory Corridor' podcast, which had been offline for nearly a year, he has had the opportunity to expand his audience and further develop his skills. His unique skill set made him the perfect candidate for our team. Among other things, he is known in the community for the Sounds Of History project - an original Assassin’s Creed inspired instrumental music project, featuring five tracks inspired by as many different games - other original fan themes plus covers of iconic AC tracks, as well as video interviews with a number of high profile names in the world of AC, from Roger Craig Smith, Jesper Kyd and more. Fun fact, among his growing colourful tattoo collection, Gustav is the only member of our team to have the TOWCB logo inked. Gustav Poulsen (Gargudon)

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC Review – Worth the Hype? Breakdown Share 17 Sept 2025 Written By: Edited By: Zephryss Colum Blackett Back To Database Ubisoft finally released the much-awaited Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows on September 16. I have already played the full Claws of Awaji DLC early. Big thanks to Ubisoft and the Assassin's Creed team for providing me with 5 days of early access to the DLC. Here is my spoiler free review of the DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows. STORY & PLOT The story starts right after the ending of the main game. You will need to complete a quest first before traveling to Awaji Island. After avenging her father, Naoe learns Tsuyu is alive. Tracking rumors of a hidden-blade wielding shinobi, She journeys to Awaji in search of her mother. With his vengeance complete, Yasuke also travels to Awaji to honor his vow. The main focus of the story is on finding the third regalia and defeating the Sanzoku Ippa. There are 4 major narrative arcs in Claws of Awaji. While there is a strong core story in the game, many of the objectives, quests and opportunities can be tackled in a non-linear fashion. You can track the main targets in pretty much the order you want and through your exploration, you will discover new opportunities and challenges across the island. Each arc contains 2 to 3 hours of content, which is why the whole DLC adds up to more than 10 hours of gameplay. NEW AWAJI ISLAND The atmosphere of Awaji Island is very cosy yet dark. The forests are dense, with very few areas where sunlight breaks through. The seasonal changes are also quite different from those in the main game. The weather shifts between calm, foggy, stormy, and rainy conditions. This DLC was created by the same studio that developed the Wrath of the Druids DLC for AC Valhalla, and they wanted to give it their own touch by designing this unique, eerie environment. You will often notice movement in the grass and trees, as the island is full of traps and ambushes by Shinobis and other enemies. That’s why you can’t freely travel like in the main game, you have to be careful every time you explore the island. When you use scouts to uncover an area of the map, you’ll notice some red zones. In those areas, you’ll face the highest number of Shinobi ambushes. Here are some important locations in the DLC: Iwaya Castle, Eshima Rock, Kamaguchi Village, Sumoto Town, Sumoto Castle, Yura Town, and Fukura Village. There are also several temples and shrines in the DLC. There’s a cool Naruto easter egg in the DLC. I won’t say anything more about it, I’ll leave it to you to discover. DUAL PROTAGONIST SYSTEM Ubisoft Bordeaux did a really good job designing the dual protagonists system in the DLC. The teamwork between Naoe and Yasuke feels natural and well executed. There’s a mission in a castle where you truly get to understand this mechanic. This isn’t like in the main game, where one character suddenly pops up out of nowhere. SANZOKU IPPA Like Shinbakufu in the main game, here in this DLC you will find a new enemy faction called Sanzoku Ippa. But these new enemies are much better than the Shinbakufu. There are 4 of them. Each character is designed with a good story, and each one has unique capabilities different from the others. Each boss offers different gameplay perspectives on Awaji Island. You can't use the same technique on each member, you will have to use different techniques to defeat them. There is a boss fight that I think is one of the best Ubisoft has designed in a long time. The mechanics of this fight are inspired by the Fear and Quiet missions from the Metal Gear Solid games. You have to face this boss in a large arena on a foggy night in a forest, with traps scattered everywhere. You’ll need to adopt a different approach to defeat the boss, use the observe mechanic, eagle vision, stay stealthy, and be patient, because it will take some time to defeat the boss. NEW BO WEAPON & NEW ABILITIES The combat system is much improved in the DLC, especially with the new Bo weapon for Naoe. The animations with this weapon look pretty good, and there’s even a tutorial mission for it in the DLC. The Bo is a versatile multi-range weapon. It focuses on controlling opponents via pushbacks, knockdowns and other similar effects rather than inflicting raw damage. This weapon has its own mastery tree with new abilities and three stances. Here are three new abilities for this weapon: Windstep, Grab & Throw (my favorite), and Flurry of Blows. The Bo weapon is free for everyone in Assassin's Creed Shadows. However, if you want a legendary Bo staff, that will only be available in the DLC. There are also gear vendors across the map who sell epic Bo weapons. There are also new abilities for Yasuke in the DLC. There are five different abilities connected to his weapons: Hurricane Stance (Naginata ability), Kanabo Throw, Wind Burst, Spread Shot (Bow ability), and Tezutsu Burst (Teppo Ability). They deal good damage and have pretty cool animations. I liked them. NEW IMPROVEMENTS One thing I really like about this DLC is that when looting a legendary chest, you have to find clues and notes in the open world and from NPCs to open it. It’s not like in the main game, where you just go to a place and open the chest. This encourages players to explore more areas and interact with different NPCs. The cutscenes in the DLC are much improved compared to the main game. Side activities also return in the DLC. While many are the same, some have been improved and redesigned, especially the hidden trails and Sumi-e paintings. AREAS OF CONCERN One feature I didn’t like is that you can’t travel to Awaji Island by boat from the mainland. Instead, you have to use a fast travel point between them to go to Awaji, and then from Awaji to your hideout. This is probably a restriction for players who don’t own the DLC, preventing them from traveling to the island. Then I think there should be more legendary gears in the DLC, as there are only a few of them. The Awaji map is not fully open-world. There are mountains and large trees that block your path while exploring, and you cannot climb them. This is something I also didn’t like in the main game, that you can’t go everywhere freely. The level cap should not be increased to 100 for the DLC. It was recently raised from 60 to 80 for NG+. Even after completing NG+, you won’t easily reach level 80, you’ll need to do lots of contracts and other activities. Many players still haven’t reached level 80 in Shadows. I think the cap should be increased only to 85 or at most 90. Raising it to 100 makes the game feel too grindy, forcing players to do more NG+ runs or complete many contracts daily just to reach level 100. The rarity enhancement system isn’t that good. You need lots of mons, resources, and especially gold to upgrade it to the max level. This means you’ll have to spend many more hours in AC Shadows just to fully upgrade your gear to Artifact level 9 rarity. Although Ubisoft mentioned that these powerful enhancements are designed as long-term goals, they support players through the increasing difficulty of subsequent New Game+ cycles and other upcoming challenges. CONCLUSION Overall, I am impressed with the Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft Bordeaux really put in a lot of effort to make this DLC stand out. I even enjoyed it more than the main game. It doesn’t feel like a simple, forced expansion of the main story; instead, it’s designed in a unique way to give players a different experience from the main game. I still need to explore 100% of the map, and there are more secrets and Easter eggs left to discover. I’m giving the Claws of Awaji DLC an 8.5 out of 10. If you did not pre-order Assassin's Creed Shadows, the DLC is now available for purchase on all platforms for $25/€25. Have you already played the Claws of Awaji DLC? What are your thoughts on it? Share them in the comments down below. Promo image by Charlie Cooper 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

Jack Harrison (_Virtualtourism) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Photo Mode, the first free virtual photography e-magazine Since 2023, he has provided support and guidance, acting as an Advisor for The Ones Who Came Before's Virtual Photography Team. In January 2023, he won the award for Virtual Photographer of the Year at the Ubisoft Community Celebration Awards in London. Previous Next Jack Harrison Writer Previous Partner Jack Harrison (_Virtualtourism) is the Editor-in-Chief of The Photo Mode, the first free virtual photography e-magazine Since 2023, he has provided support and guidance, acting as an Advisor for The Ones Who Came Before's Virtual Photography Team. In January 2023, he won the award for Virtual Photographer of the Year at the Ubisoft Community Celebration Awards in London. Twitter | TPM Twitter | Website Work

Best Quotes in Assassin's Creed Origins Share Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Back To Database comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author 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)

This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd - 8th January 2023 Community Share 8 Jan 2023 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup series hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed 1. Snake in the Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ MechXican First up this week we have a striking shot of Kassandra dressed for the kill. I love the lighting of this capture, the dark background with the snippets of light on her face really gives off Assassin vibes. I love finding stealth focused shots from Odyssey due to it often receiving criticism for its lack of Assassin’s. This shot is worthy of its place in the first showcase of 2023. 2. Assassin Pose. Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PS5 VP Artist: @ Amaya_Nocturna Just like with Odyssey it is cool when you find a real Assassin's pose in Valhalla. Personally, I focus more on the Viking aspects when playing the game , but I think the cities lend themselves to some very classic shots. I love this one of Eivor. The background is just stunning, showcasing the true beauty of Valhalla. The pose is perfection, that head turn makes the shot for me. 3. From the Dark Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Platform: PlayStation VP Artist: @ artschoolglases Capture number three matches that of Kass andra with the spectacular black background. I particularly like how the darker outfit and hair blend brilliantly with the atmosphere of the shot. Eivor's pale skin tone allows her face to really shine. Coupled with the subtle green eye tattoo it makes for one marvellous portrait of our favourite Viking. 4. The Ghost of Valhalla Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP Artist: @ SGVphoto Something a little different for photo number four. Here we have a unique edit of Eivor in the Monster Hunter crossover outfit. I am not one for armour sets that don't fit the time period but this one does look awesome. The choice of colour is truly amazing, giving off a real movie poster vibe. I wonder if this could be an insight into what we might expect from Codename Red. 5. Magnificent Paris Game: Assassin’s Creed Unity VP Artist: @ ophierian_vp This week's final shot comes with a touch of class. Assassin's Creed Unity always oozed class when it comes to buildings and this capture proves it. I am really blown away by the details and the lighting in this shot. To the untrained eye this could be mistaken for real life. I am hoping Mirage can bring back some of the beautiful interior's thanks to its smaller scale. Link to set: The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week The Ones Who Came Before Photo of the Week: Judge: Colum Blackett (TOWCB Community Admin // Creator) Snake in the Shadows Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey VP Artist: @ MechXican I absolutely love the colours in this shot, and the look on Kassandra's face as she observes her pray beneath a mask. The snake set turns Kassandra into a predator, ready to strike. This shot would make a very cool phone wallpaper. And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list! Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in! comments debug Comments Write a comment Write a comment Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment. About the Author Aaron is a passionate Assassin's Creed fan who joined our AC Partnership Program as an Online Article Writer back in 2021 after the release of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. After building momentum and interest on TOWCB website for Virtual Photography, Aaron established TOWCB Virtual Photography Team, of which he is now Team Leader. Throughout 2024, TOWCB VP Team will be sharing community captures in dedicated articles, and providing a positive environment on Twitter for gamers to share their shots. Aaron Young

This Week in Assassin's Creed Virtual Photography: Feb 26th - 5th March 2022 Community Share 21 Mar 2022 Written By: Edited By: Aaron Young Ashlea Blackett Back To Database Welcome to the new weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program. Every week, we will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community. Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter. Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for capture across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured. 1) Renaissance Game: Assassin’s Creed II This week’s first capture comes from @hannyafoxdie over on Twitter. The scenery in Assassin’s Creed 2 is immense. The city of Venice is so vibrant, and this capture reflects it extremely well. I am always a fan of the protagonist standing on a rooftop. The colour of the tiles really pops in this image. I certainly appreciate the larger buildings in the distance and the waterway just below. 2) The Seaside Game: Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Photo number two comes from @FeRa0408 over on Twitter. This capture is so colourful and striking. Kassandra walking through the red plants is very iconic, giving me Gladiator vibes. There really is a lot going on here, with the flock of birds in the sky and the two ships floating in the water. This is possibly one of my favourite Odyssey shots. 3) Sunlight Game: Assassin’s Creed This week’s third shot comes from @realKICKFLIPKID over on Twitter. Once again, we travel back to where it all began. I have not yet played the original since I entered the VP world. This is definitely a capture I would attempt, though. I love the bright sun blazing in from the right and the birds circling in the air. I am particularly impressed by the hidden blade sticking out as if Altair is about to strike. 4) Black and White Game: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla VP number four comes from @DagNammit86 over on Twitter. Black and white shots can often get missed, but this one stood out to me. I really like the depth of field drawing your eye to the archway which seems to make this image so bright. The simplicity is a breath of fresh air, minus the civilian this shot is pure environment. 5) Egyptian Hedj Game: Assassin’s Creed Origins The final capture of the week comes from @nkeiiin over on Twitter. Bayek and Origins captures are my favourites. Once again great use of the depth of field, really makes Bayek stand out amongst the burning sun. Nice to see Bayek in the Hedj robes, such an underrated look. I was so happy when they returned in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. 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

Assassin's Creed Odyssey Review Review Share 5 Feb 2019 Written By: Edited By: Colum Blackett (Col_96) Ashlea Blackett Back To Database "Fun but flawed in the eyes of the lore" The reveal of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey marked a new direction for the franchise, with a focus on giving players the chance to craft their own experience. For some, it was the beginning of an identity crisis for the series, with the removal of both the Assassins and the Creed, making the title almost invalid. For others, it was a fresh start for the series, entering a new chapter full of opportunity which would allow the player to control the sexual identity and decisions of the protagonist. It was clear that the franchise was no longer going to be constricted by the Animus, and would for the first time ever be letting players make their own decisions over character selection, dialogue and other aspects of the game. Odyssey takes the franchise even further in the journey towards becoming a fully-fledged RPG, and builds upon the blocks left behind by Origins. My time playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been a bumpy ride, bringing about a mixture of emotions. The key question I asked myself when purchasing the game was: Can you have an Assassin’s Creed Game without the Assassins or the Creed? The short answer is yes, as Odyssey proves that it can be done from an ideological perspective, as tyrants and liberators exist in all historical societies. Should it have been done though? That’s a more difficult question to tackle. So before we examine that in more depth, let’s take a look at the game itself. From the outside, Odyssey looks like 300 crossed with Assassin’s Creed Origins, combining the brutality of Ancient Greek conflicts with aspects of the previous entry. Moments after beginning the game, it becomes clear that this is far more than a retexture of a previous game. For the first time ever, players can select a character, a decision that cannot be undone once made. The choice comes down to two Spartan mercenaries. Kassandra or Alexios. This is due to Layla’s modified Animus accepting pages from the lost book of Herodotus, and DNA from the Spear of Leonidas, which projects a potential version of what history could have looked like, rather than what it was really like. For this to happen, the established animus lore of the franchise has been bent all over the place, removing issues such as desyncronization and bleeding effect consequences. The half-siblings have exactly the same choices, lines and even sexual partners, making the whole selection process rather peculiar. According to previous entries, Layla should be desynchronizing immediately, but let’s roll with it for now. I wasted no time in selecting Kassandra, turning the difficulty up to Nightmare Mode, and enabling exploration mode for my first playthrough. The World Ancient Greece in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey mixes together a wide range of contrasting environments, creating a beautiful experience for the player. When you’re not being attacked by the many enemies of the world, you can use photo mode to take in the stunning views and capture the moment. Although Odyssey feels familiar due to the graphical similarities to Assassin’s Creed Origins, the sandy deserts of Egypt feel a great distance away from the green fields of Greece. Venture to the coast and watch the waves hit the shore, or listen to the teachings of Sokrates in a bustling crowd. Whatever you choose to do in the game, you’ll be met with dynamic, ever changing scenarios that make you wish you had a time machine to visit it all for real. The game does a fantastic job at providing memorable locations in such a large open world, with new surroundings still being discovered after 100 hours of play. The tone of the world can also change in a moment, quickly going from a sunny, clear day, to a stormy, misty night, full of dangers lurking in the dark. You don’t want to be lingering around the woods of Attica after the sun goes down. The player discovers the Greek world along-side Kassandra (Or Alexios), after they finally manage to leave the small island of Kephallonia. behind. You’ll meet a colourful cast of characters along the way too. Who could forget the legendary warrior Testikles, or the tales told by your right hand man Barnabas, an ever loyal companion when facing the gravest of dangers. Following the Misthios on their journey are Ikaros (Senu’s Great Great ikarosGrandfather…. Possibly) and Phobos (At times the slowest horse to ever exist), who provide constant assistance throughout the game. My first ten hours of gaming were spent synchronising viewpoints. Little did I know that this task would be never-ending, as the map for the game is absolutely enormous. After many hours free-roaming the wild lands of Ancient Greece (on nightmare mode), I began to notice that I had barely gained any XP at all, and that it had been a real graft to level up. In comparison to the enemies (and animals) of the land that all wanted me dead, I was an extremely weak opponent. By not doing missions (as the game clearly intended), I felt like I was being punished, and had to suffer the consequences. Without missions, it can take the player several hours to increase significantly in XP or levels when choosing to free-roam. This graft to progress can create a disparity between the gamer and the world, where you leave your gaming session wondering what you have actually accomplished. Unlike other RPG games such as Skyrim, the game has no intention of rewarding players for wandering the world, with XP awards being almost microscopic at times. Bigger actions on the other hand, such as completing missions or eliminating rival mercenaries are heavily awarded with XP, which can rapidly increase your level. Before approaching a mission, I find myself scouting out the surrounding areas in order to pick a suitable battleground in case of conflict. A nice cliff or wall can be the difference between life and death, thanks to the Sparta Kick ability which can be used to defeat even the strongest of enemies. The surroundings can be critical to a successful fight, and creates an element which players can exploit to their own advantage. For example, I recently led a group of Athenians to a Lion den, before finding a vantage point to weaken the enemies with carefully timed arrows. Natural resources within the world also play a key role in the progression of the misthios. Trees and Iron can be harvested to upgrade weapons, or upgrade the ship, improving the chances of winning in combat. The game introduces a refined crafting experience in comparison to the time consuming efforts that were required in Assassin’s Creed III. To craft arrows, players simply collect wood and pelt, and head to the inventory. You can now even select auto-craft for arrows, meaning the game does it all for you. One feature that I particularly liked in AC Odyssey was the ability to dismantle weapons at any time. This allows the player to gain more wood or pelt where necessary. Although the world can be used to your advantage, it can also provide surprises for those who wander in to unknown terrain. Enemy attacks can come unexpectedly, and you may find yourself facing skilled warriors with level counts way above your own. The best way to stay alive is by carefully selecting your gear, and by making sure you keep upgrading/engraving when you visit your local blacksmith. One thing that I did notice when delving in to the world of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is that actions have consequences. Thanks to the new dialogue selection system, the choices that you make in your playthrough can have repercussions. For example, by choosing to spare the infected residents of Kefalonia, the player learns later in the game that their homeland has become host to a foul plague. For the rest of the game, Kassandra or Alexios must live with the burden of knowing that they could have prevented the spread of the deadly disease. This is just one example of many of how the choices you make in game affect the world around you. Everything from the side you choose, to the targets you kill can be carefully contemplated by the player. The game does not force you to kill targets (other than cultists), and it is up to the player to decide which Nation Leaders/Mercenaries they wish to assassinate or spare. In doing so, they know that their decisions shape the land, and contribute towards the suffering or prosperity of the people. These huge decisions can feel like rewriting history at times, and should really be prevented by the Animus (which clearly isn’t doing its job properly these days). A good example of this is when Kassandra confronts The Wolf of Sparta (whom she thinks is her father). The player can choose to kill or spare Nikolaos, a decision which should be fundamentally impossible within the Animus. Abilities Odyssey introduces a wide range of abilities that the player can unlock, which can be selected depending on the gamer’s preferred play-style. Each of three skill trees focus on a different core aspect of your chosen character. The Hunter, Warrior and Assassin tress all contain abilities which can cause devastating damage to opponents. The only problem with the ability system is that you can only select four for combat and four for archery at a time. It’s a shame that the game restricts your access to all of the abilities at once, but it does make the player select the most appropriate for their game. I personally tried to blend a mix between stealth and combat, in order suit the way I found myself playing the game. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing a good old Sparta kick won’t solve, but it’s best to stay on the safe side and select useful ones like healing for example. You never know when a fight is going to break out, and it’s good to have a way to recover should you take some damage. The Spear of Leonidas has some extremely powerful abilities attached to it, which only seem to get stronger as you progress through the game. After killing members of the Cult of Kosmos, you can take the Spear to the Ancient Forge, where it can be upgraded. This allows you to increase your strength even further, and unlock even more devastating abilities. Although the game has a great range of abilities, I felt that some of them should not have been locked away. For example, special arrows such as fire, poison or explosive all fall under an ability tree, rather than a simple purchase from a blacksmith which I expected. You’ll find the same goes for smoke bombs, which also fall under an ability tree. It feels like the game really does wish for the player to level up and grind, rather than handing all the tools available straight away. Ikaros also does not have abilities, as was the case in Assassin’s Creed Origins. I think it would have been interesting to introduce abilities like the following: “Theft from above”. “Distraction noise”. “Stone drop”. You get the picture, there’s loads that could have been implemented. Maybe in the next game we’ll be able to send our eagle to steal ammo from enemy camps. That being said, I cannot imagine playing the game without abilities. Conquest battles without healing, shield stealing or overpowered archery attacks would be an absolute nightmare! They really do add an extra element to the game, and unleash a lethal force when enough adrenaline is built up. Dialogue options Dialogue options are a strange addition to the franchise, something which I never expected to occur as long as the animus is still operational. The choices available to the player are endless, especially in side missions, where Kassandra can change the tone of a conversation extremely quickly. One thing you will notice quickly however is her lust for sex at every opportunity. During serious conversations, the game finds a way to make the situation sexual, something which I found to be quite distracting. Other times, I found the choice I selected didn’t overly reflect what was actually being said, making it feel like the dialogue option was pretty pointless. One thing that I did like about the dialogue options however were how you could gain extra information from characters by selecting a question. This allows for the player to learn more about the upcoming quest, and think of a strategy in which to proceed. Odyssey is full of choices, and the dialogue system reflects that in full. Players have the option to turn down quests and come back to it later, something which is extremely useful when you’re way below the recommended level. After sinking several hours into the game every day, I found myself at times skipping through dialogue in cutscenes and choosing to read the subtitles instead. This is no disrespect to the voice actors in any way, who did a great job with the characters. It simply saves time. There are moments however where I wish I had not done this, as the game quizzed me and made sure I was paying attention. My first real noticeable quiz came when I first attempted “Lore of the Sphinx”. I skipped the cutscenes without paying attention, and was presented with a selection process for riddle answers. I guessed of course and was killed by the Sphinx for not paying attention. I liked the way in which the game made sure I was still listening, and gave me options in which to choose. Other than a few overly sexual options, and some which didn’t reflect the choice, I think the game did a good job at presenting alternative branches which could create interesting consequences. This is definitely a feature that Ubisoft should use again in games like Far Cry and Splinter Cell, but I’m still not sure about its place in the Assassin’s Creed Universe I might be open to it's return in the Modern Day aspects though. Stealth One of the core pillars of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is stealth, enabling the player to become one with the crowd and neutralise enemies without being spotted. As stealth is such as important element to the franchise, you would expect the game to make missions specifically for this, but this is not the case. When you begin the game, stealth is nearly impossible, with attacks from a hiding spot dealing limited damage. Over time, it improves if you select gear with Assassin damage, but there comes a time when playing where you have to accept that a stealth approach may not be the best for this game. For example: You see an Athenian guard on the edge of the cliff. You can either: 1) Attempt an assassination, risking exposure. 2) Sparta kick him off the cliff. In any other Assassin’s Creed game, I would pick 1 of course, knowing that my hidden blade would kill the enemy every time, but Odyssey carries on the problem that Origins introduced. Not every character can be stealthily assassinated from behind, or above, no matter what you do. You’d think a knife to the throat would slay even the mightiest of foes, but the game seems to have other ideas about this. Even with full Assassin damage on your weapons, a stealth attack may only deal half the damage you would expect to a captain or brute. You can find yourself above an alerted enemy, but unable to perform an air assassination, something which I found to be a particular problem. The stealth in Odyssey is flawed, and that makes me worry about future entries. When walking with a crowd in Athens for example, a paid mercenary will spot you from a mile away and attack on sight. Long gone are the days of ‘blending’, where a crowd could mask your position. The game is slightly limited when it comes to ranged attacks. All you can do from distance is shoot an arrow, which probably won’t do much damage to an enemy of the same, or higher level (even with a headshot), or you can try get up close and personal. Neither guarantees an instant kill, and exposes your position immediately. I found that the best stealth attack in the game is actually the spear throw ability, which can be used to quietly kill your opponents. As one of the fundamental strengths of the franchise, I really want to see this aspect improved in future entries. The simple introduction of tools such as throwing knives or bombs would make a difference to the stealth element. Alongside the whistle, rock throwing like was the case in Far Cry 3 would be a fantastic tool to distract guards. The closest right now to this is fire an arrow, or throw a lit torch, both of which alert enemies. Stealth is certainly an optional approach in the game, and many missions don’t even try to accommodate it. For example, the conquest battles cannot be fought from the shadows, and force the player to use the combat system time and time again. One thing that I did like about stealth in Odyssey however was the range of cover from the environment. Tall grass and bushes are frequent across the land, so you can attempt to be stealthy whenever you feel like it. As stealth is such a vital part of the Assassin’s Creed series, I really hope that the team behind the next game go back to the drawing board and work out the kinks, because for some reason it is extremely difficult in Odyssey, and almost prevents the player from carrying out a quiet assassination. It’s clear to me that more tools need to be given to the player in order to become a stealthier character. For example, Poison darts, smoke bombs, throwing knives and rock throwing would be a massive step forward in comparison to what we have to work with right now. Assassin’s Creed elements Odyssey is the first game in the franchise to take place before the establishment of the Assassin Brotherhood, which began in Ancient Egypt (The Hidden Ones). For this reason, the game was always going to struggle with incorporating ‘AC elements’, as many of the key founding pillars had yet to be introduced. Although the game does attempt to remind players than it is an Assassin’s Creed game, it acts almost like a fanservice rather than dedication to previous entries. Origins had some of the best White Room death conversations in the franchise, but Odyssey removes these pivotal moments, and replaces assassination targets with a ‘Shadow of Mordor’ style system. This means that players don’t really know anything about the people they are hunting in the Cult of Kosmos, even after investigations have been conducted. Although the Cult control Ancient Greece and different aspects of society, the player doesn’t have motivation to hunt down targets other than gaining better loot and crossing a name off a list. Previously, games would invest players in their targets, and make an emotional connection to their kill. A great example of this is when Connor finally assassinated his father, Haytham Kenway. When I think back on my Odyssey, I could maybe name two or three targets that I actually know anything about or remember. It seems that the members of the cult only exist to give the player something to do in the game, which is a shame when you think about the great experiences we have had hunting notable targets down in past entries. The Hidden Blade is replaced by The Spear of Leonidas, which is a pretty cool weapon for the player to upgrade and customise. Unfortunately though, you only get one, meaning that double air assassinations cannot be performed in the game. This is extremely annoying when you find yourself above two targets. Odyssey is also the first Assassin’s Creed game not to feature Animus Loading screens, where you can run around and see your character. Instead, we see the Cult of Kosmos hideout, which adds masks to the floor after you track them down. Although this is a cool new feature, it’s just one of the many ways in which the game distances itself from the past. The game does a decent job at explaining that a precursor group to the Order of Ancients existed, and that a philosophical battle against free will and control took place. At its core, that’s what the Assassin’s Creed franchise is all about. It does however, present a story where one individual and a few friends chose to battle the controlling forces, rather two opposing groups. It’s pretty disappointing to see that Darius, a major figure in the Assassin’s Creed lore has been sidelined to DLC content. Although the DLC looks 100x more like an Assassin’s Creed entry than Odyssey, I can’t help but feel unimpressed that players are having to pay extra to get the full AC experience. The outfits provide a constant reminder than this is an AC Game, allowing players to equip hoods when tackling the adventures set by Ubisoft. I was overall impressed with the outfit customisation options, especially when the visual customisation system was introduced. One thing however that was noticeably missing was the Legacy Outfits, which have been present in the franchise since the early games. It would have been pretty cool to see the Altair outfit getting some photo mode attention, but unfortunately they didn’t make an appearance. The best Assassin’s Creed lore elements in the game can be found in the Modern Day sections, where you play as Layla reading her emails. Here you will find a whole array of callbacks to previous instalments, and even transmedia products such as Last Descendants and Heresy. The death of Charlotte de la Cruz is featured in an email, alongside mentions of key Assassins, such as William Miles, Harlan T Cunningham and Galina Voronina. My favourite reference was the presence of Kiyoshi Takakuraa, a member of the Japanese Brotherhood who was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed Initiates. The Modern Day story is always progressing, with Layla being promoted to Cell Leader, but the games tend to focus on pretty boring aspects of the story. When you compare the comic book modern day story aspects to the games, we have one clear winner. This has led to it losing its importance for many fans, with some calling for its removal. I hope that for the next game, we can restore the Modern Day conflict, and see a full scale battle between the Assassins, Templars and Instruments of the First Will. Conclusion Odyssey is at its best when it is presenting the player with meaningful side missions that connect to each other. You can play a full arc that all links to each other, creating a chain of stories which you can follow. Here we get to see the protagonist in different situations, and presents the player with a great blend of sarcasm, humour and seriousness. Kassandra is a breath of fresh air as a female protagonist, when compared to the cold, serious tone we experienced as Aya. She was great all the way through, and I am so glad I didn’t choose Alexios. Sexual decisions feel unnecessary and out of place, becoming incredibly distracting when playing the game. It’s a novelty which has well and truly worn off for me. It doesn’t add anything to the game. Great range of enemies and kill moves. The combat and brutality of the game provide hours of satisfactory fighting experiences. At times the world feels too big. Imagine it without fast travel… One thing that fans can take away from Odyssey is that Ubisoft intends to provide a ton of additional content for future games. The post-launch content is going to keep players busy for a long time, meaning great value for money. Overall: The game is fun, but flawed in the eyes of the Lore. It bends the Assassin’s Creed lore in ways that cannot be justified. I hope that for the next game, Ubisoft listen to the Community, and try to make the game more ‘AC’ than this one. Rating: 7.5/10 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)