Speaking at yesterday’s Ubisoft press event Alex Hutchinson, creative lead on Assassin’s Creed III, described series protagonist Desmond Miles as a “wrapper.”
Comparing the games’ narrative to Twilight Zone and Star Trek, Hutchinson branded Desmond as a narrator of sorts, a constant who remains on the periphery as each numbered instalment -or “season” as he puts it- runs its course.
However, as an increasing number of players have pointed out, Desmond’s character progression usually takes a back seat. That’s not to say his initiation as an assassin hasn’t been intriguing; set pieces such as the escape from Abstergo and the “Bleeding Effect” are just two highlights, though constant sessions strapped into the Animus have diluted the meta-narrative somewhat.
Hutchinson seems to agree.
I think Desmond needs to end. At some point. You know what I mean? Things that go on too long lack resonance. We’re asking people to remember seven years worth of story. Which is like saying you were in junior high and now you’re finishing college. And you need to remember what you were doing in junior high.
There’s a good chance that, in the next few years, Desmond will graduate from Animus junkie to a fully fledged assassin ready to take the fight to the Templars. However, such a narrative thread would surely lead to an opportune scenario for Ubisoft to “end” the main series. Though many would suggest that Assassin’s Creed can easily stand on its own without Desmond, his eventual conclusion will surely have some weighing on how fans view the series.
Source: Polygon
Totodile
I for one agree, the Assassin’s Creed franchise could indeed survive without Desmond.
An-dz
I think what hes acctually means is desmond dies at the end of AC3.
Jim Hargreaves
It could well happen, but I don’t think it will.
In my opinion, everything we have seen has been ramping towards a modern-day setting in which players will finally play as a fully-trained Desmond. That just seems like the logical conclusion to his story arc.
Jakster123x
I read in PSM3 today that AC3 will be the end of the first story “arc or trilogy or whatever you want to call it”. Can’t remember who from Ubi said that but it’s clear that they want AC to run for way beyond AC3, and that probably won’t surprise anyone.
It doesn’t surprise me anyway, it’s been a huge series for them since the greatest sequel ever in AC2.
colmshan1990
Desmond isn’t the source of the ‘memories’ in AC3: Liberation on the Vita according to Game Informer, they say the Animus is being opened to the public.
Which means that Desmond could die, but the basic premise of the games will remain and can continue, with more even scope for diversity too.
lotrek
I would like them to do a modern day AC with Desmond before they kill him off/if they kill him off and move on with the series onto a new story arc..