Multiplat Assassin's Creed: Revelations

[HBK619]

So about 1/3rd of the way through ACR now.

I don't know how to feel really. The story is completely uninteresting, Desmond has to be the most useless character going around. Ezio's stuff just isn't as enjoyable and interesting as it has been (Ezio writes diaries? **** OFF!). Altair's stuff is ok, but far too far in between the other sequences so it creates a massive disjointed story when you've forgotten what happened in Altair's story because it was hours ago. I really don't have one **** to give for the cutscenes through the game, I don't think I've listened to much of them at all, just nothing interesting going on.

But the majority of the gameplay is still fairly fun. The assassin's concept has expanded relatively well, although a bit more confusing and bloated to manage overall and there's still not the full potential of options taken with things like customisation and being able to really direct your assassin helpers too when you call them in, I'd love to see a pack type of situation where you can just let them go to town on anybody tactically instead of it just being an overall option.

The game is more or less the same way AC2 went to Brotherhood in that it's the same game, just that there's a few additions. The big problem is that the additions to Revelations are either too bland - The hookblade...yeah it works better than anything previously and makes things somewhat easier, but it's not the biggest thing in the world like it's made out. Too crap, the den defence...YAWN! I thought the Den Defence stuff would just be a shitty tower defence type of game, but it's just a bore fest that is in no way exciting or interesting to do, am hoping I don't get called in to do any. And those are really it, there's nothing in Revelations that takes the game to another level like Brotherhood did with the Assassin's probably more specifically than anything else.

The world is also very uninteresting on the whole as well. It seems to be almost a mirror image of the map from Assassin's Creed 2 as well.

So while there's a heap of boring and uninteresting stuff, the gameplay still holds it's own JUST enough to make it work. As I said in the AC3 thread though the combat definitely needs to be made smoother and probably just more Batman like, it's clunky as hell as it stands right now.

Back to the Desmond stuff though. How the hell do they keep stuffing this up? They have turned what could be entirely original, entirely different and really out there into something that is incredibly boring and just not fun. What is fun about walking around empty rooms with blocks in them and listening to Desmond talk about stuff? Is this the 'Revelations' that the title claims? Certainly haven't seen a hint of a revelation so far though.

Personally I would love to see some really out there stuff done with the Desmond story. At least from a gameplay perspective. The concept of the animus allows for such vast potential for gameplay. Why not go for some awesome form of retro gameplay concepts for Desmond when/if he's stuck in the Animus? Have a level that mimic's the old 2D Prince of Persia gameplay. Have something that is maybe a top down 8-bit Zelda/Rogue-like form of gameplay. There's so many possibilities that it's mind boggling they constantly go for something so insanely boring and bland, and then basically make that follow Desmond in that he's so damn dull as a character...even when voiced by the king of awesome, Nolan North!!

 

[Glenno23]

I only had to do 1 Den Defense in my play through.

Just keep bribing heralds and doing other things to keep your notoriety down

 

[HBK619]

I only had to do 1 Den Defense in my play through.

Just keep bribing heralds and doing other things to keep your notoriety down

Yeah, I got the heads up on that one already. Have been doing that as much as possible. The tutorial Den defence was certainly the last one that I want to do!

Also in above post forgot to mention about the bombs. Also a completely useless new feature. They don't exactly 'not work', but all they do is create a slightly different way to kill/hinder people and offer up reasons for the dev to block certain things just so you can 'blow it up' to progress/hide/whatever it is. It's really just a theme running through the game that whatever comes in, doesn't do enough.

Reading your post from earlier too about the controls not seeming as responsive. I agree, there seems to be some delay on occasion, trying to climb can be very 'sticky' compared to past games. Have often stuck to an object or something when trying to jump off it as the controls just aren't responding how I'm trying to get them to.

 

[Glenno23]

The only reason it took me so long to finish was because i didn't want to do the DD. I was glad i avoided it throughout

I would really advise smashing through the story and not worry about all the other little things. The ending is quite worthwhile and i found it very interesting

 

[mcuzzy]

good post hbk, i don't think i've posted since i was half way through so i'll give my opinion on some of the points you raised but nothing that will be a spoiler:

- den defense, please scrap it, boring and felt like a chore
- writing diaries didn't bother me, just a cutscene from waht i remember
- i stopped watching the cutscenes
- ezio doesn't seem like an alpha male as much as previous games, he's still a badass, but he has a hint of 'old cripple just hanging in there' to him now
- agree on altair missions, half the time i was thinking 'where am i again? what happened in the last mission?'
- the desmond missions were terrible, i think i mentioend it earlier in the thread but it was like some sort of shitty PC game from back in the early 90s, i did it for the trophy and not for the fun of it. would've rather had it like in brotherhood where you get to leave the animus and explore the modern tourist site of monteriggioni
- i liked the map, not as much as AC2 or brotherhood but i still liked it, i didn't really see much similarity to AC2 map
- hookblade, it's cool and i was impressed upon my first few climbs but wasn't worth talking up like it was going to be revolutionary to the series like you said.
- i barely used any bombs until i had finished the games and wanted a trophy. although once i had the trophy i realised how much fun the bombs were and how much easier many missions could have been, still don't really have the patience though i prefer to just jump on people with a blade

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Yeah, I got the heads up on that one already. Have been doing that as much as possible. The tutorial Den defence was certainly the last one that I want to do!

Also in above post forgot to mention about the bombs. Also a completely useless new feature. They don't exactly 'not work', but all they do is create a slightly different way to kill/hinder people and offer up reasons for the dev to block certain things just so you can 'blow it up' to progress/hide/whatever it is. It's really just a theme running through the game that whatever comes in, doesn't do enough.

Reading your post from earlier too about the controls not seeming as responsive. I agree, there seems to be some delay on occasion, trying to climb can be very 'sticky' compared to past games. Have often stuck to an object or something when trying to jump off it as the controls just aren't responding how I'm trying to get them to.

I agree on the bombs. They were a good concept that was pretty shit, to be honest. To annoying to make, and then it completely took away the fun of using whores, thieves, mercernaries etc; because all you needed to do was chuck a few bombs and you could distract/kill any guards without much thought.

The hookblade was definitely cool. I didn't like the map as much as the previous one for mine.

But the biggest let-down of the game was WHERE WERE THE SIDE MISSIONS?? I had a blast in BH running around helping whores and thieves etc; here there was only one side mission I can remember, outside of helping the chick, which was virtually the main mission anyway.

Still, I have very high hopes for the next one.

 

[mcuzzy]

I agree on the bombs. They were a good concept that was pretty shit, to be honest. To annoying to make, and then it completely took away the fun of using whores, thieves, mercernaries etc; because all you needed to do was chuck a few bombs and you could distract/kill any guards without much thought.

The hookblade was definitely cool. I didn't like the map as much as the previous one for mine.

But the biggest let-down of the game was WHERE WERE THE SIDE MISSIONS?? I had a blast in BH running around helping whores and thieves etc; here there was only one side mission I can remember, outside of helping the chick, which was virtually the main mission anyway.

Still, I have very high hopes for the next one.

surely there were side missions, i can't remmeber exactly but they were faction missions and you had to assign certain buildings to either prostitutes or mercaneries etc. and then do a mission?

 

[HBK619]

good post hbk, i don't think i've posted since i was half way through so i'll give my opinion on some of the points you raised but nothing that will be a spoiler:

- den defense, please scrap it, boring and felt like a chore
- writing diaries didn't bother me, just a cutscene from waht i remember
- i stopped watching the cutscenes
- ezio doesn't seem like an alpha male as much as previous games, he's still a badass, but he has a hint of 'old cripple just hanging in there' to him now
- agree on altair missions, half the time i was thinking 'where am i again? what happened in the last mission?'
- the desmond missions were terrible, i think i mentioend it earlier in the thread but it was like some sort of shitty PC game from back in the early 90s, i did it for the trophy and not for the fun of it. would've rather had it like in brotherhood where you get to leave the animus and explore the modern tourist site of monteriggioni
- i liked the map, not as much as AC2 or brotherhood but i still liked it, i didn't really see much similarity to AC2 map
- hookblade, it's cool and i was impressed upon my first few climbs but wasn't worth talking up like it was going to be revolutionary to the series like you said.

- i barely used any bombs until i had finished the games and wanted a trophy. although once i had the trophy i realised how much fun the bombs were and how much easier many missions could have been, still don't really have the patience though i prefer to just jump on people with a blade

It's not necessarily the writing of diaries that's the issue or how that's presented. It's more that, coupled with your 4th point in that Ezio just isn't as alpha male. He's been dulled down as a character. Ezio was a beast when he'd go around and just look at a chick and she'd squirt just because of the look. Now it's like he should be in a retirement home sipping tea and listening to the wireless radio complaining about what life was like 'back in his day'. Ezio was awesome because of the way he conducted himself in every way shape and form, he was a beast in general and it made him easily one of my favourite game characters of all time. Now he's just dull.

I agree on the bombs. They were a good concept that was pretty shit, to be honest. To annoying to make, and then it completely took away the fun of using whores, thieves, mercernaries etc; because all you needed to do was chuck a few bombs and you could distract/kill any guards without much thought.

The hookblade was definitely cool. I didn't like the map as much as the previous one for mine.

But the biggest let-down of the game was WHERE WERE THE SIDE MISSIONS?? I had a blast in BH running around helping whores and thieves etc; here there was only one side mission I can remember, outside of helping the chick, which was virtually the main mission anyway.

Still, I have very high hopes for the next one.

Yeah there's a distinct lack of side missions overall. Even the side missions that are there (the 'Master Assassin' one's) are fairly indifferent to the rest of the games stuff, mainly just escort/follow missions basically.

 

[Glenno23]

It's not necessarily the writing of diaries that's the issue or how that's presented. It's more that, coupled with your 4th point in that Ezio just isn't as alpha male. He's been dulled down as a character. Ezio was a beast when he'd go around and just look at a chick and she'd squirt just because of the look. Now it's like he should be in a retirement home sipping tea and listening to the wireless radio complaining about what life was like 'back in his day'. Ezio was awesome because of the way he conducted himself in every way shape and form, he was a beast in general and it made him easily one of my favourite game characters of all time. Now he's just dull.Yeah there's a distinct lack of side missions overall. Even the side missions that are there (the 'Master Assassin' one's) are fairly indifferent to the rest of the games stuff, mainly just escort/follow missions basically.

I like the fact that Ezio is no longer a "beast" People get old. This is showing what becomes of an Assassin master and one that has been burdened for so long.

He's still a badass though!

I like to think it all made some sense at the end. i hope you feel the same way too HBK when you get there. I don't want to say anymore, but i also read the novel and the novel tied some loose ends up for me as it went further than the game did

Anyone else read it?

 

[HBK619]

But the biggest let-down of the game was WHERE WERE THE SIDE MISSIONS?? I had a blast in BH running around helping whores and thieves etc; here there was only one side mission I can remember, outside of helping the chick, which was virtually the main mission anyway.

Still, I have very high hopes for the next one.

On this part again too.

I really miss the glyphs. That part of Brotherhood and AC2 were 2 of my favourite things from these games. Not necessarily the puzzles, which 90% of them were way over my head. But the extra strange bit that they gave about the history of what we're dealing with was always fun to watch and complete for me.

 

[grimface_87]

So is this game worth getting? I've just about finished Brotherhood and am considering skipping it and just getting III when it comes out.

 

[mcuzzy]

So is this game worth getting? I've just about finished Brotherhood and am considering skipping it and just getting III when it comes out.

I reckon you should play through this one, it's not a bad game it's pretty good, it's just probably not as good as the previous two.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I reckon you should play through this one, it's not a bad game it's pretty good, it's just probably not as good as the previous two.

this. It's still worth playing.

 

[HBK619]

So is this game worth getting? I've just about finished Brotherhood and am considering skipping it and just getting III when it comes out.

If you want more Assassin's Creed then yes. If you're not all that bothered/have fatigued on the series then I'd say no. I don't really think this is a must have like the previous 2.


On a positive note, I am really liking the Sofia Memory missions where you go through the 'Romulus Lair' type areas. Although that's another thing sorely missing from the game, are the dedicated lairs to run through that focus highly on platforming and one run through. But the one's that you get in the Sofia Memories that DO focus on that are extremely enjoyable. The last 2 that focused on that (as the rest of the Sofia stuff can be a bit of a bore if it's not the Altair missions) have been 2 of the best missions in the entire Assassin's Creed catalogue of missions. Adding in set pieces to the already strong parkour free running elements and then mixing it up with puzzles too. Very fun.

 

[Glenno23]

So is this game worth getting? I've just about finished Brotherhood and am considering skipping it and just getting III when it comes out.

I would play it. The ending of Revelations helps set up Desmond going into number 3 and finishing Ezio's journey is a must IMO if you're a fan

 

[Lance Uppercut]

If you want more Assassin's Creed then yes. If you're not all that bothered/have fatigued on the series then I'd say no. I don't really think this is a must have like the previous 2.


On a positive note, I am really liking the Sofia Memory missions where you go through the 'Romulus Lair' type areas. Although that's another thing sorely missing from the game, are the dedicated lairs to run through that focus highly on platforming and one run through. But the one's that you get in the Sofia Memories that DO focus on that are extremely enjoyable. The last 2 that focused on that (as the rest of the Sofia stuff can be a bit of a bore if it's not the Altair missions) have been 2 of the best missions in the entire Assassin's Creed catalogue of missions. Adding in set pieces to the already strong parkour free running elements and then mixing it up with puzzles too. Very fun.

agree with that. The lairs have always been outstanding fun.

 

[HBK619]

Just finished it up.

Was a decent little end to the story and a nice way to finish off one of the best gaming characters stories (they even handled Altair extremely well, even though that whole Altair stuff was extremely cheap in terms of the way it was made - exact same area/level done 5 times over - it was still fun). However it doesn't make much sense the way they're moving into AC3 now, seems like they've deliberately regressed just to drag it out more. With what they showed off at the end of this there's a fair different seeming direction than going to the era we're getting with 3.

Not sure if I can go back and finish off Desmond's memories or not once the story is finished (currently watching the credits so haven't seen the post-credits game - lol controller turned off these credits are that long! Oh good, I get to do them), but my god the 3 that I had played were just god awful. How did they let them get through to the final stage of game I will never know. I tried to get into the 4th memory but had the game freeze 3 times forcing hard resets, so I just gave up, the gameplay and even story bits weren't even interesting to bother with the 3 previous tbh.

I still feel they missed the boat with a lot of stuff in the game. Even the buying shops and customisation didn't have the same feel as the past 2 games. But as a standalone title, it's decent enough for sure. Hopefully AC3 can be the same as AC2 was from AC1 in terms of innovation, improvements and perfecting what they had set out to do.