Summary
Ubisoftis one of the biggest studios in gaming, and some of their most famous titles are heavily reliant on narrative structure and character development. Franchises likeAssassin’s CreedandFar Crynow have numerous games under their belt and their heroes have achieved cult status in the gaming and voice-acting community thanks to Ubisoft’s innovation in writing complex protagonists. Whether players want a swashbuckling, arrogant pirate, or a cool, mysterious secret agent, Ubisoft rarely disappoints.
However, sometimes a bold story comes along that makes the player question the morality of the protagonist. The game makes sure to point out their flaws, and players are often left wondering about the qualities that temporarily turn the protagonist into an anti-hero or even a villain. Of course, by the time the story concludes, the characters typically redeem themselves, but it’s always interesting to reflect on the “bad” character traits that make those heroes so memorable.
Being a member of the Templar Order, Shay is technically a villain from the perspective of previous games in the series. However, he is generally seen as one of the more heroic Templars of the whole franchise and is therefore simultaneously considered an anti-villain and an anti-hero. He started as an Assassin but betrayed them and joined the Templar Order when he found out how many innocent people they were willing to sacrifice to retrieve the Pieces of Eden.
In what would become one of the most morally complex storylines in the franchise, Shay goes on a quest to hunt down his former brothers inAssassin’s Creed Rogue. Shay is unique toAssassin’s Creedbecause his magnetic persona and association with the Templars make him a fascinating protagonist, and by the end of the game he shows players that he is loyal to his own creed, rather than to any brotherhood. His story also helps the player understand themotivations behind the Templar Order, which was previously thought to be just a regular “bad guy” organization.
Sam Fisher appears as the main protagonist inTom Clancy’s Splinter Cellseries. He is a retired and highly specialized Navy SEAL, a former CIA officer, and was also a part of the National Security Agency. He is a legend in the intelligence world, and his training and combat skills have defined his career.
There is a caveat: his friends and enemies have often commented that there is a thin line separating Sam from the people he is frequently tasked to eliminate, who are also following orders. Fans of the series are also aware that Fisher has had to resort to brutal methods to ensure that his orders are carried out. Although he believes in morality and in influencing a positive result, he has often had to emotionally detach himself when taking down entire squads of enemy units.
Of course, Edward Kenway is a pirate, and they’re historically famous for being not very nice people. However, it was a bit of a shock for players to find out that Edward Kenway’s first few missions inBlack Flagwere nothing short of unscrupulous and dishonest. Robbing, destroying, aiding thieves and murderers…unlike other Assassins, he had no links to either the Brotherhood or the Templars.
This is especially noticeable in the bonus objectives in the main mission when the Templars finally meet. Usually, for other protagonists, the bonus objectives stipulate the method of carrying out the mission, or to stay hidden and not lose health. In Edward’s case, players are tasked with robbing the Templars. Edward does have a redemption arc towards the end of his story, and he comes to accept his wrongs. If therumors about theBlack Flagremakeare true, new players would surely love to see his story play out all over again.
With the remake of the first game,Sands of Time,reportedly on the horizon, players will soon be able to relive the critically acclaimed title in all its glory. In the third installment of theSands of Timetrilogy, however, the Prince finds out that he has inadvertently reversed all the events from the first game, and races against time (quite literally) to defeat the Vizier once and for all.
InThe Two Thrones, the Prince must fight against a part of himself that is slowly corrupting him from the inside. An infection caused by the Sands of Time causes him to occasionally turn into the Dark Prince, who is arrogant, powerful, and cruel. He acts like the Devil on the Prince’s shoulder and tries to persuade him to sacrifice others for their self-interest. The constant struggle between the two sides of the Prince is a sight to behold and is one of the most intriguing character arcs in the whole franchise.
Far Cry 3is arguably the most memorable game in the franchise due to Vaas, one of themost iconic villains in video game history. But players tend to forget that Jason, the main character, is one of the strongest protagonists of all theFar Crygames because of the huge change they see him undergo.
At the start ofFar Cry 3,Jason and his friends are carefree rich kids, mainly interested in partying and traveling from one island to the next. As misfortune falls upon them, Jason is forced to turn from a frat boy into a ruthless, borderline psychotic maniac who shows his love for battle. Even if the player chooses the “good” ending, Jason still leaves a trail of bodies behind him and reflects upon that as the game comes to an end.
Players don’tneed a history lessonto know that the Viking expansion into the British Isles (which is the main setting ofValhalla)was marked by oppression, church raids, and takeovers to gain wealth and power. A large part of the game involves Eivor and their older brother Sigurd leading their clan to settle new colonies in England.
Of course, like most other titles in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise, the motivations of the main characters are dictated by a larger morality that encompasses the smaller “evil” acts that they are constrained to do to achieve their end goal. InValhalla, however, Eivor is an invader by definition. They burn and pillage towns, and commit brutal acts of terror to fulfill their missions. The involvement of the Hidden Ones (that would later become the Assassin Brotherhood) does nothing to change their mind about these actions. They are truly the most ruthless of all the protagonists in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise.
