Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

Lore & Background

The game's plot follows the millennia-old struggle between the Assassins and Templars, set in late 18th-century French Louisiana from 1765 to 1777. Players control Aveline de Grandpré, an Afro-French Assassin who fights Templar attempts to control New Orleans after the French and Indian War. The story incorporates historical elements such as anti-miscegenation laws, the back-to-Africa movement, and figures like Jean-Jacques Blaise d'Abbadie and Antonio de Ulloa. The narrative is framed by a modern-day story in which Abstergo Entertainment releases a video game about Aveline, with the hacker group Erudito contacting the player to reveal censorship of the Assassin-Templar war.

Gameplay retains the franchise's trademark open world and third-person perspective, with free running, social stealth, and counter-based combat. Aveline can dual-wield weapons including a blowpipe, swords, knives, pistols, and Hidden Blades. New mechanics include a Chain Kill ability, a trade system managing her father's network, and three personas: Assassin (strong in combat but easily detected), Slave (blends in but limited weapons), and Lady (charms guards but cannot free run). The original Vita version had a multiplayer mode where players tapped nodes to capture bases, differing from the series' traditional competitive multiplayer.

The game was originally released for PlayStation Vita, making use of its touchscreen, rear touch pad, cameras, and gyroscope. A fully remade version, Liberation HD, was released in January 2014 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows. A remastered version of Liberation HD was included in Assassin's Creed III Remastered for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Nintendo Switch in 2019.

Reader's Guide

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation is significant as the first Assassin's Creed game to feature a female protagonist, Aveline de Grandpré, and for its setting in historical French Louisiana, a period rarely depicted in video games. The original release received mixed reviews, with critics praising the setting and protagonist but disliking the narrative's execution and certain gameplay aspects, while feeling limited by its spin-off status. The game introduced new mechanics such as the persona system and Chain Kill ability, which added variety to stealth and combat. Its release on PlayStation Vita showcased the platform's unique features, though the multiplayer mode was a departure from the series' norm. The subsequent HD remaster and inclusion in Assassin's Creed III Remastered extended its availability to home consoles and PC, allowing a wider audience to experience Aveline's story. The game's legacy lies in its role as a spin-off that expanded the series' diversity in protagonists and settings, despite mixed critical reception.

Did You Know?

• The game was released in Japan as Assassin's Creed III: Lady Liberty.
• Aveline de Grandpré is the first female protagonist in the Assassin's Creed series.
• The original PlayStation Vita version used the console's touchscreen, rear touch pad, cameras, and gyroscope for gameplay.