Ubisoft’s recently released ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ has become the target of an attack by a former French politician by the name of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has labeled the game as “propaganda.”
According to an interview with French Inter Radio by The Daily Telegraph, Mélenchon had stated that ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ fuels the anti-republican behavior of modern day far-right extremists. He added that the game depicts historical figures King Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette as positive up-standing people, and the French people as savages.
“It is propaganda against the people, the people who are (portrayed as) barbarians, bloodthirsty savages,” Mélenchon said. “In 1789 there were the poor aristocrats, and they are presented as fine upstanding people.”
Mélenchon also found fault with ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’s’ depiction of Maximilien de Robespierre, a French historical politician who he states is depicted as a monster rather than a liberator hero, who helped give the vote to Jews and tried to extend it to women. For non-history buffs, Robespierre is seen by some as a fanatic closely associated with the mass guillotine executions that took place during the French Revolution.
The former politician concluded his words by stating that ‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ “presents an image of hatred of the Revolution, hatred of the people, hatred of the republic which is rampant in the far-right milieux (of today).”
For those unfamiliar with Mélenchon, he served as the former minister of Vocational Education in France back in the early 2000s. He was also a member of the French senate, representing Essone. Back in 2012, he ran for presidential election, only to place fourth with about 11% of the vote.
‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ is the latest entry in the long running ‘Assassin’s Creed’ franchise. Taking place during the French Revolution, the game tells the story of Arno Dorian, a character whose father was murdered when he a child. Adopted and raised by a Templar father ever since, Arno grows up only to become wrapped up in a conspiracy that leads him to join the Brotherhood of Assassins. From there, Arno is thrown onward into a journey of redemption and discovery amid the French Revolution.
‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’ is currently out now for PS4, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
