Assassin's Creed franchise

[dark-daventry]

I like the idea of having a triple-tiered gameplay experience, but this seems too much like Inception. A memory within a memory? Oh well, like I said, as long as all three characters get equal face-time, I'm all in. But Ubisoft better make this the last Ezio game, cause this is the last straw.

In terms of console games, I'm pretty sure this is the last Ezio game. The way the AC franchise works is that every numbered game will star a new assassin in a new time period, and I'm almost positive that Revelations will be the last "sequel" to AC2. I think I can make a pretty safe bet that we'll be getting Assassin's Creed 3 next year.

[Fierce Deity]

Well based on the ending of Brotherhood...

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

There's some doubt that Desmond himself is even real.  Those comments about forcing someone back into the Animus?  Maybe someone else or maybe someone who Abstergo is forcing to experience what Desmond went through for some reason.  Remains to be seen...

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

Yeah, but Desmond's timeline isn't far off from "the end" in 2012. If someone is reliving Desmond's life, then it would be suggesting that the "end of the world" really wasn't much of an end to the world.

I think I can make a pretty safe bet that we'll be getting Assassin's Creed 3 next year.

Let's hope so.

(Posted on: May 09, 2011, 03:57:15 PM)

Here's some scans that show off in detail the new concepts of the game. I have to say, the scans have made me a little more excited for this game, but just a little. 

http://gamingeverything.com/?p=4190

[wilco64256]

Finally had a chance to read through the article - I am really excited for this game now.  It's good to hear that they're going to be wrapping up loose ends with Altair and Ezio.  And I'm very interested to see how everything plays out with Desmond and what he's up to in the Animus itself as well.

[dark-daventry]

After reading that article myself, I am now more interested than I was. And oh man, was I interested before! I was the first person in my gamestop to reserve the game. I feel very proud of that!

[Fierce Deity]

I am happy that they are focusing so much on the single-player experience still. I was dreading the idea of them being so full of themselves with how good the multiplayer was that they would make Assassin's Creed the next Call of Duty. In other words, have the same multiplayer, tack on a 6 hour long tutorial and then call it a year. 

[dark-daventry]

I am happy that they are focusing so much on the single-player experience still. I was dreading the idea of them being so full of themselves with how good the multiplayer was that they would make Assassin's Creed the next Call of Duty. In other words, have the same multiplayer, tack on a 6 hour long tutorial and then call it a year. 

Something tells me Ubisoft isn't going to go that route; I just have this feeling that they realize that the single player plot and experience comes first above all else, and the multiplayer is more of an after-thought. Hopefully, at least.

[Fierce Deity]

Something tells me Ubisoft isn't going to go that route; I just have this feeling that they realize that the single player plot and experience comes first above all else, and the multiplayer is more of an after-thought. Hopefully, at least.

I've come to that conclusion. It's just, most games that put a lot of focus on the multiplayer tend to neglect the single player campaign. I liked Brotherhood's multiplayer, and thought it was very intuitive. But I don't think I need to explain to my fellow "point-and-click" adventurers just how important a story is to a game. 

[Lambonius]

Story alone cannot carry a game.  Just look at Telltale's 30 dollar "f*** you" to their fans, Back to the Future: The Game.

What makes Assassin's Creed kick ass is the amazing and huge living world to explore, and the tons of things to do, all tied together with a killer story.  And it sounds like this game is going to deliver on those fronts, so I'm cool with it.  Just sayin'.  

[Fierce Deity]

Story alone cannot carry a game.  Just look at Telltale's 30 dollar "f*** you" to their fans, Back to the Future: The Game.

What makes Assassin's Creed kick ass is the amazing and huge living world to explore, and the tons of things to do, all tied together with a killer story.  And it sounds like this game is going to deliver on those fronts, so I'm cool with it.  Just sayin'. 

I agree. A story alone is not enough to justify praise, but I feel more attached to games when there is a good story. I like Assassin's Creed because of the gameplay as well. Mainly, the combat system. Ever since the first AC game, I learned how to parry, counter, evade, and disarm the enemies I fought. I always laugh when I see a video of someone playing AC and they're just mashing the attack button. I figure that that might be the reason why Ubisoft made it easier to kill guards in Brotherhood by chaining your counters together, thus dispatching an entire force of guards in only a few seconds. Still, the combat is by far better than most action-adventure games.

[kindofdoon]

...all tied together with a killer story.

[Lambonius]

...all tied together with a killer story.

(Posted on: May 16, 2011, 12:11:01 AM)

I agree. A story alone is not enough to justify praise, but I feel more attached to games when there is a good story. I like Assassin's Creed because of the gameplay as well. Mainly, the combat system. Ever since the first AC game, I learned how to parry, counter, evade, and disarm the enemies I fought. I always laugh when I see a video of someone playing AC and they're just mashing the attack button. I figure that that might be the reason why Ubisoft made it easier to kill guards in Brotherhood by chaining your counters together, thus dispatching an entire force of guards in only a few seconds. Still, the combat is by far better than most action-adventure games.

Interesting.  I've always considered the melee combat to be Assassin Creed's weak point.  It is completely formulaic and has absolutely no challenge value to it.  Every enemy can be beaten the same way: Hold Block, Wait to Counter, Rinse, Repeat.  It has always been the most monotonous part of the games for me.  I was overjoyed when Brotherhood introduced chained attacks because it meant combat was OVER more quickly.  

I really wish Assassin's Creed had reflex-based combat, where you actually had to use skill to out-fight your opponents, thrusting, slashing, jumping, blocking, and dodging organically instead of just holding a button and waiting for your character to perform his canned insta-kill animation.

[Fierce Deity]

I felt like there were times where you did have to pay attention to your enemies' moves though. In Assassin's Creed II, they had guards that used polearms and you couldn't counter-kill them with a sword. You had to be barehanded and disarm them, then you could insta-kill them. I can see why people would consider it too slow and repetitive, but I liked how it wasn't "Mash X till everyone is dead." I've been a big fan of Devil May Cry and God of War, but even those games can get monotonous. That's why I tried to really master the combat in Assassin's Creed, despite how long it may take to end a fight.

Anyway, Revelations is apparently going to use the Hookblade to speed up combat even more. Basically, you can latch on to a guard and use him to wipe out everybody else. Sounds fun. 

[Lambonius]

Yeah, I think one of the problems with games like God of War is that they ARE pure button mashers.  Ninja Gaiden is the only action game I can think of where combat was really really skill based.  You absolutely HAD to master every one of Ryu's moves to make it through that game--and it was HARD--but extremely satisfying when you did it.

If Assassin's Creed could just lean a little more in that direction then I think it'd have a great balance of strategy/reflex in the combat.  As it is now though, it really feels too formulaic and repetitive.  It's like, "oh, here's a normal enemy--hold block, hit counter, insta-kill."  "Oh, here's a shielded enemy, sheath weapon, hit disarm, insta-kill."  And those are basically the only variations on it.  In Brotherhood, they essentially replaced disarm with the kick move, which does the same thing basically, except that you have to hit one more button afterwards to do the insta-kill.  I don't get the argument that it takes much thought.  Sure, it's not a button-masher, but at least in button-mashers like God of War, you actually occasionally have to dodge, block, roll, jump, etc.  You don't have to do anything of the sort in Assassin's Creed.  Every combat scenario is always the same, one of the two variations above--wash, rinse, repeat.

[Fierce Deity]

I guess it's debatable. I just like how refreshing it was from the typical action-adventure. I agree that Ninja Gaiden requires a lot of skill, but even I found a select group of moves that I would abuse to death just to get through a battle, and for the most part, it was successful. Flying Swallow comes to mind, and I believe there was a counter attack that was available when blocking as well. I don't believe it had the same mechanics, but it was equally effective in my opinion. Even in God of War, Kratos would get a counter attack that would allow you to slam the ground and stun your enemies. I abused that too. I always try to understand the combat system for the most part, but in Assassin's Creed, mashing the attack buttons isn't as effective as it is in other games. That's why I like how it requires you to pay attention, and learn the enemies' moves. Perhaps I'm giving it too much thought. It might be as mindless as you say, but the game still has all of the trappings of a fine game.

[Lambonius]

Right.  And I'm not trying to say it's totally mindless--it's still a far sight better than many games--I just think there is definite room for improvement.  I think it would be awesome if they could rework it a bit so it brought in some of the best elements of more fluid, reflex-based action games, but maybe that's just me. 

[Fierce Deity]

I would like it if they implemented the combat systems that Prince of Persia had. Then the combat system would feel more acrobatic, and not just feel like a duel. Still, I think Ubisoft has already adapted to a specific style. So it seems like skill-based mechanics might not make it into the series anytime soon. Especially with them announcing that the Hookblade will only make the fights easier and quicker. Maybe when Desmond learns from a new ancestor, he can learn a new combat system.

[Lambonius]

I would like it if they implemented the combat systems that Prince of Persia had. Then the combat system would feel more acrobatic, and not just feel like a duel. Still, I think Ubisoft has already adapted to a specific style. So it seems like skill-based mechanics might not make it into the series anytime soon. Especially with them announcing that the Hookblade will only make the fights easier and quicker. Maybe when Desmond learns from a new ancestor, he can learn a new combat system.

Well, I will say this for the system--one thing it DOES do is give the impression that Ezio is a master fighter, since he can pretty much consistently wipe the floor with any enemy.

[NW15]

I have been reading articles about Assassin Creed Revelations and I am very excited about this game.

So, I am guessing with this game we are going to find out if Desmond is a memory himself.  At the end of davinci disappearance

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

the two guys at the end say Desmond seems to be is some short of coma. Also,did they come and take Desmond away and what happen to the apple?

If Desmond is a memory, what kind of memory is he? the way the end the davinci disappearance it is hard to tell whether or not he is a memory because the two guys just left him.

Do you think the guys are Templars or Assassins?

[Fierce Deity]

I have been reading articles about Assassin Creed Revelations and I am very excited about this game.

So, I am guessing with this game we are going to find out if Desmond is a memory himself.  At the end of davinci disappearance

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

the two guys at the end say Desmond seems to be is some short of coma. Also,did they come and take Desmond away and what happen to the apple?

If Desmond is a memory, what kind of memory is he? the way the end the davinci disappearance it is hard to tell whether or not he is a memory because the two guys just left him.

Do you think the guys are Templars or Assassins?

Not that it's a spoiler seeing as it's just my opinion, but . . .

Spoiler (mouse over to reveal):

I think they are Assassins, just because in the first Assassin's Creed, they hinted that there were Assassins looking for Desmond. Also, it would be quite a twist. Templars is what they would want you to think, but aside from Desmond, not many modern day Assassins have been introduced.

[liggy002]

I have a question.... I recently picked up Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and I have never even played the series.  Am I going to be completely lost as far as the story goes or is there some kind of in game recap or "codex"(encyclopedia)?