Assassin's Creed
Swordplay at its FinestCombat varies from one-on-one to one-on-many, but expect AI to execute complex moves and chase you down if you turn tail and flee. Fending off a group with a sword follows a familiar pattern, but without fantastical moves such as a backflip-to-sword thrust. It's the one-on-one combat which is most appealing, though. In keeping with the game's underlying theme of realism, defensive moves play a substantial role in determining the outcome of a battle.
In addition to weaponry, Altair also has a stable of grappling moves at his disposal, enabling him to latch on to an enemy and toss him into a wall. Whatever your combat preference, be prepared to do more than execute simple key combinations for attacks. Given the rather intricate control scheme (where buttons correspond to individual body parts), nuance in battle will be rewarded.
Visuals are powered by Ubisoft's own Scimitar engine, developed in-house especially for Assassin's Creed. What's been shown so far is impressive. Environments are impressively detailed and dressed in the decor of the time, but show the grime associated with towns of the era. The lighting model produces dynamic character shadows that have been highlighted in gameplay video (and used for dramatic effect). Perhaps most impressive are the character animations. Though combat sequences have certainly been cherry-picked for trailers, the fluid way in which moves seamlessly string together is striking. Is It Gold Yet?No doubt, Assassin's Creed is on most gamers' wish lists. From what we've been shown so far, it's a logical progression from the Prince of Persia series. Where the latter is light-hearted and exaggerated, the new title favors seriousness and realism. To borrow from the film world, it's the difference between The Mummy and Gladiator. More than a pretty face, the game also promises to innovate with a new control scheme (though some concerns were raised at E3 regarding the learning curve). Throw in a conspiracy-laden narrative (with some potentially jaw-dropping plot twists), and Assassin's Creed could be the new franchise Ubisoft is looking for.
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