Assassins Creed: Brotherhood-Final Thoughts

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

Fresh In: Air Jordan III Cement

If you know anything about shoes or basketball, these need no introduction. The shoes that Micheal Jordan, The Greatest to Play the Game, wore in one of his best seasons playing proffesional basketball. These were the shoes that Spike Lee kicked off the "Mars vs. Mike" ad campaign with. These shoes are iconic in the shoe world, whether they are your favorite pair of Jordans or not, you have to respect the history behind this shoe, it was the first to use to iconic "Jumpman" logo and the first to use the Cement print. Pictures of these beauties below. 

 If anyone wants them and cant find them check out www.deadstock.ca  

Your welcome!

Sony Announces the NGP

Last night Sony held a press conference where the announced the successor to the PSP. Right now they are calling it the NGP and it looks to be a beast. It features a 5 inch OLED touch screen on the front, Dual analog sticks, two rear touch panels, a rear and front facing camera, and quad core processing. Do yourself a favour and keep an eye on this as im sure it will only keep getting better. Sony said it will be available for this holiday season, so start budgeting because you wont want to miss out on this.

NGP 

This Just In: The Walking Dead: Omnibus III

 Fresh in from ups in my hands is the third omnibus in The Walking Dead series. This is issues 48-72 compiled into a giant beautiful hard cover collection. If you know what it is, it needs no introduction, proceed to *nerdgasm* If you aren't familiar with the graphic novel turned tv show, Our hero Rick wakes up in the hospital to find out that the world around him has turned into a zombie wonderland. Not wanting to give too much away, it is a very human and real approach to this genre. It deals with the struggles of the survivors, both emotionally and physically. If you have not had the chance to read this great piece of literature you are missing out. What are you doing reading this? Go out and get your hands on this dramatic, action packed, all around well written and drawn epic graphic novel.

Hard Cover Sleeve with Hard Cover Book 

Covers of Issues included in Omnibus

Inside

Omnibus III and Omnibus II

Long Time

Hey everyone,

I've been away for a while, the holidays were very busy and I didn't have the time to update my blog. Now I back and ready to get gaming. Stay tuned.

JF

Setting the Tone

Hello everyone,

My name is Joseph Ferraro, I'm 22, and I have been an avid gamer for as long as I cam remember. From that love of gaming was born a love for technology. So, I decided to start this blog to share that love and also to inform you with the latest news and announcements. I will ALWAYS be fair and concise when it comes to reviewing the latest releases. Speaking of which I will be kicking off this blog with a great release, Assassins Creed: Brotherhood. I have already written out my initial impressions and will have my full review out soon. Check out the post below to read my initial impressions.

Now Spinning-Assassins Creed:Brotherhood

Having played the first two entries in the Assassins Creeds and watching what was arguably a tech demo in the first game to it blooming into an action packed, beautiful, and immersive game when the second one came out about a year ago. Now the third entry is out and so far it does not disappoint. They have successfully improved on almost every aspect, the mission variety, gameplay, and most notably is the graphics which have definitely received a generous amount of polish.

There are so many things to do in this game it can be a little overwhelming. When I first booted it up I played one story mission and then spent the next couple of hours trying to collect to many hidden chests, flags, and feathers around the enormous city of Rome. One of the more awe inspiring things to do is to climb the many high towers found around the city and synchronize those viewpoints which then in turn un fog the map.

When you add in the expansive and immersive multiplayer aspect along with the many single player story this game is jam-packed with content and lives up to the grade set by the first one. I have spent too much time talking about it and now I have to play. Il have a review out to you soon.

Thanks for reading