Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review – Let me preface this review by saying that I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed since it first came out in 2007. It was my first-ever PlayStation 3 game and remains a memorable experience, particularly due to its stealth aspects. Over the past 16 years, I have owned and played all the Assassin’s Creed games across various platforms, from Altair to Eivor.
As we approach the end of 2023, Ubisoft has just released their latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Mirage. In this review, we’ll find out if it lives up to its storied reputation.
One of my biggest concerns with recent Assassin’s Creed games, such as Valhalla and Odyssey, is their evolution into RPGs with underlying mythical themes. When I first watched the Assassin’s Creed Mirage trailer last year, I was more than just excited; I was ecstatic. It seemed Ubisoft had finally listened to diehard fans like myself who missed the franchise’s original focus.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is attempting to reinstate the franchise’s original roots. Furthermore Assassin’s Creed is a big franchise, given there’s a blockbuster movie made in 2016 (starring Michael Fassbender). It’s about time the Assassin’s Creed series back to its original form.
After investing a good number of hours and reaching 40% completion (no major spoilers here), here are my thoughts.
What kind of game is it?
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is an open-world action/stealth game set in ancient times where you play as an assassin. It’s a blend of Hitman and Prince of Persia, and if you enjoy those games, you’ll likely love this one too.
What’s the plot?
The main character is Basim Ibn Ishaq, who made a cameo in the previous game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In Mirage, we see Basim before he joined the Hidden Ones, the assassin’s organisation. The setting is in Baghdad and he used to be a common thief. One of his specialities is to pickpocket and Basim’s life takes a turn after a botched burglary, forcing him to flee the city with Roshan, (one of the Hidden Ones’ heads)
After a few years under Roshan’s training, Basim eventually became a part of the assassin’s organisation. He then realised that the Five members of the Order have infiltrated the Caliphate’s highest power and are planning to rebuild ancient Isu artifacts. He went to Baghdad to hunt down all the Order’s members to prevent their evil plot.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Graphics
The graphics in Assassin’s Creed Mirage are superb on the PlayStation 5. The level of detail is astonishing, and the facial expressions are more realistic than ever. The developers did a great job at crafting the environmental topography. Although the map is not the biggest one, I still enjoy it.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Gameplay
I must admit that Assassin’s Creed Mirage has given me the nostalgic feeling. The gameplay is so refreshing compared to previous Assassin’s Creed instalments. There are parkour, combat, recon, and stealth killings. The combat controls are simpler and the skills upgrade matrix is less complicated now. Both weapons and outfit upgrades are still available.
The voice acting is also noticeably improved. However, it’s worth mentioning that Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a relatively short game; you can complete the main story in about 20 hours.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Review Conclusion
Whether you’re new to the franchise or a long-time fan, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is highly recommended. It leverages current-gen platforms to deliver a game that both returns to the series’ roots and incorporates modern industry advancements, utilising all of the bells and whistles.
Even if you’re an avid Assassin’s Creed fan like myself and miss the good ol’ times of stealth element, I would highly recommend Assassin’s Creed Mirage for you. The game is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and Windows PC.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is available to purchase at your online or local retailers. Also at Amazon.
Disclosure: Assassin’s Creed Mirage review code for the PS5 was supplied for reviewing
