Seems like ages since I played Assassin's Creed II. In general, I've always enjoy this franchise. I mean, other than Mirror's Edge - another game I intend on finishing - this is one of the only "parkour" style games. Scrambling around your city's buildings as you make your way to your next kill. Well, the sequel definitely satisfied me. Then, a few months after its release, this guy comes out. No, it's not the official third installment, but rather an add-on to Ezio's story from the second game. I'm sure there are plenty that became excited at its unveiling. Me, no so much. It looked as though this was just an overpriced DLC that really should have been included with the original game. Just another way to make some extra cash on this already massively successful franchise. With all that in mind, my prejudice caused me to shy away. That is until the third game came out...
Regardless of some of the negative reviews Assassin's Creed III has already received, I'm very much interested in playing it. It wasn't until fellow blogger Sween mention Brotherhood to me that I game the game my consideration. Not only did he explain the game was actually fairly good, but he also enlighten me on the franchise's main story arc. With that in mind, it became clear that no matter how much I wanted to delve into the third official release, if I wanted the full picture of the narrative developing in the present day I was going to have to experience every game in this series.
Bravo, Ubisoft... you brilliant, marketing bastards.
Brotherhood is an excellent game, just as Assassin's Creed II is an excellent game. Although there was a significant gap between my experience with each game, the two do kind of blur together. Not necessarily in a bad way, but nothing stands out as a brilliant accomplishment on Brotherhood's part. All I will say in the game's benefit I became addicted to building up the city of Rome. I become quick and easy to start buying up property, which then allows you to earn more and more money. Can you do a whole lot with that money? Meh, not much. I mean, it didn't seem to take too much time before I had bought pretty much all that I wanted to buy. Then, all the cash that I was receiving was entirely unnecessary. Still, I praise the games ability to make me become addicted to this need to purchase all these buildings and landmarks as if my life depended on it. I got some sick joy from it all.
Oh, and another - albeit - small accomplishment was the very simple fact that you're able to get the final, specialized armor a good deal before the game ends. This is something that should definitely be applauded. I mean, if you spend the time and energy jumping through the hoops and hurdles to get this crap, at least allow me some fair playtime to enjoy it. Many games fail at this, providing you with their super-duper power-ups mere moments before the game ends. Thanks for correcting this problem here.
Other than those two points, the game - like I said early - feels like a carbon copy of the first. The story - from what I understood - wasn't gripping, nor was it bad. Gameplay was satisfying, but nothing original. Weapon system allowed for some fair leveling and growth, but still seemed somewhat limited.
More than anything, I believe I'm treating these games now as a means to an end. I just want to see and understand the main, over-arcing plot as I near Assassin's Creed III. Hopefully the next game, Revelations (I believe), will provide me with more satisfaction, but after reading the reviews, that doesn't seem like it's going to happen.
Sigh...
Bravo, Ubisoft... you brilliant, marketing bastards.
Brotherhood is an excellent game, just as Assassin's Creed II is an excellent game. Although there was a significant gap between my experience with each game, the two do kind of blur together. Not necessarily in a bad way, but nothing stands out as a brilliant accomplishment on Brotherhood's part. All I will say in the game's benefit I became addicted to building up the city of Rome. I become quick and easy to start buying up property, which then allows you to earn more and more money. Can you do a whole lot with that money? Meh, not much. I mean, it didn't seem to take too much time before I had bought pretty much all that I wanted to buy. Then, all the cash that I was receiving was entirely unnecessary. Still, I praise the games ability to make me become addicted to this need to purchase all these buildings and landmarks as if my life depended on it. I got some sick joy from it all.
Oh, and another - albeit - small accomplishment was the very simple fact that you're able to get the final, specialized armor a good deal before the game ends. This is something that should definitely be applauded. I mean, if you spend the time and energy jumping through the hoops and hurdles to get this crap, at least allow me some fair playtime to enjoy it. Many games fail at this, providing you with their super-duper power-ups mere moments before the game ends. Thanks for correcting this problem here.
Other than those two points, the game - like I said early - feels like a carbon copy of the first. The story - from what I understood - wasn't gripping, nor was it bad. Gameplay was satisfying, but nothing original. Weapon system allowed for some fair leveling and growth, but still seemed somewhat limited.
More than anything, I believe I'm treating these games now as a means to an end. I just want to see and understand the main, over-arcing plot as I near Assassin's Creed III. Hopefully the next game, Revelations (I believe), will provide me with more satisfaction, but after reading the reviews, that doesn't seem like it's going to happen.
Sigh...
I felt like what worked in Assassin's Creed was what Rockstar tried for and failed to do in GTA4- load up with tons of side quests that actually improve the game. I was worried that buying shops and assigning missions to the brotherhood would halt all momentum, but it was pretty seamless and worth it in the end to have a team of assassins you could send in to do your dirty work in tough fights. Also finish off Mirror's Edge! It's not perfect but it's fun and relatively short, and there's been rumors of a sequel for years now. That's a game that could really improve with a sequel.
ReplyDelete