So I'm playing Assassin's Creed. Anybody else playing this kick-ass game? I love the open-endedness of things, and I've gotten quite adept now at taking out a target, then disappearing very quickly. I enjoy planning out my strikes and escapes, and reacting to unknown variables as they arise. The combat system is pretty good too, I have a little difficulty pulling some moves off, but I can easily survive combat with many guards now.
But the "real" storyline, I find much more interesting. I avoided spoilers about the game since its release, and now I find myself almost rushing through missions just to see what will happen next. Very cool idea for a game, indeed, and I look forward to any sequels they make out of this new IP. I'm not yet at the point where I'd know what those potential sequels would look like, but I can imagine some definite fun.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anybody else was playing and what they thought about it. I'd prefer if we can not have any spoilers, but use [spoiler ] tags if you're gonna.
Full Version: Assassin's Creed
I'm really hoping to get a new PC this summer and get the PC version. It's received mixed reviews, some 9s and some 7s (on the standard 6-9.9 game review scale) but I think it looks great. Nice graphics and I really want to try that open gameplay. My new machine will hopefully contain an 8800GTS 512 graphics card, which should be enough to max it at 1680x1050.
I've got it, i love it, but there are a few flaws. I eagerly await the second one because if they can build on what they have they will have something great.
Also once you beat it if you want a real challenge go through it again WITHOUT the HUD or the radar. The entire game can be played without it and it makes it much more interesting since you actually have to pay attention to figure out where your going and what your doing. Theres a huge belief that thats how the game was planned(since it gives a purpose to eagle vision) and that they tacked on the HUD at the end when the found it too hard for casual players.
Also once you beat it if you want a real challenge go through it again WITHOUT the HUD or the radar. The entire game can be played without it and it makes it much more interesting since you actually have to pay attention to figure out where your going and what your doing. Theres a huge belief that thats how the game was planned(since it gives a purpose to eagle vision) and that they tacked on the HUD at the end when the found it too hard for casual players.
I've considered buying it, but held off because some people absolutely hated it. Maybe they were the ones who found it too hard. 
Might have to pick it up now, though I'm not sure if I'd rather play the PC version or the Xbox 360 version (or the PS3 version for that matter...)
Might have to pick it up now, though I'm not sure if I'd rather play the PC version or the Xbox 360 version (or the PS3 version for that matter...)
Well I can only speak for the PC version. I've got a Radeon X1900XT at 1680x1050 and the only choppiness I've seen is when it does the quick spin-around when you're up at a high tower or whatever filling in the map. It's not even choppy then, really, it's just the only time you notice any framerate whatsoever. That said, I haven't played with any settings. It looks beautiful so I assume it's at highest settings. I'll try to figure it out for sure if people want me to. Controls work really well as I said.
One common complaint I've heard is that gameplay can be a bit repetitive. There's some veracity to that, however as you "level up" you do gain new abilities and weapons that add new gameplay elements. Also, while the actions you conduct are repetitive, they are fun actions. Even the things you pretty much have to do before you can complete a mission (going to the top of structures and mapping out the city), often present a sort of puzzle. While many of these buildings are similar in their architecture, others are unique and require some careful thought and planning, or even the elimination of guards who spot you on the roofs. After all, if you make a wrong move while climbing to the top of the massive cathedral in Acre, let's say, you can plunge to your death. That one in particular took me a while to figure out how to get to the top of, and the view was definitely worth it.
Anyway, I can understand why some people might not have liked it, but the overarching story is rather compelling to me. And if I do get a little bored with completing the objectives, I can always just explore the cities, engage in random acts of violence and the subsequent combat with guards, or go back to areas I've "completed" before to look for more flags (a secondary objective) or jump around on the terrain and just look around. It's a huge game world, there's lots to see, and the game is very forgiving- letting me come back to the main tasks whenever I feel like it.
As for the HUD, I mostly just ignore it, actually. It's useful to see how many throwing knives I have left, and how much I'm hurt or whatever, but the map and the radar hasn't really been a factor. I prefer to get to know the locations I'm operating in before I do much, which I suppose the real Altair would have done first anyway. I usually make my way to the rooftops quickly when I enter a new area, take out any archers around the place, and get an overview of the city. Then I explore the street-level, help citizens, figure out what investigations I need to complete, do all the extra ones too, and then start planning out my assassination before going to get permission from the assassin's guild. I even rehearse my escape a few times. Maybe that's why I seem to be pretty good at the game, I know the terrain well and I do a lot of combat practice.
One common complaint I've heard is that gameplay can be a bit repetitive. There's some veracity to that, however as you "level up" you do gain new abilities and weapons that add new gameplay elements. Also, while the actions you conduct are repetitive, they are fun actions. Even the things you pretty much have to do before you can complete a mission (going to the top of structures and mapping out the city), often present a sort of puzzle. While many of these buildings are similar in their architecture, others are unique and require some careful thought and planning, or even the elimination of guards who spot you on the roofs. After all, if you make a wrong move while climbing to the top of the massive cathedral in Acre, let's say, you can plunge to your death. That one in particular took me a while to figure out how to get to the top of, and the view was definitely worth it.
Anyway, I can understand why some people might not have liked it, but the overarching story is rather compelling to me. And if I do get a little bored with completing the objectives, I can always just explore the cities, engage in random acts of violence and the subsequent combat with guards, or go back to areas I've "completed" before to look for more flags (a secondary objective) or jump around on the terrain and just look around. It's a huge game world, there's lots to see, and the game is very forgiving- letting me come back to the main tasks whenever I feel like it.
As for the HUD, I mostly just ignore it, actually. It's useful to see how many throwing knives I have left, and how much I'm hurt or whatever, but the map and the radar hasn't really been a factor. I prefer to get to know the locations I'm operating in before I do much, which I suppose the real Altair would have done first anyway. I usually make my way to the rooftops quickly when I enter a new area, take out any archers around the place, and get an overview of the city. Then I explore the street-level, help citizens, figure out what investigations I need to complete, do all the extra ones too, and then start planning out my assassination before going to get permission from the assassin's guild. I even rehearse my escape a few times. Maybe that's why I seem to be pretty good at the game, I know the terrain well and I do a lot of combat practice.
QUOTE(mrxak @ May 16 2008, 12:10 AM) 
Well I can only speak for the PC version. I've got a Radeon X1900XT at 1680x1050 and the only choppiness I've seen is when it does the quick spin-around when you're up at a high tower or whatever filling in the map. It's not even choppy then, really, it's just the only time you notice any framerate whatsoever. That said, I haven't played with any settings. It looks beautiful so I assume it's at highest settings. I'll try to figure it out for sure if people want me to. Controls work really well as I said.
One common complaint I've heard is that gameplay can be a bit repetitive. There's some veracity to that, however as you "level up" you do gain new abilities and weapons that add new gameplay elements. Also, while the actions you conduct are repetitive, they are fun actions. Even the things you pretty much have to do before you can complete a mission (going to the top of structures and mapping out the city), often present a sort of puzzle. While many of these buildings are similar in their architecture, others are unique and require some careful thought and planning, or even the elimination of guards who spot you on the roofs. After all, if you make a wrong move while climbing to the top of the massive cathedral in Acre, let's say, you can plunge to your death. That one in particular took me a while to figure out how to get to the top of, and the view was definitely worth it.
Anyway, I can understand why some people might not have liked it, but the overarching story is rather compelling to me. And if I do get a little bored with completing the objectives, I can always just explore the cities, engage in random acts of violence and the subsequent combat with guards, or go back to areas I've "completed" before to look for more flags (a secondary objective) or jump around on the terrain and just look around. It's a huge game world, there's lots to see, and the game is very forgiving- letting me come back to the main tasks whenever I feel like it.
As for the HUD, I mostly just ignore it, actually. It's useful to see how many throwing knives I have left, and how much I'm hurt or whatever, but the map and the radar hasn't really been a factor. I prefer to get to know the locations I'm operating in before I do much, which I suppose the real Altair would have done first anyway. I usually make my way to the rooftops quickly when I enter a new area, take out any archers around the place, and get an overview of the city. Then I explore the street-level, help citizens, figure out what investigations I need to complete, do all the extra ones too, and then start planning out my assassination before going to get permission from the assassin's guild. I even rehearse my escape a few times. Maybe that's why I seem to be pretty good at the game, I know the terrain well and I do a lot of combat practice.
One common complaint I've heard is that gameplay can be a bit repetitive. There's some veracity to that, however as you "level up" you do gain new abilities and weapons that add new gameplay elements. Also, while the actions you conduct are repetitive, they are fun actions. Even the things you pretty much have to do before you can complete a mission (going to the top of structures and mapping out the city), often present a sort of puzzle. While many of these buildings are similar in their architecture, others are unique and require some careful thought and planning, or even the elimination of guards who spot you on the roofs. After all, if you make a wrong move while climbing to the top of the massive cathedral in Acre, let's say, you can plunge to your death. That one in particular took me a while to figure out how to get to the top of, and the view was definitely worth it.
Anyway, I can understand why some people might not have liked it, but the overarching story is rather compelling to me. And if I do get a little bored with completing the objectives, I can always just explore the cities, engage in random acts of violence and the subsequent combat with guards, or go back to areas I've "completed" before to look for more flags (a secondary objective) or jump around on the terrain and just look around. It's a huge game world, there's lots to see, and the game is very forgiving- letting me come back to the main tasks whenever I feel like it.
As for the HUD, I mostly just ignore it, actually. It's useful to see how many throwing knives I have left, and how much I'm hurt or whatever, but the map and the radar hasn't really been a factor. I prefer to get to know the locations I'm operating in before I do much, which I suppose the real Altair would have done first anyway. I usually make my way to the rooftops quickly when I enter a new area, take out any archers around the place, and get an overview of the city. Then I explore the street-level, help citizens, figure out what investigations I need to complete, do all the extra ones too, and then start planning out my assassination before going to get permission from the assassin's guild. I even rehearse my escape a few times. Maybe that's why I seem to be pretty good at the game, I know the terrain well and I do a lot of combat practice.
I commend your dedication. Like i said though, just finding your way around can be troublesome without it and it makes eagle vision about 1000 times more important. Either way i'm curious to know which assassinations you've done and which you've liked so far. My favorite(and probably the most difficult) you've probably yet to get to since its one of the last.
Also fun facts: if you do a counter that leaves the guy stunned, pressing attack will kill him and the run/sprint/jump button will break his legs. If he's the last foe he will be alive on the ground and you can finish him with your assassin blade.
Secondly: Note the info in here is niffty and not story spoiler or even gameplay spoiler. You may have already done it. If you have however i suggest you don't use it during the end because it can take a lot of fun out of the game you can fight with your hidden blade. You can only counter, but counters are instant kills unlike the blade and sword which won't actually kill stronger enemies the first time. Regarding the previous warning this can take the challenge out of fights if your any good with your timing. Also if battling with the hidden blade and you see a soilder motion to attack, cringe, or look like they're going to be sick, that means their guard is down for a instant kill
Thirdly:Throwing guards off roofs or into scaffoldings can be great ways to clear your enemies. Just be afraid of throw debris for the first half of the game. Very afraid.
Fourth: Assassins posses many amazing skills from astounding climbing abilities, knife throwing, weapons master, guise, and cunning. There is oddly enough though one very common skill among todays populace that assassins apparently do not posses, and i can't wait until you find out what it is.
QUOTE(mrxak @ May 16 2008, 02:10 AM)
As for the HUD, I mostly just ignore it, actually. It's useful to see how many throwing knives I have left, and how much I'm hurt or whatever, but the map and the radar hasn't really been a factor. I prefer to get to know the locations I'm operating in before I do much, which I suppose the real Altair would have done first anyway. I usually make my way to the rooftops quickly when I enter a new area, take out any archers around the place, and get an overview of the city. Then I explore the street-level, help citizens, figure out what investigations I need to complete, do all the extra ones too, and then start planning out my assassination before going to get permission from the assassin's guild. I even rehearse my escape a few times. Maybe that's why I seem to be pretty good at the game, I know the terrain well and I do a lot of combat practice.
If that's the case, playing without the HUD seems a lot more fun. I'd love a game where instead of blindly following the radar map you explore around and plot your escape route beforehand.
QUOTE(Eji1700 @ May 16 2008, 08:24 AM)
Fourth: Assassins posses many amazing skills from astounding climbing abilities, knife throwing, weapons master, guise, and cunning. There is oddly enough though one very common skill among todays populace that assassins apparently do not posses, and i can't wait until you find out what it is.
They can't drive.
QUOTE(darth_vader @ May 16 2008, 10:32 AM)
They can't drive.
Not what im shooting for. Lets just say that on certain levels your worst nightmare is going to be the crazy beggar guy.
I want to play this. It's the kind of game I like to play. I don't like M rated games as much since they're usually first-person shooters, but this is one I want to try.
QUOTE(Eji1700 @ May 16 2008, 04:05 PM)
Not what im shooting for. Lets just say that on certain levels your worst nightmare is going to be the crazy beggar guy.
That... pisses... me off... more than ANYTHING. I kill them wherever I go. Or throw them and make them run. But killing is more fun.
Basically, I'm addicted to Assassin's Creed. Make sure to talk to Lucy completely.
The combat system is excellent, in my opinion. The ability to control the timing of the moves, and having it matter, is prime.
I love saving civilians, and doing the informant's little quests. SO much fun.
QUOTE(Eji1700 @ May 16 2008, 08:24 AM)
I commend your dedication. Like i said though, just finding your way around can be troublesome without it and it makes eagle vision about 1000 times more important. Either way i'm curious to know which assassinations you've done and which you've liked so far. My favorite(and probably the most difficult) you've probably yet to get to since its one of the last.
Also fun facts: if you do a counter that leaves the guy stunned, pressing attack will kill him and the run/sprint/jump button will break his legs. If he's the last foe he will be alive on the ground and you can finish him with your assassin blade.
Secondly: Note the info in here is niffty and not story spoiler or even gameplay spoiler. You may have already done it. If you have however i suggest you don't use it during the end because it can take a lot of fun out of the game you can fight with your hidden blade. You can only counter, but counters are instant kills unlike the blade and sword which won't actually kill stronger enemies the first time. Regarding the previous warning this can take the challenge out of fights if your any good with your timing. Also if battling with the hidden blade and you see a soilder motion to attack, cringe, or look like they're going to be sick, that means their guard is down for a instant kill
Thirdly:Throwing guards off roofs or into scaffoldings can be great ways to clear your enemies. Just be afraid of throw debris for the first half of the game. Very afraid.
Fourth: Assassins posses many amazing skills from astounding climbing abilities, knife throwing, weapons master, guise, and cunning. There is oddly enough though one very common skill among todays populace that assassins apparently do not posses, and i can't wait until you find out what it is.
Also fun facts: if you do a counter that leaves the guy stunned, pressing attack will kill him and the run/sprint/jump button will break his legs. If he's the last foe he will be alive on the ground and you can finish him with your assassin blade.
Secondly: Note the info in here is niffty and not story spoiler or even gameplay spoiler. You may have already done it. If you have however i suggest you don't use it during the end because it can take a lot of fun out of the game you can fight with your hidden blade. You can only counter, but counters are instant kills unlike the blade and sword which won't actually kill stronger enemies the first time. Regarding the previous warning this can take the challenge out of fights if your any good with your timing. Also if battling with the hidden blade and you see a soilder motion to attack, cringe, or look like they're going to be sick, that means their guard is down for a instant kill
Thirdly:Throwing guards off roofs or into scaffoldings can be great ways to clear your enemies. Just be afraid of throw debris for the first half of the game. Very afraid.
Fourth: Assassins posses many amazing skills from astounding climbing abilities, knife throwing, weapons master, guise, and cunning. There is oddly enough though one very common skill among todays populace that assassins apparently do not posses, and i can't wait until you find out what it is.
I killed the first three, the second three, and I am working on the next two (I believe I've already killed the seventh guy).
Ah, so that's how you break people's legs. I've just been attacking those guys on the ground, but breaking legs sounds more fun.
I am aware of the hidden-blade counter thing, although I have not been able to actually pull it off. Any pointers? I have been occasionally grabbing guards, throwing them down, and then switching to the hidden blade to kill them that way, but I've not yet pulled off any counter-kills with it.
I do enjoy throwing people around. That's usually how I take care of annoying beggars.
I'm not sure I know what you mean by a common skill altair doesn't posses. Crazy beggar guys don't actually bother me much, once I learned how to tackle. If I'm just walking around, I might switch to fists and simply block their punches and then knock them back. Occasionally I'll hidden-blade them too.
Actually, I tend to hidden-blade an inordinate number of civilians...
mrxak: cool. I've got an 8800 GT in my machine now, so I don't think choppiness'll be a problem for me.
Yeah, it was the repetitiveness that threw most people off. But it doesn't seem as bad from your description as it could be.
Yeah, it was the repetitiveness that threw most people off. But it doesn't seem as bad from your description as it could be.
Oh, I figured out what you meant. Yeah, Altair can't swim. Although I have to say, I've ended up jumping into the water quite on my own by accident, and not a single drunk ship captain has pushed me in.
QUOTE(mrxak @ May 17 2008, 12:13 AM)
Oh, I figured out what you meant. Yeah, Altair can't swim. Although I have to say, I've ended up jumping into the water quite on my own by accident, and not a single drunk ship captain has pushed me in.
Theres many tales of vexed assassins spending several hours killing drunks and crazy's after one on the docks pushes them into the water on a difficult mission.
As for hidden blade countering its just timing. Start practicing with the dagger because its the easiest. Just hold the defensive stance button and push the counter button( played on Xbox so im trying to translate for you controls here) as a move is about to hit you. Then use the sword and finally go piss off some basic, weakling, gate guards and try to get the timing down for the hidden blade. Its hard to get at first but once you learn where, when, and how to do the counter you can have some truely badass moments when caught without time to change weapons after a kill.
Also in case you haven't noticed, the shiner the head gear, the more powerful the guard. Gold helmets>basic ones etc.
As for just fun i prefer the dagger. The counters are cool, the attacks are neat, and nothing is more awesome than throwing one guy off a roof, pulling off a counter to kill a guard just before an attack lands, and then turning around and tossing a throwing dagger into the gut of the guy standing 10 ft away who never sees it coming.
If i had one complaint with the game its that once you master the combat system you are a god. i went through a second time with no stealth except when absolutely needed and probably wiped half the population of each city on my way to the targets. Innocent or otherwise.
Yeah, the game does get a bit easy when you get the basics of countering down.
Just one quick question as I am now on the ninth assassination mission, if I reach the end of the game, can I still go back and do stuff in the animus, or am I unable to play around with it after a certain point? Things seem to be progressing outside the animus, and in particular an email stating that a rescue is coming soon. Without giving anything away, can I still load up my profile and mess around when I've beaten the game?
Just one quick question as I am now on the ninth assassination mission, if I reach the end of the game, can I still go back and do stuff in the animus, or am I unable to play around with it after a certain point? Things seem to be progressing outside the animus, and in particular an email stating that a rescue is coming soon. Without giving anything away, can I still load up my profile and mess around when I've beaten the game?
Yes.
This is an epic game. I especially like the way they handled life and death, it makes it entirely feasible for you to come back to life.
QUOTE(mrxak @ May 17 2008, 01:40 AM)
Yeah, the game does get a bit easy when you get the basics of countering down.
Just one quick question as I am now on the ninth assassination mission, if I reach the end of the game, can I still go back and do stuff in the animus, or am I unable to play around with it after a certain point? Things seem to be progressing outside the animus, and in particular an email stating that a rescue is coming soon. Without giving anything away, can I still load up my profile and mess around when I've beaten the game?
Just one quick question as I am now on the ninth assassination mission, if I reach the end of the game, can I still go back and do stuff in the animus, or am I unable to play around with it after a certain point? Things seem to be progressing outside the animus, and in particular an email stating that a rescue is coming soon. Without giving anything away, can I still load up my profile and mess around when I've beaten the game?
Yeah you can go back and do stuff. My only issue there is that you can't skip the cut scenes
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