Should Assassin’s Creed Bring Back a New Ezio? The Pros and Cons Explored!

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Summary

  • A recurring protagonist like Ezio would allow for stronger character development, offering depth and evolution over multiple games.
  • Consistency in world-building and mechanics could be maintained with a recurring protagonist in Assassin’s Creed.
  • However, there’s a risk of stagnation and overstaying their welcome if the series introduces a new recurring protagonist.

Throughout an impressive 20-year run, the Assassin’s Creed series has introduced a variety of compelling protagonists, but none have resonated as deeply as Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed 2. Unlike his predecessor Altair, Ezio was charismatic, emotionally engaging, and relatable, making it easier for players to form strong emotional bonds with him and develop a fondness for him. This connection inspired Ubisoft to produce two additional games (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin’s Creed: Revelations) that continued Ezio’s story and extended the time players could spend with this beloved character, giving fans more opportunities to enjoy his journey.

After providing Ezio with an extended stay within the Assassin’s Creed universe, no other character has been afforded similar longevity. This isn’t indicative of the Ezio experiment in Assassin’s Creed being unsuccessful, but it doesn’t automatically mean the series should replicate this approach. Therefore, there exists a compelling argument both for and against Assassin’s Creed introducing another recurring character similar to Ezio.

The Case for a New Ezio in Assassin’s Creed

A Recurring Protagonist Would Allow for Stronger Character Development

One advantage of bringing back Ezio as the main character in Assassin’s Creed is that it provides an opportunity for a more comprehensive character development. Over multiple games, Ezio’s story arc evolved from a reckless young noble to a wise and experienced mentor, offering a rich and satisfying progression. Introducing a recurring protagonist in the Assassin’s Creed series could yield similar depth, allowing players to witness their growth over several games instead of starting fresh with each new title.

A Recurring Protagonist Would Allow for Consistency in World-Building and Mechanics

In the Assassin’s Creed series, introducing a consistent protagonist could be beneficial in maintaining both the consistency of the game world and the mechanics. While each Assassin’s Creed game generally preserves its core mechanics, significant changes are often introduced to keep things fresh. Although novelty in gameplay design isn’t always negative, having a recurring protagonist would enable the Assassin’s Creed series to periodically enhance mechanics without overhauling them entirely for each new character.

Modifying mechanics slightly from a past edition of “Assassin’s Creed” can effectively help develop the recurring character in a more mature direction.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that although the main storyline of Assassin’s Creed generally stays the same across the series, the unique worlds created in each game vary greatly due to frequent shifts in time periods, settings, and characters. Introducing a recurring protagonist like Ezio could help maintain consistency in world-building across multiple games, thereby fostering stronger player attachment to the game world as a whole.

The Case Against a New Ezio in Assassin’s Creed

A Recurring Protagonist Would Be at Risk of Stagnation

From another perspective, it’s worth noting that a repeated main character in the Assassin’s Creed series might fall into a rut due to its inherent need for innovation. The allure of Assassin’s Creed lies in its capacity to transform itself with each new release, offering fresh historical contexts and personalities. Introducing a recurring protagonist could potentially restrict creative liberty, compelling the franchise to devise means to keep the same character engaging across various games. Only Ezio from Assassin’s Creed 2 managed to avoid stagnation due to his captivating nature. Merely insisting on a recurrent protagonist without providing a strong narrative reason for doing so wouldn’t be sufficient justification for such a move.

A Recurring Protagonist Could Easily Overstay Their Welcome

Keeping a character like Ezio as a recurrent figure could potentially become tiresome if the series wasn’t mindful about his portrayal. The success of Ezio’s trilogy in “Assassin’s Creed” can be attributed to his story having a distinct beginning, middle, and end. If “Assassin’s Creed” were to introduce a new recurring protagonist without care, it might dilute the influence that character has on the franchise, potentially lessening their impact.

In essence, introducing a recurring main character for Assassin’s Creed could offer opportunities for richer character growth and a more unified storyline. However, it might jeopardize the franchise’s adaptability, which was evident in Ezio’s trilogy, where his strong character and unfolding narrative were key to its success, not just repeated appearances. If Assassin’s Creed were to bring back a protagonist across multiple games, they should strike a balance: making the character interesting without impeding the series’ capacity to innovate and evolve.

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2025-02-14 15:06