Assassin's Creed Revelations

Blog Post: Ezio Shows His Age

Neil Hackel — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:16:00 GMT

I'm a long time fan of Assassin's Creed. I didn't have a 360 or PS3 when the original game released, but by the time the game became an Platinum Hit, I was able to pick it up.

I fell in love.

I now fully understand the that it's was a flawed glory. However, my first play sessions with AC1 were amazing. I literally stopped and just looked. It was one of the most beautifully rendered games I had seen.

This took my breath away in 2008.

This franchise is now four installments older and (generally) wiser. In fact, I recently completed my time with the fourth major installment, Assassin's Creed: Revelations. While I found the experience to be fun and fulfilled my AC itch, I came away with mixed feelings.

AC2 and AC:B focused on Ezio's vendetta with the Borgia family. That was a great story line filled with intrigue, betrayal, and other duplicity (not to mention incest!). AC:R fast-forwards to Ezio's later years, after spending decades as the Mentor of the Assassin Brotherhood. He has found himself deeply interested in Altaïr's connection to the Pieces of Eden. As someone who has played all the console entries of the series, this was interesting for me. Though the Altaïr segments seem fragmented with little to connect them, it was great to see the ways that he had influenced the order for the centuries to come. Additionally, the story concludes in a way that aligns both Altaïr and Ezio as peers and precursors who know they are ultimately meant to deliver a message to a man they know nothing about.

With that said, Revelations felt extremely short. It took me little over 20 hours to complete 1000G gamerscore worth of achievements, including multiplayer and excluding any DLC. Much of this time was spent achieving 100% sync within all missions, collecting MacGuffins (memoir pages, data fragments, treasures, etc), and managing my Assassin empire. Personally, I focused on the story missions up through Sequence 4, at which point I stopped to do all of my collecting and such. Once I decided to return to the main story, I completed the remaining sequences in about 2-3 hours. Stripping away all of the side missions and objectives, one could conceivably complete the main story in 5-7 hours. While I am not one to criticize the length of a game's main storyline, the length of this entry did not seem proportionate to those that came before. There are a few great twists involving Subject 16 and a wrongful death, but these come and go so quickly.

Bombs are an interesting addition to Ezio's arsenal, but really do very little to change his effectiveness. Distracting guards is all well and good, but Splinter Cell this is not.

Despite the brevity of the main quest, Revelations is packed full of so much optional content that you will not be without something to do. Assassin missions and city district control metagames are expanded greatly, including the ability to install assassins in foreign cities, assign your more advanced recruits as den masters in Constantinople, and even defend your dens against Templar assaults. As fun as these are, I did run into some control issues. Many times, I found it difficult to know exactly which assassin I was installing in which place. The den defense minigame was also not without it's faults. Units did not feel very different from each other, and the difficulty spiked rather quickly, though it was not insurmountable.

Though the shock has worn off and I have acclimated to the current generation's graphical fidelity and capability, Revelations is still generally a good-looking game. From a distance, that is. When you get close to character models, such as Sulieman's hands when he is playing chess with his uncle, things get awfully...well...lumpy. It's the only word I can come up with. Facial animations are definitely not the best of the Ezio trilogy, either. Part of the issue is also the locations themselves. During the game, you spend time in Constantinople, Masyaf, and Cappadocia. All three of these places are generally monochromatic. There is so much brown in Constantinople, you'll think you're playing Borderlands 1.

Never thought I'd say this, but I miss the purple and green of Florence.

The voicework on display here is on par with the rest of the Ezio games. Ezio's grizzled and gravelly voice does much to show his age. Also, the inclusion of John de Lancie as Desmond's father was a great addition.

Desmond's dad, everyone. *brohoof*

Multiplayer went through some changes, as well. The biggest change is that there is a story to multiplayer. You take the role of an Abstergo agent using the Animus to train your combat skills in order to hunt down assassins. Messages from Vidic are unlocked along the way, giving you more insight into the minds at Abstergo.

Instead of unlocking abilities as you level up, there is now a currency system in place and new unlocks have to be purchased using this new currency. I have mixed feelings on this system, but it does allow you to have more control over what you get and what you don't. You can relegate less desirable abilities for later and focus on the more useful ones that fit your playstyle. Character personalization is back with some added features, such as taunts. There are a few new game modes, but they don't evolve the existing formula much beyond what it already was.

Overall, Revelations continues the tradition of each AC game creating it's own voice. That voice may be well worn with the ravages of time, but it is still unique. Though the setting harkens back to AC1 while the story and features feel more like AC2 and AC:B, Revelations uses this juxtaposition to bring Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond together in a more cohesive manner than has been done previously. The lauded "answers" that were promised in the AC:R marketing seem to be relatively minor, to be honest. More of my questions have been answered in the first hours of AC3 than they were in Revelations. I had a good time with this game, but I would not say it's a must play for all. If you're a big fan of the series, I'd say play it. But, it's not entirely necessary.

Blog Post: Good game, despite the hate

Kpb17 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:42:00 GMT

I really enjoyed this game, even though some people were tired of playing as Ezio. I really enjoyed the conclusion to Ezio's trilogy and getting to play through Ezio through a lot of his life. Definitely worth getting.

Blog Post: Review - Assassin's Creed: Revelations (PS3)

BLiNDFATES — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:48:00 GMT

[Note: To explain the large delay in my writing of this review, i'd like to state that i was attempting a second playthrough before writing this review in order to form a sure judgement since my opinions after playing through the first time weren't very good. however, due to the slew of games coming out leading up to Assassin's Creed III, it's become clear that i won't have the time to beat this game again and review it before the release of AC3. Therefore, i give you a well-delayed review based of my first playthrough and a bit of a second.]

Assassin's Creed 3 is the 4th full game in the series, and the 3rd and final game for our assassin Ezio Auditore. Ubisoft has adopted an annual release schedule for the series, but in my opinion this is causing the game to loose it's shine.

PRESENTATION

Revelations looks just like the previous 2 games. great busy city, filled with tons of NPC's and enemies, and free running opportunities. You wont have a hard time making your way from one end of the city to the other wether from the rooftops or the ground bellow.

that being said, the city does have a large flaw to it. much like in Brotherhood, the game remains in one large city rather than several smaller ones. Constantinople. It's a large (very large) city split in 2 by a large river. this rive can be crossed manually by swimming or taking a small boat, or you can "fast travel" over there by talking to a man at the docks on either side. but the problem is created by too many missions beginning on opposite ends of the river. the constant back and forth trek get's tiresome and quickly becomes a chore.

another downfall is that the river seems to be the only landmark that sets this city apart from cities in past games. inside the thick of the cities, you can hardly feel a difference other than the looks of the people within it. you do late in the game visit a second location, and this is a breath of fresh air, but i'm going to avoid any spoilers here.

going back to character designs, this is definitely the most impressive in terms of presentation. Ezio is old now. and he looks the part. if you set him next you the Ezio in ACII, the difference in his face alone is incredible. he looks so different, yet you can still clearly see that's its Ezio. the voice acting works very much the same and it's very impressive. even in the moves Ezio makes during combat reflect his age.

STORY

Ezio's previous stories highly revolved around vengeance. it was what kept him going. however, now Ezio is older. He's successfully rebuilt the Assassin's Brotherhood, and now his quest takes him on a hunt for understanding.

his main objective is to find the keys to unlock a vault locked underneath Masyaf, that Altair has apparently hidden valuable information. However, along his journey of doing so, he finds himself tangled in the interest of the Constantinople Assassin's , and even some personal distractions.

The problem is that even though he's racing against the Templars to get the keys, he doesn't have that old fuel that he used to. his purpose is sometimes forgettable, and i sometimes felt that perhaps Ezio himself is becoming distracted.

Desmond on the other hand got left off with quite the cliff-hanger. The event's of the last game leave desmond in some kind of crazy coma. and he's stuck in the animus. his memories of himself, ezio, and altair are all jumbled together and the only way he can sort them out is to finish Ezio's memories.

The story definitely isn't as strongly built as previous titles, and it suffers for it. but it's still enough for fans to see what comes of Ezio.

GAMEPLAY

This is really what ruined this game for me. it's everything you'd expect based off the past 2, but they lack the fun in them. This is mainly due to a lack of new content, and the back and forth runs through the city that i mentioned earlier due to missions popping up on opposite sides of the river consistently. it became more of a chore. I also don't think that my interest in the story was that strong, so i was doing missions to do them, rather than complete an objective.

Now i'm NOT saying that there isn't anything new. there is. but the problem is that the new stuff feel exhausted, overused, or even pointless. let me give some examples:

The hook blade. the new addition to the hidden blade that simply adds a curved hook to the end of the blade. this allows you new alternate forms of traversal which is supposed to benefit you. giving you a boost up a wall, or using a hanging pot to make a large leap forward rather than originally taking you around a corner. But the problem is that it's not to your benefit because you're constantly forced to use the hook blade. it's literally the answer to every tricky free-run situation, and it get's overused. The one good thing that worked successfully was the zip-lines. i liked that a lot, but too many times i found myself on the bottom end of the zipline, rather than the top. but that's just chance.

Another new feature is that of bomb crafting. you use materials found in chest throughout the game world to construct different types of bombs. the bombs are cool on their own with 3 different categories of either kill, distract, or disable styled bombs, and you can customize them. it's a great idea. unfortunately, when it comes to being an assassin, i rarely ever used my bombs. not that there isn't a time for them, but i just never thought to use them.

Another big thing in Revelations is the Assassin's Dens. much like taking out Borgia Towers in Brotherhood, you can do this in revelations, which gives you an assassin's den. the thing is that the Templars will push attacks to take the dens back. These take form in a tower defense style gameplay, that is quite diverse for the assassin's creed series, but also quite foreign. it doesn't fit. also these attacks never end. even after you've captured all the dens. and it's a hassle to stop what youre doing to run across the map to save a den. for me it was easier to just let the den fall into enemy hands and just re-capture it later. but this could go on and on until you can train an assassin to watch the den for you.

As for the rest of the game, it plays great. all the free running and combat is back with subtle improvements, and such, but this deep in the series and i'm just used to it.

Oh there are some puzzle like gameplay for desmond which is pretty simple, somewhat dull too, but does delve into some of Desmonds back story. also, Altair is back in some parts, but these parts are about as short as they are awesome. and they're pretty awesome.

RECAP

Revelations is the end to Ezio's story, and it does a good job of doing so. It's amazing to see Ezio go from the young Florentine in ACII to the Assassin Mentor in Revelations. However, his story this time doesn't feel like it has a strong enough purpose.

Desmonds story however, doesn't get very far until the very end, and his gameplay will either be love or hate to fans. There's a DLC expansion that focuses purely on Desmond gameplay, and answers a big question that the Revelations itself didn't answer. i highly suggest getting it if you're really into Desmond's story.

Revelations unfortunately fails in bringing something new and fun. there isn't much that differs this game from previous, and what has changed is generally bringing the game down. it's not to say its a bad game, but in comparison and unison with the previous games, Revelations fall behind.

If you enjoy the AC series, i still recommend Revelations, because though the gameplay is not at it's best, it still hold an essential part in both Ezio and Desmond's stories.

Wiki: Assassin's Creed Revelations Guides

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 03:08:00 GMT

Guides for Assassin's Creed Revelations

Wiki Page: Pro tips

Coolagoon — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 22:08:00 GMT

This guide has some useful bits for the more experienced players, if you find yourself lost, look for the beginner guides and those may help you more.

Focus bonus:

This shouldn't even be in the guide, as basically any experienced player should know about this. focusing is the kill bonus you get when you manage to keep the kill button above your targets head for 1 1/2 seconds. This is not easy, as it gives plenty of time for your target to notice and stun you, but the bonus is worth 150 points. The best way get a focus bonus is to use a disguise to more easily approach your target (this is still hard because the stun prompt will still appear above your head, so it is best to approach the target fromm behind); go on the roof to prevent being stunned (you will be obvious and your target may try to run out of range); and using a smoke bomb which will make your target completely vulnerable for a good 2 seconds; and of course when your target has been stunned, it makes for a perfect focus (plus a grounded bonus, 50 points, at that).

Locks:

locking on to your target allows you to do all sort of fancy things. They not only allow you to keep track more easily of your target, they make it way easier to get high scoring kills with out even having your target on in direct sight (for example: behind you). When locking, even when your target is out of sight, the kill symbol will still be above the locked targets head. Let's say you are on a roof, attempting to attack a target on the ground. You lock on your target. Let's say you go for a focus bonus (a good choice if your target is in non-moving crowd) and your target suddenly decides to run away. around a corner. Your lock will remain on them for a couple seconds, and if you are still on killing range, (even if your view of them is blocked by the roof) the kill symbol will still be there, and you will get an easy kill. Always be sure to lock on before you approach your target (or pursuer), it will make it twice as easy to get things done.

Whispers:

When you are playing your favored mode, you may hear whispers in the background. Whispers are signs that an enemy (or enemies) is nearby. Whispers are essential for surviving when you have a lot of pursuers and no abilities to protect you.

Variety:

This is something only the most skilled players can master. It isn't hard to get, but when the stars align, it can give you a 600 point bonus (extreme variety). Everyone has gotten variety every once in a while, but it's hard to tell what it actually is. When you get certain bonuses (Stun, lure, ground finish, revive, aerial kill, acrobatic kill, grab kill, hidden kill, grounded, reckless, discreet, silent, incognito, focus, etc.), they all will start building up for variety (200), then greater variety (400), then extreme variety bonuses (600).

Variety makes it all the more important to get focus, ground finish, hidden, aerial, and acrobatic; these are some of the easier bonuses to keep in mind, and abilities make it even more doable.

Note that bonuses do not stack (getting 2 focus bonuses will not contribute twice)

If you die, the count will not reset

Variety: 5 different bonuses

Greater variety: 10 different bonuses

Extreme variety: 15 different bonuses

Remember, there are 30+ bonuses, so that gives plenty of options for building up to extreme variety.

If you have anymore questions feel free to message me or leave a comment.

Forum Post: Re: Is it just me or does Assassin's Creed Revelations suck?

Steve — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:42:00 GMT

just finsihed this game. For it to be called revelations, I expected the endiing to be something of a revelation. Nothing of the sort. More unfulfilled talk.

Blog Post: More Altair than Ezio

dbazile15 — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:42:00 GMT

When I bought AC Revelations I was so excited about how amazing the game would have been. Then I got to the 3rd sequence. The first 2 were good it made the AC world seem like it changed. The graphics were a huge step up and the game mechanics also changes. In the beginning Ezio was captured and sentenced to death but he escaped. I loved how there was a great flow. First it was Ezio escaping then him following and assassinating a main target. This was all just the tutorials. When he got to the new city we met a couple people one being a new assassin but not dressed like a normal one. This added individuality to the game and all assassins. As far as the main story goes, its Ezio find a book using a girl he meets (and eventually gets married to) then goes into a cell similar to the ones in AC 2 to get Altair armor learns about Altair past then sequence over. O yeah and usually in the beginning he helps the new assassins and friends that he meets while his girl learns about the book's whereabouts. Every sequence is almost the same.

Aside from the story, a couple things change. It is harder to lower your templar awareness meter. It seems like this city doesn't believe in posters. You have to talk to heralds and bribe them. Once you bribe them you cant find another herald for a while. The good thing is that after every sequence your meter goes back down to zero.

Although you play as Ezio almost all the time, it seems to be focused more about Altair and unlocking his library which would surprise you to find what is in there. That is all he talks about and his main goal is getting all of them.

Aside from Ezio story, Desmond was supposed to be more important. He wasn't really unless you try to get most of those animus breaks which are like feathers. When you get a certain amount, you get a new mission where you travel as Desmond in first person throughout his memories. I have only did the first one but so far they could be more in dept. On the regular story you just hear people in the outside world and that is it. I had higher expectations but it is a good game aside from the length. The game is too short and they could have done more to tell more about Altair

Blog Post: Ezio and Altair's stories ends greatly in Assassin's creed Revelations

Juanolo — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:20:00 GMT

I couldn't wait until the 4th assassin creed would come out. When it came out, it might have disappointed some people, but for me, it went out just right.

Graphics are good. Sometimes they're spectacular, sometimes they're descent. Story is great, and so is the score. Well done. Voice acting is great as well. Multiplayer is all right.

Overall, this is a great way to end a Ezio's and Altair's story. It's not the end, so can't wait till Assassin creed 3. Totally recommende. Especially to the fans of the series. I would give Assassin's creed Revelations a

9.25 out of 10

Blog Post: Time for a New Assassin

Colton — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:32:00 GMT

It's been a year since Ubisoft's last Assassin's Creed game, but the timeline only gets more complicated with Revelations. Desmond is trapped in the Animus when the story begins and to gain his freedom he must once again use Ezio as a means to learn the secrets behind the people of Eden.

Ezio's story opens up many years after the events of Brotherhood, he has traveled to Masayaf where he hunts the secrets left behind by Altair. After being ambushed by Templar he is sent to Constantinople to find the keys that Altair left scattered around the city. The keys actually allow Ezio to relive some of Altair's memories, somewhat a precursor to the animus. A plot of betrayal and redemption unfolds, and by the end of the game I couldn't be more excited for the next AC game.

That being said, Revelations has made some game play decisions that mainly hinder the overall experience instead of improve it. The two that stick out far more than others are the bomb making and Den defending mini-games. The biggest problem with both additions is that they're unnecessary. Ubisoft is trying to improve on an already fun formula.

Smoke bombs are awesome; using them to quick kill guards was a part of my game play routine in AC2 and Brotherhood, but adding in a crafting element and over 30 different kinds of bombs felt a bit overwhelming to a point where I avoided bombs every chance I had. Which is almost a complement to Ubisoft in it's own right because of the excellent combat system they've put in place. I can manage a fight with 15 enemies and come out on top with ease. Adding stun grenades or a lethal stink bomb seems very out of place in the AC formula. Also the addition of gunfire is frustrating, the shots are precise and unable to dodge; I fell from many rooftop climbs because some guard picked me off from an unfair distance.

Ubisoft also added a RTS element to Revelations in the form of a tower defense mini game. Anytime the Templar attack one of your Assassin Dens you must win one of these games to keep control of your hideout. I spent the first 5 hours of my play through leveling up my Assassins to 15 just to avoid this broken game mechanic. It is horrible; Ezio stands on a tall roof and commands Riflemen, Assassins and even flamethrower units to build blockades and defend against waves of Templar forces.

It is very unbalanced and actually off putting for the lore of a secret war being waged through the ages between Templar and Assassins. A huge street brawl including cannons and siege weapons is entirely polar opposite to the premise of stealth and political manipulation all previous games have entailed.

Another odd addition to the game are the Desmond sequences. After collecting Animus Data Fragments scattered around Constantinople, these first person platforming segments are unlocked, which give the player more insight on the mysterious main character of the series. They're challenging and again feel out of place; the reward for completing them was well worth the struggle. Without giving any spoilers be sure to check the map section of the bookstores when you finish the last one.

All in all Revelations tells an interesting story and delivers on the classic game play we've grown to love. While new additions like the hookblade, bombs and ziplines feel unneeded; the overall experience outweighs these faults. I also feel that the graphics of the Ezio trilogy are finally outdated and will need to be updated before AC3 releases (feet are supposed to have toes Ubisoft).

It's nice to get closure on Ezio and Altair's stories. Revelations most definitely delivers on it's name and though it's not the strongest game in the series, fans will wal away with a smile on their face read for more details on Desmond's journey.

Blog Post: Though Good Filler, It Is Still Filler Before Next Year's Bigger Installment

ShaggTastic93 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:20:00 GMT

Assassin's Creed Revelations is a quality game, but it is not up to the standards set by previous installments. Once again, the freeflow combat is smooth and responsive, yet still fairly repetitive. Once again the audio is top notch, with great music and voice acting. Once again, the tombs and multiplayer are well done. However, the story (the main reason I think most are hooked on this game, including me) is lacking. There is very little in the form of continuing the story, as we only learn about past events, in the form of multiplayer Abstergo information or Desmond's life in the Portal-esque challenges or flashbacks to Altair's life. It is pretty obvious that Ubisoft is setting up their big release for 2012 in Assassin's Creed III, as all information and story gathered in Revelations is meant to set up for some big event/"revelation," which does not come this game due to the cliffhanger ending. It seems like someone could have skipped Revelations and still been up to date with the current story for ACIII.

There are some gameplay errors with Revelations. The tower-defense style den defense is sloppy and annoying, and the only way to stop it from happening is to keep the notoriety down. Worrying about notoriety gets annoying because you cannot do many fun or amzing things without sticking out and raising the notoriety. It was a terrible idea and it was badly executed. The chariot battles were also badly done and fairly annoying as well, where you just have to bump into the other chariot harder.

That said, Revelations did most of what the series is known for well. Even though it is just background, the story is interesting, especially Altair's flashbacks. Good combat and audio like I said before also buoy this game. Though the game is a seat-saver for ACIII in 2012, it is a darn good seat-saver.

Blog Post: Less Gameplay Doesn't Perfect The Rest

TaigaWolf96 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:36:00 GMT

As an action-based genre gamer and vivid historian, I prefer my entertainment blended with intriguing storylines and interesting references to history. Nonetheless, I tend to view the glass as half empty, and perceive any blunder as a threat to the well-being of astounding game franchises.

To begin, I'll recognize the true feats. Sliding down from ropes with the hookblade intended for quicker travel and locating the Polos' hidden artifacts in subterranean Constantinople were brilliant features. The feature of purchasing books based on real copies written by famous European scholars was an even greater notion.

Secondly, the act of reducing the quantity of gaming hours on the single-player mode wasn't a very appreciated one.If you can remember, Brotherhood and AC2 had striking missions involving delving into subterranean caverns that weren't added to the campaign. Revelations had such quests but didn't allow them to replayed via free roam; this is a portion of the continual disappointment for Assassin's Creed and Ubisoft.

As a result, Ubisoft presently strives to deliver a more spacious sequel with the expectededly perfected gameplay and ideal approach to history, thus producing the glorious stories of assassins and people of the American Revolution.

Blog Post: Brotherhood with Bombs and a Hook

Wesleus — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:41:00 GMT

This game hasn't really grown much from Brotherhood. But that's not a bad thing, it's not really supposed to. You still play with Ezio, and he has gotten even more awesome with his slow motion, brutal kills. You still climb towers to unlock your map, take over Crusader controlled zones, purchase shops and landmarks, and unlock new weapons and armor. You still wander around more or less aimlessly looking for treasure chests and pick ups (which in this game are fewer, but you don't have maps to find them ... at least I haven't seen any yet.). Basically almost everything from the first games have remained in Revelations, except horses.

The two biggest changes in this game are the hook blade, which makes climbing, jumping, fighting and free running better, and bombs. Bombs are fun to play around with, but I've found that I forget about using them most of the time and stick to my favorite crossbow and heavy weapons in combat. The hook blade is a cool intoduction and it makes for some cool brutal kills which I prefer.

The three other changes are the den defense side game, Altair memories and the Desmond first person platforming levels. Personally the Altair memories have failed to impress (so far they've been kind of bland), and the Desmond missions are a little strange, being kind of Portal-ish. But i think the den defense is cool, but I like tower defense games.

Overall, about the same as Brotherhood. Not a bad thing, but nothing too incredibly new.

Blog Post: An Assassin's Finale

Jonathan Gipson — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:31:00 GMT

So here we are. This is what we've been waiting for. The finale for Ezio, and Altair. Since the first Assassin's Creed, many questions have gone unanswered, and there's been a LOT of bloodshed while searching for the answers. In the latest installment; questions will be answered, Templar will die, and it all will be delivered in an action packed package.

On our adventures we've been everywhere from Jerusalem, to Italy, and Rome. Now we're in Constantinople, and Ezio Auditore is a master assassin. He's become a hardened, experienced, and most of all deadly warrior and has mastered the art of assassination and combat. It's been a good 30 years since the events of Brotherhood, and Ezio is unfortunately starting to show his age. As you would expect, it's not slowing him down one bit as he runs through the streets, climbs up buildings, and takes down handfuls of guards with ease. The search for hidden artifacts left behind by Altair is the reason for Ezio's visit, and it's a race against the Templar to find them all and unlock the secrets Altair fought to protect.

The gameplay formula hasn't changed much (which isn't a bad thing) but Revelations has some new tweaks up it's sleeve. For instance, Ezio's arsenal was big enough to begin with, but now he's got some new toys. First is the hookblade; an attachment to the hidden blade that allows you to hook onto ledges to help you climb faster, evade guards, and use ziplines to travel through the city at great speed. Second, is the ability to create your own bombs. Smoke bombs were available in previous Assassin's Creed games, but now you can create several different types of bombs with a simple creation system. You can make cherry bombs, smoke bombs, and even bombs with lambs blood in it. These new additions add to the already amazing formula, and fit in perfectly as if they had been there the whole time.

Lets not forget that we finally get to play as Altair once again. As exciting as the previous sentence was, it's not as fantastic as you might think. Though fun and informative, there are very few of these missions, and they won't last any longer than 10 minutes. It's possible that we're supposed to maintain our focus on Ezio throughout the story, but it's still disappointing that we don't get more time to play as Altair.

Just as in Brotherhood, Ezio has the ability to recruit new assassins to his cause, except Revelations takes this idea even further. The recruitment concept is the same as Brotherhood, (kill the captain of the area, light the tower, etc.) except now the Templar can counterattack to take back their tower. When this happens Ezio leads the Assassin's to defend their territory. This turns over into a mini-game reminiscent of tower defense. As the Templar troops march down the street, you command yours from the rooftops to stop their advances. This can be a nice break from the normal gameplay, but can also be an annoyance as you can't use any shops around the hideout that's under siege until you defend it. Many times I was mildly annoyed, because I couldn't upgrade my equipment or send assassins on missions for extra gold without breaking from the story and diving into the defense.

As is to be expected, Revelations is beautiful. The streets are bustling with life, the architecture looks fantastic as you run through the streets and across the rooftops, and the characters are at their best. The music brings life to the action and the city with dramatic scores and mellow melodies, and the characters voices are pitch perfect. Cut-scenes are well placed, and the intense cliffhanger sequences keep you at the edge of your seat. The plot is well executed as it weaves the last few strings in it's web and doesn't disappoint.

If you want a break from the story, the multiplayer is an excellent alternative. With loads of customization for your characters and your profile, and not to mention all the unlockables and trophies to collect, you can spend loads of time in the intense player vs. player action. The gameplay is the same concept as Brotherhood: kill your target before someone gets you. There are a few different game modes you can join into, but they all hold the same goal, and you'll find yourself addicted to besting your opponents with your wit and skill.

Though it isn't the greatest addition to the Assassin's Creed saga. Revelations is most certainly worth playing. You definitely don't want to miss out on Ezio and Altair's finale, or the outstanding multiplayer.

Blog Post: Assassins Creed Revelations REVIEW

DeathGuard23 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:42:00 GMT

The game has a lot of objectives for players to do in the single player. Like the bomb crafting and the Den Defence mini-game. The den defence mini-game is great but the downside is that when you secure all the dens you won't have to defend the den anymore and then when the campagin is complete then all you have is just you running around killing guards in anyway possible.

Blog Post: Good but repetitive.

manbearkid — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:50:00 GMT

I just absolutely love the Assassin's creed series it has a great story and great mechanics, even tho i never played the first assassins creed I did play and beat ACII and ACB. Loving those two games I didn't hesitate to buy ACR when i first bought my Xbox 360. When i first started the game I was amazed it started out good with me escaping death and then hunting down this guy then as I arrived at Constainiople, the new setting in ACR, i was amazed at how big and intricate the city was. The new weapons were amazing. I had great interest in this game and I thought it would be an amazing thrill-ride but after about an hour in I felt it was nearly exactly the same as brotherhood, capturing areas, buying shops and armor, it felt too familiar and after about 15 story missions I put it up and haven't touched it since. Now for the people thinking "this guy cant judge the game without playing all of it" I really would like to finish the game but I just can't and i feel awful about it. So that was the campaign, now on to the multiplayer when i first picked up multiplayer I thought it wasn't bad but after awhile, I didn't like it as I sucked at it (I know not a good reason to hate it) but my biggest problem is the technical issues it takes a VERY long time to find a game, especially when you have friends playing with you in a party and then at times my character would freeze in the middle of a kill. No it's not my internet or my Xbox my guy will freeze and i can move the camera around and see people and players running around, this problem happens alot and until ubisoft fixes it i won't be playing anymore ACR multiplayer. In short ACR is a good game with small changes if you are interested in the story then i suggest buying it but if you want to get it for new gameplay don't.

Blog Post: Sometimes Saying Goodbye Can Be A Good Thing

Haiiro89 — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:53:00 GMT

As I understand it, this is to be the last game focusing on Ezio, which is a good thing at this point. Don't let the title of my review or the opening sentence fool you, I thoroughly enjoyed Assassin's Creed Revelations, particularly the dramatic story that is beginning to come into focus and tie together the three characters we have been following all along. That being said, it was time for the series to reach this point and move on to something new. It is also nice to grow with a character, and Ubisoft finishes up Ezio's trilogy by really demonstrating this final journey within the guild and his own personal relationships, something we unfortunately don't see too much of in games. Altair really shines in the (admittedly small) portions during which he re-enters the story, breathing new life into a character that has long been due a revisit. I would have gladly accepted more of Altair, but it is fitting he should appear only in small glimpses.

Despite my enjoyment of the story, the gameplay did not fare so well in my eyes. The base experience remains polished, but the additions to the single player never really felt... necessary, for lack of a better term. The hook blade made traveling somewhat more streamlined, provided you were going in the right direction, and also acted as a good boost to Ezio's climbing abilities, but it was mostly an attempt to improve what wasn't broken in the first place. I was also rather disappointed in the lackluster gameplay of the bombs. I probably only used a few throughout my playthrough, never for a moment ran out of any ingredient, and just overall felt there were better ways of going about a mission most of the time.

I was happy to find that coordinating assassins remained largely unchanged, and was particularly impressed with some of the missions working directly with assassins that really drive home Ezio's experience and age as mentor. Unfortunately, another addition detracted from the experience, one that is undoubtedly familiar to anyone who has read about the game: the tower defense sections. First of all, I probably partook in two such battles throughout the entire game, making the portions seem even more like an afterthought. On top of that, there doesn't seem to be much strategy to the battle. With somewhat sloppy controls and the repetitious nature, this is one idea that had some promise, but probably should have been left on the cutting room floor.

Beyond these additions, the game largely remains the standard Assassin's Creed experience except for the portions where we learn a little about Desmond's past through abstract 1st person puzzles. These stages were intriguing, especially the later ones, but I feel like they ended without contributing much and the puzzles quickly became boring due to both the lack of variety and the ease with which one can navigate them. I had expected something more along the lines of The Truth of the former game, something utilizing more puzzle-like aspects and 3rd person controls in an abstract world.

My experience with the multiplayer is almost nonexistent, but what little I tried felt as good as the last game. I did not discover any negative changes, and unlocking information about the Templars as one plays seems a brilliant move that is hopefully starting to catch on (like the projected multiplayer impact on Mass Effect 3's story), giving a deeper experience than just mindless leveling up and competition.

I cannot fault Ubisoft for experimenting, and tower defense aside none of the additions really detracted from the overall experience itself. If you want to play like you did in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, there really isn't much stopping you from doing so, and that may be one of the things that both makes Revelations special and indicates the series' need to break new ground. Despite all my criticism, there is nothing that would stop me recommending the game. The story remains solid, the game never stops being entertaining, and multiplayer as well as synchronization challenges offer plenty of replay value.

Blog Post: The Good vs Bad when it comes down to Assassins Creed Revelations

that_sterlin_kid — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:07:00 GMT

Assassin’s Creed Revelations has been in my radar for quite some time now. The fact that it was the next game in the Assassin’s Creed series made it a buy from the start, though because it was meant to be the conclusion of the Ezio Auditore storyline, I was much more interested. For those who have played Assassins Creed Brotherhood, Revelations follows the same; add some new toys, change a couple things around, give the player a new area explore, add new characters, answer as many questions the ending left behind as possible, and leave the player with a lot more questions upon completing the game. This is a good thing most of the time, but there are usually always a couple of bad things with it. To find out what those good and bad are, find out for yourself and keep reading.

As for the good things Assassins Creed Revelations has to offer; from the very beginning you are welcomed to the game by amazing visuals, much like the other Assassin’s Creed titles. The landscapes are beautiful, character designs are realistic, you don’t notice many duplicates and you will hardly ever experience a screen tear or rendering issues. The score is also quite fitting and doesn’t tend to repeat itself from the previous titles, as far as I could tell.

The game plays much like the others at its core though there have been quite a few additions that actually tend to benefit the series, especially when it comes down to diversity. With new and helpful gadgets such as the grappling hook and bombs, you will find yourself open to many different strategies that can be used during your adventure. There is also the addition of an interesting Tower Defense mini-game. Though you are only required to do it once in the main story, you can do so again through the many side-quests available that give the game hours of playability and replay value.

A variety of new enemies have also been added in order to give combat a more diverse feel. This is great for me mostly for the fact that since Assassin’s Creed began; I’ve found the combat system to be quite repetitive and a bit too easy. Along with the improvements from Brotherhood are the new and improved cavern sequences. No longer do you simply enter a boring cavern in search of an artifact! The caverns have much more of a difference in appearance and entertainment this time around. In order to get what you seek, you will now have a completely different challenge with each artifact that range from simply sneaking by or killing everyone inside, to a free-running after a boat while the cavern you are in falls apart.

Multiplayer has returned and is surprisingly even more fun than it was in Brotherhood due to its few new additions. There are now 5 new maps, deeper character customization, and the ability to unlock more for your characters appearance and skills. If anything, the multiplayer has quickly become my favorite part about this game and I’ve only played it (the multiplayer) for little under an hour before posting this review.

As for the bad things about Assassins Creed Revelations; the inability to skip the majority of the cut-scenes (even after seeing them before) is an issue, especially for the impatient. There’s also a few of the main story missions, which felt as if they were unneeded and only added to the game in order to increase its length.

Though it is now becoming much more common and expected, Revelations requires a ‘Passport’ in order to play the multiplayer. Passports are pretty much the same thing as Online Passes, and can be a bother to those who choose to rent the game or have purchased it pre-owned. You are given a trail period if you don’t have one, but with all that there is to do in the multiplayer I wouldn’t see much of a point.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations is a fantastic game that is definitely worth the buy and shouldn’t be skipped. However, due to its lack of the ability to skip cut-scenes, the need for a Passport to play online, and the feeling that a few of the missions were mere time-fillers gives it an 8.5 out of 10.

Thanks for reading this review. If you liked what you saw, be sure to follow me on either my Youtube page (TrueFreakinGamers), Facebook page, or Twitter (thatSTERLINkid) and share your thoughts on whether you agree or disagree!

**This game was reviewed based on the performance of the PS3 version**

Wiki Page: A guide to Assassin's Creed Revelations multiplayer Abilities, Perks, and Kill/Loss Streaks.

Yusuke Urameshi — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:02:00 GMT

(NOTE: This is currently incomplete. Introduction and two abilities are complete. More will be added either today, or tomorrow. Feel free to contribute.)

Abilities are your most important tools in Revelation's multiplayer. They allow you to hinder your opponents, expose them, escape them, and even out right kill them. So it's very important to experiment and find the perfect loadout for you. There are two default sets of abilities and they will be your starting weapons. Make the most of them, because these will help you learn the ropes while providing you the chance to stick your hidden blade in your opponents.

Abilities:

(Ordered according to level requirement.)

Number in () is the level required to unlock said ability. Number in (()) is the amount of Abstergo credits required to buy said ability.

Disguise (5) ((35)): This is a simple ability suited to blending with the crowd, while evading pursuers. Activating the ability will cause your character to transform into another character model. However, you will still show up on your pursuers compass and line of sight indicator. It's best not to use this ability while your pursuer is in your line of sights as it will often tip them off to your presence. It can also be used to get closer to your target safely if for some reason your character model has been revealed to them, though it will not protect your from becoming Notorious, meaning your target will be able to see you clearly as you are marked with a red arrow. It is often used in team Manhunt mode when your team is being pursued. There are challenges associated with stunning your pursuer while Disguised, and killing your target while Disguised.

Decoy (5)((35)): Useful little ability that is handy when a pursuer is near. Activate it and an NPC will transform into your Character model and start running around, often times causing your pursuer to kill the Decoy, which earns you a +100 point bonus called "Lure". Often used in various team based modes to lure a pursuer into striking then Stunning your exposed pursuer. This is often not safe because teams tend to move in packs, meaning you will expose yourself to other pursuers.

Tripwire Bomb (9)((40)): This ability can easily seem useless at first, but it actually just requires a little thinking. This ability is best suited to putting it down, and immediately sitting on a bench, hiding in a hay stack, or blending with a stationary crowd. The reason is, when ever you activate this ability, it takes a few a seconds to arm, meaning it's almost useless in a chase. But, it's real use is for taking out surprised targets, and stunning bewildered pursuers. The bomb acts like a motion sensitive smoke bomb, making any pursuer or target that steps into it's area of effect instantly n easy target as they choke on the smoke. That means you can get an easy kill, or perhaps the satisfaction of stunning a pursuer. Very useful in Team Manhunt, as not only can it save your butt, it can save other teammates by alerting them to an opponents presence.

Closure (9)((40)): One of the more useless abilities. It automatically sets off all chase breakers within a small range of you. It's a very situational ability, best suited for trapping an unaware target. Besides that, I've never seen this used much or used it much. When it comes to trapping unaware targets, there are better abilities for that. However, those abilities are unlocked at a higher level. If you're desperate for something, you can give this a try, but in reality, it's a waste of forty Abstergo Credits.

Templar Vision (11)((45-50)): This is pretty much Eagle Vision/Sense put it to multiplayer form. Pursuers are highlighted in red, targets in blue, and other Templars in white. The catch is you light up in sparkling white while the ability is being used, exposing yourself. Some have suggested using this is cover like crowds and around corners. It's very useful for finding targets in large crowds. One use that I've found to be effective is to stand on a rooftop, activate Templar vision, lock on to your target, and shoot them with a Hidden Gun. It's not worth a lot of points, but it's useful in tight crowds.

Blog Post: Revelations

AC 123 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:03:00 GMT

Assassin's Creed Revelations is a prime example that Assassin's Creed will continue to get better and better with each game. But it takes a few missteps like one is Den defense. Which is a horrible mini game gone wrong. It plays out like tower defense and it has really awkward controls. Another misstep was adding in the Byzentine guards they are really hard to deal with and they get really annoying after a while. But in reality Assassin's Creed Revelations is a great game.

File: Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack Screens

Jim Reilly — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:59:00 GMT