That's a big call when you you consider what other developers have released, namely Rockstar. Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption are among the best games that money can buy. They're flawed, but their scale and ambition is something that few video games ever come close to matching. The repetitive nature of Assassin's Creed didn't fill anyone with hope, but Ubisoft has taken constructive criticism on board and evolved the structure into something comparable with the aforementioned classics. With each passing installment we're finally able to understand exactly why Ubisoft invested so heavily in this new IP. Without trying to diminish the quality of any other sandbox game, the sheer potential of Assassin's Creed is a mind blowing thought. The possibilities are endless, but for now, let's step back into the shoes of Ezio Auditore da Firenze.
All kinds of awesome.
Brotherhood begins immediately after the events at the end of Assassin's Creed II. It's highly recommended that you play through Ezio's first journey, otherwise the terminology and history will alienate you. At this stage you should be aware of the general set-up; you're actually playing as Desmond, a descendant of Ezio. The year is 2012 and through the wonders of technology, a machine called the 'Animus' allows you to access his memories. The game shifts back and forth between the Renaissance period and your current state, but you'll be spending the bulk of your time in ancient Rome. It's easy to get distracted by the so-called gimmicks of free-running and climbing, but this latest installment is proving that the world of Assassin's Creed is driven on by a complex and engaging story. Relationships between the main cast of characters are strong, the back-story is absolutely fascinating, the writing is intelligent and Brotherhood will make you laugh out loud with references to other video games. Ubisoft's money has been well spent with great voice acting and realistic animation, so don't be worried about the single player campaign of Brotherhood, it's superb from start to finish.
Not much has changed in terms of structure. The game is set out in exactly the same way as before, but this time you're given the biggest city of them all to explore. Rome is your new playground, and it's gigantic. Unlike the first two games, you won't be hopping back and forth between different locations so frequently. You will travel outside of Rome, not just in Desmond's era but also to carry out some important missions. The big improvement here is with gameplay, it's extremely varied and you're free to carry out tasks with action or stealth. Occasionally there will be a constraint restricting you to follow the stealthy route, but you're generally let loose to tackle objectives as you see fit. Splinter Cell: Conviction tried something similar earlier in the year, but didn't fully succeed. In Brotherhood, the missions are fresh and expertly paced, not to mention that overall it's a much more 'epic' experience. Yes that word has become almost meaningless these days, but the cinematic qualities of Brotherhood shine through more so than either of its predecessors.
Ezio's latest dance routine.
Rome is a gorgeous place to wander around, although impressive graphics are a trait that we've become accustomed to with these games. The draw distance is astonishing and the level of detail within the city is unparalleled. Rome is organic and realistic, the lighting is crisp and city streets are bustling with activity. The world is believable no matter which way you look, and the attention to detail across the board is remarkable. Since you'll be dealing mostly with one big location, Brotherhood does a good job in relation to making districts feel unique. There will be a slight change in hue when you enter different areas, but there's also plenty of recognisable features scattered throughout. The Colosseum is the most obvious of these, but you'll also stumble across aqueducts and the Pantheon. The Pantheon in particular is an ideal example which demonstrates the scale of Brotherhood. One assassination asks you to reach the roof, from here you'll need to climb down the curved ceiling and pounce on your unsuspecting victim. All of these instances run smoothly and the frame rate never drops. It really is a stunning game to look at, and sometimes you'll be amazed that a console is producing so much power.
Even though the core of Assassin's Creed II is still in place, there are various new additions which make Brotherhood an even deeper and more rewarding game. As the title suggests, you're going to be training assassins out of regular citizens from the gutters of Rome. Ezio is trying to rebuild Rome and gather a legion of loyal followers, a new feature that has been integrated very well. Viewpoints are synonymous with the franchise, except this time you'll discover certain areas that are occupied by the enemy. This activates a mini-mission where you need to assassinate the leader, burn a tower and free the people. From here on in you can reclaim towers and recruit more assassin's who can help you out in challenging areas. But there's more to it than just walking around with groupies. Ezio can send his recruits all across Europe to complete missions and gain experience, becoming more beneficial to the cause as they improve their skills. It might sound cumbersome and overwhelming, but every new feature is streamlined with precision so it's always easy to manage everything.
One of da Vinci's greatest toys.
A terrific score by Jesper Kyd (best known for his work on Hitman) adds an almost haunting atmospheric touch in places. It's usually a joy to hear when different pieces kick in, giving the game a near-magical feeling. However, music doesn't equal greatness. That's left to the content inside Rome. Brotherhood is enormous with a single player campaign lasting around fifteen to twenty hours. Hardcore fans will be sinking a lot more time in, because that's only skimming over the surface. Rome has its own economy, meaning that you can buy and renovate different buildings. There's a huge amount of side-missions and quests to complete, some of them courtesy of an old friend - Leonardo da Vinci. Collectibles are littered all over the place (those wretched flags are back), along with plenty of hidden messages from 'Subject 16' - think of him as the 'Riddler' from Arkham Asylum. Underground vaults are another pleasant distraction, showcasing the platforming side of Ezio. Once again, the controls are unchanged so if you've played either of the previous games, Brotherhood's layout will be instantly accessible. Thanks to the clever use of the right trigger, movement flows naturally and climbing the tallest of towers never goes pear shaped because of a poor control scheme. Certain gamers out there might criticise the simplicity of it all, but anything too complicated would have detracted from the enjoyment of exploration and combat. Speaking of which, Ezio now has several new finishing moves with his gun - all of them brutal, all of them extremely cool.
As brilliant as the single player campaign is, that's not the reason why Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the highlight of the series so far. Without question, the biggest addition is a fully fledged multiplayer component. You're actually playing as the enemy, and multiplayer serves as their training tool. The basic idea is to hunt down and kill assigned players, while watching your back at the same time. Extra points are rewarded for techniques used throughout the match; these range from luring your pursuer into killing the wrong person, or eliminating your foe without being detected. Running around and climbing onto walls makes you easy to spot, so you'll need to blend in with the crowd or find an effective hiding spot. Multiplayer is mainly comprised of 'Wanted' and 'Alliance', the latter of which pairs you with someone else so that you can simultaneously kill the other teams. Free for all is definitely the most enjoyable of the two, and it's a prime example of how to create an inventive and original multiplayer experience.
Note to men - don't dump your girlfriend via text.
Everyone had their reasons to doubt Ubisoft's multiplayer intentions, understandably so. Thankfully, we've been treated to what could be considered the most refreshing competitive gameplay since Left 4 Dead's 'Versus Mode'. Unless you go back and play the dormant Splinter Cell: Double Agent, there's no other genuine stealth multiplayer game. There's nothing else quite like it, and the enjoyment stems mostly from the thrilling encounters that happen in every single lobby. Whereas most FPS offerings demand deep knowledge of individual maps to get maximum satisfaction, that's not entirely necessary here. While it does help, most players will already feel confident in familiar locations like Venice. Lag is non-existent and as you continue to gain experience points and rank up, more new features become available. These are essentially perks and death streaks, but it's not like they've just been thrown in for the sake of it. Matches are very well balanced and bonuses aren't over-powered, so if you're not completely rubbish at stealth games, you'll always have a decent chance. There's an unexpected level of depth here and we simply don't have enough room to explain everything to you. Assuming the community catches on to the multiplayer side of things, you can comfortably increase the longevity of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.
If you loved Ezio's previous journey, you're going to love this adventure even more. All of the restructuring from Assassin's Creed II has been refined, and a slew of new ideas have been thrown into the mix. It's surprising given the length of time between releases, but the game has been crafted with care, determination and focus. Blending action and stealth is never easy, although now we've finally been able to witness the real potential of this greatly improved franchise. As a complete package, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood goes above and beyond almost every other sandbox game out there. Don't let your initial impressions fool you, Assassin's Creed is quickly becoming one the most consistent and breathtaking experiences in video games.
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