Hype is all in the games industry. A few gorgeous looking mocked up screenshots are often all it takes to get the press champing at the bit.
Just imagine if Scarlett Johansson turned up at your front door wearing nothing but a fur coat and smile. We wish. Well, that's been the press reaction to early shots of Assassin's Creed.
We've been drip fed the odd clip here, a screenshot or two there and the critics have been treating it as the rebirth of gaming itself.
So the 'Metal Gear Solid in olden times' sneak-a-thon finally arrives. It's time to give it a thorough shake down.
They say:
Gamespot: "Assassin's Creed is the kind of game you tell your friends about and one that should be in your collection."
Official Xbox Magazine: "There's little doubt that you'll enjoy playing Assassin's Creed from beginning to end because it's a unique experience."
IGN: "The exploration aspects of Assassin's Creed and the combat are both plusses in my book. But those two elements are only part of the whole."
We say:
Assassins Creed isn't quite the freedom based 'kill your target however you like' title we've all been hoping for.
Yes, it may be based on despatching various innocents just like Hitman but, unlike that classic series, Assassin's Creeds strict structure leaves you cold.
Creed is all about pressing various buttons at the correct time, rather than crafting a spectacular set piece of your own design. No matter how skillfully the control method tries to convince you, this game is more like one of those God of War boss battles where you press the buttons that flash up on screen to cause merry hell.
It's fun to play of course, just not what was promised. It'll take you till halfway through the game's spectacularly horrific plot before you realise that you've not really done very much.
The concept is solid enough and even manages to feel quite fun for the most part, but the parkour assassin segment of the game is a real let down. Jumping through windows, straddling beams, hurling yourself into hay bales - it's all framed in such a manner that you're simply urging your character along a set path rather than creating your own mission.
There's so little freedom to deviate. At first sight it may seem you have the option of meandering off to find another 'way in' to the target, but the game simply won't allow it to happen.
Looks wise, Assassin's Creed can't be faulted. Simply watching your character running around during the stark tutorial is enough to make your mouth drop.
There aren't enough superlatives to describe how gorgeous Creed is. It's not just the stunning level of detail, but how the crowd reacts to your character. Everyone seems, well, human and that's the best accolade we can give.
We're frustrated by this game. Assassin's Creed should have been great, but there's precious little gameplay. What's left is a beautiful looking shell that just needs a final bit of polish to make it an absolute corker.
With a touch more freedom, this could've been a classic.
Like this? Try these:
Crackdown - Xbox 360
Saints Row - Xbox 360
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - PS2/Xbox/PC
FORMAT REVIEWED
Xbox 360
OTHER FORMATS
PS3, PC
POSTED...
Fri 23 Nov 2007 at 12:10pm
