Ubisoft's perfect setting for an Assassin's Creed game, as it gave many opportunities to explore how the Assassins not only carry out their hits but how they also influence governments and social movements from the shadows. However, Unity's biggest contribution was the character of Arno Dorian.
Before jumping into what makes Arno so great, it's important to acknowledge Assassin's Creed's protagonist imbalance. Ezio is often seen as the series' best protagonist, and players spent more time with him than equally compelling characters. He was well-written, charming, and had a trilogy of Assassin's Creed games for his to character develop. To this date, Ezio is the only Assassin to have been the primary character for more than one game, which has done many other great assassins a huge disservice.
The cards are stacked against new Assassin's Creed protagonists when they only have one game to prove themselves. Edward Kenway was another strong protagonist in the series, but was overshadowed by the historical figures around him. Arno, however, managed to make a serious impact in only a single game.
Arno Is A Great Assassin's Creed Protagonist
Arno and Ezio had very similar origins. Both begin their early adult years as charming, over-confident, naïve, and mischievous men who grew up fast after of their family are killed. Though they mirror each other in many ways, the reasons behind their lives as assassins are very different; Ezio desires revenge, while Arno wants to avenge his loved ones.
Ezio is called to action after the execution of his father and brothers, which sets him down his path of revenge. He hunted and assassinated the Borgia family, who not only ordered the execution but also happened to be the heads of the Templar Order. Arno, in contrast, was born from Assassin heritage but would later be adopted by Templars. While Arno was unaware of this for most of his life, he came to understand that he represented the desire for the French Assassins and Templars to find peace.
When comparing their skills and abilities as assassins, Arno outclasses Ezio by a wide margin as shown by their achievements. Ezio dawned his father's robes at 17 and wasn't initiated into the Assassin's Brotherhood until his 29th birthday, taking 12 years to become a true Assassin and a total of 24 years to reach the rank of Master Assassin. In contrast, Arno was initiated into the Brotherhood in 2 years, defeated his mentor and Master Assassin, Pierre Bellec, as a novice, and attained the rank of Master Assassin in only 5 years.
Arno was also able to achieve all of this while suffering through tragedy after tragedy. Where Ezio had help from a plethora of allies in his quest for revenge, Arno was almost entirely alone after everyone he ever loved or believed in him was killed. Arno's father was assassinated when he was a child, his adopted father was also assassinated, the Mentor of the French Brotherhood was then assassinated, Arno was forced to kill his own mentor, and Élise, the love of his life who kept him going throughout the entire game, ultimately died as well. While this understandably led Arno into a drunken depression for a time, he was able to pull himself together and avenge their deaths by finishing what they started.
Not only was Arno Dorian an incredibly skilled Assassin, perhaps the best Assassin that AC has ever known, but he also had a level of resolve and humility that has yet to be seen again. No matter how many times he hit rock bottom, he always got back up and kept fighting in order to honor those he loved and keep their legacies alive. While Ezio is a wonderful character with an incredible legacy, Arno's journey throughout Assassin's Creed Unity proves that he stands well above the beloved assassin and that his greatest tragedy was being limited to a single game.