TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has seen a ton of changes since its inception back in 2007. Due to franchise fatigue setting in, Ubisoft skipped a year afterAssassin’s Creed Syndicateand introducedAC Originsthe next. The RPG elements were different and the open world was questionable ahead of its release. However,Originsmanaged to capture decent RPG elements with a good Assassin story, the story of its start.
Yet, the community continues to be split overAssassin’s Creed OdysseyandAssassin’s Creed Valhalla,particularly with how these games are involved with a franchise. While Bayek/Amunet would become the founders of the Hidden Ones, who would become the Assassin Brotherhood,Odyssey’s story is set 400 years beforeOriginsever happens. Eivor, while her game is set much later, cares more for glory than the Hidden One’s goals inValhalla.
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Nowhere isOdysseyandValhalla’sdeparture from theACseriesmore evident than in the associated symbols. Since its inception, the symbol of eachAssassin’s Creedgame has kept a consistent purpose, that being representing the specific cell that the game/time period is focused around, butOdysseyandValhalladitch this symbolism.
Assassin’s Creed Symbols and Their Meaning
Each game to a certain point, while putting its own spin on it, represented that particular region and cell. In the firstACgame, while the basic symbol is utilized quite frequently, there is a symbol representative of the Masyaf cell. InAssassin’s Creed 2andBrotherhood, the standard non-stylized sigil was the most evident, but Ezio’s clothes were sometimes adorned with the Renaissance Italy-stylized version of the symbol. Why is a big question mark, but the general symbol was at its highest then (perhaps as the most dominant cell at the time) with a few stylized versions found here and there.
ComeAssassin’s Creed Revelations, players see the Turkish guide which is by far the most intricate. Sure, it could be due to Ezio’s adventures and as a way to differentiate it fromAC2/Brotherhood, but the most simple explanation for it is its reflection upon the buddingOttoman brotherhood. While there is variation as to how symbolic the sigil is, they always represent a specific cell of the brotherhood.
AC Originsrepresents thefounding of the Hidden Ones, especially given the inspiration of the symbol in-game. So, in looking at these, they tend to take on a more literal or symbolic meaning related to the game’s Brotherhood or to the events in-game related to said brotherhood. However, neitherOdysseynorValhalla’s symbols fulfill these conditions that others do.
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The Fault in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla’s Symbols
Beyond the time period, each more intricate symbol reflects on the events related to that Brotherhood and each more ‘on the nose’ symbol is directly related to that cell in and of itself.Assassin’s CreedOdysseyandValhallaare incapable of giving a symbol related to the Assassins in-game.
ForOdyssey,it’s a more literal issue. The symbol is completely different from others, having no curved edge at the bottom, and it also utilizes a time period piece as a helmet and architecture for its main design. While Kassandra faces off with Proto-Templars inAC Odysseyand even works with a legendary Assassin Darius, there is no real reflection of anyone in this symbol. Indeed, the symbol is one that could work personally for Kassandra. It is reflective of the time period, but it cannot be reflective of Assassins who, at this time, did not exist.
Valhalla, on the other hand, is perhaps even more perplexing.Valhallafeatures Hidden Ones, who Eivor assists throughout her journey, but the symbol on the game is one featuring Viking-like braiding and design. However, at no point in the game do fans encounter a proper “Viking” Hidden One. Therefore, it doesn’t represent the cell of the time period, instead just using the design for the logo. Indeed, Basim and Hytham play a big role, but the symbol has nothing to do with them. It’s just a Viking symbol because it is a Viking game, and it’s molded into the Assassin shape because Ubisoft sells it as anAssassin’s Creedgame. Indeed, the symbols went from representing cells or events that occurred to cells in time periods to marketing symbols in full.
The distinctions may be slim, but they matter in terms of howUbisoft intends to market and direct the franchise. Prior games had strong connections between the symbol and the brotherhood; the latter two did not becauseOdysseycould not andValhallasees Eivor choose not to. Perhaps eventually Vikings join up with the Brotherhood and this logo makes sense, but as it stands, it has been reduced to a marketing gimmick.
This is something to keep in mind when Ubisoft reveals the next entry in the franchise,Assassin’s Creed Infinity. As a live-service game, it’s already different from what’s already out there, but how it treats the main symbol associated with the game will reflect on the content found in the main game. For now, fans will just have to see if strong connections to the symbol return or if its identity is forever lost in this regard.
Assassin’s Creed Valhallais available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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