Assassin's Creed Comments by Tom Bramwell

I almost never finish games anyway (with the exception of assorted story heavy RPGs, bring on Mass Effect :)), so I'm sure I'll feel I've gotten my money's worth if I just get 6-8 hours of solid entertainment out of AC - and it sounds like that should be possible before repetition really starts to get to you.

Despite the seemingly very valid points of criticism, this looks like a game where I expect to thoroughly enjoy the exploration/free running parts as well as the combat for at least a while.
Guards waiting nicely in line for their turn to attack might not be realistic, but the combat system looks like a nice change from the usual hack and slash approach, and that probably wouldn't have been possible if you've got four or five guys swinging or stabbing their swords at you at the same time. Then you would have ended up with something closer to Conan or God of War - entertaining, but perhaps not quite suitable for this game.

Now for the sequel. Go Jade :D

/wonders whether the subtle reference to "wait till you read the Uncharted review" means that (a) it's a ripsnorting 10/10 and intended to dispell any thoughts of an anti PS3 bias, or (b) it's even harsher on another big hyped game...

Edit: After IGN's glowing review (yeah, even though it's IGN), option (a) is looking good. I reckon a 9.

Yeah Uncharted is starting to get that "sleeper" feel to it idn't?

:( I was hoping this'd be a good'un... :(

"The people who are canceling pre-orders and contemplating sending the game back because it scored "only" a 7 on Eurogamer are funny. "

I think what most people are saying is that, with the megazilions games available now, that they will play AC early or late 2008 when it is cheaper. I never been bothered by the EG score (except for Halo 1 :) and I think they write the best reviews on the planet. The text of this review makes it clear how the game is and plays and it describes precisely what I don't like about sandbox games. As a games dev myself I really want to see the game in action and experience it... hence it will get it cheaper in a few months.

BTW all you people trying to draw Halo 3 and Bioshock into this... just drop it. EG gave those scores and they are well deserved and have gotten universal praise by the rest of the world reviewers. AC however seems to be a 7-8 game if you look at other reviews.

>So which version is better? The PS3 or the 360?

Very similar according to Jeux France with the graphical edge going, yeah you guessed it, to the 360 with better textures and some extra effects.

I would just like to say the film of Timeline was absolutely awful. Quite liked the book and I'm not usually an MC fan.

This thread is surprisingly civilised compared to some 10/10 threads I've read. But some of you need to lighten up a little. 7/10 means the game is good. In 7/10 games you can find some real diamonds. 7/10 means "Not for everyone".

AssC has gotten some really hugh scores on other sites which would indicate that in the hands of the right person it's a gem. (Or that other reviewers are idiots)

"AssC has gotten some really hugh scores on other sites which would indicate that in the hands of the right person it's a gem. (Or that other reviewers are idiots)"

More often than not it's the later one...

No wonder this game fell off my radar completely.

I liked the idea's of this game to godamnit. >:|

Seems a perceptive review from Tom, my copy arrives shortly and I think I will play it in small chunks to alleviate some the repitition, mind you it won't get a look in when Mass Effect arrives.

If only we could have another Thief game using the AC engine, that would be heaven!

@Tonka

AC has been getting the "lower" score from sites like IGN, 1up etc basically saying the same thing it's practically unanimous to all the more popular sites.

AC = Animal Crossing
AssC = Assassins Creed

Anyhow. I'm just saying that 7/10 aint bad. And that for a lot of people it will be the second coming. That said, a lot of reviews reads as 6/10.

AC = Animal Crossing
AssC = Assassins Creed

Or Ass Crossing?

I have a question Tom, don't know if it has been asked and couldn't be arsed searching through the whole thread especially with all the misogynists on board. Can you kill anyone? Say there is an old crone who I particularly don't like the look of, can I just shank her and then run off up a wall as passersby look on horrified. Could have novelty value as a sort of random senseless killing game.

@Tonka

AC has been getting the "lower" score from sites like IGN, 1up etc basically saying the same thing it's practically unanimous to all the more popular sites.

Gamespot just gave it a 9, FWIW.

This review seems to chime in with the others out there now on 1up, IGN and Team Xbox etc...Gamespot bucked the trend with a 9.0, but IGN were a 7 point something, as were 1UP and Team Xbox.

I still think I'll get this - I loved Crackdown, and really enjoyed Just Cause even though the game is repetitive and flawed. Anything remotely half-decent and free-roaming is worth a look, if the basic mechanics aren't totally borked (e.g. Superman Returns).

@Mugwum - does the game provide you with enough tools to provide your own fun, like Crackdown? I'm guessing it's slightly more limiting in that you don't have the endlessly amusing combination of rag-doll and explosives.

"Gamespot just gave it a 9, FWIW."

Looks like a 9 isn't worth much in the face of a raft of 7s.

Oh no, I really wanted this to be good. And from the sound of Jade, it should have been good. Usually I don't trust Eurogamer's review score (after the Oblivion and Bioshock 10's, THEY should have had this review instead!) but Tom described the game so well (bravo!) that I vividly saw myself running around in a town with nothing to do and taking out bad guy after bad guy until the game ends.

Why didn't they fill their wonderful looking game world with extra stuff to do?? Have shady merchants sell you the locations of particularly rich homes to rob and let there be stealth! Have an arena where you fight your way to the top! Add RPG-like features so you at least can evolve your assassin! Make two or three special buildings (per area) that you need skill to ascend, with a reward at the top! Heck, even collectibles hidden everywhere (even though cheesy) would have given us more to do.

And I still like Jade. She's very articulate and eloquent. I have no idea why you rip her so bad.

I just did a little investigation into some of these review sites especially the ones that breakdown their score into several categories. I found in some of them, they gave Assassin Creed a lower score in terms of graphics than Lego Starwars: The Complete Saga (released a week ago). Call me synical but that doesn't really compute.

I would like to cancel my pre order...but shopto.net are just too damned effiicient, the posted it out YESTERDAY !



DOH !

Let's face it. This will sell shedloads. After that they'll probably 'go dark' like Warrior Within and this will sell shedloads more. Let's just hope they fix it second time around.

I think I'm going to go for this though. Get together with a bunch of mates every Wednesday for some casual gaming, so this will do just fine for that. The rest of my gaming time can be taken up with COD4, Halo 3, Sega Rally, Mass Effect, Pro Evo...

Just hope Kane and Lynch doesn't let everyone down.

Jade Redmond, fifteen minutes of fame. Fifteen minuteds of fame, Jade redmond.

"Did school just get out in Europe...? the comments are reading like a bunch of fucking cry baby wankers looking for someone to target for abuse."

Well volunteered, Yank.

Hang on I understand now...this sci fi theme that runs thru the game....Assassins Creed and Mass Effect are one in the same game....obvious really.


Who the hell thought giving this game a sci fi counterpoint would make it a better game?

When I want medieval immersion I expect medieval immersion with NO rayguns or dodgy on screen interference implying I'm watching myself.

**sigh** remember how wonderful the Thief series was.....? now there was a medieval type immersive game, bring back Thief that's what I say ( and another Deus Ex please ).

Still bought it though.....

Interesting and well written review. I rarely read every word of a three-page review, but this time I did.

I suppose Mass Effect is the last chance for Microsoft to buy me an XBOX360.

Tom could you clear something up for me please. According to the Gamespot review "PS3 owners are blessed with a slightly more solid frame rate" but the IGN review says "??"...Hang on...their original review said that the PS3 version had major framerate issues but they've now re-jigged the review and taken that part out. Did you come across any major performance issues on the PS3?

Ouch!
IGN doesn't like it neither.
I guess I will save my money for buying another games.

"Gamespot just gave it a 9, FWIW."

Looks like a 9 isn't worth much in the face of a raft of 7s.

They're not the only one. Gametrailers and Gameinformer gave good scores as well. My point being: as always, a review is one man's opinion, and it obviously grabbed some people more than it did grab Tom. No idea whom I agree with till I played it myself, just saying that it's not quite true that it gets 7s all across the board.

I am still getting this for sure : i like the mood of the game and ... the team behind Prince of Persia (Sands of Time) cannot be wrong

Hmm.. There is a PC version coming out for this, right? In 2008 or something.. Anyhow, I might wait for that one instead. Games like these play better on PC anyhow (according to me).

beastmaster. Kane and Lynch from the 2 reviews i have seen so far got an 8 and a 6

I'll say one thing;
This game has been compared to crackdown. But ironically, crackdown was one of the most repetitive games of the year, same mission over and over and over and over...

Don't get me wrong, I loved CD, worth 9/10 all the way. But if crackdown could be so much fun, with all the repetition, then why not this?

But it's probably still worth 7.

" whole thread especially with all the misogynists on board."

You do know that Misogynists are people who have strong prejudice or hatred towards women!?


Anywho, I'll still be picking this game up although after reading this review, 1up's, IGN's and others my expectations have seriously dipped. Not that seven is a bad score or anything, just not the kind of score you want from a game when you're creaming off the top AAA on multiple formats, and from a game that had soooo much potential :(

Gamespot: "PS3 owners are blessed with a slightly more solid frame rate"

Sweet:)

" whole thread especially with all the misogynists on board."

You do know that Misogynists are people who have strong prejudice or hatred towards women!?


Have you missed all the adolescents being irritated about the fact that a woman is involved, and you know what, IT'S ALL HER FAULT, TOO.

"Have you missed all the adolescents being irritated about the fact that a woman is involved, and you know what, IT'S ALL HER FAULT, TOO.
"
Whoops, may have missed that. I blame my special glasses which have built in idiot filters! ;)

You have no idea how much of a disappointment this is to me.

As other people say 7 is a good score.

However it is not good enough at this time of year.

I have only the time and money for great games right now what with there being so many.

Might pick it up next year...maybe.

I'll wait til it's pre-owned then I guess, I want to play it but with no MP there isn't really a rush.

@Symbiote: "Gamespot: "PS3 owners are blessed with a slightly more solid frame rate"

Sweet:)"

Or not. I've seen an AC developer comment that Gamespot mixed up its platforms because, from everything he knows, the 360 version runs better.

Wendelius

Really unsure about this game, looks great, but definitely going to hold off for a demo given the mixed reviews. And no need to rush it when there's Mario Galaxy to be had this weekend.

If Jade was a fat bloke instead of a cute girl, her competency as a producer would not even be getting discussed. FACT.

I agree that sometimes she is pushed to the front by Ubi because of her looks, but that doesn't mean she isn't also able to do her job effectively.

I see it for what it is, straight out jealousy, as plain as the nose on my face.

People seem to assume that attractiveness and intelligence cannot co-exist. Perhaps by their own standards, it is hard to comprehend "but I'm ugly AND talentless, so surely nobody can be cute AND skilled, its just against physics or something".

TBH Kieron, I think you are pissing into the wind to some extent (valiant an attempt as it is). This is the internet, AND its a games website. That unfortunately equates to a lot of immature and sexist posters. They are only bitter because they never get any.


"get a girlfriend, then you can drop the phony knight in white armour act."

That is like one step away from accusing someone of fancying someone else, just because they stick up for them. Jesus that is childish.

The general wisdom among most who have played the game seems to be "the sequel could be brilliant". That is, of course, if it isn't rushed out in time for Christmas 2008 (following the worrying recent trends with Ubisoft) accompanied by a heavy metal soundtrack and a new, meaner "dark Altair"...

Ah, please don't Ubisoft. Don't go down that boring "Hey! I got black clothes. I listen to metal. I'm really am a tough guy, don't you see?"-road.

Isn't it unusual for the producer to do all the media talking? Normally designers/PR guys, I thought.

"The reviewer comes across as a petulant toddler who wants everything and now. The fact remains that Assassin's Creed more than holds its own against the current titles available but also introduces the framework of what next generation games and true open-ended gameplay should be about. It was never going to live up to the unrealistic expectations put upon it but it still delivers a very good gaming experience and one that all other developers will need to take note of. To have it rated as low as it was and below that of the same old Halo is frankly laughable. "

Not played Crackdown then?

Over 300 comments, numerous mentions of some woman who apparently has something to do with something or other, and not a single mention of tearing?

Like, you guys are aware this is a Ubisoft game, right? I mean, I expect it to go unmentioned in reviews, but come on.

Shit me, there is a distinct lack of geek around here. Sheesh. Women? You'll be on about cars and lager next.

@gnarl

Its not unusual in the slightest. It depends entirely on the project, but the majority of the time the producer is one of the people doing the interviews.

@ F3rrari - "Visually Assassin's Creed looks breath taking. Next gen has arrived, finally, and about time too.

7/10 how?
it sounds like and 8 or 9 atleast. Looks better than Halo anyday.

Again, not played Crackdown have you (obviously not seeing as you are a 360 hating Sony groomed rentboy)? If Assassin's Creed is the arrival of the next-gen, then a better version of the next-gen arrived last Feb.

And how the hell does the review sound like an 8 or 9? A couple of paragraphs praising the controls and draw distance, and then the rest being 100% negative about flaws that affect the actual gameplay FAR more than the previously mentioned.

Hey we talk about Football to. >:(

Sorry that's sports freaks, not geeks.

Who handles the interviews and PR depends entirely on the project. If they have someone famous it's going to be that person, if they have someone who is thought of as more charismatic it's going to be that person, and so on. It's often the lead designer/creative director, but other times it's the company owner (Peter Molyneaux, Sid Meier) or the producer (Warren Spector).