After a three-year break, the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Mirage has finally arrived. Developed by Ubisoft, Mirage takes a “less is more” approach when it comes to visuals and technical aspects. Powered by the latest Anvil engine, the game boasts stunning graphics and features that are not commonly seen in other games, such as real-time lighting systems, dense cities, vast landscapes, and rich flora and fauna.
The city of Baghdad, with its authentic architecture and tight streets, is a standout location. The sandstone buildings and palm trees are shrouded in dense fog, creating a mysterious atmosphere. The game also incorporates physically based rendering materials, atmospheric scattering, and dynamic day and night cycles. The high NPC count and world clutter, along with impressive real-time and pre-rendered cinematics, make Mirage a worthy addition to the Assassin’s Creed series.
However, there are some drawbacks in the presentation department. The excessive use of chromatic aberration can detract from the overall image quality, especially at lower resolutions. Additionally, there are occasional low-quality textures, stiff physics, and noticeable glitches that slightly tarnish the game’s visual appeal. Despite these flaws, Mirage still manages to deliver a captivating and immersive world.
For players on current-generation consoles and PC, Assassin’s Creed Mirage offers the best gaming experience in terms of resolution and performance. The game provides two modes for all three consoles: Quality mode and Performance mode. The Quality mode locks the resolution at 3840×2160 and offers a maximum frame rate of 30fps. The Performance mode, on the other hand, targets a frame rate of 60fps but comes with a dynamic resolution scaling feature.
The Xbox Series S offers a similar experience, with lower settings in Performance mode compared to Quality mode. The resolution in Quality mode ranges from 2880x1620p to 1440p, while Performance mode has a maximum resolution of 1920x1080p. Despite the lower resolution in Performance mode, the doubled frame rate compensates for it.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage brings the series back to its stealthy roots. Although it may not be perfect, the game’s intentional design choices make for a refreshing experience. The shorter game length, smaller map, and limited collectibles provide a more focused gameplay experience compared to previous entries. The plot may lack depth, but it makes up for it with a straightforward quest progression and fast pacing. The beautiful city of Baghdad and the attention to detail in the game world make Mirage a worthwhile game for fans of the series.
Overall, Assassin’s Creed Mirage may not match the graphical capabilities of other next-gen games like Horizon Forbidden West, but it still manages to deliver an impressive visual experience. With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and return to the series’ roots, Mirage is a must-play for Assassin’s Creed fans.
Source: IGN