Assassin's Creed III



"Connor: "I watched them fight and die in the name of freedom. They speak of liberty and justice... but for who?""

Assassin's Creed III is the fifth main entry, and the third numbered entry, in the ever-popular Assassin's Creed series. Revealed on March 1st, 2012, the game takes us to the American War for Independence by way of the French and Indian War as a Native American Assassin named Connor Kenway, and is set for a release on October 30, 2012.

Connor is a Halfbreed (Native American and British colonist) whose Mohawk village is destroyed during his early years. He becomes an Assassin and joins the fight against the Templars, only to be caught up in the Revolution. He fights alongside historical figures such as George Washington while using the cover of the war to seek out his targets. Meanwhile, in 2012, Desmond Miles and the modern Assassins plumb Connor's memories for clues to unlocking the Grand Temple, which offers the last hope of saving the world from impending destruction.

Assassin's Creed III brings a new set of features to the franchise, including a completely new graphics and gameplay engine that allows for fluid free-running through natural environments. Weather plays a significant role, as the game takes place over all four seasons, with the promotional material placing strong emphasis on the harsh winter environments of upstate New York. In addition, the game features a naval combat system. Connor can take command of ships and engage British and pirate vessels on the Atlantic and Caribbean seas.

For official trailers, gameplay, and promotional videos, go here.

This game contains examples of:

 * An Axe to Grind:
 * Connor wields a tomahawk with a head in the shape of the Assassin crest.
 * Scottish Highlanders wield large axes.
 * An Entrepreneur Is You: Connor can sell animal pelts collected in the Frontier in the game's cities, and owning property is confirmed to return to some extent.
 * Animal Motifs: Tradition for the series, but aside from the usual eagle, there's also wolves to match the whole predator theme even more. And the name Connor means wolf kin, lover of wolves.
 * The eagle connection is played up further in the E3 cinematic trailer, in which Connor and the bald eagle represent both the Assassins and the land of America.
 * Badass Longcoat: Connor wears one of these. Unlike Altaïr and Ezio, his white outfit camouflages him believably with the winter environments.
 * Badass Native: Connor, the player character.
 * Beat Them At Their Own Game: In addition to Redcoats, there are Native Americans in the Frontier who are hostile to Connor. They can navigate the trees and dangerous weather almost as well as he can.
 * Big Applesauce: New York is one of two confirmed cities in the game. Connor visits before, during and after the fire of 1776.
 * Bulletproof Human Shield: Connor can use enemies as shields against massed musket fire, then close with the remaining soldiers before they can reload.
 * But Not Too Foreign: Connor is half Mohawk, half British.
 * Doomed By Canon: Charles Lee died in "retirement" in Philadelphia in 1782.
 * Doomed Hometown: Connor's village is destroyed during his early years, leading him to the Assassins in a search for justice.
 * Do Not Call Me Paul: Connor's birth name is Ratohnhaké:ton.
 * Dual-Wielding: The combat system has been revamped to allow Connor to wield multiple weapons and fight with both of them. The promotional art depicts him holding his iconic tomahawk and a pistol.
 * Elite Mooks: Highlanders make an appearance, wielding large axes and able to counter Connor's guard breaks.
 * Everything's Worse With Bears: It turns out poorly for the bears -- Connor can fight and kill them and other animals for their pelts. Don't feel bad for them, however; they can more than hold their own.
 * Expy: Connor and Natty Bumpo from The Last of the Mohicans have a lot in common.
 * Gray and Gray Morality: Templars and Assassins fight on both sides of the war, and the relative morality of the two factions comes into play to a much greater degree than in Ezio's story. Similarly, neither the Colonials nor the British are portrayed as wholly good or evil; in the official trailer, Connor observes that the Colonials may be in it for their own freedom, but not necessarily for his.
 * The Gump: Like Ezio before him, Connor is this. He works with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Charles Lee, for starters.
 * Guns Akimbo: Connor can wield dual pistols.
 * Halfbreed: Connor's father was a British soldier and his mother was a member of the Mohawk tribe.
 * Historical Domain Character: Up to 80% of the characters appearing in the game are based on real people.
 * Le Parkour: As the setting lacks the tall urban environments of the previous games, this game adds "tree-running" to the Assassin skill set.
 * New York State: Upstate New York (specifically, the Mohawk Valley) is a setting in the historical part of the game, and it's also where Desmond and company find themselves.
 * Not in This For Your Revolution: Literally. Connor is more interested in Assassin/Templar issues than the American Revolution. Considering his Backstory, it's understandable. However, the fact that George Washington and Benjamin Franklin are allies makes him a little more sympathetic with the Colonies, as well as the events in the French and Indian War.
 * One-Man Army: In keeping with the tradition of the series, Connor can take on entire regiments of troops by himself and come out victorious. The E3 trailer shows him doing this in a losing battle and rallying the Continental forces as a result.
 * Seven Years War: Serves as the prologue.
 * Snow Means Death: The game takes place across all four seasons, with winter being the hardest to survive in for both Connor and the soldiers. The gameplay trailers make a point of showing Connor assassinating soldiers in the snow.
 * Space Compression: Inverted, according to the developers. New York and Boston are bigger than they were in real life at that time.
 * The Stoic: Connor is explicitly described as a very stoic person.
 * Trojan Prisoner: Connor can call on Assassins dressed as Redcoats to help him infiltrate British ports by taking him "prisoner".
 * Walking Armory: Connor carries a Tomahawk, dual pistols, a bow, and a hidden blade. He can be armed with additional weaponry later, of course.
 * Wide Open Sandbox: The Frontier, a countryside area near Boston, is one and a half times bigger than Rome as seen in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.