So as the long-awaited movie comes out today, it's high time we revisited the games that inspired Michael Fassbender to pick up a sword and manipulate his DNA memory.In the end, it was a bloody massacre. We pitted each of the core sneak-climb-maim games against each other and let them stab, garrotte and shoot each other until only the best survived.Of course, this was a question made substantially easier if you ignore the mobile ports, Altair's crummy Chronicles, Identity, Discovery, Bloodlines and Pirates – which we duly did.Here's how the chips, cards and bloody limbs fell.9. Assassin's Creed Unity (2014)It turns out that The French Revolution was full of bugs. It may have looked good – when it worked – but a weak storyline, graphical glitches and shonky gameplay left Unity's head on the chopping block.The final blood splatter on the executioner's robes, however, was the lack of gender options, compounded by Ubisoft's now infamous "a lot of extra production work" comments to explain the lack of playable female characters.

In short: nil points.There are a few adjectives that spring to mind when you think of the first Assassin's Creed – "limited", "repetitive", "boring" – but the most important one is "promising". Frustratingly linear in parts but so full of potential, you're grateful it exists, even if you're not going to be replaying it anytime soon.Mind you, it must have done something right, because eight years and a ton of sequels and spinoffs later, it's still a regular fixture in the autumn release calendar, and a real money-spinner for Ubisoft.7. Assassin's Creed: Revelations (2011)Revelations, the final outing of both Ezio and Altair. Which was a good thing: their storylines were getting a little stale by this point, and Constantinople failed to grab gamers as much as, say, Venice or Jerusalem.In an attempt to spice things up, Ubisoft added an utterly irrelevant tower defence mini-game and the ability to make bombs. A tip of the cowl to the hookblade, mind, one of the best mechanics in the series, seen here – and only here – in Revelations.6.

Assassin's Creed 3 (2012)A select few quotes from the Assassin's Creed franchise are very profound indeed and leave a lasting impact in the minds of the audience. I'll quote them in the no particular order whatsoever (the ones in bold are my personal favorites):1. A good life (AC2)Federico: "It is a good life we lead, brother."May it never change."Federico: "And may it never change us."(The music and title screen following it is an act of genius.)2. Ezio's last letter to Sofia (AC Embers)"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it. I had time, but I did not know it. And I had love, but I did not feel it. Many decades would pass before I understood the meaning of all three. And now, the twilight of my life, this understanding has passed into contentment."3. The Creed's maxim (AC1)"Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted."4. Al Mualim quoting the Bible (AC1)"I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing at the wind.

For in much wisdom, is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow."5. Ezio to Desmond (ACR)"Desmond? I heard your name once before Desmond, a long time ago. And now It lingers in my mind like an image from an old dream. I do not know where you are, or by what means you can hear me. But I know you are listening. (he leaves his weapons) I have lived my life as best I could, not knowing its purpose, but drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon. And here, at last, I discover a strange truth. north face denali jacket mint blueThat I am only a conduit for a message that eludes my understanding. soul cal hoodies ebayWho are we, who have been so blessed to share our stories like this? nyu hoodie uk

To speak across centuries? Maybe you will answer all the questions I have asked. Maybe you will be the one to make all this suffering worth something in the end."6. Arno's closing monologue (AC5 Unity)"The Creed of the Assassin Brotherhood teaches us that nothing is forbidden to us. Once, I thought that meant we were free to do as we would. To pursue our ideals, no matter the cost. Not a grant of permission. The Creed is a warning. Ideals too easily give way to dogma. No higher power sits in judgement of us. calvin johnson megatron hoodie for saleNo supreme being watches to punish us for our sins. matt mcandrew hoodieIn the end, only we ourselves can guard against our obsessions. gryffindor able hoodieOnly we can decide whether the road we walk carries too high a toll.

We believe ourselves redeemers, avengers, saviours. We make war on those who oppose us, and they in turn make war on us. We dream of leaving our stamp upon the world... even as we give our lives in a conflict that will be recorded in no history book. All that we do, all that we are, begins and ends with ourselves."7. Clay a.k.a. Subject 16 to Desmond in Animus island (ACR)"What is a man but the sum of his memories, we are the stories we live, the tales we tell our selves"8. "Because no one else will!" Charles Lee: "Even those men you sought to save have turned their backs on you. Yet you fight, you resist, why?"Ratonhnhaké:ton a.k.a. Connor Kenway: "Because no one else will!"9. Ezio's signature homage (ACR)Ezio to the departed Altaïr: "No books... no wisdom... Just you, fratello mio (my brother). Requiescat in pace, Altaïr."10. Achilles' warning to Connor (AC3)"In your haste to save the world, boy, take care you don't destroy it."11. Altair's parting words to Darim (ACR)Altair: "Go son, go be with your family, and live well"Darim: "All that is good in me, began with you father"12.

The Templar meeting (AC3)Lee: "I pray we one day rise above it."Haytham: "While you pray, I'll act."13. From the cinematic announcement trailer (AC Rogue)Shay Patrick Cormac: "Life's hardest choices are the ones that force you to question your own moral code."14. Benjamin Church (AC3)"It's all a matter of perspective. There is no single path through life that's right and fair and does no harm."15. Achilles Davenport (AC3)"Life is not a fairy tale and there are no happy endings!"16. Rashid ad-Din Sinan/Al-Mualim (AC1)"Information learned is more valuable than information given."17. Curse of the Romani (ACR)Ezio Auditore da Firenze: "People are quick to judge but slow to correct themselves."18. Al Mualim (AC1)"Significance comes not from a single act, but the context in which it is performed"19. Arno Dorian (AC5)"It is sometimes hard to remember how easy life was, before the world changed."20. Quote from the novel (AC The Secret Crusade)Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad: "Only a mind free of impediment is capable of grasping the chaotic beauty of the world.

This is our greatest asset."21. On punishment (AC1)Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad: "Men must be free to do what they believe. It is not our right to punish them for thinking what they do, no matter how much we disagree."22. Edward Kenway to Adéwalé (AC4)"For years I've been rushing around, taking whatever I fancied, not giving a tinker's curse for those I hurt. Yet here I am... with riches and reputation, feeling no wiser than when I left home. Yet when I turn around, and look at the course I've run... there's not a man or woman that I love left standing beside me."23. "My enemy is a notion" (AC3)Connor: "My enemy is a notion, not a nation."24. The one from AC Syndicate (AC6)Jacob Frye: "Escape Plan? When no one's left, walk out the front door."25. Quote from The Creed [The Lost Archive DLC] (ACR)William Miles: "Beware the easy path. Knowledge grows only through challenge."26. Ezio to Sofia en route to Altair's library (ACR)"To say that nothing is true, is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization.

To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic."27. Shay Patrick Cormac on luck (AC Rogue)"I make my own luck"28. Ezio's monologue (AC2)"Twenty-two years ago, I stood where I stand now – and watched my loved ones die, betrayed by those I had called friends. Vengeance clouded my mind. It would have consumed me, were it not for the wisdom of a few strangers, who taught me to look past my instincts. They never preached answers, but guided me to learn from myself. We don't need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose – whatever you think is true – that makes us human... There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else."Ezio's last letter to Sofia:"When I was a young man, I had liberty, but I did not see it.