Assassin's Creed III Remastered

Assassin's Creed III Remastered isn't just a simple remaster of the popular 2012 addition to the franchise, but a bundle of AC3, it's three-part DLC (The Tyranny of King Washington), and 2014's Assassin's Creed III: Liberation HD (which itself is the remaster of AC3: Liberation, which originally released for the PlayStation Vita back in 2012). Ubisoft recently bundled Far Cry 3 Classic Edition in with the season pass for Far Cry 5, and have repeated the bonus extras in the Assassin's Creed Odyssey Season Pass with the AC3 Remastered bundle being part of the deal. However, those without the season pass can still purchase it as a stand-alone package on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch, which is why we're reviewing this on its own terms.

AC3 Remastered helps bridge the gap between The Ezio Collection, Assassin's Creed: Rogue (both of which have had recent remasters) and the current generation of AC games, starting at Black Flag through to last year's AC Odyssey. That means that it's only Altair's original adventure in the first Assassin's Creed - mobile gaming aside - that is without a remaster that brings it up to current-gen standards.

Ratonhnhaké:ton, or Connor Kenway if, like Achilles, you don't want to attempt to enunciate his name, is the main protagonist of AC3. Those who are familiar with the grand story of Assassin's Creed will know that his disjointed story is woven into that of Haytham Kenway and Desmond Miles throughout the game. Having the narrative broken into three strands sadly means that certain aspects of story and gameplay are kept apart and this stops it from being a more fluid experience. But these are all things we already knew, and what the remaster does give us is better graphics, a tighter combat system, and an improved craft and trade menu.

Don't worry though, all of the usual Assassin's Creed foibles are still there. Trudging through the snow causes graphical dropouts and spasms rather than footprints, horses still get stuck on rocks and trees, most characters have dead-looking eyes regardless of how much shine has been added, and NPCs tend to be the same handful of skins which is really noticeable in large crowds. The lipsync is also quite terrible and there are still audio balancing issues which are especially noticeable when listening in surround sound. This being said, Assassin's Creed III pushed the boundaries of the previous games using the Anvilnext engine to build a larger world with new ways to traverse its environments. Movement through trees and the interiors of buildings were added and sailing the high seas were all new concepts to the Assassin's Creed saga, additions which have now become series staples.

After playing the more recent editions such as Origins, Odyssey and even Syndicate, the visual upgrades may not be immediately noticeable but, side-by-side with the last gen versions, it becomes far more apparent. Connor's outfits are probably the most defined upgrade, as the fabrics look more realistic and have better movement. There is also a huge range of new outfits to pick from and using Ubisoft Club points you can add further to your wardrobe options with more recent costumes from the likes of Alexios and Bayek. Similarly, in the original version of the game, the crafting menus (accessed via the ledger in your homestead) required recipes to make. These have been revised and made far simpler to use which makes spending time in your homestead more enjoyable.

For all its inadequacies, Assassin's Creed III is still an enjoyable experience in 2019. The American Revolution setting is expertly re-created with nearly all of the main historical figures represented in an intriguing struggle between the Creed and the Templars as they fight for the pieces of Eden. The Tyranny of King Washington is an excellent DLC story too and is well worthy of the extra time spent on it; during that expansion, we see an alternate reality explored where George Washington is corrupted by the power of the Apple of Eden and is crowned King of America, with terrible consequences.

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation is also a great experience on its own. While graphically inferior and shorter due to its humble origins on the Vita. Aveline de Grandpre takes us on an unusual story into New Orleans and the Bayou, utilising her three different personas - Slave, Lady and Assassin - each with their own unique skillsets that help her complete her missions.

And then, in addition to the actual games themselves, there is a host of extra content in the form of trailers, concept art and a documentary featurette that delve deep into the processes that went into building the game. Well worth a look through for fans who wish to learn more about this chapter in the series.

Assassin's Creed III Remastered isn't the most amazing remaster out there, but for fans, newcomers and those that just want to relive the adventures of Haytham, Connor and Aveline, there is now a great little bundle to enjoy both games without having to dig out old consoles or use backwards compatibility.