E3 2011: Assassin's Creed: Revelations Preview

"Ezio is getting old, but that's not exactly a bad thing."

 

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal, Annecy, Quebec, Bucharest, Singapore, and Massive
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: November 15, 2011
Platform(s): PC, 360, PS3
Genre: Action Adventure

 

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will basically conclude Ezio Auditore’s chapter; both he and AC1 protagonist Altair Ibn-La’Ahad will also make their final appearances in the game. After taking the reins and becoming Grand Master of the Assassin Order, Ezio--now over 50 years old--looks back at his turbulent Assassin lifestyle, thinking about how things could have turned out differently. What if he never became an Assassin? What if his family never experienced betrayal and death in the hands of the Templars? What if, instead, he had lived a peaceful life that could’ve lasted until the end of his days? After playing AC: Brotherhood last year, I thought that they’ve already fleshed out the Ezio character. I’ve come to that point where I’m ready to take on a new protagonist in a new setting, but Ubisoft can’t seem to let him go. Perhaps that’s a good thing.

 

Ezio will be able to relive Altair's memories.

 

Ezio will travel to Masyaf, the Assassin fortress from the first game to seek guidance from his spiritual mentor, Altair, who has left behind clues regarding an artifact that could supposedly end the war between the Templars and Assassins. This artifact can only be opened by five seals Altair left behind. Ezio will also travel to the grand city of Constantinople to combat the Templar threat there, and recover these seals scattered throughout the kingdom. Ezio will also find himself in some parts of the game where he gets to relive Altair's memories. Meanwhile, Desmond Miles falls into a coma, which was caused by the final events of Brotherhood. He finds himself in the Black Room, a safe mode within the Animus infrastructure that will play into reconstructing his subconscious ("revolutionary gameplay," as dubbed by Ubisoft) and wake himself up. Story-wise, I think they’re presenting neat ideas that I hope finally sets up a potential Assassin’s Creed III. The fact that Altair will make a significant role in Revelations is astounding, and it’s equally exciting that we will finally get to know more about Desmond Miles’s backstory.

 

Welcome, Desmond, to the Aperture Science Research Center.

 

Brotherhood’s gameplay system will form the basis of Revelations, with some minor tweaks to the combat, new items that will speed up the free-running/parkour traversal mechanics by 30%, and Assassin recruiting. Ezio’s Eagle Vision will be upgraded to Eagle Sense, allowing you to determine certain targets’ routes and give you an idea on where you can subdue them without attracting unwanted attention. A new weapon called the hookblade will be put to good use, which will emphasize the concept of speed during rooftop chases as well as the “Oh, sh--, that sh-- was cool dude!” drop-from-a-high-ledge-with-two-hidden-blades assassination moments.

 

Ezio using the hookblade.

As for your little Assassin army, the recruit level cap will be increased from 10 to 15, and you’ll be able to have more customization options for each individual. Revelations will also see an expansion to the Borgia Towers model from Brotherhood, in which capturing more towers (converts into Assassin Dens) lessens the Templar influence in the region. Unlike Brotherhood, however, the Templars can potentially retake those towers as your notoriety level rises. With this in mind, you can dispatch your soldiers to Assassin Dens that are under attack by the enemy. Also, keeping the recruit level cap in mind, level 15 will see them promoted to Master Assassin status. Having more Master Assassins in your arsenal will make territory management easier, as they can fend off any incoming Templar barrages without breaking a sweat.

 

Ezio will travel to familiar grounds.

 

There’s a bit more information on both Revelations’ gameplay and plot, but I think this is enough to give you a basic gist on what to expect out of the full game. Ubisoft did show a demo of Revelations during their conference on Monday, and it looked fantastic. It showed an old and grizzled Ezio roaming the bustling streets of Constantinople, fighting through persistent guards, and setting fire on a few ships at a nearby harbor. I won’t get into too much detail, though I do have a video of the demo showcased at the conference (in case you didn’t have the chance to see it yet). Check it out.

 

 

As for multiplayer, I suspect it will more or less be the same as Brotherhood, though Ubisoft hinted on new modes, maps, and characters. Players will also be given more freedom to customize their multiplayer avatar, in which they’ll be able to change their exterior look, outfits, weapons, and more.

 

It’s disappointing to see Ubisoft go the annual game release route that has plagued franchises such as Call of Duty, though I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt with what they’re offering. I felt the same way with Brotherhood last year, and yet that game turned out to be pretty awesome. Aside from that, I hope to finally get the answers I want regarding the most significant mysteries surrounding the Assassin’s Creed universe. How will the Ezio Auditore trilogy end? How does Altair play a major role in this, exactly? We’ll soon know when November 15, 2011 comes around.

 

 

David Gabriel, NoobFeed.