Summary
Considering the sheer number of video games that are released each and every year, it can be difficult for a developer to make their titles stand out. It’s even harder for said games to be seen as a genuine step forward for a genre or even the entire industry as a whole, but Ubisoft have managed to release their fair share of games that could be considered ‘revolutionary’ due to their enormous impact and legacy.
Many of these titles are still having a ripple effect to this very day, completely changing the way that developers and players alike think about games by presenting them in new and unique ways.Ubisoft’s games may be a little hit-and-miss in modern times, but there’s no denying that this juggernaut of a developer has helped to mold the video game industry, creating multiple titles that have had a huge impact on the way people play video games.
When the firstAssassin’s Creedgame was released in 2007, the open-world genre was slowly beginning to enter the mainstream. However, many developers were still struggling to figure out how to make navigating these gigantic maps fun. That was, at least, until this game showed them exactly how to do it.Assassin’s Creedintroduced thefast and fluid parkour movement systemthat has since been replicated in tons of games, including the likes ofDying LightandMirror’s Edge, just to name a few.
That’s not the only wayAssassin’s Creedinfluenced the industry, though, as it also implemented a unique new stealth system where players could sneak around the map by blending in with crowds and groups of NPCs, rather than needing to hide in the shadows. It’s hard to emphasize just how important this legendary series has been to gaming, but the first game specifically had an enormous impact that can still be felt today.
It’s no secret many developers struggled to makeeffective use of the Wii’s motion controlsin its early years. Most of the time, the Wii controller would be used by players to aim a gun in an FPS shooter or to swing around a sword in a hack-and-slash game, but Ubisoft decided to take a different route withJust Dance.
As the name implies, this game gets players moving by giving them prompts and actions on the screen that they need to replicate while holding the remote. Ubisoft essentially took the immensely popularDance Dance Revolution, which is a common sight at arcades, and decided to bring it home. Since the first game, there has been a newJust Dancetitle released every single year, showing just how much people have come to love this experimental franchise.
WhenFor Honor’s trailers were still being released, it was easy to assume that this ambitious fighting-action hybrid was going to be little more than a one-off experiment. In contrast, the game has essentially managed to create its own genre, merging elements of fighting games, hack and slash titles, andeven the MOBA genreto create a game that has changed the way many look at the PVP experience.
Rather than mindlessly slashing away at an enemy, players are encouraged to be patient and time their attacks when facing off against a foe, making each battle feel much more intense and serving as true tests of skill. At the same time, players are also free to choose from a range of units who all possess their own skills in order to keep the gameplay feeling fresh and unpredictable. Simply put, there’s no combat system out there quite likeFor Honor’s, which is why it has amassed such a massive fanbase and is still going strong to this very day.
Metal Gear Solidmay often be credited as the game thatbrought much attention to the stealth genre, but it wasSplinter Cellthat highlighted just how in-depth and immersive it could truly be.Splinter Cellplaces a big emphasis on darkness, in the sense that, so long as players stick to the shadows, they will have a much easier time sneaking their way around a room full of enemies.
It can be easy to forget that shadows and lighting in general are always tricky for developers to implement, so the fact Ubisoft used it as an in-game mechanic, and that it worked so well, was truly impressive. Despite the series being dormant for so long, many still look back atSplinter Cellas a shining example of how far developers can push the stealth genre in video games.
When people say a game feels like the typical ‘Ubisoft open-world,’ what they are referring to is a gameplay formula that was first introduced withFar Cry 3. The loop of liberating areas, acquiring new abilities through a skill tree, and activating radio towers has become the go-to design formula for the majority of open-world games, both those that are and are not developed by Ubisoft. EvenFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which is entirely different from theFar Cryseries, was receiving comparisons to Ubisoft due to its inclusion of towers that reveal parts of the map.
At the same time,Far Cry 3also made people think a little more about their actions by adding ina clever bit of meta commentary. Up to this point, open-world games, likeGTA, for example, would let players kill enemies without a second thought, butFar Cry 3blurred the lines by insinuating that the endless killing sprees actually begin to warp the mind of Jason, the protagonist. This kind of ludonarrative dissonance has been explored by many games since the release ofFar Cry 3.
Rainbow Six Siegemay have had a pretty rough launch, but thanks to Ubisoft’s continuous support and patches, the game is now seen by many asthe definitive tactical shooter gameon the market, and it’s unlikely to be topped any time soon. ThoughSiegeis undoubtedly a tactical shooter at heart, it also mixes in elements of the hero shooter genre to create a game that is utterly unique, single-handedly reviving interest in the subgenre thanks to how much fun it is.
Even when it comes to shooter games in general,Siegehas stepped up the expectations in more ways than one. The emphasis on audio design, for example,along with the environmental destructionhave all madeSiegea truly one of a kind video game.
Most gamers are aware of just how protective Nintendo is over its first-party franchises, to the point where they can sometimes seem a little hostile to anyone trying to use them or even reference them, withPalwordbeing a prime example. As such, it came as a huge shock when, during Ubisoft’s conference at E3 2017, Yves Guillemot was joined bynone other than Shigeru Miyamototo announce a brand-new collaboration betweenMarioandRabbids.
While the game itself, with its surprisingly in-depth tactical gameplay and quirky cast of characters, was well received, what makes it so revolutionary is simply the fact it exists. Seeing Nintendo share their most valuable franchise with a western studio was a move nobody could have expected and was the first sign that they may be starting to be a little more lenient when it comes to collabs. It’s Ubisoft who players have to thank for that.
Whileaction adventure games were all the raveback in the early 2000s,Sands of Timewas a game that executed the core gameplay loop so perfectly that it raised the bar for all titles within the genre going forward. There are many ways it achieves this, but one of the most important is movement. While the Prince can run and leap his way across walls, players need to be incredibly precise with their button presses to dodge the spikes and traps that come their way while doing so. Because the camera also shifts to always show players what is right in front of them, it creates incredibly difficult but still satisfying platforming sections that provide a true test of the player’s skill.
These segments are complimented by an excellent combat system where players can rack up combo strings to take enemies down in the flashiest way possible. While most action adventure games will only focus on one aspect of the genre,Sands of Timeproved that, with enough care and attention, a game in this genre can still shine in all aspects, which is why it has been such a huge reference point for so many developers ever since it released.
