Video game series don’t usually have the longest shelf life, but no one ever told Ubisoft that. “Assassin’s Creed: Rogue” is the seventh game out of the eight major console releases of the series.
“Rogue” doesn’t break the Assassin’s Creed series’ mold. Its function lies somewhere else. Its calling card is its plot, and it’s not just Shay’s arc but the arc the player follows outside of the animus. “Rogue” is a plot game. It expands on the world that was built in “Assassin’s Creed III.” It was truly interesting to see what brought Achilles’ order to the low point we’re shown in “Assassin’s Creed III.”
Shay Patrick Cormac, our hero at the beginning of the game, is one of the most well-rounded characters we’ve been given besides Jack Kenway from “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.” Rebounding against the pupil style training of the assassins, Shay strives to make big dents in the fight against the Templar order and is finally given a chance to shake things up. With probably the most anticipated plot moves, Shay becomes disillusioned with the assassin order and finds his way to the Templars. Fans have not only requested this transformation for years but it also presented a challenge. On the other side of things, sketchy stuff is going on at Abstergo Industries. It’s great to see Ubisoft can actually move past Desmond, which at the time seemed like a bad move.
Ubisoft has come under fire in recent years for a particular decision they made around the time of “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood.” They decided to become a yearly release. At first, this seemed like a great idea. “Assassin’s Creed” was a smash hit and the parallel storyline of Desmond Miles and Altair was perfectly structured and blended together. This success was followed up by “Assassin’s Creed II,” a game that built on what Ubisoft had going. The combat took a step forward and the idea of multiple open-travel areas began to stick.
But then, “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” came out and there couldn’t have been a fan who wasn’t excited. This was the same for “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” but here’s the beef. Ubisoft seemed to commit a great deal of effort and energy into building what was a grand story, Ezio’s life but this could only go so far. Fast-forward a few years and we’re given the first original story since the genesis, “Assassin’s Creed III.”
“Assassin’s Creed III” was a great looking game. The visuals finally pushed the Xbox 360 system to its apex and the combat was revolutionary, pushing cut scenes into the forefront through prompted combinations. The thing is, the story was painful. Half the game was the prequel memory sequences and the main character, Connor, was nothing you’d want out of a lead role.
“Black Flag” and “Rogue” seem like two peas in a pod but the difference is noticeable at best. “Black Flag” and “Rogue” both operate on the same combat system but that’s one of the best parts of the game. “Rogue” brings back the challenge that was one vs. a group. As the Creed games have progressed, it’s become easier and easier to fight massive groups of people. The kill streak function improved the cinematic aspect of the series, but it had become a little too easy. “Rogue” makes you frustrated and for a consistent Creed player, it’s something to love.
“Rogue” features the same reinterpreted side quests as past Creed releases and honestly offers a great deal of game time for the gamer who appreciates a quality side mission.
Given the fact that “Assassin’s Creed: Unity” was released on the same day, it’s impressive “Rogue” was given the hype it’s received to this point. “Rogue” at its core is just a cash cow. With that said, Rogue still holds some sentimental value for Xbox 360 users. It’s the last lament of a system that has been the home of an entire series.
