Assassin’s Creed Unity is an action-adventure game set in Paris during the French Revolution.
Challenging Play
Great Characters
Great Graphics/Art
Great Story
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Story & Themes
Unity is the latest entry in the very popular Assassin’s Creed series of action-adventure games. All the games have a touch of science fiction, a lot of history, and amazing exploration. The series tells the story of a conflict between the Knights Templar and a group called the Assassins—a conflict that has lasted for hundreds of years, even up to the present day. In Assassin’s Creed Unity you are nameless modern-day player enlisted by the Assassins. You are tasked to relive the memories of Arno Dorian during the French Revolution, and you are inside a computer simulation—a simulation that the Templars are continually trying to hack into and destroy.
After the death of his father, Arno is taken in by the de la Serre family. Unbeknownst to him, they are Templars and his father was an Assassin. The epitome of mortal enemies in this game universe, if you will. Despite this, Arno and Elise de la Serre become fast friends and later, lovers.
When Monseiur de la Serre is killed, Arno and Elise are torn apart. Both seek vengeance; Arno joins the Assassins and Elise strikes out on her own. Over the following years their paths cross as they hunt down the killers, over the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent Parisian political landscape.
Save Points
The game saves relatively frequently at checkpoints.
Difficulty
Assassin's Creed Unity is relatively easy to play, especially if you've played previous Assassin's Creed games. The controls have been simplified and free-running is much easier than before. That being said, the controls can still be a little touchy when trying to do precise attacks. The consequences are never too dire if you mess up.
Heads Up!
Violence Assassin's Creed Unity is chock-ful of blood, stabbings, and other kinds of murder. Arno is an assassin, and can use many kinds of melee weapons such as swords and axes, as well as ranged weapons like guns and crossbows. Some of the major kills are shown close-up in graphic, bloody detail.
Scary Imagery In one of the side missions, Arno must track down a murderer who has poisoned a well. When you drink from the poisoned well, you hear the voice of the devil (actually just the murderer pretending) whispering to you, and your vision becomes hazy.
Sex & Nudity There is no nudity, but there are scenes of men and women in states of dishevelment at a party thrown by the infamous Marquis de Sade. The Marquis kisses a woman's hand and mentions several lewd acts in his dialogue with you, such as bestiality and sodomy. These are not depicted on screen or discussed in detail.
Strong Language Foul language is omnipresent in Assassin's Creed. One character calls Arno "P*sspot" as a nickname, and f*ck and sh*it are used as well.
Substance Use During an extended flashback sequence, Arno gets drunk and tries to steal some wine. The player controls him while he is drunk, and the camera wobbles and is hazy to simulate drunkenness. Recreational drinking is also depicted with the Marquis de Sade and other characters.
Consumerism Assassin's Creed Unity is part of a series, though you do not have to purchase the other games to enjoy this one. Unity also offers several layers of microtransactions within the game. You can purchase in-game currency to buy clothing and weapons for your character. This isn't necessary to complete the game. There is also in-game content that can only be accessed by doing missions on the Unity website, and in a companion app. Again, none of these are crucial to the gameplay experience.
Discrimination There are no female playable characters in Assassin's Creed Unity, though Elise is a wonderful companion character who is capable and well-written. The game lacks depiction of people of color, or gender and sexual minorities--with the exception of the Marquis de Sade, who hardly counts as positive representation.
Online Community
Assassin's Creed Unity allows you to team up with other players for missions, but this is not necessary to complete the main story of the game.
Conversation Starters
- Did you learn anything about the French Revolution from this game? Does it make you want to research it?
- Does playing Unity make you feel like you're really exploring Paris?
- What do you think of how Arno handles grief, after the death of his father and his breakup with Elise?
- Is killing for revenge ever justified?
- Where do you think the next Assassin's Creed game should take place?
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