
The plot is set in a fictional
history of real world events and follows the centuries-old struggle between the
Assassins, who fight for peace with free will, and the Templars, who desire
peace through control. The framing story is set in the 21st century and
features series protagonist Desmond Miles who, with the aid of a machine known
as the Animus, relives the memories of his ancestors to find a way to avert the
2012 apocalypse. The story is set in the 18th century, before, during and after
the American Revolution from 1754 to 1783, and follows Desmond's half-English,
half-Mohawk ancestor, also known as Connor, as he fights the Templars' attempts
to gain freedom in the colonies.
Assassin's Creed III is set in an
open world and presented from the third-person perspective with a primary focus
on using Desmond and Connor's combat and stealth abilities to eliminate targets
and explore the environment. Connor is able to freely explore 18th-century
Boston, New York City, and the American frontier to complete side missions away
from the primary storyline. The game also features a multiplayer component,
allowing players to compete online to complete solo and team based objectives
including assassinations and evading pursuers. Ubisoft developed a new game
engine, Anvil Next, for the game.
The game received positive
reviews from critics, who praised it for its gameplay, narrative, diverse cast
of characters, visuals and grand, ambitious scale, while criticism was directed
at the unevenly developed gameplay mechanics and the glitches within the game.
It was a massive commercial success, selling more than 12 million copies
worldwide. Its sequel, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, was released in October
2013, and follows Ratonhnhaké:ton's grandfather – Edward Kenway – a pirate and
Assassin operating in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy.