ic-games Review - Assassin's Creed - Xbox 360/PS3 - Reviews, Previews and Interviews for PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii

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Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360/PS3)

Assassin's Creed - Xbox 360/PS3

Information
Reviewer: Andrew St.Denis
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Reviewed: Xbox 360/PS3
Genre: Third Person (tactical)
UK Release: 16th Nov 2007
Article Date: 24th Nov 2007
Difficulty: N/A
Retail Price: £49.99
Price Comparison:
0

Score Breakdown

Experience:
Game Play:
Graphics:
Sound:
Overall Score: 92%

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Pros

Amazing open play

Stunning Vistas

Cons

Slightly Repetative

Slowdown in places

Screenshots

6 of 6

Touted as the true 'NextGen' game for the Xbox 360 and PS3, Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft Montreal is a huge step for the console world, with a truly massive gameplay world. With both street level and rooftops used to move around, most buildings are climbable and an AI structure to the game that has not been seen before, this title looks to break the mould. So, does the hype stand up to the test?

You find yourself as Altaïr an assassin in 1191, you get to explore the Holy Land during the 3rd crusade, the time of Richard I of England, (aka Richard the Lionheart) and Saladin. You'll get to explore three of the massive cities, Jerusalem, Damascus and Acre and meet lots of interesting people, and, if they are deserving, kill them. At the start of proceedings you are on a mission which ends in failure, stripped of rank and weaponry you then get sent out on missions to regain your rank and weapons. The plot is, rather strange, but novel, I'll not go into too many details as that would spoil things but the whole game is not as it first seems, prior to playing and the interludes are rather smart in that they aren't cut scenes but ones you play out using the game engine.

Control of Altaïr is through the left analogue stick and once you get out of the cities and get one of the many horses, it also controls that. The right stick controls the camera and, as with most game titles that have the free swinging camera angles, you get some clipping, but thankfully, not enough to spoil your enjoyment, for the most part. One of the selling points to this engine however is the addition of movement of the crowds you come across... Walking along Altaïr will slip past the crowds but will cause anyone carrying objects to drop them, running along can either knock them over or cause you to fall (not good in a foot chase with the guards). You can however by the use of the 'B' button gently brush these people aside and not draw attention to yourself.

Combat is the name of the game in Assassin's Creed, Altaïr has several different weapons available to him, from a long sword, short sword and throwing knives to his assassin's blade (used for stealthy kills) and finally his fists. As you go through the game you are also rewarded with added weapons skills, from the blocks and throws at the start to being able to get out of others throws and dodging attacks. The staple of your repertoire however will be the 'X' – Counter move; get the timing right on that and your opponents attack will be blocked and you either throw the opponent to the ground or a death blow will be delivered, there are several different ones, depending on the long or short blades, all of them are bloody and all rather disturbingly satisfying, stabbing them in the foot, with a slash up the body and face when standing back up is one (short sword), but my own personal favourite is where you block the attack, move around him, slice through his hamstring and then deliver the killing blow (long sword), not one for the kiddies, that's for sure.

Graphics are, as the NextGen title suggest rather nice, stunning, might also be used too, Altaïr's movements are graceful and watching him shin up the sides of buildings is sheer poetry in motion. Also the movements of your horse, once you get outside, are just as nice, movements are fluid and you can really forget you are watching a video game. Vista's of the cities from the tops of buildings is simply stunning and you can really see lavish care has been taken by Ubisoft Montreal in the looks department. The people in the crowd are different enough that you don't see the same person twice in a crowd, and the street beggars are just as annoying as the real things.

Sounds are in the same vain as the graphics, being superb, although some of the speech of people does get repetitive at times. On the whole though the voice acting is extremely good and the background effects of the city and countryside are nothing short of amazing.

There are some problems in Assassin's Creed however, missions aren't as varied as they may be and you will find the basics are the same no matter where you are or what you are doing. There are graphical glitches as well, when the camera angles go wrong and clipping occurs and in some sections slowdown is not only noticeable but downright annoying . The ending is rather an odd one as well, but that is almost certainly down to the high probability of the game breaking out in sequels next year, and possibly annually, not necessarily a bad thing however.

Overall you have to say if you have an Xbox 360 you just must have this game, other developers should definitely take note. You should love the stunning views and the ability to climb nearly all the buildings in the three cities as well as of the countryside sections. After you see the game you'd have to agree, Ubisoft are going to make a killing with Assassin's Creed.

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