The Hidden Blade Assassin's Creed in Depth

I think that he is homosexual. Mainly for the reason that people that who had more weight were "revered" back then because they had money to afford more food. or something like that.

http://assassinscreed.wikia.com/wiki/Abu%27l_Nuqoud

This says that it was most likely his weight and "appears to be his homosexuality." The idea's there, but no hard facts.

based on the investigations, his speech, and how he acts towards his bodyguards, id say the intent from the developers is very clear - hes homosexual.

In my opinion, he's ambiguously gay. Each clue can be taken two ways. "The same God who calls me an abomination." could refer to drinking wine, which is against his religion.

This has just puzzled me since I heard him say this. I just noticed him placing his hand on a guard's shoulder. I'll have to see if he caresses one of their faces, like I've heard, in another playthrough. That would be a huge giveaway. lol

i find the stroking of the guard, flirtatious looks, and repeated touching are difficult to interpret in a different way.

See, I didn't even notice any of that. Is there something wrong with my game? lol

I know, that possibility has never occurred to me any of the times i've played the game. By "abomination" I always thought he was talking about his lifestyle, the greed and indulgence, the people he had killed. I don't think Ubisoft would have been willing to portray homosexuality in such a negative light either.

It's tough to not see the homosexual overtones, but I never assumed that is to what he was referring. I figured it was a combination of his obesity and the fact that he has some sort of severe skin disease.

I assumed that was the main reason he stayed so far from the crowd, two full stories above. From such a distance his skin appears fairly normal. People won't feel quite so disgusted when they look at him from afar. He wouldn't exactly be able to host a party walking among the people, and he makes that point quite clear near the end of his speech.

Even in today's more forgiving world, not many people would feel comfortable walking around in public with skin like that. Never mind back then...

skin disease? where did you get that idea from?

If you look closely during the game (quite difficult as he starts to run) you can see pockmarks/acne on his face. I think its visible during the Memory Corridor after you assassinate him.

It was quite visible during the close-ups in the speech scene. Looked pretty gross.

Am I the only one playing in HD?

I don't see how showing a gay man struggling with acceptance in society/religion is in any way anti-gay.
It just shows that they are people too, IMHO.

Anyway, apparently I missed the subtle hints and assumed he was just talking about his wealth and luxury.

Yeah it's probably more visible there actually. HD is a good thing

I agree. It has very little to do with Ubisoft's opinion on homosexuality or about making a point about homosexuality in today's society. I understood the homosexual undertones to be emphasising Abu'l's struggle with his religion and the hatred towards him. Homosexuality was, and techinically still is, condemned by Islamic and Christian groups so its inclusion sets the scene and shows how religion was a factor in gaining power. It also enabled Ubisoft to add an extra element to the game by giving a different reason for Abu'l's strive for change in society.

Unlike the other Templars, who seek power and glory, Abu'l, despite being very flamoboyant and confident-looking, merely seeks acceptance and hopes that the Templars' plans will defeat old beliefs about his sexuality.

I think the issue was cleverly addressed because it was not necessary for the story to progress and make sense. If you didn't notice the undertones, you were in no way disadvantaged while playing the game and understanding the story. If you did notice the suggestions, it made Abu'l a more unique character and gave an extra reason for his need for acceptance and respect (his skin condition was already a problem).

Personally, I think it adds to the game very subtly and shows how much the devs think through a game and a specific character before creating it/them.

My theory is that, basically, there were a lot of things about Abul that he didn't like about himself. He's fat, he's ugly, and he also doesn't like the fact that he's gay. He doesn't like being extremely different from everyone else. To make up for this, he tried to distract himself with money, because he thought he could buy happiness. When he realized he couldn't, and that the common people hated him, he turned violent, and used his wealth to destroy the people rather than help them. Once other people see how powerful he is, they will be forced to love him no matter how "different" he really is from everyone else. The Templar Order most likely promised Abul acceptance and power in exchange for his money, and he simply could not refuse. That's why I think he praised them so highly in his confession, because they were the only people that even pretend to "care" about him. He even tries to cripple Altaïr's confidence for the sake of the Templars by saying:

On another note, one of the reasons I think he runs away is because he is so close to finally receiving acceptance as who he is and doesn't want all his hard work to go to waste. But his weight ends up being his downfall (although he was pretty damn fast for a guy his size), Altaïr sticks the blade in his neck, and after a pretty bland confessional (which I didn't expect from him because of all that I previously mentioned) and some Templar propaganda, Altaïr goes on his way.

Whoa, my topic helped create a deep breakdown of a not-so-mentioned character! Hell yeah! Excellent points, guys!

Well, he's my favorite assassination in AC1. I've killed him so many times in so many different ways that I've been able to analyze him better as a character. And personally, I think he looks better with a blade in his skull, that skin infection isn't doing him any favors

I have to admit, his assassination mission is quite fun. I like to stalk each target in AC1 as if I'm Batman. Taking out each guard silently. Lurking in the shadows. Then Spring on the target before he even knows it.
Has anyone noticed how Altair acts so much like Batman and Ezio has gadgets that rival him? The Flying Machine (Batman's cape can glide), Throwing knives (batarangs?), Smoke bombs (...smoke bombs...) etc. I mean, Assassins assassinate people and Batman doesn't...but you get what I mean.

Heh, your not the only one, half the time I was saving citizens in AC1, I was going "nanananaana Batman!". In AC2, when one of the townspeople see you climbing on the walls, they might occasionally say "Oh great, another capering crusader!"

I actually made this comparison a while back on the GameFAQs board, but there's a DC's Elseworlds Batman comic that is very similar in plot to AC2.

The comic is centered around a young Tomas de Medici, whose father is Lorenzo's brother. As per the character of Batman, a hired thug kills the young boy's parents right in front of him. The assassin is (you guessed it) hired by the Pazzi, who also are important to the comic's plot. Leonardo da Vinci, who was under the patronage of the Medici family, takes in young Tomas as both his patron and his apprentice. Tomas/Batman even uses a glider designed by Leonardo.

I gotta read that one. I'm a huge comic fan and I haven't heard of that story. TO THE LIBRARY!!!

It's Batman Annual #18, published in 1994. Cover looks like this:

I'm always dissappointed when comics try to translate modern heroes to older time periods. It always looks too much like tights and capes when it should be a mix of that and the time period. The Executioner from ACB has a cool hood-mask that could've worked for a Batman-esque character. Just make it black with a shoulder cape and you have Rennaissance-Batman!

Actually, I think the Batman in this comic looks good. Let me see if I can find my copy - it got buried here somewhere in one of my boxes - and I'll try to scan and upload a pic of him.

Okay, maybe not... good, per se, but not all tights and whatnot. It's like his Batman outfit is layered on top of his regular outfit.

Ok, yeah. He looks better than the cover version. I'm chuckling a little at his cheesy line, "I will simply...soar."

Yeah, that line's kinda cheesy.

Of course, they're talking about the Flying Machine. It's shaped a bit differently than in the game - wider wingspan, no "tail" so to speak.

Here's the dialogue from the last couple panels of the previous page and the upper part of the page I posted:

From what I'm seeing, it seems like one of those things you pick up but don't really care for. You MUST read it, but it won't be remembered. haha

Yeah, it's not an "amazing" comic - I've read much better Elseworlds - but it's interesting in the fact that there's a roughly analogous story between AC2 and this comic.

And I found it for a dollar, in near perfect condition, at a local comic shop, so it's not like I spent a huge amount of money on it.

I'd actually love to see an Assassin's Creed graphic novel. There was a rumor that the "Egyptian Assassin" picture released last week was for a comic, but it's just for the art book (which I'm submitting works to.)

Actually, Joey, almost a year ago there was a graphic novel released centering around Assassins Creed. It follows the lives of Altaïr, Ezio, and a Roman Assassin named "Aquilis" (Roman for "Eagle"). This may make him a likely candidate for the third game's protagonist, but we have no idea at this point.

Here's the catch, however. It's only available in French, no English version exists and I don't think one ever will. You could try searching for one (SBZ claims to have found a UK version of the graphic novel) but I couldn't tell you where to find it.

Here's the trailer:

I know i've been looking for it, but as of yet, no avail. I also read somewhere that its non-canon, it features S16 alive and called Micheal apparently...

Michael is such an average-sounding name. They should've gotten more creative like everything else in the AC universe. Sounds like they just thought of it last-minute.

Yep, he's gay...poor Altair.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=Abul+Nuqoud#/d2gfors

AHHHHHHHHH MY EYES

I think he's gay. He gives many hints to it, and it does make him my favorite Templar, for all the reasons cited by FLAE. And there is no problem in having a gay target: Gaming needs more gay characters in general, and it's only fair for there to be gay villians. After all, being gay or straight has no impact on good or evil. It's just a facet of the person. There are cruel, mean gay people, just as there are gay people who are fantastically loving and generous. Having a gay villian is fine, as long as his homosexuality isn't what makes him evil.

Yeah. I'm actually a big supporter of homosexuals and think that, in order for our society to get used to their way of life, we must expose them as equal to heterosexuals in every way. Whether it be a hero, villain, or just a supporting character. I think GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony did a good job with this. Even though there are many gay stereotypes with supporting gay characters in the game, the main gay man (Tony) brushes them all off and shows that he can be a proper business man and take things seriously.

That...that picture just scarred me for life.

Anyway, FLAE, if I remember right, I DID find the UK version of the graphic novel on Amazon, and here it is:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Assassins-Creed-1-Desmond-Corbeyran/dp/291877100...

Also, read my forum topic about the new comic mini-series (it's in the ACB forum)

I found that on Amazon too but sadly in the product details it states the language as French. Its only the cover that is English

Aw, crap. Sorry about that.

I also think Abul-Nuqoud is gay, but I have no problem at all with it. He is a Templar which means as he is still alive the Crusades will surely continue, so I feel the need to take him out. I am not up to that point yet, as I am still Templar Hunting in Acre

The problem I have with this large, rich gentleman is that when he gets spooked he runs like an olympic sprinter doing the 100m and in my last playthrough I found it challenging to keep up with him. He must do some hours on the treadmill. Stealth is the anwser.

Or just getting ahead of him by taking a shorter route, then easily taking him out.

Good idea, maybe incooperate a stunt assassination as I beleive Ian4OX did.