I’m one of the people who actually liked the modern day segments of the game(s), tying real world elements into the story in such interesting ways. The second game is probably my favorite, where you find these traces of the pieces of Eden in order to figure out what the real hidden plotline is.

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The fact that there was an entire civilization before the humans, and that humanity was only a slave race. The mystery of being talked to as if we’re Desmond rather than Altaïr/Ezio is also a great thrill!