It’s only been a little over a year since we’ve discovered The Truth and left a pile of bodies in the midst of a conspiracy spanning humanity’s timeline, but Desmond Miles returns once again to fight the future using the DNA of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore. If you are a fan of the series, Assassin’s Creed is far from a glorified expansion, it’s the much needed direct continuation of Desmond’s fight. Picking up directly after the shocking conclusion of Assassin’s Creed 2, Desmond delves back into Ezio’s memories to find the coveted Piece of Eden, and put a stop to the Templers that continue to sulk in the shadows of 2012. This time around, Ezio takes it upon himself to recruit a guild of assassin’s in a final ditch effort to stop the Borgia family currently holding Rome in their grasp. While Brotherhood maintains all the excellent gameplay elements that made Assassin’s Creed 2 such an outstanding title, a deep team-building element has been added as Ezio’s takes a mere citizen and turns them into a 1-man army. Ezio will occasionally encounter a civilian being attacked by Borgia’s army and if you take it upon yourself to interfere, Ezio will have the option to recruit the oppressed. As you slowly take back Rome by burning down Borgia towers, you can add another recruit into your lineup. Each assassin can be tasked with a mission that will not only produce experience for said teammate; it will also generate profit for Ezio’s cause. As you send each member on various excursions, they will level up, procuring a deadlier arsenal which will allow them to embark on much more difficult missions. The missions are robust and vary on chance of success depending on the number and strength of the assassins that you send out. Each mission will require the assassin(s) for a set number of minutes, played out in real time.
If you choose to keep an assassin off of a mission, they can be called to your aid to either help in combat or silently take out a lookout that may be holding you back. This new mechanic isn’t at all forced and already feels like a key component in the gameplay of Brotherhood and future entries into the series. If you force an assassin to bit off more than they are capable of chewing, said assassin can be killed off, which is both a set back and a genuine loss if you’ve at all become attached him/her. We can’t wait to see this fleshed out more in the inevitable sequel, if Ubisoft manages to make each guild member a much more integral part of the story. But for what it is, we couldn’t love the addition any more. While the addition of a team component is the biggest change in the Brotherhood, everything that was in 2 feels more refined, specifically combat. While combat in the last Creed was a spectacular advance from the first game, Brotherhood makes it feel like a much more fluid series of attacks. Nailing the rhythmic timing of slaughtering a group of ten soldiers is largely rewarding, as Ezio dances through his attackers in a beautiful series of smooth motions. Methods of killing are wildly varied, but you’ll more than likely find a weapon and stick with it, learning the weight of the tool inside and out. Combat is also aided by the addition of your highly intelligent group of assassins. Another refinement in the game comes in the area of micromanaging the city of Rome and its renovations. While Ezio can take his cash and deck himself out with new armor and weapons, he can also rebuild the rundown buildings and tourist locales of the city. In Assassin’s Creed 2, this was all performed from the comfort of Ezio’s villa, but in Brotherhood, each renovation is located throughout the various locales.
Whether it is the reopening of a store or the renovation of the Coliseum, Ezio will earn more funds every 20 minutes by taking the time to fix up his environment and garnish the respect of the citizens. If you ever had the slightest issue of finding something to do in the series, Brotherhood is quick to remove any such feeling. There are an overwhelming number of missions and events to delve into. While there are just a small number of missions that progress the main story, there are a load of intriguing side missions to complete that all feel highly rewarding. This includes a new Truth to seek out, with some fairly tough puzzles that break up the normal gameplay in the best way possible. Some standouts involve the return of Leonardo da Vinci a few intimidating War Machines he has so graciously placed in the hands of the enemy. Each mission involving the War Machines don’t progress the story, but they feel cinematic in scope, almost more so than the main missions. If you choose to skip the side missions all together, the War Machine missions are still a must to really get the best out of Brotherhood. Another addition to each mission is an optional secondary objective that will complete that specific memory. Some are time attack goals, or simply completing a mission without losing a square of health. Every secondary objective is perfectly selected to make a mission feel truly tense. It’s a small addition, but one that can have a large role in how each mission plays out. While Desmond’s story segments used to be played out in mandatory sequences throughput the campaign, you can now take control of Desmond at any given moment. Since Desmond has adapted to the likeness of his ancestors, he is capable of exploring the environment outside of the Animus. Desmond and crew have taken up hiding in the ruins of Ezio’s villa, which can be explored for 10 minutes at a time.
There are a few collectibles spread throughout the area that make taking breaks from the Animus well worth Desmond’s time. Desmond’s role in Brotherhood is often played out in optional conversations between the crew as well as emails that can be scoured. We much preferred this method of adding depth to Desmond, as you can explore 2012 at your own pace, whenever you feel. Sadly, there isn’t as much progression in the Desmond storyline as we would have hoped, but there is enough to keep you chomping at the bit for the inevitable Assassin’s Creed 3. The story events that do take place are just as wild as they were previously, with an ending that will leave you even more confused than the previous two. To further argue that Brotherhood is more than an expansion, an outstanding multiplayer will inevitably consume your time over the coming months. With two modes, plenty of upgrades and a leveling system, we again can’t imagine a future Creed without it. The most addictive mode is the Wanted mode that tasks you to take out an opposing assassin while keeping a keen eye out for the player looking to lay you out. Utilizing all the stealth mechanics from the campaign, you have to pursue your target without being suspicious. The streets of each map are filled with NPCs that often look a lot like the person you are hunting. The only resource you have in completing each kill is a picture of your target, and compass that detects their general, and a growing arsenal as you level up your assassin. You are granted a score based on how efficient your kill was as well as for escaping your own death.
The more you move like an assassin, the quicker you’ll rise through the ranks. The other mode is a team based scenario that is essentially the same idea. Take out the opposing team, while making sure to watch the backs of your fellow assassins. The entirety of the multiplayer is highly original, something I’ve only seen once before in the PC game “The Ship.” Fans of AC will undoubtedly dig the multiplayer, as each match is unique in how it plays out. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood needed to happen. The fact that it only took a year to refine the gameplay and continue the stories of Desmond and Ezio is a testament to what Ubisoft is doing with the franchise. Don’t even consider skipping the game for a second. While the story doesn’t progress as much as we had hoped, it still adds some new questions and twists into Desmond’s dilemma. The ever so fresh guild mechanic and addictive as hell multiplayer already feels like essential components in the series. Ezio’s much more fluid movements also lead to some beautifully cinematic fights. Also, while Brotherhood maintains itself as an action game, the micromanaging of your resources and assassins delivers an outstanding simulation element into the bustling city of Rome. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is an essential addition to the series’ that unleashes an unbelievable amount of fresh content, sure to tickle the fancy of anyone willing to strap themselves into the Animus for another go at living the life of Rome’s most elusive hero – this is the best Assassin’s Creed to date. Hands-down this is one of the best games of 2010, it’s amazing and shouldn’t be missed by fans of the franchise; it has us excited as to what’s coming next from the Assassin’s Creed team.
