Is Assassin‘s Creed 3 Worth It?

Assassin‘s Creed 3 is one of the more polarizing games in the popular action-adventure franchise. While some fans love the game‘s setting in the American Revolution and the introduction of the new protagonist Connor, others find the game‘s mechanics and story disappointing compared to earlier titles like AC2. Here‘s a comprehensive look at whether AC3 is worth playing today.

What AC3 Does Well

• Immersive historical setting – Running along tree branches in colonial Boston or exploring the Frontier feels very unique for the series. The recreation of these locations and events like the Boston Tea Party are impressive.

• Parkour and combat upgrades – New gameplay additions like scaling climbable surfaces like cliffs or trees, two-handed weapon combat, hunting/crafting systems, and expanded naval battles make AC3 feel bigger in scope.

• Connor is a compelling protagonist – Despite a mixed fan reception, Connor‘s backstory and role in the Revolution make him one of the more three-dimensional assassins.

• Great graphics for a 2012 game – The remastered version available now on modern consoles makes the world, characters, and cutscenes look fantastic in 4K.

• Ties together the full modern-day arc – AC3 concludes the story of Desmond Miles across the first five games, providing closure for longtime fans.

Where AC3 Falls Short

• Slow, fragmented opening – The first few hours jumping between different characters can feel disjointed before you truly take control of Connor.

• Not as strong side content – Side missions like liberating districts return, but aren‘t as varied or engaging as past games. The economy system is also a step back.

• Mission design isn‘t as creative – Many main story missions recycle basic tailing or eavesdropping objectives in fairly constrained environments.

• More bugs and glitches – Both the original and remastered versions can suffer from wonky enemy AI, control issues, and visual bugs more often than other AC titles.

• Underutilized setting – Beyond key figures like Washington, Franklin, or Revere, the game doesn‘t take full advantage of the Revolutionary time period or many real events/people.

Is AC3 Remastered Worth It?

For first-time players or die-hard fans, Assassin‘s Creed 3 Remastered is likely worth picking up, especially at discount prices. The enhanced graphics, DLC, and general gameplay improvements make it the definitive edition. The new 4K presentation alone brings colonial America to life beautifully.

However, if you‘ve already played the original release and weren‘t thrilled with it, the remaster probably won‘t change your mind fundamentally. Many of the mission design and mechanical shortcomings persist despite Ubisoft‘s tweaks. But for $20-30, AC fans who want to relive Connor‘s full journey should find value in the remake.

The Verdict on AC3 in 2022

Despite its flaws, Assassin‘s Creed 3 is still worth experiencing for the story payoff alone. As the conclusion of Desmond‘s arc and a huge leap forward for the franchise in scale, it occupies an important place in AC history. Connor is also one of the most unique assassins in the brotherhood.

For anyone new to the series though, entries like AC2 or Black Flag are probably better starting points. But if you want to see how Ubisoft transitioned the franchise into the current action RPG style, AC3 is arguably the first game to expand open world exploration and combat in ambitious ways. Just go in understanding that it‘s more uneven than its predecessors.