Legacy of the First Blade is a three-part DLC initially billed as a look into the life of proto-Assassin Darius but, as players have discovered, it’s really about something else entirely.
Warning: spoilers follow.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s first major DLC arc in fact hinges on a relationship like no other in the game – one which is prescribed and, regardless of your choices during the DLC or the rest of the game, results in Alexios or Kassanda having a baby.
The writing was on the wall from Legacy’s first episode, released late last year. It introduced Darius and his child – either the male Natakas if you play as Kassandra or the female Neema if you are Alexios – someone whose gender is, unusually, dictated by your protagonist choice.
Fans suspected a new straight romance option was being set up, but hoped the usually inclusive Ubisoft wouldn’t dictate a relationship which differed from how some had role-played their own Alexios or Kassandra up to that point. Each main character option can be played as straight, gay or bi – the game lets you engage with any of its potential romance options regardless of gender.
Ubisoft has repeatedly promoted Odyssey’s narrative choices as a core part of the game – being able to choose who you want play as, which factions you wanted to side with, and who you wanted to jump into bed with. Alexios and Kassandra are not presented as blank slates, but elements of their personality such as who they romance has until now been left entirely for players to choose.
Shadow Heritage, the DLC’s second episode which launched yesterday, gives players only the illusion of choice. Regardless of your main character’s sexuality, Ubisoft pretends you can pick what happens next – but has the same thing ultimately play out either way.
At the DLC chapter’s end, you can choose to romance Darius’ offspring, settle down and have a baby. Or you can choose to say farewell to Darius’ offspring, only for them to turn up regardless, leading to you settling down and having a baby in the exact same way.
Whichever you pick, the action then skips forward to a montage of scenes where your main character breaks from mercenary life to enjoy a period of peace. You are shown getting close to your new family, kissing your new partner, before a quick gameplay mission where you fetch bread and milk to take home. Finally, your new baby is shown.
This video covers how each of the options plays out:
It’s meant to be a shock ending to the chapter – and it is, though in an unwelcome way for some fans.
Many who role-played their Alexios or Kassandra as gay or who did not romance anyone feel betrayed by being locked into having a child with this particular character – there are multiple threads on reddit to that effect where fans say their version of Alexios or Kassandra has been invalidated.
Some were particularly angered by the Achievement/Trophy which pops up as you are revealed to have become a mother/father – named “Growing Up” – which some took to mean their character had matured personally due to having a child.
Yesterday, I contacted Ubisoft with a list of questions surrounding the plot and the handling of this episode. Why wasn’t there an option for players whose Alexios or Kassandra did not want a heterosexual relationship? Were other ways to give the protagonist a child considered? If ensuring the bloodline of the protagonist (a common Assassin’s Creed theme) was so important, why wasn’t some other mystical means found instead?
Kassandra and Alexios were born out of necessity (their mother and the powerful Pythagoras decided to have children to continue each of their rare bloodlines) but this union is hardly a positive relationship to follow. If a similar reason is trotted out as an explanation here, why still present the option to leave behind Darius and your romance option as a choice, when in effect there was none? Why not at least provide a non-romantic cut-scene and an explanation why this has happened? It feels like a betrayal of fan expectations and of Ubisoft’s promises to date.
Fans have pointed to a statement made last year by Assassin’s Creed Odyssey creative director Jonathan Dumont, where he set fan expectations in this regard:
“Since the story is choice-driven, we never force players in romantic situations they might not be comfortable with,” Dumont told Entertainment Weekly. “Players decide if they want to engage with characters romantically. I think this allows everybody to build the relationships they want, which I feel respects everybody’s roleplay style and desires.”
Of course, there’s still a third episode to go – the fates of your child, Darius and his offspring are still up in the air, and at some point Kassandra has to leave this family anyway to assume her role seen at the very end of the main game. But there’s only so much Ubisoft can do now they’ve begun this story. And, simply put, this key chapter feels fumbled.
Ubisoft is yet to answer our questions but has provided me with a couple of more general statements. I’ll update again if I hear more.
Here’s the first statement, where Ubisoft apologises for the “surprise” of the events taking place:
“We strive to give players choice whenever possible in Odyssey and apologise to those surprised by the events in this episode,” a company spokesperson told Eurogamer. “Without spoiling it, you will engage in an important relationship as part of a set story. The motivation behind this relationship is yours to explore in game and will be reflected in your character’s story arc. There is one episode left in Legacy of the First Blade which will tie your character’s actions together.”
And the second:
“We don’t want to reveal too much right now, but we have always tried to keep the story inclusive of people of all sexual orientations, and players will be able to choose their motivations behind this particular narrative depending on their sexual preferences,” Ubisoft continued.
“Assassin’s Creed Odyssey was developed by people of all sexual orientations, backgrounds, genders and beliefs, and we have tried to reflect that within the game.”
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