The Assassin’s Creed Revelations teaser-fest continues with yet another couple videos for Ubisoft’s upcoming game. The most recent video seems to confirm that Ezio and Altair will both be making a return in Revelations, while the one released before it vaguely hints at what could be a location for the base of operations as well as some more connections to the hints provided thus far.
Currently on the Assassin’s Creed Facebook page, the full teaser piecing together what we’ve seen all week has been revealed to show what appears to be Altair on the left and a much older Ezio on the right, as well as Game Informer’s logo in the background. We can expect that Game Informer will be providing us with plenty of details about Assassin’s Creed Revelations in their June issue.
The fourth teaser, which was up yesterday, seemed to confirm that the assassin’s arm and hidden blade featured in earlier teasers was indeed that of Altair, while leaving the right side bare where it had been populated in the third teaser by the Sofia Hagia, a famous mosque (and former church) in Istanbul. The fourth teaser also seems to confirm some of the speculation while providing even more hints at what’s in store.
Before we discuss the fourth trailer in detail, here are both of the teasers so you can take a look for yourselves.
The double-headed eagle depicted in the fourth teaser is almost entirely identical to the flag of the Greek Orthodox Church. The only difference is a change to what appears to be a religious crown in the original’s right talon, which has had the cross removed, perhaps to make it look like the Apple of Eden.
The second video in the series showed the Phaistos Disc which was an artifact discovered on the Greek island of Crete in 1908, so this would be the second link to Greece, and perhaps firmer confirmation that the some of Assassin’s Creed Revelations is going to take place in Greece.
Another note about that flag of the Greek Othodox Church is that it is also the flag of Mount Athos – a small monastic state located in Greece. Mount Athos is headed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, a governing body in the Greek Orthodox Church. Since Assassin’s Creed 2 had Monteriggioni as the base of operations, and Brotherhood had Rome serve as a home base, Mount Athos could very well be the base of operations for Revelations.
The Sofia Hagia, located in modern day Istanbul, was the landmark featured in the last Revelations teaser. Turkey borders Greece to the East, and with the Greek island of Crete to the south of Mounth Athos, this would place Mount Athos in a sort of central location to all the information revealed thus far.
The number that flashes across the screen (11011165) in the fourth teaser is the same one that we speculated could be Altair’s birthday. This is the first time that Ubisoft has given a hint at an exact date of birth for the protagonist of the original Assassin’s Creed.
Speaking of numbers, our wonderful readers left some comments yesterday about the dates that piqued my interest and so I did some more digging around and found some more information that could shed some light on the political climate of the game and potential story details.
Three dates were listed that didn’t seem to coincide with the birthday’s of prominent characters or historical figures. Those dates were September 10, 1509, June 15, 1511, and May 26, 1512.
Quite possibly the most important of these dates is September 10, 1509. On that day in history a great earthquake in the Sea of Maramara shook Istanbul and destroyed over a thousand homes and 109 mosques, while killing an estimated 10,000 people. This would be a very interesting opening to the game, especially if the earthquake was caused by a Piece of Eden. As the earliest date in the 1509-1512 timeframe, it seems likely that this is an early event in the Revelations’ story.
The next date in the list, June 15, 1511 doesn’t seem to have any significance, so it may very well be that in keeping with the other 3 dates which all listed birthdays, this too is a birthdate. With Ezio having not yet fathered an heir in the games, and as a direct ancestor of Desmond, this is a definite possibility. From a story perspective, this could be a good way to create some additional drama for Ezio in the next game.
The final date in this list may be one of the most intriguing. May 26, 1512 marks the death of Bayezid II, then sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Does this mean that we will be playing a role in his passing, or merely helping his successor Selim I with some important tasks on the day of his father’s death.
On an interesting note, after the earthquake that shook Instanbul, Bayezid II saw his sons Selim I and Ahmet fight for succession to his throne. His son Ahmet unexpectedly secured control of Karaman, a city in the Ottoman Empire, and began a march on Istanbul. His father refused to let his son into the city for fears he would be killed.
Meanwhile, Selim I attempted to stage a revolt in Thrace, but was defeated by his father. A few years later he would return with the support of the Janissaries (the Sultan’s personal troops and bodyguards) and force his father to give up the throne on April 25, 1512. Selim I was succeeded in later years by Sulieman the Magnificent who was hinted at directly in the third teaser trailer Ubisoft released.
Another noteworthy event in 1512 is the Medici return to Florence. Those who have played Assassin’s Creed 2 will remember that the Medici family where Ezio’s allies during the course of the game. While its not in keeping with all the information provided thus far, its not a far stretch to imagine that Ezio could return to Florence to help his old allies regain power. If not in Revelations, then perhaps in a DLC expansion for the game.
It had been rumored yesterday that Revelations was not going to be the long awaited Assassin’s Creed 3, and this definitely confirms it. There may be a silver lining for those awaiting the next numbered sequel as the rumors also suggested that Assassin’s Creed 3 is currently in development. If this is true, the next numbered sequel may en route to a 2012 release, which would be fitting considering all the doomsday theories surrounding the year. Maybe a December 12 release will be in store for that one. Could you imagine?
Are you looking forward to playing as both Ezio and Altair in Assassin’s Creed Revelations?
Source: Facebook