Does all that AC3 prelude help or hurt?
The promotions for Assassin’s Creed III made much of its Native American protagonist, but the game starts with a lengthy (and as our reviewer found, intolerable) prelude playing his British father. While a few applauded this contextual approach as necessary in hindsight, most players found it slow,
The promotions for Assassin’s Creed III made much of its Native American protagonist, but the game starts with a lengthy (and as our reviewer found, intolerable) prelude playing his British father. While a few applauded this contextual approach as necessary in hindsight, most players found it slow, to say the least. Dr. B at Not Your Mama’s Gamer found the emphasis on Conner’s white lineage harmful.
He [Conner] is the personification of the infamous letter of authenticity that precedes every slave narrative. Yes, I recognize that Connor is neither African (American) nor a slave, but the feeling is still the same. Connor, as Ratonhnhaké:ton, is unworthy of being an assassin. He is tainted. He can only be an assassin (and avenge the deaths of his Native people?) as Connor Kenway, the son of a white man and not the son of a Native American woman. While Ubisoft tries to play up his Native heritage he is another instance of the great White savior coming in to save/avenge the lowly savage.
Dr. B hasn’t yet finished the game, and hopes that Conner’s portrayal will improve. Is her reaction too extreme?
