Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s Comes With a Tiny Map

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the evolution of the Assassin’s Creed series into a sprawling RPG experience. Having invested countless hours traversing the picturesque landscapes of Norway, England, Ireland, and France in Valhalla, the prospect of a tranquil sojourn in Baghdad with Assassin’s Creed Mirage has me eagerly anticipating its release.

As highlighted by Morgan in their write-up following the Mirage presentation, the resurgence of the classic Assassin’s Creed approach has rekindled excitement among fans. However, it’s not solely the return to stealthy tactics that has captured my attention. The downsizing of the game’s scale also appears to be a promising development. Ubisoft recently drew comparisons between Mirage’s size and that of Constantinople in Assassin’s Creed Revelations and Paris in Assassin’s Creed Unity, suggesting a departure from the massive open-world proportions witnessed in recent entries.

Now, Paris exceeded Constantinople’s dimensions by over twofold, and while we lack concrete information on Mirage’s exact size, it’s reasonable to estimate it at around 2 square kilometers—an expansive area by all means. I can still vividly recall my awe-inspiring acrobatics across the rooftops of Paris, contemplating the sheer magnitude of the environment. Nonetheless, it certainly pales in comparison to the vastness of more recent incarnations that span hundreds of kilometers for exploration.

I’ve yearned for the thrill of exploring bustling cities, though. While titles such as Valhalla and Odyssey did offer diverse urban landscapes for our murderous escapades, the majority of these games were dominated by sprawling wilderness and countryside—a vast expanse where one could only admire picturesque vistas interrupted by intermittent skirmishes. These locales undeniably possess exceptional potential for captivating screenshots, but they leave limited room for stealthy assassinations. All I desire is to once again bound effortlessly from rooftop to rooftop, gracefully descending upon my targets and seamlessly merging with the crowd.

Unfortunately, what has been absent thus far are the monumental crowds reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed Unity. In Ubisoft’s simulated rendition of Paris, we were immersed in a bustling throng of humanity, navigating through a pulsating mass of protesters, rioters, and pedestrians as we ventured through its streets. I apologize if my description sounds somewhat unappealing, but the density of these crowds left an indelible impression on me and contributed to making Paris the series’ most impeccably realized setting. Regrettably, technical issues undermined that ambitious vision, leading Ubisoft to subsequently reduce crowd sizes in subsequent installments. With Mirage’s return to a more focused setting, I had hoped that we would witness the revival of these expansive crowds, but thus far, such hopes have gone unfulfilled.

Nevertheless, I am eagerly anticipating the chance to explore the vibrant streets and rooftops of Baghdad alongside my trusty companion, Basim. Crucially, I am eagerly anticipating a gameplay experience that emphasizes engaging and purposeful activities rather than simply traversing vast distances on horseback from point A to point B.