As I suspected going in to this originally, “Ascendance” is really just something of a sample of the upcoming game to whet the appetite’s of fans and isn’t really about telling a story as it is setting up the potential for the main arc of the new “Assassin’s Creed” game. There is a lot of foreshadowing, a lot of storytelling and dialogue that’s meant to reflect on events in the game, teases to events about to occur, and even a cameo by a major influential historical figure in the final scene. Admittedly I’ve never played the game nor am I familiar with much the particulars so “Acsendance” is a short film that will be polarizing to just about anyone who hasn’t played the actual game and are unaware of the sequel and its specifics.
In either case we meet assassin Ezio Auditore, a man who has just had a horrible confrontation with a vicious Spaniard and meets up with a superior in the night to discuss his history and back story and is provided with a new assignment that will, I assume, set the stages for the upcoming game that’s admittedly hush hush. The animation for what it intends to accomplish is pretty rigid and often times completely awkward, especially during a strangulation scene, not to mention the voice work is hammy and over the top with no real indication of who these people are. The short film is obviously there to help the anticipation for the fans, but it really doesn’t do any favors for folks out of the loop they may want to bring in to the fold.
Iappreciate the world we’re seeing and what the basic premise is about an assassin’s guild bringing down major threats to history all over the world, but otherwise I’m not entirely sure this is an actual short film as it is just a promotion and extended cut scene for the upcoming video game fans are eagerly awaiting. I almost don’t want to call it a short film in the end, but I assume someone out there will adore what hints and clues this short tosses the audience as well as the big reveal in the finale and what our mystery hero’s new assignment is. If I ever want to feel like an old man I just have to look up information on modern gaming and “Ascendance” proves such a statement in the end. While the premise and concept are marvelous and ripe for spin-offs, the short “Ascendance” is really just one extended prologue and fan service that will appeal exclusively to folks who play the game and are familiar with the mythos.