Assassin's Creed

By Kristan Reed Published 7 November, 2007

A quick hands-on with the final build.

When Ubisoft asks you if it's okay to pop 'round for elevenses, you don't generally say no - unless you're on a hideous deadline, haven't dusted for three months, or are just feeling particularly cranky and antisocial that day. But even if all of the above apply, when they come armed with a finished Xbox 360 build of Assassin's Creed, even concerns about black moods, dustballs and writing reviews at 5am seem to vanish magically into the ether.

After 19 months of hyping up the game as the official Next Big Thing, it's understandable for anyone to approach the game with a certain amount of scepticism. EG forumite Richard Horne certainly felt that way, despite being shipped off by Ubi to its Montreal studio to see the game first hand. Also, in the back of my mind, I wondered whether Ubi's extra effort in coming to see me was insurance against the risk of me getting a tetchy first impression about a game which is evidently enormously important to everyone connected to the company. Not since Prince of Persia: Sands of Time has the publisher seemingly had so much riding on one particular product. No pressure.

Pad in hand, I was willing the game to deliver, but also all-too-aware that it could simply be a poster child for an extremely ambitious game engine. Given a chance to sample the fourth major section of the game, we rode into the town of Acre on horseback, marvelling at the fluid realism of our trusty steed, and taking care to ram into anyone in the way. You know, for research. Better still was the realisation that we could swish your sword at passers-by, causing mayhem, with guards trailing in our wake. After one mis-timed jump, it's safe to say that yours truly was faced with one large angry mob.

Hurly burly

'Assassin's Creed' Screenshot 1

It's a theme that runs throughout Assassin's Creed - you can't just throw your weight around and expect to get away with it. Simple actions like running around town cause absolute havoc - basically because you'll find yourself knocking over civilians, barging into heavily armed guards and generally drawing attention to yourself. As much as we've been conditioned to run around videogames like headless chickens, sticking to those habits will just get you into trouble. As incredibly nimble as Altair is, even amazing feats of free-running building ascending athleticism aren't always guaranteed to evade their attentions - nor is jumping a few rooftops. The thing you'll find out very early on is that your assailants are (improbably) almost as fit and daring as you are, so when you first offend a guard, the best idea might actually be to kill him before anyone notices. Running away will inevitably drag other guards into the fray, and cause a huge chase sequence to ensue - so unless you enjoy wasting enormous amounts of time, the key to a trouble-free Assassin's Creed session is to try as much as possible to blend in with the crowd - or find a decent hiding spot until things cool down.

Staying vigilant and maintaining socially acceptable behaviour is actually easier than you might imagine - holding down A on the 360 pad actions the 'blend' command, meaning you walk around, hands pressed together, walking slowly, head bowed like a scholar. Pressing B allows you to carefully guide Altair past people, gently ushering them to one side with an empty hand in a polite manner. It looks a little odd initially to see the way he almost swims through a cluster of people, but it's far more preferable than running around with your gaming head on and getting into a bundle of trouble.

'Assassin's Creed' Screenshot 2

Now and then, though, a bit of a bundle is desirable - or even necessary - so if you do find yourself facing a combat situation, Altair has a few cunning tricks up his sleeve (literally in the case of his hidden blade, which he keeps out of sight up his cuff). Although mashing the X button does deal with the game's earlier enemies, it doesn't take long before you're required to pay more attention to timing and take advantage of countering techniques. By taking a more methodical approach to your slashing, it's clear that patience pays dividends - usually in the form of thoroughly grisly death animations that our chums at Rockstar would doubtlessly admire. Apparently such actions as stabbing folk right through the heart sailed through certification on the basis that it's fantasy violence. It's certainty one of the goriest games I've ever seen get a 15 rating - and such swish animation too...

Attention span

Within a few minutes of playing the game, it becomes clearer why Ubi felt the need to talk us through the basics. It's a game which, at first, has the capacity to throw up a few niggles unless you're willing to pay attention to what's required and don't just steam in. Simple concepts like socially acceptable behaviour while walking around and being more patient with the combat are things that could easily cause minor frustrations if you're not prepared to slow down and think about what you're doing. This is evidently no ordinary third-person action-adventure. As alluded to earlier, the whole concept of free running is fairly fundamental to the gameplay too - and, again, Ubi has changed the control emphasis in a way that makes it feel initially unfamiliar. For example, there's an unwritten expectation on the part of the player that you need to press buttons as well as the direction to perform actions, such as jumping or climbing.

The way Ubi has found around this is to simplify things dramatically with its free running concept. Essentially, Altaïr automatically navigates everything in his path by holding down the right trigger, pressing A and moving towards whatever obstacle is in front of you, such as large gap, or climbing up a wall. Once you start the action, you can let go of the right trigger and keep on bounding or climbing without the need for further button presses. Instinctively, you'll want to haul yourself up ledges, or press jump to get across a gap, but that's all been taken away. You'll still make those imaginary presses for hours afterwards, but that's gaming conditioning for you. Old habits die hard.

Having only rattled through a few basic quests and side missions, it's too early to pass an informed judgement on the game's worth, but one thing that's overwhelmingly apparent is just how beautiful the game world is. Whether riding on horseback around the more rural areas, or bounding around the dense, built-up streets, there's not a flicker of a doubt about its next generation credentials. With such ornate architecture, absolutely stunning animation techniques, and the crazy amount of detail infused into the game's sprawling openworld, this is one of the few games to emerge in recent times that you just instinctively know couldn't have been pulled off on the last generation of console hardware. Some of the design sensibilities could have found their way into older games, but the fact that Ubi has managed to not only ramp up the technical side of the game, but do so with a markedly different approach to the gameplay helps mark Assassin's Creed as a concerted attempt to do something different. To break some of the old rules, if you will.

Assassin's K.Reed

'Assassin's Creed' Screenshot 3

In terms of how the main assassination missions work, that's easy to explain. Like any number of other openworld games, you check out your mini-map, head for the relevant symbol and the mission kicks in. Before that, though, you'll have to find yourself a viewpoint to get an overall impression of where you are. Again, marked on the map, you simply set yourself a way point, scale whichever buildings you fancy, hop across some rooftops, scale a bit more, and eventually find yourself looking down over one of the most gloriously pretty views you're ever likely to witness in a videogame.

From there, you can usually dive headfirst down into a bale of straw, which is not only a chance for the slick engine to show off a rock-solid frame rate, but absolutely vertigo-inducingly thrilling. It's also a very quick means of getting back to ground level, where most of your missions will kick off. Side missions, like pickpocketing, eavesdropping, interrogation and carrying out challenges from informers helps get you extra information on your target - though it's entirely up to you which you decide to do - you can either find these yourself, or head to the local Assassin's Bureau (nice) and get these marked on your map for you.

'Assassin's Creed' Screenshot 4

The actual assassinations demonstrate just how wide open the gameplay is, leaving it entirely up to you whether you go in with brute force, or whether to go about things more discreetly. In common with Io's Hitman series, there's no right or wrong way to go about getting results, and that in itself ought to broaden the game's appeal immensely.

Even from the first couple of hours, it's abundantly clear that the game has enormous potential to figure on many people's best-ofs come the end of the year. With so much going for it, both in terms of what it offers as a technical showcase and as a demonstration of expansive, ambitious gameplay, it'll be a fun week getting to experience the whole 30-hour show ahead of the game's release on the 16th November. Sometimes, this job rules - even if it does mean living with a whole family of dustballs.

Assassin's Creed is due out on PS3 and Xbox 360 on 16th November, with a PC release to follow.

Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (97) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Tzetrik #1 4 years ago

    Im just set up for dissapointment on this one. Can't see it delivering on its promises at all
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 17:28

  • ElNino9 #2 4 years ago

    Glad to see it get's a pretty positive reaction.

  • richardiox #3 4 years ago

    Glad to hear the tearing on the preview builds has been sorted.

  • patchbox360 #4 4 years ago

    'you can't just throw your weight around and expect to get away with it. Simple actions like running around town cause absolute havoc - basically because you'll find yourself knocking over civilians, barging into heavily armed guards'

    will become annoying after an hour

  • triffid #5 4 years ago

    Is it still full of clunky animations though?

  • rudedudejude #6 4 years ago

    Thief 2 was better.

    If people don't call you 'Taffer!!' then it's just not cricket.

  • mash the x button #7 4 years ago

    The review reminded me of the gameplay in Sly.

  • w00t #8 4 years ago

    @TRIFFID

    Try reading the review. Specifically the bit about absolutely stunning animation techniques.

    EYES ARE YOUR FRIENDS
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 17:33

  • bengray66 #9 4 years ago

    Can we stop calling everything "next gen" FFS. Surely the fact that its NOW means that its "current gen", and stuff like the PS2 is now "past gen"

    Next Gen now surely (dont call me shirley) is the PS4 or the next Microsoft venture?

    Ps. Game looks pretty hood.... I mean good.

  • krudster #10 4 years ago

    Given how popular the PS2 still is, and that Wii versions of PS2 games are appearing, it's more confused than ever. I agree there needs to be a better term than next gen, but everyone understands it. The truth is, there have been few truly next gen games, but this appears to be one that justifies that label.

  • Red-Moose #11 4 years ago

    Holy Moley it's out in 9 days!

  • SomaticSense #12 4 years ago

    I'm really unsure of this game. Pretty much everything I've read about it brings it across as one of those games that I both love and hate, and to be honest I'm not sure if I'm really in the mood for one of those.

    From what I've seen and read of the fighting system it really has me worried. It reminds me of the combat system of the first ever PoP game, but with multiple enemies, and anyone who has played the recent remake on XBLA of that knows what a nightmare it can be. Hopefully this actually plays nothing like that.

    I'm also really concerned about something that was mentioned in HairyArse's impressions:

    "The second and probably most jarring incident I had with the game was when I was stalking a victim I was about to pick-pocket. After following for a short while and managing to evade the guards blocking the path to my intended target, I eventually managed to sneak up on him and was about to pick his pockets when he simply vanished into thin air before re-spawning at the start of his patrol path. Now normally, those two admittedly minor (in the grand scale of things) issues wouldn't have been that significant, especially as games exhibit this sort of behaviour regularly. However, vanishing and re-spawning NPCs completely spoiled that one specific moment substantially because at that point I was fully focused on stalking my prey and was very much engrossed in the moment and more importantly the game.

    The thing that drove this point home even more so, though, was Ubisoft's opening insistence that it had strived to do everything possible to ramp up the levels of immersion. I mentioned this to one of the game's developers who pulled a face before adding that unfortunately I'd not managed to pick my target's pockets in time and thus had failed the side mission and it had to be restarted.    "

    Now I'm not buying the game at all, until someone mentions that this is in fact something that no longer exists in the final build of the game. It sounds like absolutely appalling game design, that would just lead me to take it straight back for a refund.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 17:45

  • Machetazo #13 4 years ago

    Adam_T
    07-Nov-07 17:29:59

    "Thief 2 was better.

    If people don't call you 'Taffer!!' then it's just not cricket. "

    I was just thinking this afternoon about possible similarities between Thief and AC (in the prep stage) It would be nice to have the option of first-person when there's no action, and the guards yelling 'taffer' as an unlockable extra! :D

  • SuperBas #14 4 years ago

    I'll bet they did this so the reviewer wouldn't give it a low grade because he didn't "get it", as this seems to be complicated at first to control. Expect it to get a 9 or 10.
    Edited by 2 at 07/11/07 @ 17:54

  • Rirekon #15 4 years ago

    Glad to hear they've also gone the route of context sensitive movement, it worked beautifully in GoW so I look forward to seeing it in more titles.
    My only concern is the same I have with all "assassin" games is stealth. Is it yet more "crouch and be invisible" (Splinter Cell, I'm looking at you!) nonsense?

  • philw #16 4 years ago

    Hmm this preview has reinvigorated my excitement about the game, just keeping fingers-crossed for a good review (and that the ps3 version isn't a framerate/tearing disaster).
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 17:51

  • Steroyd #17 4 years ago

    I'll wait till you guys complete it to see how much of that matrix crap is present in the game.

  • kangarootoo #18 4 years ago

    @w00t

    "EYES ARE YOUR FRIENDS"

    Hehe, I'm going to pinch that :)

  • kangarootoo #19 4 years ago

    That first screenshot is just beautiful.

    Plus the gameplay actually sounds rather fun too.

    SCORE.

  • Steroyd #20 4 years ago

    Rirekon from what I gather it'll be like hitman where you hide in plain sight till you do something naughty.

  • the_dudefather #21 4 years ago

    looking forward to this, like medieval crackdown i guess?

    It would be awesome if this had a FPS mode, I can imagine some of the free running sections or movement through crowds looking awesome (especially if if went down the thief 3 route and you could see your own limbs and stuff)

  • andijames #22 4 years ago

    Looking forward to this one. Something a little different and, by the sounds of things, very ambitious. Kudos to the developers for going out on a limb and not just carbon copying a known winning formula.

    I, for one, have had this on pre-order for a long time now! Hope it lives up to it :)

  • kangarootoo #23 4 years ago

    @Rirekon

    It sounds to me that rather than go down the "crouch and you are invisible" route (though it worked just fine for the Thief series), they have gone more the "don't do anything that makes you stand out, and no one will pay you much attention" way of doing things.

    I for one am firmly interested in seeing what they have done. I will probably rent before I buy, just because its new ground (whereas I knew what I was getting with Orange Box and Bioshock, for example). I'm feeling pretty optimistic though, which makes a nice change from my usual cynical lilt.

  • barnard666 #24 4 years ago

    @ SomaticSense -
    I couldnt agree more, thats unacceptable, and I wouldnt expect to be able to ever see that happening. I would expect a neat and tidy end to his patrol, he opens a door and goes in locking it behind him, or he gets in moving vehicle and buggers off, not vanishes!, surely his path could just be a loop?!

    I fear that this game will be slow going, all the footage looks pretty, but really sluggish. I want to like it, really I do, the thing that Mr. Spoiler is talking about above actually interests me. Although its been kind of ruined now.

  • kangarootoo #25 4 years ago

    @the_dudefather

    Whether platform stuff such as appears to be shown the trailers would work in fp is hard to say, though I get the impression that you don't need to be pixel perfect. Rather they have just employed a "I'm an assassin, I know how to jump about thanks very much, just point me in the right direction and I'll take care of the details" way of doing things.

    I'm all for choice tbh, and an optional first person mode would probably be nice. Hard to say how much work it would be out of context though. It sems easy to plumb in, but how much of the gameplay relies on your being to see both your own character and all those stood around you? Sounds like it might break the combat at the very least.

  • krudster #26 4 years ago

    I did a pickpocket mission, and didn't see that issue by the way...

  • the_dudefather #27 4 years ago

    @kangarootoo
    yeah think the platforming stuff works that way, it would be bad for combat (unless you got indicators telling you the status of other enemies around you, but that would probably not work too well)

    thinking more of a toggle for manually looking around, but you can leave it on as you move around, and turn it off when you need to, a bit like hitman I suppose

  • varsas #28 4 years ago

    Have they improved the enemy AI? The videos I've seen often show them all standing around with swords drawn but not actually attacking you together?

  • SimonM7 #29 4 years ago

    I've never read a negative preview in my entire life, it seems to be a thing, so it's really just teasing until this time next week.

  • gaselite #30 4 years ago

    Is anyone else slightly... anxious about the apparent lack of PS3 build being shown off anywhere? Everything I read seems to be based off the 360 version, which is even more confusing considering the PS3 was the lead platform for the game, wasn't it?

    Anyway, my pre-order is for the PS3 version and to be honest, the actual game itself aside for a second because I'm reasonably confident that'll deliver in some appreciable way, I'm concerned that technically the PS3 version might be discernably inferior, as seems to be the case with PES08 and a few other games. I really hope I'm wrong, but my PS3 (which I won, wouldn't dream of paying the $1000AU for it) just needs something of quality to bloody well play at the moment, but I don't want to be playing a version of a game that might be inferior than another version which I COULD be playing.

  • SomaticSense #31 4 years ago

    @barnard666: "I couldnt agree more, thats unacceptable, and I wouldnt expect to be able to ever see that happening. I would expect a neat and tidy end to his patrol, he opens a door and goes in locking it behind him, or he gets in moving vehicle and buggers off, not vanishes!, surely his path could just be a loop?! "

    There is that, but it's the complete lack of any kind of a 'Mission Failed' indictation that really worries me. That Hairy Arse had to ask what the fuck happened, and for the Ubi bloke to reply "Oh, you failed the mission", is frankly appalling. I'd be wondering "wtf...." as well.

  • captainrentboy #32 4 years ago

    ''It's certainty one of the goriest games I've ever seen get a 15 rating''
    Is it just me, or does that make no sense? :)
    Terrible, just terrible.

  • SomaticSense #33 4 years ago

    "I did a pickpocket mission, and didn't see that issue by the way... "

    Did you fail it at any point?

    Because according to Ubi it's not a bug or anything, it's apparently part of the game design not to inform the player that they have to go back and find him, as they've failed the mission.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 18:14

  • ParanoidZombie #34 4 years ago

    30 hours??!!! Sounds very promising, I was afraid the game was going to be 10 hours long, because it looks so gorgeous.... Since I'm an achievement hunter, this means I'm gonna be able to milk like 60+ hours of gameplay from this game. Sold!

  • badabing #35 4 years ago

    If you fail a pickpocket mission you'll know all about it as the NPC whose pocket you are trying to pick will confront you.

  • SomaticSense #36 4 years ago

    That's good to hear. Sounds like it was a bug after all, and the Ubi rep was trying to save face :)

  • Yeevle #37 4 years ago

    I remember getting excited about Splinter Cell once.

    Just to be clear, I predict this is going to be a let down but a solid game.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 18:23

  • wobbly_Bob #38 4 years ago

    I can't believe all the negativity this game is getting. Everybody moans "Oh GOD, not another generic FPS" or "Fuck me! It's yet another mediocre driving game" then proceding to bemoan the lack of original games these days. But actually TRY to do something different...

    I'm wondering if all the negativity is because this game is SO hyped. I kind of got that way with Halo 3 and became really sick of hearing about it. So maybe that's the reason?

    It's by an ace team that gave us the Prince of Persia games, it's got stunning visuals, an vast open world free roaming sandbox to play in, with 30 hours of game play in a world where often a lot games are just a few hours longer than a bleeding DVD movie *COUGH COD4 COUGH* Come on, give em a chance! Take of the cynical and jaced caps and put on your optimistic hats!
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 18:27

  • Drpwnage #39 4 years ago

    I've not seen any night time screen shots, surely the game must look stunning at night - assuming, of course it has day / night cycles.

  • captainrentboy #40 4 years ago

    My thoughts exactly Mr Wobbly Bob, I've been looking forward to this game for as long as I can remember, but now all of a sudden there seems to be this air of negativity around it, which I find confusing, because it's never looked anything but stunning to me :/
    As long as it gets 7+ from the main review sources it's a definite purchase, I mean, for a start it's nice to have a game on the horizon that's actually longer than 8 hours!!

  • RedPanda #41 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • ronuds #42 4 years ago

    My biggest worry is that the game will become a bore after you've done everything once. The combat doesn't look all that exciting, which is fine, but not when there's no much to do on top of it.

    Seems like you "go here, do this," rinse and repeat.

    I'm hoping not though.

  • M83J01P97 #43 4 years ago

    There are a lot of mixed opinions brewing up around this game. I can't wait for the full reviews to set everything to rest.

    It looks stunning and sounds stunning, but there are mumblings about this being a only a 'good' game, but not the AAA title that a lot of people are expecting.... espically when you consider it's been bookended by COD 4 and Mass Effect...

  • bonker #44 4 years ago

    This sounds like a game that will rely on its ability to fully immerse you atmospherically to become a monster hit.

    Gameplay sounds like a sure-fire 7-8/10 with plus 1 or 2 for the hype factor.

    I'm concerned at talk of, apparently artificially, time-limited mssions - that's a sure-fire way to de-immerse you ...

    Anyway, i'm sure it'll be a welcome relief from the usual 360 fare assuming there's no guns in it (say it ain't so!)
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 19:24

  • Knot #45 4 years ago

    Why the F do i see people saying "Thief this Thief that" and "This should be in FPS" nonsense !?

    Third person IS integral to this type of game. Besides, i WANT to see a great character model perform cool moves and to estimate his relative position in game world space.

    Fuck first person camera's and ADHD people whose attention span is way too short for stealth games !

  • JediMasterMalik #46 4 years ago

    Combat and platforming sound dull as a stick to be frank. The more general gameplay that they fit into better be damned good to live up the the games predecessor (PoP). I just can't get around the "simplified" free running.

  • bicky316 #47 4 years ago

    I predict a 7 or 8......

    Unless you get holy hand grenades and a pair of coconut halves, in which case it's an easy 10.

  • Nick261007 #48 4 years ago

    Game informer reviewed this and gave it 9.5, only complaint was that it can get repetitive.

    I was not interested in this game but as launch nears it's getting harder and harder to resist, now that I know it's a good game I'm just going to have to add it to my to buy list, COD4, Mass Effect, and now Assassin's Creed.

    It doesn't really get any better than this. What a month for gaming.

  • figaro7 #49 4 years ago

    So its a mix of crackdown, prince of persia and splinter cell, could be very interesting, except i dont like stealth. So as long as you can come up with some funky ways to kill people im all for it.

  • Kuma #50 4 years ago

    What a month for gaming indeed, also my birthday so any family members reading take note :-)
    But seriously I think this is going to be just a good game and ultimately fail to deliver the goods by being only good.

  • JoeNut #51 4 years ago

    Already pre-ordered this, cant wait for it.

    Btw people that wasnt a review.

  • the_dudefather #52 4 years ago

    @Knot

    to clarify I would just like to see what some scenes would be like in first person, not 'it should have been first person'. third person is much more suited for this kind of game, but it would have been nice to see some scenes in a chronicles of riddick style first person view, if just for a novelty bonus or option

  • TheBiGW #53 4 years ago

    Seriously impressed guys. A full 2 page preview and 53 comments so far and NO ONE has mentioned Jade Raymond yet. Seriously, she seems to get more press than the game itself does.

    Back on topic though - this does look like it could be pretty cool, but unless the plot is spectacular or there are a bunch of new moves/abilities unlocked later in the game to up the variety I can see it being one of those games I start but never get round to finishing.

  • badabing #54 4 years ago

    You can go into first person but only when you are standing still.It's mainly useful in some of the investigation missions to allow you to check out a location more clearly.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/07 @ 20:37

  • agparrot #55 4 years ago

    As a fan of the Hitman games, I'm really looking forward to this, but, just like Io's products, I can't really see this appealing to a terrifically wide audience - sure, it is pretty, but it doesn't seem like it is going to be 'GTA in the past' which some of my gaming buddies are evidently expecting.

    Hitman games have a sort of slow and deliberate skeleton about them, occasionally surrounded by some action meat, but you aren't really getting the best out of the atmosphere of the game by cruising through any of the hitman missions with silverballers laying waste to all and sundry.

    However, the combination of the stealth and free running elements of ACreed make it look an interesting sort of thing, and it'll be a welcome diversion from shooting people, which Halo3 and CoD4 will have made me do far too much of by the time this is released.

  • HairyArse #56 4 years ago

    Why did this get so many more comments than my article? :(

  • a.d.venturer #57 4 years ago

    You mean I can't crouch roll across Hyrule^W Jerusalem? I suspect the stand around waiting mechanism will come to resemble the healing mechanism in the Getaway. e.g. pants.

  • badabing #58 4 years ago

    @a.d.venturer

    You don't stand around waiting, it just allows you to take first person view if you want to.Its not a gameplay mechanic its just an option.

  • UncleLou #59 4 years ago

    As a fan of the Hitman games, I'm really looking forward to this, but, just like Io's products, I can't really see this appealing to a terrifically wide audience - sure, it is pretty, but it doesn't seem like it is going to be 'GTA in the past' which some of my gaming buddies are evidently expecting.

    I think (and seriously hope) you're hitting the nail on the head here. People seem to expect a GTA meets God of War kind of game, when Hitman and Thief with some climbing thrown in seem far more realistic (and much more exciting) associations to me.

  • Huddy #60 4 years ago

    Review here for the 360.

    [link url=http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200712/R 07.1106.0938.00452.htm
    ]http://ga meinformer.com/Games/Review/200...[/link]

  • spekkeh #61 4 years ago

    Preview reads like an 8. Spectacular visuals with not so well worked out gameplay.

  • Zeburaman #62 4 years ago

    I just completed crackdown today and
    I really hope this is a game like that
    but actually involving?
    Crackdown's technology was fantastic but the enemies and missions sucked.
    The last one where you kill wang was a bit better but even that was very dull.
    I'd love a free running game where your enemies free run too>
    please please please make it be good

  • Blockhead #63 4 years ago

    I'm mostly excited about the setting... Games tend to bore the hell out of me with their generic settings and environments, but this one is something else. I hope it's good.

  • AOFanboi #64 4 years ago

    This sounds like a great counterpoint or complement to the all-out smashathon of Ratchet & Clank. Will do nicely on my PS3, and yet another reason for not getting EoJ since I will spend my time on other games instead.

  • TILT #65 4 years ago

    Why did this get so many more comments than my article? :(
    I, for one, only heard about your article in this preview. I hope that comforts you. :-)

  • Daikon #66 4 years ago

    @gaselite

    Is anyone else slightly... anxious about the apparent lack of PS3 build being shown off anywhere? Everything I read seems to be based off the 360 version, which is even more confusing considering the PS3 was the lead platform for the game, wasn't it?
    ...
    I don't want to be playing a version of a game that might be inferior than another version which I COULD be playing.

    The version shown to EG was the X360 one. Must be a reason for that...

  • twelveways #67 4 years ago

    Even if its just Hitman with swords, I'm sold \o/

  • cobracotton #68 4 years ago

    @ agparrot I know what your saying but some of the best moments in hitman were when you got rumbled and there was nothing left to do but pull your ballers and blow those fuckers away

  • BadBoyBonner #69 4 years ago

    "The thing that drove this point home even more so, though, was Ubisoft's opening insistence that it had strived to do everything possible to ramp up the levels of immersion. I mentioned this to one of the game's developers who pulled a face before adding that unfortunately I'd not managed to pick my target's pockets in time and thus had failed the side mission and it had to be restarted."

    Wouldn't a really easy soloution to that problem be to have the character walk into a building and shut the door behind him?

  • 3william56 #70 4 years ago

    The GameInformer review Huddy linked to is exactly repeated for the PS3. Pity they don't specify which one was played. Here's hoping it's because they are identical.

    Jezus. Orange Box, Ratchet and Clank, AC just for starters. What a month - and it's summer down here, so should be out windsurfing. Too much opportunities for fun!!!

  • asphaltcowboy #71 4 years ago

    Woo! Can't wait! :D

  • DUFFMAN5 #72 4 years ago

    "Why the F do i see people saying "Thief this Thief that" and "This should be in FPS" nonsense !?

    Third person IS integral to this type of game. Besides, i WANT to see a great character model perform cool moves and to estimate his relative position in game world space.

    Fuck first person camera's and ADHD people whose attention span is way too short for stealth games !"

    The reson I would assume that Thief is being talked about in the same way, is because of the gameplay and style seem to play in the same way,or at least it sounds to me that they share a common ground. Add to that we don't have many games set way way back and you might have your answer. I did play Knights of the Temple on GC , I enjoyed that one. Re 1st and 3rd I'm with you on that. Thief 3 can be played in either. All games should have this option. Try T3 on xbox and backwards it is a great game.


    Edited by 1 at 08/11/07 @ 08:55

  • zuljin #73 4 years ago

    @gaselite
    "Is anyone else slightly... anxious about the apparent lack of PS3 build being shown off anywhere?"

    It was shown on the tour led by Jade Raymond. They didn't have PS3 kits at the London one, but apparently they did at some of the others.

    Only found out because she was taking questions and it took about 3 seconds for someone to shout "but which version looks betta?".

  • AlvySinger #74 4 years ago

    30 hours of gameplay!

    When the hell am I going to have time to get through that? I'm only five hours into Phantom Hourglass and haven't even made a dent in HL: Episode 2.

    Curse the whole real life, job, marriage stuff that takes me away from my true calling.

  • UncleLou #75 4 years ago

    Of course the fact that you might have to actually *think* about what you are doing has instantly alienated half the EG forum userbase..

    Yeah, got to say, that's my impression from many of the comments (not just here, but wherever the game is mentioned) as well. I blame consoles. ;p

  • pinhead #76 4 years ago

    /nervously awaits review and eyes slowly draining bank a/c and free time available to get through more AAA releases.

    Must hold....on...for...mass effect.

  • afghan_jones #77 4 years ago

    Looking spiffy. Will be good to play a game that isnt an FPS to be honest.

    On crackdown, did anyone else think that there should have been an additional storyline at the end of the game where you fought with other 'dark' agents or at least other super powered beings? that would have been ace. or have some of the bosses be genetically altered rather than just 'pump 5 rockets at him and watch him die'

  • Kiigan #78 4 years ago

    The controls sound immensely irritating

  • Darren #79 4 years ago

    @Xiphos - Actually I'd say that the detail and scale of the environments DO make it a more impressive game that Gears of War which rarely had more than half a dozen enemies onscreen and had you fighting in mostly enclosed environments. Climb to the top of a high building in Assassin's Creed and the view is astounding not to mention the draw distance. My only concern with the game is the tearing (which I understand has been drastically reduced/eliminated), the iffy enemy A.I. that seems to queue up to attack you when they have the perfect opportunity to take you out from behind and...

    *** MINOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T KNOW ***

    ... the daft SF storyline with a twist that I feel shouldn't have been unveiled at the start of the game.

    *** END OF MINOR SPOILERS ***

    Otherwise it looks very impressive and very next-gen, or should I say this-gen.

  • mkreku #80 4 years ago

    Jade Raymond.

    There. I said it.

  • SBfistfun #81 4 years ago

    I'd love her to try and parry my sword thrusts
    Edited by 1 at 08/11/07 @ 12:34

  • kangarootoo #82 4 years ago

    @varsas

    "Have they improved the enemy AI? The videos I've seen often show them all standing around with swords drawn but not actually attacking you together?"

    Is that a problem though when it comes to fun gameplay? It worked for Bruce Lee in films for years.

  • Wendelius #83 4 years ago

    @Duffmans

    Here is what one of the AC devs has to say about similarities to the Thief gameplay:

    "Action is a choice, for the most part. It's a rare time when you are forced to fight. Maybe two or three times in the game.

    That being said, it's no Thief, thank Jeebus. If you like fighting, there's plenty to do without getting frustrated (although there's plenty of You Are Going To Get Your Ass Kicked fights if you aren't smart about it).

    And it's not a stealth game either. At least, not in the way that the terms are commonly used. You hide in plain sight, and there's no real 'failure' for triggering conflict. There are some missions where it's expected that you don't trigger an all out fight."

    Wendelius

  • the_sas_man #84 4 years ago

    Game Informer has the first review up and gave it a 9.5!

    And they gave Mass Effect a 9.75!

    What a week next week will be!

  • tinners #85 4 years ago

    @Somatic Sense.

    Now I'm not buying the game at all, until someone mentions that this is in fact something that no longer exists in the final build of the game. It sounds like absolutely appalling game design, that would just lead me to take it straight back for a refund.

    So your not buying a game which isn’t even out yet because you found a bug while playing the beta version??? based on that and playing games before they are released you can't actually own many games seeing the difference between pre-alpha, beta and master candidate is obviously not apparent to you?

    Gotta laugh at all this negativity when no one has the final build and no one has a clue what’s fixed and what's not. still unsold i spose lol !
    Edited by 1 at 08/11/07 @ 15:25

  • Knot #86 4 years ago

    @Duffman

    Quote "The reson I would assume that Thief is being talked about in the same way, is because of the gameplay and style seem to play in the same way"..

    People are just mentioning Thief to make the hip elitist comment as if Thief would be the obscure quality game everyone forgot compared to the new AC.

    Again : AC is all about relative position of your character in the game world; third person cam is integral to Altair's footplacement, ledge grabbing and moves set. A first person game cannot and will never focus on such meticulous kenetic gameplay. (Even the Nano suit gameplay in Crysis is still limited in accuracy of foot and hands placement/movement.) Besides, I don't think Thief had the 'crowd' gameplay in such a way either.
    Oblivion had a third person cam option as well, but the character's feet "slide" accross the surface ; fps games don't calculate such kenetics such as AC does, because they're never made to that purpose.

    People are just seeing medieval setting + some form of stealth and they scream "Thief !" while not looking beyond the range of their noses.

    I'd say ; play AC and see it for what it is.
    Edited by 2 at 08/11/07 @ 19:26

  • the_sas_man #87 4 years ago

    Knot speaks the truth.

    I am amazed at the negativity towards AC. I just don't get it.

    Only ONE credible revier has played the final build and published their review - and it got an amazing 9.5. Now I'm not that this game will be great based on this one review but it does lead me to think this game will be a fantastic game.

  • UncleLou #88 4 years ago

    People are just seeing medieval setting + some form of stealth and they scream "Thief !" while not looking beyond the range of their noses.

    I'd say ; play AC and see it for what it is.

    Christ, come off your high horse, will you. Maybe people care about different things in games, and are therefore reminded of different things. Thief is a perfectly valid association from the setting, dodgy main character, some gameplay mechanics, etc., while you're getting lost in details about the calculation of foot placement, when the game does all the climbing almost semi-automatically anhow, if you've read the preview.

  • peppergomez #89 4 years ago

    christ this sounds good...i just wish it offered 1st person as well, since 3rd person just doesn't do it for me

  • the_sas_man #90 4 years ago

    He is not on his high horse - he speaks the truth!

    People are comparing Tomb Raider to Halo! They are different genres.

    Thief is nothing like Assassins Creed and any comparisons is folly. If You like Theif then thats great - but it really is NOTHING like AC.

  • Knot #91 4 years ago

    @ UncleLou

    Dude, a majority of people only see what they want to see and as a result of that they'll claim all kinds of (false) assumptions. It's not me who's on the high horse ; THEY are.

    If YOU actually did some research into what goes into those footplacements then you'd see it's what makes this game tick, UNLIKE any Thief game. But ow well, i'll give up on those screamers who rant "I want my first person cam, I want my grenades, i want the game to forgive me for my lack of patience with STEALTH games ! Boohoo..."

  • bengray66 #92 4 years ago

    gamesradar gave it a 10

  • bengray66 #93 4 years ago

    wow a page to myself.... *Struts around*

  • Bigglesworth #94 4 years ago

    I'm very much looking forward to this one, however:

    "...mashing the X button does deal with the game's earlier enemies, it doesn't take long before you're required to pay more attention to timing and take advantage of countering techniques..."

    ...is exactly what killed Heavenly Sword.

  • Knot #95 4 years ago

    ^ All the more incentive to go the stealthy way or to use the crowd to blend in and avoid fights altogether.

  • Drakron #96 4 years ago

    That is a excuse, for years developers are trying to re-invent the wheel and when it invariable does not work as expected there is always some excuse, the whole "oh well, the fighting system is a bastard child of the fighting game system so just use stealth" it kinda negates actually doing the fighting system in the first place.

    I think I read enough about this now to give it a wide berth.

  • foamy #97 4 years ago

    This is going to turn out good. Just worried there's no jump button : (

  • badabing #98 4 years ago

    @bluedragon
    unkown site is famitsu