Assassin's Creed

by Josh Wilcox - 2007/11/27 8:46pm

Attention to detail is a marvellous thing. It keeps people enticed, and brings them into the illusion that the videogame developer is striving for. Assassin’s Creed doesn’t just focus on detail – it is detail. It creates such a highly realised environment that you can’t help but feel that you’re actually there, that you are Altair.

While the game’s main focus is on the gameplay, it doesn’t fall short on the storyline… far from it. It’s different and fresh, and will likely confuse the hell out of you. Unfortunately, not everything in the game is this positive. The PS3 version of the game feels like a beta tester’s disk. The maps are buggy, and the game has often locked up the system. This occasionally happens at very important moments, forcing the player to replay whole sections of it, which can get very frustrating after multiple problems have occurred. The gameplay itself however, is excellent. It handles well and the movements are very intuitive once you get used to them. It will take some time to get used to, the odd control scheme to control your character seems strange at first, but becomes second nature after the initial learning curve. The control scheme is actually one of Assassin’s Creed’s shining points; it brings some new and fresh ideas to the table without rehashing the same old platformer that gamers have become used to. Jumping and climbing is simple, yet the whole system is done in an innovative and thoroughly satisfying way.

The AI is remarkably accurate, leaving you very little room to make mistakes. Its stealth-based model increases the realism of the game, meaning that when you a kill a guard, you won’t find yourself bombarded with new ones who appear out of nowhere. The ability to hide successfully is another game feature players can utilize in their strategies. The intelligence of your opponent advances the deeper you get into the game, for example. Be sure to continue to take them seriously to avoid being taken down a notch. Letting your guard down will leave you vulnerable to cunning attacks when you least expect them. While some may find that the fighting system can be repetitive, constant access to new upgrades keeps the game moving forward rather nicely. However, the same basic format is present throughout the game – running, jumping, hiding, and chasing. The gamer experiences this over and over again, and what is it all for? Seemingly just another piece in the confusing puzzle.



If we were to review Assassin’s Creed based on storyline alone, this game is phenomenal. Creative and diverse, it leaves little to be desired. It goes beyond a simple story arch, transforming itself into a three-part game that will no doubt keep gamers on their toes, in spite of its repetitive elements.

This brings us to the ultimate question: Did we enjoy Assassin’s Creed? Yes. Was it a life changing experience no gamer should be without? Definitely not! While it’s enjoyable, the lack of variation limits its replay value and lets it down greatly. This game would be a good investment for a one-night stand with a captivating storyline and above-average graphics, but seeking a long-term relationship might be expecting too much.