Assassin's Creed
Review
Stalking people has never felt so good.
by Chris Davis
reviewed on X360
Sword: Apply Directly to Forehead
Assassin's Creed succeeds in its story as much as in its gameplay. Playing as Altair, you will find him able to do almost anything you can imagine doing via free running. Utilizing a simplified yet intricate control design, players use the face buttons to work corresponding body parts. The end result is extremely intuitive and very easy to use. The controls are divided into two types of play: low and high profile. When in low profile, Altair blends into the crowd, walking and gently pushing through groups of people without attracting the attention of the guards. In high profile players can engage in free running, combat, and having Altair shove his way through the crowd; though this action certainly grabs the attention of the local guards.
When given your target's name and general location by your master in Masyaf you must traverse the over world to your target which is, to say, very expansive. The size and scale of it is outstanding, going so far as to give you the same feeling you once had when you first journeyed into Liberty City in GTA III. In-between the cities are plenty of villages and army checkpoints so unless you want to be chased throughout the countryside by the enemy its best that you maintain a low profile in these areas. Thank goodness you are granted the ability to ride a horse, lest you be forced to travel the way on foot. After having visited each city you can warp between them if you wish, which is a big advantage if you don't want to take the ten to fifteen minute journey in-between them.
In order to get close to your target though, you must start with gathering information. When you first enter your target's city you are confined to the district area he is in and any other district you've visited before. Within that area you must complete several different tasks in order to learn as much as possible. These tasks can include eavesdropping on a conversation, pick pocketing an enemy, interrogating informants for information, or assisting other assassin guild members in menial labor. Optional tasks, such as high viewpoint spots, allow you to get a better look of everything in the general area on your radar. Rescuing civilians from harassing guards will earn you helpers should you be chased. If anything however, it gets a bit repetitive as each mission has you doing these tasks. But once you have a certain amount of tasks completed you can report to the local assassin's bureau to get permission to go after your target.
Once you are granted permission the game sees its biggest highlight. Stalking your true target is a thrill in itself and never gets old. At first you are treated to the sight of the target doing either a speech in front of a crowd for example, before you can move freely and actually get close. Seeing the reaction of the guards as you close in ramps up everything, while the music suddenly picks up and everything around you goes to hell. As you drive your blade into your target you are treated to a cinema of him, in his lasts moments, conversing with Altair as he asks to learn more of the targets connection to the other eight. When you exit the cinema you are most often surrounded by guards and you can either fight or flee at this point. Reporting back to the local bureau without you being followed yields your reward: the return of a rank and ability taken from you at the beginning of the game.
9.0
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time
