Can any of you think about the last time you played an action game where the main character had a spear on his back?
Just consider for a fact that the spear was the most frequently used weapon across all of the ancient world and medieval periods virtually all over the world. I love swords, and I love the fetishization of it, but it's remarkable that it's taking us this long to get a game where the main character wields a spear as a primary weapon.
It was the cheapest weapon to manufacture in the old world, but it was also a a much easier weapon to wield. You have a lot more range with being stabby stabby, while swords are dangerous and require an insanely high level of skill. Swords where also expensive and used by nobility.
But going beyond spears, this game being based in africa is just weird. Because African warriors and maruders are not championed or appreciated in pop culture the same way vikings, samurai, spartans and knights are.
It's a damn travesty because many of these ancient warrior peoples were just as bad and awesome. The Nubians where said to be incredible. Corsairs and Moors vikings were said to be equal to the vikings as seafearers and warriors. And yet, we hear almost nothing about it.
I hate to say it, because I think a game should be judged on the merits of its gameplay, but I do think the setting and main character being what they are, a big deal. And it shouldn't be. I'm just really excited to get immersed into this part of history, culture and world that we dont get to see. Not on film or on TV.
For that, I am very excited about this game. I expect a flawed Assassins game like they've always been, but I expect to really enjoy the setting. I did in all the other games. I had never played a game about the french revolution, or seen a game that was set in Constantinople or experienced the Italian renaissance in that way.