Why Assassin's Creed 2 and 3 Had the Best Writing the Series Has Ever Seen

One of the most memorable moments in the entire Assassin's Creed series occurs early in Assassin's Creed III. Haytham Kenway, having assembled his band of assassins in the New World (or so it seems), embodies the series' charismatic protagonist archetype. He wields a hidden blade, displays the charm of Ezio Auditore, and initially acts heroically, freeing Native Americans and battling British soldiers. Only his utterance of the Templar phrase, "May the Father of Understanding guide us," reveals his true allegiance. This twist masterfully showcases Assassin's Creed's potential.

The first game introduced an intriguing premise—locate, understand, and eliminate targets—but fell short narratively, with Altaïr and his victims lacking personality. Assassin's Creed II improved this by introducing the iconic Ezio, but its adversaries remained underdeveloped, notably Cesare Borgia in Brotherhood. Assassin's Creed III, set during the American Revolution, finally achieved parity in character development for both hunter and hunted, creating a seamless narrative flow and a balanced blend of gameplay and story, a feat unmatched since.

Despite the generally positive reception of the series' RPG era, many believe Assassin's Creed is in decline. While some cite unrealistic premises (battles against gods), romance options, or the use of real-world figures like Yasuke in Assassin's Creed: Shadows, the true culprit is the abandonment of character-driven storytelling, overshadowed by sprawling open worlds.

The series has incorporated RPG and live-service elements—dialogue trees, XP systems, loot boxes, microtransactions, and customization—but this expansion has led to a sense of emptiness. While games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey boast more content than Assassin's Creed II, much feels underdeveloped and unpolished. The extensive dialogue options, intended to enhance immersion, often have the opposite effect, resulting in less refined scripts compared to the more focused narratives of the earlier games. This lack of polish prevents the player from truly connecting with the characters.

This contrasts sharply with the Xbox 360/PS3 era, which featured exceptional writing. From Ezio's powerful speech after defeating Savonarola to Haytham's tragicomic final words to his son, Connor:

“Don't think I have any intention of caressing your cheek and saying I was wrong. I will not weep and wonder what might have been. I'm sure you understand. Still, I'm proud of you in a way. You have shown great conviction. Strength. Courage. All noble qualities. I should have killed you long ago.”

The writing has also suffered from a simplification of the Assassin/Templar dichotomy. Earlier games explored the moral ambiguity, with defeated Templars prompting self-reflection. In Assassin's Creed III, characters like William Johnson, Thomas Hickey, and Benjamin Church challenge Connor's beliefs, highlighting the subjectivity of morality. Haytham's actions further complicate the narrative, questioning Connor's faith in George Washington. The result is a more complex and thought-provoking story.

The popularity of "Ezio's Family" from Assassin's Creed II's soundtrack highlights the emotional resonance of the PS3-era games, particularly Assassin's Creed II and III. These were character-driven experiences, focusing on personal narratives rather than solely on the historical setting. While modern games offer impressive world-building and graphics, a return to the focused storytelling of the earlier games would be a welcome change. However, in the current gaming landscape, such a shift might not be commercially viable.