Set in one of history's most tumultuous times, the French Revolution and the years that followed it, Assassin's Creed Unity might have had its flaws as far as its gameplay setup was concerned, but it succeeded to a considerable degree in depicting the overall atmosphere and feel of that era. Although its plot could have been developed more, still it features a charming story that captures the essence of those times quite well; with a charismatic protagonist as a lead, and an equally fascinating supporting cast around him, the game offers an insightful view both from the heart of the dramatic events of those years, as well as from the perspective of time.
One of its most prominent highlights is how it successfully depicts the chaos and at the same time the vibrant pulse of the Revolution. After the first introductory memories, when the main part of the story begins just at the start of the Revolution, the streets and neighborhoods of Paris get flooded with crowds of people who can be seen marching in the streets, protesting outside palaces and political establishments or simply walking around. The spirit of the Revolution is ever-present, highlighted by the presence of patriots, patrolling guards or revolutionaries carrying flags, with the gathered people occasionally singing the Marseillaise and other songs associated with the Revolution.
At the same time, scenes of riots and violence are constant among the vast crowds that surround important institutions or that are gathered to protest outside meeting places of the aristocracy. Some of these scenes are quite disturbing, but they were common at the time and they are depicted in the game with precision and realism. You can spot people engaged in fistfights, others holding severed heads on spikes and quite a few parade around carrying what looks like valuable objects stolen from palaces and churches.
Regardless, life still finds a way to go on amidst the chaos. As a celebration of the working class, the aftermath of the Revolution brings its representatives in the foreground, and all throughout the city we can spot workers of several trades and fields exercising their profession or activity.
Merchants are naturally the most common, including street vendors of goods, flowers, books.
In the streets and parks, there are performing artists including singers, musicians and painters, as well as theatrical acts taking place on stages set for this purpose in places where crowds are gathered.
There are street magicians performing their acts and orators carrying out speeches, as well as distributors of brochures and cockades who aim at forwarding the cause of the Revolution.
In side streets, where the crowds are less dense and there is far more space, you can spot tailors, bootblacks and barbers going on with their daily chores and serving their clients.
But also more specialized professionals, like coopers, telescope specialists and violin makers can be seen in random or even unexpected spots in Paris.
Woodcutters, farmers, gardeners are also working meticulously, seemingly unaffected of the chaos around them; they are seen mostly in places where there are less people gathered and less soldiers patrolling in the streets.
People occupied with domestic and public activities are also there, mostly but not exclusively in more suburban areas, closer to the countryside, in more peaceful places or at least where it is less likely to have a riot.
While all this activity is incessant in the streets of Paris, at the same time hookers and hangmen and be seen casually hanging about, as the services of both trades can be required at any given time.
And maybe the most memorable activity that we see taking place is the Montgolfière Balloon Exhibition, which is also story-related, as it involves the balloon with which Elise, followed by Arno on the rooftops, literally flies over Paris in memory "The Escape".
