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Sunday 13 January, 2008
GAMEPLAY:
I’m about seven hours into the game and although the mission structure is starting to get a bit repetitive (get to the next city, talk to a few people, gather hints, assassinate someone, escape), there are just so many things to do and places to travel to that it never gets boring. The first few hours I mostly spent my time traveling around the game world but obviously the game is not just about exploring. There is definitely a lot of fighting too. When I started the game I wasn’t really familiar with the combat system so I tried to button mash my way out of it but it didn’t really get me anywhere. I had no choice but to try to avoid getting into any sort of confrontation with the guards unless I had to. However at this point in the game, I’ve learned some new moves (dodging, countering, etc.) that make the fighting more entertaining. The finishing blows are usually in slow motion and make me look like a total bad-ass. The combat system is pretty fun but it is no God of War. There’s nothing particularly bad about the system but it feels a bit too simple especially since there is only one button used for attacking.
As for the story goes, I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone who is reading this but let’s just say that it involves going back and forth in time to try to change the future. For me personally (and I know many disagree with me) the storyline can either make or break a game. I absolutely loved the Legacy of Kain games simply because of their deep storylines. On the other hand, even though Resident Evil 4 was one of the biggest games of the decade, I wasn’t pulled into it as much as I should have because the storyline was so simple and cliché. With Assassin’s Creed, the storyline has been engaging so far but I have yet to see how it all unfolds. I really hope they don’t end the game with a disappointing ending (Halo 2, I’m looking at you).
DESIGN:
In my opinion this is the first true next-gen title on the market. While games like Halo 3, Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Ratchet & Clank Future, etc. all claim to be "next-gen", none of them really do anything to differentiate them from what I've been playing for years on my PS2 and X-Box. Sure the graphics, audio, presentation, etc. have all improved but Assassin's Creed is so far the only game that actually FEELS next-gen. from the huge size and scope of the game to the incredible amount of freedom that the player has to go anywhere he/she chooses, this game screams next-gen. The graphics are amazing especially considering the size of the game. The level of immersion is unrivaled. There are no cut-scenes and the story is told entirely in-game. The cities look so amazing and believable that I honestly have little doubt that that’s what they actually looked like centuries ago. Speaking of believability, the animations in this game are almost life-like (no I’m not exaggerating). The controls, although a bit confusing at first, are quite intuitive and the storyline is very engaging. But perhaps the best thing about Assassin's Creed is that it makes the player want to PLAY the game, not finish it. The tension that builds up before the player assassinates an important public figure and the rush to escape the city after the assassination with dozens of guards chasing after the player through the heavily populated cities make some of the most exciting and exhilarating moments in recent videogame history. Add to that the sandbox elements, the huge size and scope of the game, the simple yet engaging combat system, and the ability to climb literally anything the player sees and you have a game that easily stands above the rest of the pack and shows the true potential of next-gen gaming.
That's not to say that this game is perfect. There is definitely room for improvement. If Ubisoft decides to make a sequel, they should add more variety to the missions, more interaction between the player and the NPCs (non-playable characters) and improve the A.I. Still, in my opinion Assassin’s Creed is the best game available for the 360 and PS3 so far.
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