Assassins Creed 3

The Assassins Creed franchise has seen a sequel almost every year since the very first title released back in 2007.Fans were worried that developers Ubisoft’s decision to bring out a new game every year, would mean that each new entry would be watered down having had so little time in development.

This was not the case though and each new entry seemed to surpass the previous. So the pressure is on Assassins Creed 3 to climb to new heights for the series, so does it? Or has this free running Assassin finally lost his footing?

Once again you step into the shoes of Desmond Miles and cruise the past in the Animus. But one of the biggest differences in Assassins Creed 3 is the timeline. The series has leaped forward into the future slightly into the late 1700’s, and with the leap comes a brand new location. The player now gets to run around the rooftops of Boston during the American Revolution. The game starts you off playing as a British Assassin by the name of Haytham Kenway. The opening sequence and tutorial are very unique and well thought out, and will see you mastering your controls as well as sea legs as you travel by boat to America. Once landing there the plot takes a few twists and turns, before you will actually wear your familiar white Assassin robes at about six hours in. The story is nothing short of a Hollywood blockbuster, with amazing battles and locations that span not only the past, but even a high-rise building in current day New York. And there are many famous historical faces to meet along the way.

Anyone that has played the previous game will get the feeling that Ubisoft has pulled out all the stops this time around. Free running on rooftops has now evolved into free running in trees as well. The combat mechanics while similar to previous games has been taken up a notch. Most noticeably in the sheer amount of animations that have been captured. This makes the combat look more violent and brutal than anything you might have seen before. And we can happily report that it is even better than Batman: Arkham City, yes it’s that good. Visuals are the best in the series with the wilderness and towns dripping in detail, as well as the open sea. Yes we said open sea, because another new feature is the option to sail your very own boat and become your very own master and commander, as you enter some of the most intense naval warfare ever seen in a video game.

There are also plenty of side missions to do as well and even spend some time hunting. The animals in the game are insanely stupid and will often run in to you, but once killed their pelts turn a nice profit. There are plenty of other ways to make money in the game as well, with a trading mechanic that will see you becoming a bit of an Assassin/entrepreneur as you trade in lumber and other goods. All your hard earned money can be used to purchase upgrades, or even bribes to get the red coats off your back if you’re gathering too much attention from going on too many killing sprees.

There is just so much to do and see, but very often open world games that are this ambitious are not without their bugs and Assassins Creed 3 is no different; we have seen horses stand on top of each other and guns floating in the air, as well as cut scenes with invisible characters and some other crazy stuff, and although it can pull you out of the experience for a moment, it won’t be too long before the next brand new gamplay mechanic is introduced and thrusts you back in. This makes the bugs more than bearable, and a small stain on this massive and beautiful quilt of gaming excellence.

The multiplayer has seen its own revolution in terms of gameplay modes, with a whoping twelve in total to take on. One of the highlights being the new co-op additions in a mode called Wolf Pack; something tells us the developers are fans of the movie The Hangover. But instead of four guys with a massive headache and memory loss, this Wolf Pack is made up of four deadly assassins controlled by you and your buddies. And you will have to work closely together to take out your targets, while you get scored on how quickly and cleanly you can do it.

You get the feeling that Assassins Creed 3 has learnt a lot from the previous games in the series, and that this is the game the developers always dreamed of making .Assassins Creed 3 definitely feels like a fully fledged sequel and is by far the most ambitious entry in the series. There is no doubt that it is a strong contender for Game of the Year, and should be played by anyone not just fans. Minus a few bugs, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. Get your hands on this game right this minute, and put your hidden blades to work.

Story	9
Gameplay	10
Graphics	9
Audio	9
Fun Factor	9
Longevity	10

Xbox Assassins Creed 3 Review

Overall

Assassins Creed 3

The Assassins Creed franchise has seen a sequel almost every year since the very first title released back in 2007.Fans were worried that developers Ubisoft’s decision to bring out a new game every year, would mean that each new entry would be watered down having had so little time in development.