Reviews
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered takes us back to the American Revolutionary War and tells the story of Connor, a member of the Assassins caught in the middle of an ongoing war between the Assassins and Templars. The remaster (released in 2019) intends to improve the visual experience along with quality-of-life tweaks while also packing in all released DLC for AC3 as well as the series spinoff Assassin’s Creed Liberation. However, whether that improvement is enough to right the ship from the original game’s failures is still debatable. Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered review will go through all this in details.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered Review: What’s Good and What’s Not
Visual Enhancements
The most important element of any remaster is surely its visual fidelity. Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered runs in 4K on systems that support it, with overhauled character models and better-looking environmental textures. This allows for greater detail in certain areas of the game, which will allow places like Boston and New York to come alive and the cities of 18th-century Colonial America to appear livelier and more believable. The foliage rendering has also been enhanced to make forests and wildlife feel more lifelike as you explore them.
The graphical renovations are apparent, but unfortunately, they do not entirely hide the age of the original. The animations can seem a bit stiff, and the character models tend to clip from time to time. While the remaster at least treats its cutscenes to a much-improved graphical upgrade, many of the animations belong to a time before 2012’s technological advancements. Such inconsistency can sit awkwardly in the flow and spoil the immersion, as players become painfully aware of the characters gliding around awkwardly or environmental details poping in late.
Gameplay Mechanics
In terms of gameplay, Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered adds some quality-of-life changes that I think help the overall experience. Among the several changes is that double assassinations can now be done more fluidly, and there’s a new mechanic that allows you to whistle to lure enemies while hiding in bushes. You know what? These changes help keep stealth gameplay less of a drag than it was in the original.
The mini-map has also been upgraded; the icons used to represent enemy locations on the mini-map are no longer simple red dots. This change makes it easier for players to evaluate threats and determine how to approach them. Some mission objectives have also been changed to be less grueling, an adjustment that is greatly appreciated by those who found some tasks in the original release a bit too tedious.
Despite these improvements, many core gameplay mechanics remain unchanged. The combat system still feels somewhat clunky compared to later entries in the series like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey. Players may find themselves frustrated by AI behavior that can be erratic or unresponsive during encounters. While combat retains its enjoyable aspects, such as chaining together slick animations, it lacks the fluidity that modern gamers have come to expect.
Storyline and Characters
There’s a great story behind Assassin’s Creed 3, which is set against the backdrop of the American Revolution. You play as the half-Mohawk Assassin Connor Kenway (Ratonhnhaké:ton), who finds himself caught up in a war that will forge his identity and shape his fate. This story combines fictional characters and historical figures, touching on different matters such as loyalty, freedom, and betrayal, introducing characters like Charles Lee and George Washington.
It includes all DLC, including the most notable, “The Tyranny of King Washington,” a “what-if” scenario in which Washington is not the founding father but rather a tyrant. This new expansion provides a fresh perspective of certain events and characters we thought we knew well, thus enhancing the fiction as a whole.
That said, some players may not enjoy the narrative; “it comes off as a tad tedious with long cut scenes and exposition filled dialogue sequences killing the pacing of the game as a whole.” While the way Ubisoft integrated the narrative was innovative for its time, playing it in a more modern gaming setting where seamless storytelling is more accepted than interrupting moments of gameplay can feel jarring.
Audio Design
The sound in Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered effectively immerses us in the game world. Sweeping orchestral compositions fill the soundtrack, playing during important moments in Connor’s journey. The voice acting is also solid, making historical figures feel human.
However, technical issues can occasionally sully this experience. Audio glitches that occur when transitioning between scenes or when using some menus. These issues aren’t widespread but can break immersion in important moments.
Performance Across Platforms
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered is now available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. These systems have a huge difference in performance:
- PC: Arguably provides the best performance with stable frame rates at a higher resolution. Graphically appropriate, and there are not many big issues while gaming.
- PlayStation 4 & Xbox One: Both consoles run well, plagued by only a few frame rate drops during explosive moments, but for the most part, hold up nicely.
- Nintendo Switch: This version is the most problematic of the bunch; it regularly performs poorly in docked mode to the extreme of substantial frame rate drops, while the visual fidelity is below par compared to the other platforms.
Of all the platforms that run into performance issues, the Switch version, in particular, is disappointing, especially considering its on-the-go potential. However, in handheld mode, the experience is marginally better but light on visual fidelity.
Community Reaction
The reception for Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered has been mixed among fans and critics alike. While some appreciate the graphical enhancements and quality-of-life improvements, others feel that these changes do not address deeper issues inherent to the original game’s design.
Critics have pointed out that while Ubisoft attempted to polish certain mechanics and visuals, many fundamental problems remain unresolved. For instance:
- Gameplay Mechanics: The combat system feels outdated compared to newer titles.
- Pacing Issues: Long cutscenes disrupt gameplay flow.
- AI Behavior: NPCs can be frustratingly unresponsive or erratic.
While these criticisms remain valid, plenty of fans argue that if you come to this remaster with an appreciative perspective of its place in gaming history (both good and bad), then it can still be a fun time.
5 games that are kind of like Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered
Here, we’ve got five similar games to find something to scratch that Assassin’s Creed 3 itch with a similar blend of gameplay experience, story, and setting:
Assassin’s Creed 2
Assassin’s Creed 2 did everything so much better than the original game that it instantly became a classic. Players follow the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze as he seeks revenge against those who have wronged his family. Set in Renaissance Italy, it features a streamlined combat system, larger cities, and a story that is closer to real history. For those who enjoy games from the historical action-adventure genre, it has an engaging story and character development, making it a game worth playing.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
The fourth installment, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, is perhaps the highest point of the franchise. Edward Kenway, a pirate and privateer drawn into the Assassin–Templar conflict during the Golden Age of Piracy. The game, also has vast open-world elements, such as traversing the Caribbean Islands and fighting naval battles. It certainly is appealing for those hooked on the seafaring/cursing pillaging side of things from Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered.
Ghost of Tsushima
While not part of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Ghost of Tsushima offers a similar blend of stealth, exploration, and combat set in feudal Japan. Players control Jin Sakai, a samurai tasked with defending his homeland from Mongol invaders. The game features an open world filled with stunning landscapes, rich lore, and fluid combat mechanics that allow for both stealthy approaches and direct confrontations. Its focus on honor and sacrifice resonates with themes found in the Assassin’s Creed series.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate follows twin assassins, Jacob and Evie Frye, who fight against the oppressive rule of Templar forces in Victorian London. Switching between characters and using their different skills, reflecting their personalities, is one of the new gameplay features. Syndicate is an even better option for players who enjoyed the city exploration in Assassin’s Creed 3, thanks to its thrilling story, beautiful environment, and great side quests.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a western-themed, action-adventure game taking place in the late 1800s American frontier. You play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw struggling to survive in the wake of shrinking frontiers and fading grasslands while struggling with themes of loyalty, betrayal, and morality. It is an open-world game with many activities, such as hunting or interacting with characters in the game with a detailed world. Then, the handling of the narrative and the depth of the characters that it brings in delivers an experience that Assassin’s Creed 3 fans are sure to appreciate.
Aside from capturing aspects associated with Assassin’s Creed 3 Remaster, these alternatives provide their own spin on the themes of exploration, combat, and history.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered Review: Final Thoughts
That’s it for our Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered review. It is a nostalgia trip for series veterans and an introduction for any newcomers who have never played Connor’s story before. It does manage to achieve better graphics and some quality-of-life adjustments that improve gameplay systems. Still, it doesn’t quite breathe life into an aging title with deep-seated structural problems.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered is a nostalgia trip for series veterans and an introduction for any newcomers who have never played Connor’s story before. It does manage to realize better graphics and some quality-of-life adjustments that improve gameplay systems. Still, it never revives such an old title with so many structural issues.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered is a good effort by Ubisoft, but simply a reminder that some games should stay locked in the past instead of being slapped with the remaster treatment.
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