[PC][XONE][PS4] Assassin's Creed : Unity (topic a récupérer !)

The Second Screen Experience

Based on recent releases and convention appearances, it’s clear that Ubisoft is investing big in the opportunity for second-screen integration, encouraging players to engage with a mobile app both during gameplay and in-between sessions. During my hours with Unity, I got to see an extended demo of the companion app, and it’s the first time I’ve felt like a companion app is essential for full enjoyment of a game.

Unity’s companion app offers several options for interaction, but the central (and perhaps most useful) tool is the inclusion of a real-time map of your in-game session. Your tablet or phone exhibits a full map of Paris with all of the same icons you see in the main game’s pause screen, but without needing to leave the action. You can zoom and rotate this mobile version of the map to find the best view of the action. Moreover, any icon can be tapped and held, and within just a few seconds, that objective marker shows up in the main game. The map also includes regularly updated heat maps that show you where other players are going in the city, as well as where and how they completed individual missions. The map becomes a great tool to stay immersed in the game world on your TV while a second screen acts as a navigation tool.

The companion app also allows for a couple of other fun activities that can be tackled even if you’re away from the main Unity game. Glyph puzzles unlock as you find different landmarks during your journeys through Paris. In the app, a model of that landmark appears, and you must search out hidden glyphs on the structure. It’s a simple but tangible connection to these architectural wonders, but it’s only an option within the app.

By completing glyph puzzles, you’ll unlock one of 63 nomad missions, the other major gameplay component of the companion app. Previous versions of Assassin’s Creed have often included a mini-game about building up a force – from missions across the Mediterranean to sailing fleets filled with cargo. Nomad missions fulfill this role in Unity, but they are only available through the companion app. Within the app, players can build up new individual assassins, assigning skills like health, stealth, attack, and defense. Each mission requires a different combination of skills, so it’s essential to build up a well-balanced team.

Upon completion of each nomad mission, a reward unlocks in the main game, often as a blue chest that is discoverable in the game world. These chests can include all sorts of bonuses, including entirely new outfits for Arno to wear.

The app is the most impressive second-screen experience I’ve yet seen, offering a number of fun tools to stay connected to Unity. However, it’s easy to guess that some players may be frustrated that the app is now virtually required if you want to experience Unity in full.