Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the latest AAA title to grace iOS and iPadOS. As the last of the four major games announced during the iPhone 15 keynote in 2023, it follows Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4, and Death Stranding Director’s Cut. This review focuses on its performance and gameplay on the iPhone.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage Game Details
- Title: Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Series: Assassin’s Creed (13th entry)
- Platforms: iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro/Max), iPad (M-series chip)
- Size: 10GB download, 3GB additional data post-launch
- Cost: Free with a 90-minute gameplay limit; $25 in-app purchase to continue
- Other Purchases: Cosmetic and gameplay items ($10-$15)
Visuals and Performance
Visual Presets
| Preset | Description |
|---|---|
| High | Best visual quality with higher LOD and object density |
| Medium | Default preset with moderate LOD and object density |
| Low | Lowest visual quality with minimal LOD and object density |
- Texture Resolution: Uniformly low across all presets, resulting in blurry textures.
- Resolution: Renders at a quarter of the display resolution (1278 x 590 on iPhone 15 Pro), using MetalFX for upscaling.
- Performance: Locked at 30FPS, struggles to maintain smooth frame rates, especially with Eagle Vision enabled.
Gameplay and Controls
- Controls: Surprisingly good touch controls, better than other AAA iOS titles. Supports Xbox Wireless Controller over Bluetooth.
- HDR: Effective on the iPhone 15 Pro’s OLED display, enhancing visual experience.
- Aspect Ratio: Renders in ultrawide aspect ratio by cropping the top and bottom of the display, causing black bars during cutscenes.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Visual Quality: Good overall visuals despite texture resolution limitations.
- Controls: Usable touch controls, with excellent controller support.
- HDR: Works well, providing a vibrant display.
- Storage Efficiency: Occupies less space than expected on the device.
Cons
- Performance Issues: Frequent frame rate drops and stuttering, particularly during demanding scenes.
- Texture Resolution: Blurry textures detract from the visual experience.
- Aspect Ratio Handling: Black bars during cutscenes are distracting.
- Server Issues: Occasional online server errors and mandatory Ubisoft ID login.
Conclusion
Assassin’s Creed Mirage on the iPhone offers a mixed experience. While the visuals, controls, and HDR are commendable, the performance issues significantly hinder gameplay. Ubisoft needs to optimize the game further for iPhone hardware. Given the current state, it’s difficult to recommend purchasing the game. However, the first 90 minutes are free, allowing players to try it before committing to a purchase.
Feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments below!
ALSO READ:
