This Week in Assassin’s Creed Virtual Photography: 2nd to 15th October

Welcome to the weekly virtual photography roundup hosted by Aaron Young from The AC Partnership Program.

Every week I will be picking our top 5 favourite Assassin’s Creed shots and showcasing them on The Ones Who Came Before website, in order to promote virtual photography and talented content creators within the community.  

Aaron is a keen virtual photographer and loves to post his journeys through Assassin’s Creed on Twitter.

Keep an eye on the site as more weekly shots are added, we are looking for captures across all Assassin’s Creed games. Tag your photos to the #TOWCBWeeklyCapture for a chance to be featured.

This week’s theme: Assassin’s Creed Mirage Launch Special

(Minor Spoilers for Assassin's Creed Mirage)

Crossing the Desert

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @BookieVp

“Baghdad and its surroundings call to me”

Returning to the desert with Basim almost feels fitting. The links to the original Assassin’s Creed and Bayek’s adventures in Egypt are strong. Although smaller than the previous entries the mix of wildlands and city really works. This silhouette of Basim and his camel crossing the desert reminds me of that moment the game opens up to you. I adore the bright sun in the middle of the photo with the clouds and orange glow surrounding it. The desert almost feels made for this sort of shot, a fabulous capture to kick start the showcase.   

Blending In

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @Spiggy_Smalls

“There is no greater glory than fighting for the truth”

2007 saw the release of Assassin’s Creed, an action/stealth game that would go on to lay the groundwork for many entries in the series. Last year we saw the AC15 celebrations and it felt fitting that we should return to the roots with Mirage. This epic shot captures the essence of AC1 both in style and substance. I love the white background as it gives real Animus vibes, something that was so prominent in the original. The use of Altair’s robes obviously increase the nostalgia, while having Basim hide in plain sight tops off a brilliant Assassin’s Creed capture.

Desert Delirium

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @G_Assassin90

“It is why you have chosen to walk this path”

Returning to the Middle East was always going to be a tantalising prospect. Not only does it feel like the birth of Assassin’s Creed it also boasts such breath-taking environments and diverse cultures. For a virtual photographer the Islamic Golden Age is the perfect setting. This magnificent capture has all the feel of the desert. The sun is so prominent and helps to magnify the superb silhouette of Basim riding his horse. I love the shadow work and the details of the sand. Allowing us to roam the outskirts of Baghdad is such a treat, and this shot proves it.

Initiate of Alamut

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @KaiVirtualPhoto

“Are you ready to leave your life behind and walk the path of shadows?”

When Basim finally receives his Assassin robes for the first time there really is a sense of nostalgia. I loved the moment you take hold of Basim in the desert, ready to hunt down the order in Baghdad. The photo here perfectly captures that moment in all its glory. Basim looks focused and very ready to leave his old life behind. The details on the robes are so good, you really can see all the little intricacies. The saturation on his face tells us where he is and with the hood up we know he means business. A beautiful portrait of the leading character that shows us why he is quickly becoming a fan favourite.

The Hidden One

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @AlexK0nstantin

“Are you ready to give up who you once thought you were”

The Assassin’s Creed Mirage marketing campaign felt a little low key when compared to previous entries. However the Game Informer coverage really blew me away. None more so than the epic shot of Basim appearing from the red smoke. If there was one thing that hyped me the most for this game it was that picture. This shot has aced that very photo, something I knew the VP community would do. The saturation of the red mist is perfect and Basim’s pose is awesome. In this outfit with sword and dagger drawn you cannot really go wrong. There is a sense of impending doom in this capture and Basim would be very proud of that.

Hunting the Order

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @AlexK0nstantin

“Hide in plain sight”

Being a Hidden One and working in the shadows is a necessity for Basim. Having a huge city to run around in adds to the sensation of being an assassin. Traversal has been a hot topic in the recent games, but Mirage breaths life back into this much loved mechanic. The shot here gives off huge Assassin’s Creed vibes but it’s the quality of the shot that catches my eye. At first glance you could mistake it for being concept art. The lighting is split but works beautifully to cast shadows on the people in the street. You cannot deny Basim moving along the beam is an excellent addition. A capture that truly lives up to what we saw in the cinematic trailer.

TOWCB Photo of The Week

Guest Judge: Miranda Amess (Community Manager for Assassin's Creed at Ubisoft)

''Assassin's Creed Mirage is all about paying homage to the original titles, and ultimately returning to the roots of the franchise.

Basim stealthily running across a beam, (on his way to complete a contract), with the busy marketplace of Baghdad below him. For me, AlexK0nstantin has captured the essence of Assassin's Creed Mirage perfectly.''

Baghdad

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @Memento_Gallery

“The Order has put a fog over Baghdad”

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and during the Islamic Golden Age it was a hub of activity. I have been enjoying how Ubisoft split Baghdad out into sections so that we can enjoy different atmospheres depending on where we are. Once again the team have created a city that feels alive, something that I haven’t felt since Unity. For me this capture symbolises the game and how beautiful it is. The composition of the shot is glorious, and having Enkidu soring high in the corner adds to the majesty. The Round City looks incredible with the hints of fog hanging above it, almost like a metaphor for the Orders presence. The Palace of the Green Dome in the background serves as the icing on the cake.

Training

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @eivxr_

“Never compromise the Brotherhood”

Sometimes Assassin’s Creed Mirage feels more like an Origins story than Bayek’s adventure. The training sequence in Alamut with Roshan gave me such Batman Begins vibes. I felt like Ubisoft nailed the pacing in the opening hours of the game. Here we have Basim putting his mentors teachings to the test. What I adore about these shots are the colour tones and how fitting they are to the theme of the game. Together in a collage they look sublime especially with that white boarder. What I appreciate the most though is how each shot represents an Assassin’s skill set. This is minimalism at its finest.

Leap of Faith

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @Evo_Pixel

“Then out of the dark, you will come into the light”

When you think of Assassin’s Creed the leap of faith is iconic. Jumping from a height into a bale of hay will never get old. The move is essential for all Assassin’s and is required for initiation into the brotherhood. This shot reminds me of the trailers before launch and how good it is to be an Assassin again. Once again the composition is magnificent, I cannot get over how much is included in this capture. It’s wonderful that Enkidu is involved almost mirroring Basim, and the rooftops below add to the feel of elevation. I am loving the walls of the Round City and the Palace of the Green Dome in the background.

Tormented

Game: Assassin’s Creed Mirage

VP Artist: @Spectral_Lens

“Ready to sacrifice everything you held close”

As a fan of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla it was nice to see Basim’s robes from that game included. For me they will make for a great end game set to tie the entries together. This shot for me epitomises Basim, and his split personality. The water effect works two fold, one in highlighting Basim’s outfit but secondary producing a reflection on the water. The reflection just makes me think of his duality and how Loki has this power over him. I love the colours and the shadows work, really typifies the mood of the shot. For me though this is an endgame capture of the Valhalla Basim rising out of the water, no longer the hero and destined for darkness.

And that sums it up for this week’s Assassin’s Creed virtual photography recap list!

Thank you for checking out this week’s photo collection. This would not be possible without the virtual photographers out there so a huge thanks to them. Until next week keep those shots coming in!