Back in September, Ubisoft had announced Assassin’s Creed Unity’s season pass will include a 2.5D spin-off taking place in ancient China called Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. Now, the French publisher has revealed its plans to release several other entries in the Chronicles sub-franchise, each featuring its own history and art-style.
“We really liked the side-scrolling idea, like Mark of the Ninja, and we thought it would be a really great way to explore some of the other universes we’ve created”, Assassin’s Creed Unity creative director Alex Amancio told Eurogamer. “One thing that’s really cool is that every one of the chapters of this game will be in the art style representative of that era in time. This is why Shao Jun’s game is like Chinese ink – very black and red. Once we have other characters and timeframes the art style will completely change to match that specific character”. For example, an Assassin’s Creed game set in ancient Egypt would more than likely feature visuals styled around a papyrus scroll.
Back in 2012, Ubisoft had cancelled a potential new entry in the Prince of Persia series, but the publisher liked developer Climax Studios’ prototype, so it asked Climax to turn it into an Assassin’s Creed game; hence Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. “The screenshots (seen above) in question are from a prototype we decided to create last year during exploratory discussions we had with Ubisoft”, said Climax boss Simon Gardner at the time. “This never went any further”.
In Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, players will be transported to the Middle Kingdom in the 16th century, where the last remaining assassin of the Chinese Brotherhood has returned to her homeland. Players will be immersed in a vibrant setting, inspired by traditional brush paintings and Chinese architecture from a pivotal, historic time period in one of the greatest civilizations in history. Hell-bent on revenge, Shao Jun will use the skills she learned under legendary assassin Ezio Auditore to exact vengeance. Players will be able to rely on stealth to accomplish their missions, as well as Shao Jun’s martial arts training and all-new assassin gear.