The interweaving narrative in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise has always been a highlight for the series, but that’s not to say that it’s always made the most sense. Between ancient high-tech civilizations, a global conflict between two factions that has stretched thousands of years, and the occasional case of reincarnation, understandingAssassin’s Creedlorecan feel like a full-time job. That lore is going to take on another layer with the impending release ofAssassin’s Creed Mirage, where players will take the role of a much younger Basim, the trusted ally turned antagonist featured inAssassin’s Creed Valhalla.
The Basim that players will see inAssassin’s Creed Miragewill be very different from the one featured inAC Valhalla. Essentially serving as a prequel for Ubisoft’s jaunt through the Viking expansion era,Miragewill follow Basim’s beginnings as an assassin in Baghdad. The common thread that will run throughMirageandValhalla, however, is Basim’s connection to the Norse god Loki and the Isu civilization that permeates throughout the franchise. Ubisoft has already teased howAC Miragewill contend with Basim’s complicated history, but it still leaves a lot of questions for the game to answer.
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Basim’s Connection to the Norse Gods and Isu Explained
WhenAssassin’s Creed Valhalladidn’t have players venturing through the English countryside, it provided a mythological experience that saw players embody the Norse god Odin. As the story in this part of the game progressed, players learned that many of the main characters inValhallawere reincarnations of the gods, who are actually Norse interpretations of the Isu. At the conclusion ofValhalla’s mythological storyline, players are shown how Loki deceived the other Isu so that he may be reincarnated in the future, bringing Basim’s eventual betrayal of Eivor and Sigurd full circle.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Has to Explore Basim’s Isu Connection in the Past and Present
Like mostAssassin’s Creedgames,Miragewill likely have a past and present story to balance. Not only are there questions to answer in the Golden Age of Baghdad, butMiragewill have to catch people up on what Basim is up to now that he’s living in the present day. As far as the former is concerned,AC Miragewill have to explain howBasim was influenced by his reincarnated Loki memories. The Basim players see inValhallais already all but consumed by his Isu past, and ifMirageis chronicling his ascent as an assassin, it will have to thoroughly explore how Loki’s influence slowly overtook him.
The other questionMiragehas to answer is howBasim and the other modern-dayAssassin’s Creedcharactersare handling his arrival in the present.Valhalla’s modern-day story ended with Basim tricking protagonist Layla Hassan to bring the Staff of Hermes to the Yggdrasil supercomputer that imprisoned him in the Grey. This freed Basim and doomed Layla, although her consciousness now works alongside the Reader to prevent the end of the world. Basim then used the Animus to try and find Loki’s children, andMiragewill have to provide closure on that story while justifying why players will go even further in his past.
Assassin’s Creed’s story has never been an easy one to follow, but that doesn’t make it any less captivating for many new and longtime fans.AC Miragewill have a lot of work to do when recounting Basim’s story as a young assassin in Baghdad contending with his Norse/Isu past. While it is possible for Basim to have an understanding of Norse mythology, being the reincarnation of a Norse god during the Golden Age of Baghdad will likely throw him and some fans for a loop. Hopes are high thatAC Miragewill bring the franchise’s gameplay back to basics, but the same likely can’t be said for its story.
Assassin’s Creed Miragereleases in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
