Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

[Andrew Ryan]

I was playing this and it got me thinking. Within the game numerous Catholic clergy and monks are involved. You at one point have to kill a corrupt monk and cardinal. Also, Pope Alexander VI has a poisoned apple shoved into his mouth and is thus killed by his son Cesare. Technically in the game you can also murder numerous monks and cardinals whom aren't corrupt. Is it appropriate for a Catholic to play this? You can avoid the killing of the corrupt monk and cardinal but the cardinal is crucial to the cult of Romulus missions and obtaining the best armor in the game but you technically avoid this. I don't know, just struck me one day while playing.

 

[Michie]

I was playing this and it got me thinking. Within the game numerous Catholic clergy and monks are involved. You at one point have to kill a corrupt monk and cardinal. Also, Pope Alexander VI has a poisoned apple shoved into his mouth and is thus killed by his son Cesare. Technically in the game you can also murder numerous monks and cardinals whom aren't corrupt. Is it appropriate for a Catholic to play this? You can avoid the killing of the corrupt monk and cardinal but the cardinal is crucial to the cult of Romulas missions and obtaining the best armor in the game but you technically avoid this. I don't know, just struck me one day while playing.

I just find it ironic with crazy people sending seven year old kids from school for pointing at a wall & saying *bang*.... everyone moaning about guns, etc. Then these games are played & nary a word?

I don't know if it is right or wrong in any official sense but I think anything that promotes senseless violence for entertainment should be viewed with a wary eye.

 

[Andrew Ryan]

I just find it ironic with crazy people sending seven year old kids from school for pointing at a wall & saying *bang*.... everyone moaning about guns, etc. Then these games are played & nary a word?

I don't know if it is right or wrong in any official sense but I think anything that promotes senseless violence for entertainment should be viewed with a wary eye.

It's actually not senseless when viewed within the context of the story line of the game. You can't kill civilians, if you do, then you essentially "die," or become "desynchronized." It takes place within renaissance Italy and you play as Ezio, an assassin yes, but one who is fighting against the corrupt powers of the day, namely, the House of Borgia. Much, much different than say GTA or other such games. But I do generally agree with what you're saying. I was just curious, from a Catholic perspective to play such a game which involves these things though, they can be skipped, technically though you will not complete the game 100%. You around saving citizens and rebuilding Rome, that's really, the whole point. For example, in the Christina missions, in the first one, you try to "woo," her and get rejected, then follow her for a "second chance," and once she arrives at her house, you see a man trying to "take her," and you beat him up. Things of that nature, you play as a force of good while yes, it is somewhat violent. Not senseless though but I do see how my intial post could have suggested this.

 

[Michie]

It's actually not senseless when viewed within the context of the story line of the game. You can't kill civilians, if you do, then you essentially "die," or become "synchronized." It takes place within renaissance Italy and you play as Ezio, an assassin yes, but one who is fighting against the corrupt powers of the day, namely, the House of Borgia. Much, much different than say GTA or other such games. But I do generally agree with what you're saying. I was just curious, from a Catholic perspective to play such a game which involves these things though, they can be skipped, technically though you will not complete the game 100%. You around saving citizens and rebuilding Rome, that's really, the whole point. For example, in the Christina missions, in the first one, you try to "woo," her and get rejected, then follow her for a "second chance," and once she arrives at her house, you see a man trying to "take her," and you beat him up. Things of that nature, you play as a force of good while yes, it is somewhat violent. Not senseless though but I do see how my intial post could have suggested this.

Well it may make sense within the context of the storyline. But I just don't see the attraction. Games are cool, they are fun. They are even encouraged at the nursing home I visit. But those with violence & gore.... I just don't get it.

But if it bothers you... it might be a nudge to talk to your priest.

I'm not sure there is any official position on this type of thing.

 

[Sphinx777]

Assassin's Creed is an award-winning historical video game series that currently consists of six games, with one to be added, a facebook game, a short film (split into three episodes), two novels and comic books. The games appeared on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Mac OS X, iOS, HP WebOS, Android and Windows Phone 7 platforms. The main games in the franchise were developed by Ubisoft Montreal, with the handheld titles developed by Gameloft and Gryptonite Studios, with additional development by Ubisoft Montreal. All games in the franchise are published by Ubisoft.

The main story arc of the series revolves around a bartender named Desmond Miles as he is captured by megacorporation Abstergo Industries (a front for the Knights Templar). Using a machine known as the Animus, Desmond is forced to relive his ancestors' memories, who were all assassins, in order to recover artifacts, called the "Pieces of Eden", for Abstergo. While the original assassin ancestor of Desmond is Altaïr, the most recent games feature another assassin from Renaissance Italy named Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Assassination targets are mostly actual historical figures, although the timelines for their lives and causes of death have been changed to suit the games' plot (in-game these inaccuracies are attributed to the Templars rewriting history to cover up their actions, as well as honest mistakes on the part of historians).

The gameplay varies slightly from game to game, consisting of a mixture of action and adventure with a heavy emphasis on stealth in open world recreations of historical cities. The series has sold over 20 million units.



Assassin's Creed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sphinx777]

Assassin's Creed - ONLY THE STRONGEST WILL SURVIVE



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[Sphinx777]

Spoiler: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

 

[judechild]

Ha, not too long ago I was playing a strategy game, and I was told to invade the Papal States... I stopped playing the game. Yah, haha; I won't even attack the Pope of the pixels. That's just me being me, though; I really don't play video games anymore anyway. No help from me except to say "don't violate your conscience."

 

[Rhamiel]

they have a Plague Doctor?!?!?!?!
wow that is cool
I always wondered why that style was not used more in horror/comic book/action movies

 

[Sphinx777]

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[WarriorAngel]

I was playing this and it got me thinking. Within the game numerous Catholic clergy and monks are involved. You at one point have to kill a corrupt monk and cardinal. Also, Pope Alexander VI has a poisoned apple shoved into his mouth and is thus killed by his son Cesare. Technically in the game you can also murder numerous monks and cardinals whom aren't corrupt. Is it appropriate for a Catholic to play this? You can avoid the killing of the corrupt monk and cardinal but the cardinal is crucial to the cult of Romulus missions and obtaining the best armor in the game but you technically avoid this. I don't know, just struck me one day while playing.

I wouldn't allow it, or even 'want' to play it...
It seems so - unorthodox and violent and just wrong.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Playing it only 'seems' to support anti Catholicism.
Ya think?

 

[Davidnic]

they have a Plague Doctor?!?!?!?!
wow that is cool
I always wondered why that style was not used more in horror/comic book/action movies

Me too, it is a very creepy form.

 

[Davidnic]

I've played the other games. I have not played this one yet just because I have not had the time to play it. I am selective as to what the little one sees on the screen and the mind of a 19 month old is too absorbent for Assassins Creed or God of War.

I have no problem with the games in their context.

 

[Winter]

I was playing this and it got me thinking. Within the game numerous Catholic clergy and monks are involved. You at one point have to kill a corrupt monk and cardinal. Also, Pope Alexander VI has a poisoned apple shoved into his mouth and is thus killed by his son Cesare. Technically in the game you can also murder numerous monks and cardinals whom aren't corrupt. Is it appropriate for a Catholic to play this? You can avoid the killing of the corrupt monk and cardinal but the cardinal is crucial to the cult of Romulus missions and obtaining the best armor in the game but you technically avoid this. I don't know, just struck me one day while playing.

I really wanted to try this game out (yes, I'm a game geek ) but the reviews said it was too violent and I can't bring myself to do stuff like that on a game especially towards Catholic clergy. I kind of think its wrong. I mean, I'd feel bad about it. I know its just a game but still .....

So, geek alert, I'm just waiting for the second Dragon Age to come out instead.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Doesn't seem like a spiritually healthy game to involve yourself with.

Jim

 

[JacktheCatholic]

I have not played this game though the situation you describe sounds... unsettling.

The only senseless and violent games I play are Battlefield 2 and Battlefield 2142 for PC (the console versions sucks IMO). The newer games bother me because of the amount of foul language and in some cases sexual themes.

So, I cannot say what the RCC says about Assassin's Creed. Though, I suspect, it would have to do with how we viewed it.

 

[Eretria90]

This very same question was asked on a Christian union that is part of a video game forum that I frequently visit. Even Protestant gamers stated they would have a hard time playing this game because you apparently have to kill the pope. Personally, I was never into Assassin's Creed and I heard the gameplay gets boring after a while. I think the problem is that, how is killing the Pope (or any religious official) any different than killing any other enemy or innocent civilian? We could therefore argue all violent games are to the same degree, because killing, no matter, is wrong for all reasons. At least, that's the reasoning anyway.

If you think that's bad, play Medieval 2: Total War, Europa 1400, or Crusader Kings, which all deal with the papal alliances. I love medieval RTS simply because it makes us step out of our bounds and see if we apply our beliefs to our gaming and the choices we make during said game.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

This very same question was asked on a Christian union that is part of a video game forum that I frequently visit. Even Protestant gamers stated they would have a hard time playing this game because you apparently have to kill the pope. Personally, I was never into Assassin's Creed and I heard the gameplay gets boring after a while. I think the problem is that, how is killing the Pope (or any religious official) any different than killing any other enemy or innocent civilian? We could therefore argue all violent games are to the same degree, because killing, no matter, is wrong for all reasons. At least, that's the reasoning anyway.

If you think that's bad, play Medieval 2: Total War, Europa 1400, or Crusader Kings, which all deal with the papal alliances. I love medieval RTS simply because it makes us step out of our bounds and see if we apply our beliefs to our gaming and the choices we make during said game.

Sims needs to create a job for priest.

I do not know how this relates to your post but it crossed my mind so I decided to mindlessly post that thought.

 

[Andrew Ryan]

This very same question was asked on a Christian union that is part of a video game forum that I frequently visit. Even Protestant gamers stated they would have a hard time playing this game because you apparently have to kill the pope.

You don't kill the Pope. I've played the game all the way through and was working beating it 100% this time when I posted this. When the Pope dies, it's a cinematic scene in which him and his son (Cesare) are talking. The Pope was trying to poison his son because of what he was trying to do and his merciless conquests and horrible crimes. Then his daughter, Lucrezia (who also happens to be Cesare's lover) runs into the room after Cesare takes a bite to warn him of their father's plans and he spits it out, gives a short monologue then shoves it into the Pope's mouth and then he dies and then he grabs Lucrezia by the throat and demands to know where the apple of Eden is. Cinematic ends there and you come in through a window and try to stop him from getting the apple and Lucrezia, though shaken, still lives and tells you where it is and such. You never actually harm or touch the Pope and in the end you kill Cesare. I know, I just spoiled alot of it but it's a good game which I feel should be explained. You can skip the missions were you kill the clergy though.

Even if you don't, it should be pointed out, the clergymen are very corrupt. The monk killed 3 of his brothers via poisoning and you are contracted by one of his brothers to take care of him because he is a man of God and can't. The cardinal is involved and one of the leaders of the cult of Romulus. A Pagan cult devoted to Romulus and goes around terrorizing the citizenry. But you can skip these missions. Past that, you only kill Borgia guards and Cesare and other corrupt, evil people working for the Borgia. Though, it is sort of a graphic game and should not be played by minors. Also, it didn't sit with me well killing the clergymen, even if corrupt and evil, I skipped it the first time but not the second but only to complete the game 100%. I don't know, didn't sit well with me.