Let's get this out of the way from the start, I love Assassins Creed. The first one left me with a bad taste in my mouth as I was out $60 and as left with a promise of what should of been. As it is with video games nowadays, you evolve and Assassins Creed did. The second installment was a vast improvement and my love was born. Brotherhood continues this tradition with a huge map, tons of content, characters you won't soon forget, and a rich multiplayer experience. The single player aspect of Brotherhood is full of new ideas, some work, some don't.
One of the most impressive things about this game is how many things there are to do. There is a lengthy single player campaign that involves missions, hidden treasures, races, along with building a stable of assassins you find throughout the city. One of my favorite things in this game is the city of Roma, it is beautiful, huge, vastly populated with a great deal of variation between the sections. By far one of the most enjoyable parts of the game is hunting down the hidden chests/feathers. The combat is still enjoyable and the new weapons add to this.
An addition that doesn't work for me is Ezio's ability to call in assassins to assist him when called upon. The problem I have with this is that it feels like a "win button". Many times I avoided using this ability, although it was more challenging many parts are still beatable without the help. When I was first introduced to this concept I did use it but found that it took some fun out of the game. There are examples in other games where this concept has been implemented better, such as in Splinter Cell: Conviction where you must complete hand to hand stealth kills to earn assassination credits. In Assassins Creed it makes the game easier, unlike in Splinter Cell where it steps up the challenge and forces you to use it which achieves a sort of cinematic event.
One of the better additions in this game is the multiplayer, which is unlike anything before it. It is clear after a couple sessions that Ubisoft put a lot of love and thought into it. The game modes are Wanted which is an everyone for themselves event. Alliance which pits 3 teams of 2 against each other. Manhunt sets 2 teams of 4 against each other with one team being the hunters and the other the hunted. In both these modes you are given a target whose portrait is in the upper right side of the screen. Underneath the portrait are red triangles that light up to indicate how many other assassins are after your target. On the left side of the screen are a number of blue triangles that light up to show how many people are targeting you. These are important to keep an eye on because you want to catch your target first while keeping an eye out for pursuers. It is important to note that your rank in game effects how many people will be targeting you, the higher your rank the more people after you.With the new DLC "Animus Project Update 2.0" brings a new map and a game mode Chest Capture which sets two teams of 3 against each other with one team being The Hunted and the other, The Protectors. This mode sees The Hunters trying to locate and steal chests from The Protectors. The Wanted and Alliance modes both have Advanced game types which up the number of NPCs on the map, amd ratchets down the radar ability. There is constant struggle you go through between trying to be sneaky or fast. The latter of the two is a deadly choice as you stick out like a sore thumb and will be easy prey for your hunter. There are also a tree of unlocks to get as you level up. Some of the unlocks are disguises, throwing knives, poisons, amd decoys among others. As I said before, this is a well thought out and executed addition.
In closing Assassins Creed: Brotherhood is an excellent addition to the series and will be a great addition to your collection. There is so much to do and enjoy, with more DLC coming down the pipe, that you will be playing this game for months to come.
This is a great game to kick off my reviews and I give it a resounding 9/10
JF
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