If you were to having a debate about the greatest video game franchises of all time you would be hard pressed not to mention the Assassin’s Creed series developed and published by Ubisoft.

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The History of Assassin’s Creed

Back in November 2007 the self-titled first installment of this juggernaut – Assassin’s Creed was released to wide-spread acclaim. Featuring fluid game-play made possible with an ingenious game engine, seamless and intuitive interaction with the environment through free running and action packed battles with a variety of weapons. Not to mention stunning graphics and design concepts – all held together with a gripping plot spanning centuries that unveils a classic conspiracy based story of historically inspired fiction.

The game follows the story of modern day man Desmond Miles as he is forced by the sinister Abstergo Corporation to re-live the memories of his ancestor (the hidden blade equipped master assassin Altaïr ibn-La’Ahad) while using a machine called the Animus.  Altaïr battles Templars with through the Third Crusade era Holy land from Acre to Jerusalem, pulling at a thread that will lead him and his distant ancestor to a staggering revelation.

In the follow-up titles Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations, we are introduced via the memories locked in Desmond’s DNA to Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a Florentine nobleman from the Italian Renaissance era around the 15th and 16th Century who finds his life becomes caught up in the same ancient conspiracy as Altaïr taking him on a similar path from a boy in his late teens to ripe old age.

The Latest Installment of Assassin’s Creed

October 2012 sees the release of a new game in this epic franchise, Assassin’s Creed III. With the Altaïr and Ezio storylines brought to their logical conclusions we are introduced to a new assassin from a different era in History. Connor Kenway is a half-Mohawk, half-English assassin in one of the most turbulent times in history, the American Revolution – and if that was not enough to keep our new hero busy he is about to find himself knee-deep in same conspiracy as his predecessors.

Regardless of the Assassin in question, all 3 have similar skills and physical qualities in common that makes them excel in ways that allows them to rub shoulders with other great fictional heroes such as James Bond and Bruce Wayne. Both of who have also protected humanity under the radar – or as is written in the creed of the Assassin Brotherhood: Work in the dark to serve the light.

During game-play Altaïr, Ezio and Connor all exhibit phenomenal Agility and core strength through their climbing and free-running (or Parkour), Power and physicality in hand to hand combat with often multiple opponents, not to mention incredible stamina and endurance in unrelenting pursuit or evasion of their enemies. All while carrying kit and weapons that would weigh them down considerably. They are not unlike today’s elite soldier in many of these aspects and while not superhuman, it is clear that these heroes would have to train like they were in order to be fit for their tasks and missions. However, as the physics and abilities of the Assassins have been rooted in reality it is possible to push our own fitness in this direction.

Live By the Creed: The Assassin’s Creed Training Series

In this new Confitdent series we will be showing you the basics and fundamentals to help you get in shape like a member of the Brotherhood of Assassins from Assassin’s Creed, encompassing five workouts and numerous tips to help you develop strength, agility, power, speed and stamina that you can use everywhere from the gym to the assault course and beyond.

Part I: Reach New Heights

Part II: Endure & Conquer

Part III: Practical Strength

Part IV: Responsibility

Part V: Move Like an Assassin