Main Narrative DLC - Detailed Analysis Analysis
Detailed Analysis - Main Narrative
Three Episode Structure - A Different Life
Following an Episodic structure was an interesting design choice but it seems like a necessary one to stagger the development time needed to fully make the DLC the best it could be. This structure also helps to stagger the story and let it be told the way it wanted to. By placing 1 main villain at the heart of every episode, it helps to make sure that the players have been able to accomplish something in episodes 1 and 2 so that when they confront Washington in episode 3, the players feel proven and prepared and each episode does offer a suitable villain that was a hero or previous target in Connor’s past.
In this new reality, we follow Connor or Ratonhnhaké:ton as he is known here is awakened by the sight of his long-dead mother Ziio. Using Ziio as a touchstone for the player at the very start of the DLC helps us to understand exactly how different Connor’s life is if his mother didn’t die. Ratonhnhaké:ton wouldn’t have become an Assassin and he wouldn’t have taken the name Connor nor done any of the incredible feats he performed during his time in the revolution.
Each episode follows a simple structure, introducing Ratonhnhaké:ton to the next threat, making find a way to beat this individual in power while gathering allies. As simple enough as it sounds there is something that augments the experience as Connor is able to gain the incredible abilities of Animal spirits that bring an exciting quality of gameplay never seen in an Assassin’s Creed game before and it’s an innovative design choice that might not be replicated again.
As Ratonhnhaké:ton continues through the occupied United States, each episode chooses one location to house its central narrative and a villain who will stand in our hero's way. These villains are old targets and allies from Connor’s past and each one goes to show the true power of the Apple of Eden. Benedict Arnold, who Ratonhnhaké:ton tried to kill during the revolution was remorseful for his actions while Ratonhnhaké:ton continued to see him only as the man he failed to eliminate. Israel Putnam, a General and ally to Connor during the revolution is a man who has committed cruel acts under Washington's influence but when he is killed he showed great regret over what he had done and blames himself for not being able to resist Washington’s will and leaves Ratonhnhaké:ton regretting his actions as this was a man who saved his life once and now Ratonhnhaké:ton has taken his.
At the back of Ratonhnhaké:ton’s mind is the question, was his life as an Assassin a dream or is this reality a dream he can’t seem to wake up from? As he meets many familiar faces that he knows relatively well but none of these people can’t seem to recall him, it’s a question that gains more traction as Ratonhnhaké:ton’s journey continues and he continues to look for ways of bringing Washington down or at least speaking to him so that he can understand exactly what is going on. As Ratonhnhaké:ton continues looking for a way to get to Washington he continues to lose more and more of himself as he acquires the almost supernatural abilities he needs to fight him, slowly taking on aspects of the animals that are bestowing him these abilities.
Eventually after conspiring and fighting for a while with little to no rest, Ratonhnhaké:ton finally confronts Washington. Washington has been expecting this conflict for a while now. Despite everything Washington is done, Ratonhnhaké:ton still remembers his other life and pleads with the King to surrender the Apple but this starts a curious back and forth. Is Washington being controlled by the Apple, are his actions his and would Ratonhnhaké:ton fall to the Apple’s power?
Washington’s Sceptre containing the Apple of Eden
Nevertheless, a fight ensues which eventually sees both men badly injured and when Connor finally obtains the Apple, they are finally sent back to their original timelines, where Washington would go to Connor for help with his recent dreams and when they touched the Apple together were transported to the reality where Washington was King. After a few brief moments, Washington makes the right decision, he relinquishes the Apple and asks Connor to get rid of it and he does. While Connor might not have gotten anything out of their adventure, Washington did as he remained resolved to never see a King rule the United States as was the purpose of the Revolution.
This DLC’s main narrative may have been a little absurd in certain areas, in particular the animal sky journeys, it was no less an intriguing and unique journey. The mission structures may have been a little too familiar but the setting was quite incredible and continues to expand on the lore of the Precursors and just how much more their technology can do and how dangerous they are. While this story may not have been a mind-blowing end to Connor’s arc established in the main story, it was an interesting conclusion nonetheless and if Connor makes a return it could be a fun experience to see how he has been changed from his experiences in the Alternate reality.
Themes - Power Corrupts
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power,”. The words of a well-respected and dedicated President this is a relative theme that has been only slightly touched upon in past Assassin’s Creed games and hasn’t been truly relevant until this entry in the Assassin’s Creed series. In this new reality, George Washington managed to find an Apple of Eden, an exceedingly powerful object that can control minds, create illusions and be used as keys. In this reality George Washington was crowned King of the United States and using the Apple he commanded the loyalty of his entire army and set about subjugating the country to his rule becoming vicious, arrogant and cruel in the process.
Taking men under his wing men who were more kind and steadfast like Israel Putnam and Benjamin Franklin helped him to keep the populace under control and enslave the indigenous native population. When his apple was almost stolen by a native woman, he retaliated by burning the village to the ground, killing and capturing as many as they could. George Washington believed that he had full control of the Apple but in actuality, the Apple had full control over him, making him give in to his darker impulses and he never realised it as he was too drunk on power. Power can corrupt anyone, people are fallible, no matter their faith, convictions or resolve, there will always be something that will make them fall prey to their darkest impulses and the DLC is the best representation of those impulses as a Man can become a leader with the best of intentions but can lose themselves in the process.
Themes - A Monarchy
The British Crown is a symbol of power, even now in 2023, the Crown has been a symbol of British pride, power and influence for hundreds of years. While many British people have respect and love for the crown, some have decided they don’t respect the crown anymore and they have their reasons. For hundreds of years, the Crown has made a habit of colonisation and conquest, marching into countries that are already inhabited and trying to take as much control as they can, ranging from India, The Caribbean and of course the Colonies. During the Seven Years' War, when the Crown was pouring money and resources into trying to protect as much of its lands as possible, including many of the colonial towns and cities. When the war was over the Crown found itself needing to gather its financial strength back, it introduced a new crippling tax that eventually made the people of the Colonies revolt. After they won the war, the United States of America decided that it didn’t want a king or a bloodline that was always in power, or else the country would fall into the old ways they worked so hard to shed.
When George Washington declared himself King in this alternate reality he became intoxicated with power and control that he ended up hurting the very people he swore to protect when he fought for them. When Ratonhnhaké:ton arrives in New York he takes the opportunity to hear a speech Washington gives to his people atop his pyramid, he speaks of the great armies being rallied, the armadas that are being built and how they will soon march upon England, no doubt to conquer it so Washington can add it to his Kingdom. His arrogance proved blinding once again as his subjects would turn on him allowing Ratonhnhaké:ton to breach his palace and confront the King once again. As Ratonhnhaké:ton beat him and took the Apple, they woke up back in their reality, and after a tense stare-off, Washington gave the Apple to Connor to get rid of it. During this time, the Apple would send a projection to Washington, trying to influence him to declare himself King and after a few moments Washington staunchly and inspirationally declines this idea as he knows America should not have a King. Monarchies last for centuries, the British monarchy has lasted for at least 1000 years and in that time a lot of their power has been silently transferred as Britain would follow America's lead in electing representatives to lead the country. It’s a fun idea to play around with and The Tyranny of King Washington DLC does a great job at highlighting what a Monarchy can do and just how much control they have.
King Washington’s Pyramid
Detailed Analysis - Collectible, Environmental & Context
Collectibles - Lucid Memory Fragments
During Ratonhnhaké:ton’s travels through the dominated areas of the Frontier, Boston and New York, questions beckon in his mind that don’t seem to avail answers. At the start of his journey, we were under the impression that this latest journey would be simply a reimagining of what his life would look like if certain things were different and in all honesty it is but what we perhaps didn’t expect would be that our hero would remember his life as an Assassin. However, when he enters this new reality, the world is completely different and his life as an Assassin is seemingly a figment. However as he journeys through different areas of the world Ratonhnhaké:ton comes across items of interest that have special significance for the native and when he finds them, memories begin to bleed through to this new reality but not enough to make any impact for him. What this tells us, the players, more than anything is that the reality where Ratonhnhaké:ton was an Assassin did happen but whatever this new reality is, there are aspects of it that can’t shut it out. Nonetheless, Ratonhnhaké:ton’s life as an Assassin did happen and his new reality may not be as real as it seems.
In each episode, there are 3 fragments to find and when all 3 are found, one of Connor’s more recent memories is unlocked and begin to reveal how he found himself in this reality. While Connor was camping in the Frontier, Washington came to him, panicked and tired and in desperate need of Connor’s help. When Washington explains what’s going on and how he has been having nightmares he reveals to Connor that he is in possession of an Apple of Eden. Our knowledge from past Assassin’s Creed games shows that he has had the Apple for almost 2 years now but it has only recently begun causing him trouble. When Connor touches the Apple while Washington is holding it, the Apple activates and the next thing Connor knows, he awakens in this new reality where he is filled with confusion and an instinct to figure out what is going on. The fragments do a good job of using the player’s nostalgia and curiosity in hunting for the fragments to learn more of how Connor wound up in this world and as the only collectibles in the game, they are good examples of quality over quantity.
Environment & Context - The Colonies Devastated
As George Washington succumbed to the power bestowed to him using the power of the Apple of Eden, he uses his iron will and massive army to subjugate his subjects and keep them enslaved, as most have no choice but to accept his will and the rest are too scared to speak up. As there is no one to stand in Washington’s way, his army moves virtually unopposed until Ratonhnhaké:ton comes along. Through the Frontier, we find that various Native Americans have been taken captive and carted away and old towns we visited have now either been burned to the ground or completely occupied. Cities like Boston and New York or so scarce of life and even if you find it, you’ll find not much but starving citizens and enslaved natives. While there’s not a huge change to the Frontier or Boston, the biggest change is New York, which is not home to an incredibly large pyramid built in the city that can be seen from a fair distance.
It seems that all the work Ratonhnhaké:ton did to make the colonies a safer place free from British interference has been undone and even if he were to start again it would take a great deal more time than he spent fighting for the Revolution. The Tyranny of King Washington is an excellent showcase of what life might look like if Washington declared himself a King with the power of the Apple by his side and while the main story does a great job at showcasing just how bad it would be but what really sells the situation is the Colonial cities that have been taken and its citizens enslaved and victimized.
