Shay’s story is one of the strongest in the series history, and doesn't take 3 entries to get there.
Assassins Creed Rogue REVIEW
Written By Tyler Pederson
Of all the series under the Ubisoft umbrella, Assassin’s Creed has seen the most entries in the shortest time, by far. This has caused an understandable amount of fatigue with the franchise, and this was helped none by last Novembers release of two entries on the very same day. Unity was released for next gen consoles and PC, and Rogue relegated to the last generation of consoles. Rogue now has it’s day in the PC spotlight, and I find it’s one a little overdue. Where many past Assassin’s Creed titles have ended with infinitely more questions than answers, Rogue is a rare case of a wholly fulfilling single player experience that delivers heavily on plot developments as well as sporting the best iteration of the naval combat to date.
Few times have I really cared much for the protagonist the Assassins series places me into the life of. Shay Cormack, the Assassin turned Templar, managed to top that list by the end of his journey. He’s not wholly lovable, and I understand that I had personal troubles connecting with particular characters of the past, but overall I feel the arc present in Shay’s story is one of the strongest in the series history, and doesn't take 3 entries to get there. The care put into a couple of perfectly scripted moments really drive home that this wasn't some half-hearted side story, but one meant to give a true alternate take on things.
The campaign is paced quite well, though admittedly not perfectly. There are mechanics introduced more slowly that could have been shown off earlier, but end up playing a part for the rest of the story, and more importantly, the open world as a whole. The games take on combating Assassin’s is truly unique and ends up delivering some of the more heart racing moments the series has seen. Coupled with my favorite take on the Assassins combat system to date, and that includes the slower and more deliberate approach Unity took, it really drives home the most consistently enjoyable gameplay experience I've had the pleasure of stabbing my way through.
In no way is Rogue the side story is was written off by many to be. In truth, I find it does the most to wrap up some key plot threads and character arcs when compared to any other single entry. It’s strengths are in part thanks to the games that came before it, but it succeeds in really making something special out of an otherwise unimportant entry. I personally don’t feel it’s a spoiler to tell you that the story is purposefully left open for continuation, and I for one can’t wait to see where the later part of this Irishman's life takes him.
The naval combat has seen a good bit of polish as well. No longer was I finding myself caught in a poor position or situation due to the games fault, but always my own. It’s as difficult as it’s ever been, most impressively during some of the forte take-downs. There is also a secondary naval adventure to finish with the ships brought into Shays fleet, and it boasts some of the better rewards of the entire games offerings. It’s scale is stuck in that of Assassin’s Creed IV, but it’s utilized to a better effect here, delivering varied and visually stunning environments that take you to places never explored as other Assassins.
I don’t have a ton to say on Rogue that wouldn't dive into a long exposition of spoilers and inarticulate explanations of why I find it so compelling. Instead, I want to recommend you check it out for yourself. It drove home that, to me, the draw of Assassin's Creed is no longer making the biggest world possible, but doing all you can with more limited space and options to create a more fulfilling world. The PC version newly released is, in my own experiences, a very solid port job that delivers a significant step up in the visual department, but as a whole I recommend you play Rogue no matter the platform. It’s a crime that Rogue hasn't seen a port to the current generation of home consoles, but I would be happy to grab it again should it ever arrive. I have no idea which side of the story Ubisoft will continue this fall, but I can tell you I have a strong preference toward seeing what else the Templar's have to offer.
Assassin’s Creed Rogue gets an 8.5/10