53.0 hours played
Written 1 month and 1 day ago
“The world is changing — and so must the Creed.”
Assassin’s Creed® III Remastered is a chance to revisit one of the series’ most ambitious — and divisive — chapters. Originally released in 2012, AC III was the franchise's first full leap into the New World, trading European rooftops for American forests, and introducing a more complex protagonist: Ratonhnhaké:ton, better known as Connor.
The remaster brings visual enhancements, gameplay tweaks, and all DLC (including The Tyranny of King Washington), but underneath the polish, this is still very much a 2012 game — for better and for worse.
Set during the American Revolution, the story follows Connor, a half-Mohawk, half-British Assassin caught between two warring cultures — and two very different legacies. The game opens with a clever twist: you spend several hours playing as Haytham Kenway, Connor’s father — and a Templar — before the real protagonist steps in.
Connor’s journey is one of identity, duty, and loss. He’s not Ezio — he’s stoic, serious, and driven more by principle than charisma. While some found him emotionally distant, his portrayal is actually one of the most grounded and tragic in the series, highlighting Indigenous perspectives rarely seen in AAA games.
The real strength of the story is its historical integration. Interactions with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other figures are woven into a dense narrative of revolution, betrayal, and ideology. The game doesn't romanticize the Revolution — it exposes its contradictions.
The modern-day segments follow Desmond Miles in his final chapter, culminating in a world-altering conclusion. While it’s polarizing, it’s undeniably bold — and essential to the series' overall lore.
Gameplay was a big evolution at the time of its original release: freerunning was smoother, combat more fluid, and the wilderness traversal via trees and cliffs was a fresh twist on parkour.
You’ll hunt animals, manage homestead development, lead naval missions, and blend into crowds — though some systems feel more novel than fully realized. Combat is cinematic and responsive but can feel repetitive due to simple counter-heavy mechanics.
Unfortunately, the remastered version doesn’t fix all the clunkiness. AI can still behave oddly, controls occasionally feel stiff, and mission design sometimes leans too heavily on tailing or eavesdropping — both outdated by today’s standards.
However, the Frontier is still a compelling sandbox. Its blend of open wilderness, towns like Boston and New York, and dynamic weather gives the world a raw, immersive feel.
Visually, the remaster is a mixed bag. Lighting and textures are sharper, character models are updated, and the frame rate is smoother. In many cases, the world looks much more vibrant and detailed — particularly during natural lighting scenes.
But some character faces feel uncanny, and the visual upgrade occasionally clashes with outdated animations or environmental clipping. It’s better than the original, but not on par with modern AC titles like Origins or Valhalla.
Audio design holds up well. The soundtrack by Lorne Balfe is dramatic and memorable, particularly Connor’s theme. Voice acting remains strong, especially from Noah Watts, who gives Connor quiet gravitas.
This remastered edition includes all the DLC, notably The Tyranny of King Washington, an alternate-history romp where Washington becomes a tyrant king and Connor gains supernatural powers. It’s bizarre, fun, and refreshingly self-aware — a bonus that adds real value.
You also get Assassin’s Creed® Liberation Remastered, starring Aveline de Grandpré — another worthy inclusion that diversifies the narrative lens of the AC universe.
Assassin’s Creed® III Remastered is a valuable revisit to a pivotal entry in the franchise — one that dared to be different. It tells a bold story about revolution, identity, and consequence, even if the execution sometimes stumbles.
The remaster improves the visuals and packages in great content, but it can’t fully modernize the game’s dated mission design or uneven pacing. Still, for series veterans or new fans curious about Connor’s legacy, it’s a journey worth experiencing — especially with historical context in mind.
Recommended For:
Fans of AC lore, players interested in American history or Indigenous representation, and those who missed the original release.
Avoid If:
You expect modern gameplay polish or are frustrated by older design conventions.
AC III Remastered is not perfect, but it’s bold, meaningful, and thematically rich — a flawed but important turning point in the Assassin’s Creed saga.
Rating: 7/10