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The Assassin’s Creed universe continues to expand, this time venturing into 2.5D territory with Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China. Released shortly after Assassin’s Creed: Rogue landed on PC, this new entry offers a different flavor of stealth action, taking players to a beautifully rendered 16th-century China. Does this side-scrolling adventure live up to the legacy of the franchise? Let’s delve in.

A New Perspective on Stealth Gameplay

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China scales down the scope of previous titles, focusing tightly on stealth gameplay. This smaller scale allows for a refined stealth experience, emphasizing the core tenets of the Assassin’s Creed franchise: movement, infiltration, assassination, and evasion.

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While the combat system feels somewhat stiff and the controls aren’t perfectly polished, Chronicles: China strips away the open-world bloat of its predecessors. Players won’t find themselves climbing towers to unlock map sections or collecting countless meaningless items. Instead, the focus is on honing your stealth skills.

The core mechanics of climbing and silent assassinations remain, but Chronicles: China adds a new layer of strategic depth. Those familiar with Mark of the Ninja will recognize the emphasis on memorizing enemy patrols, timing your movements, and utilizing the environment to your advantage. Tools like firecrackers and throwing darts provide additional options for distraction and disabling foes.

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The game offers freedom in how you approach each scenario. While stealth is paramount, players aren’t forced into a specific playstyle. Whether you prefer a “Ghost” approach, leaving no trace, or a more aggressive style, Chronicles: China accommodates different preferences. This freedom, combined with the stunning backdrop of a stylized China, creates a unique and compelling experience.

Where Chronicles: China Falls Short

Despite its strengths, Chronicles: China suffers from some significant flaws. One of the most glaring issues is the game’s linear level design. Unlike games like Mark of the Ninja and Dishonored, which offer multiple paths and solutions, Chronicles: China often funnels players down a single route, limiting player agency. This linearity undermines the potential for a truly open-ended stealth experience.

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The game also struggles with forced combat encounters and scripted sequences. While these moments aim for cinematic flair, they often feel contrived and disrupt the flow of gameplay. This reliance on scripted action undermines the player’s freedom and makes stealth feel less rewarding.

The upgrade system, a staple of the Assassin’s Creed series, feels underwhelming in Chronicles: China. Upgrades are limited to increasing health, carrying capacity, and Helix energy, offering little impact on gameplay. The lack of meaningful upgrades diminishes the sense of progression and removes a key incentive for skillful play.

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Finally, the PC port suffers from technical issues. While not as disastrous as Assassin’s Creed Unity, the game exhibits performance problems, with frame rate drops being common. The limited graphics options and awkward keyboard and mouse controls further detract from the PC experience.

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Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China presents a unique take on the franchise’s stealth gameplay. The 2.5D perspective and focus on core mechanics offer a refreshing change of pace. However, the game’s linear level design, forced encounters, underwhelming upgrade system, and technical shortcomings hold it back from reaching its full potential. While the beautiful art style and core gameplay loop offer glimpses of brilliance, Chronicles: China ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.