[durera]

It's not unreasonable to expect a large proportion of you to have completed the game by now. What did you make of AC, was it worth the wait?

You cannot change your vote at a later date. Be sure you're happy that your decision is final before voting.

A 10 should only be given for a landmark game that sets new rules, a 9 for a truly excellent game without flaw, and an average game that does things right but nothing special should get a 5 (not a 7 or 8 like some would have you believe).

[durera]

I voted the game a 9. I can't fault the game in any department; it has a great story, the combat system is well implemented, the free running works really well and the game as a whole feels very well put together.

I wouldn't say it's a genre-defining game; I don't really think there is any game out there that defines this genre, but this is certainly one of the most enjoyable third person, free roaming, sandbox style games I've ever played -- the way the plot integrates so many real world conspiracy stories into the in-game plot shows an attention to detail that is very rarely seen in a game.

I'm eagerly awaiting the 2nd episode in the rumoured trilogy!

9 (Outstanding)

[The Klinker]

I haven't quite finished this yet but I'll give it a 9. I quite like the free roaming/sandbox games and found it a bit of a change to others like it. I can see how it can get a bit samey for some people doing the same type of missions each time but it's not a game I've been ploughing through. I've been taking my time with it, exploring the cities, finding flags which has been half of the game for me.
Hope there is a sequel to this, I have a feeling Ubisoft may have held back some really great ideas and features for a future release.

[BAN5HEE]

I Voted 9. Apart from Bioshock I haven't enjoyed a game as much as this. I still have COD4 in it's wrapper but it will get some action now that I have finished AC.

[Dave_C]

Gave it a 9, would have been around 9.5 if that was possible. I loved everything in the game and the only thing I would like to see get changed/added would be more variation in the optional objectives.

Possibly my GOTY.

[Dawseman]

Excellent. I’ve been waiting for the review thread to start up. I’ve read mixed reports/reviews on the internet and in a few gamer mags but thought I’d wait to see what people who actually had/have the game think before deciding on Xmas presents. Like many others on this form I’ve been mildly, ok heavily addicted to MP COD 4. Looking forward to reading your reviews

[PinheadedMike]

gave it an 8 game is good and the enviroment is amazing

[dgibbs]

Originally Posted by BAN5HEE

I Voted 9. Apart from Bioshock I haven't enjoyed a game as much as this. I still have COD4 in it's wrapper but it will get some action now that I have finished AC.

Exactly the same for me. I got this and COD in the 2 for £60 at Currys the other week, and COD is still wrapped up.

I will give this a definite 9. I think it's a cracking game that manages to satisfy on so many different aspects. The environment is amazingly realised, free roaming and interaction top notch, Graphics possibly the best ever, varied gamaplay excellent, story compelling, sound excellent etc etc ...

It's just a joy to pick up and think, what shall i do now::follow the main quest, cause a fracas and then escape the chaos, stealthily kill some bad guys just for a laugh, find some of the collectables, or my personal fave save some citizens and kick the proverbial out of their attackers..... Nice!!

Great game and a travesty to think i nearly let this one slip by becasue of the mixed reviews it had received....

Oh and for those who previously (on other threads) said it's repetitive, well that's the core gameplay of the game. You could argue that Forza or PGR are likewise repetitive becasue you go round a track in one race, and then the format is the same for the next race and the one after that...

[Gumbe]

Originally Posted by dgibbs

Oh and for those who previously (on other threads) said it's repetitive, well that's the core gameplay of the game. You could argue that Forza or PGR are likewise repetitive becasue you go round a track in one race, and then the format is the same for the next race and the one after that...

Well said that man!

I gave it a 9 as well. I think the environments and animations are the best I have seen to date. Some of the combat animations are just awesome and when he is climbing you can almost see his fingers digging into the walls!

There where a number of memorable moments e.g. When I first ran towards a guard, lept through the air and shoved my hidden blade into his neck and watching him fall to the street below with lots of people then running away from him screaming.....so well done.

OK some of it is a bit repetitive but when it is done this well I really do not care.

[m1ket]

The last hour or so spoiled it for me i dont mean the story but the repeating gameplay for about the last hour very tedious so 8/10 for me

[Orca]

9.

Free running = win. This is perhaps the closest I can get to doing them crazy stunts in the streets, but more importantly as a platformer this is next-gen for me. Watching how natural Altair moves never ceases to amaze me. Of course the repetitive missions aren't that good and the blend mechanic is a bit odd sometimes, but the game on the whole is entertaining from start to finish with solid presentation throughout.

Assassin's Creed also taught me that medieval master assassin's can't swim either, lol.

[BAN5HEE]

Originally Posted by Orca

Assassin's Creed also taught me that medieval master assassin's can't swim either, lol.

My guess is he can. Only he has about 150 pounds of metal in the form of weapons strapped to him....

[Fir3B1rd]

9.
Really enjoyed this game !

[kav]

I gave the game a 7. Graphically, it's almost flawless, with just an occasional stutter to mar things, but nothing to significantly detract from the visual beauty of the game. That said, my overriding feeling is that while they were developing the game, they were so caught up in rendering beautiful environments that they did not put enough effort into polishing the key component of a game: the gameplay itself.

AC has been criticised for being tedious, and justly so. Each of the nine levels consists of performing exactly the same actions as its predecessor, with very little (almost no) increase in abilities to make you feel a sense of character development. The game fails to instil a desire to progress, because the "levelling up" does not provide you with any significant enhancements over your existing abilities. (Admittedly there are some minor ones, but apart from the counterattack ability, which you get right after the first mission, there are few that are actually required to help you progress in the game.)

Because of the repetitive nature of its gameplay, AC has been compared with Crackdown, unfairly in my opinion. Crackdown did a fantastic job in creating a fun, addictive way to level up your character that made you want to go back again and again. Since you start off Assassin's Creed with pretty much all your abilities, you don't get the same sense of satisfaction as you did with Crackdown. For example, in AC, I never once thought "damn, I'd love to climb that building, but it looks too tall - I'll need to collect more flags to level up"...why not? Because I could climb every building right from the start. People complained about the tedium of orb collecting in Crackdown, but at least it served a purpose to the plot. In AC, the highly tedious flag collecting serves no purpose whatsoever except to cheat all but the most devoted gamers out of attaining some achievements. I like achievements, but I'll be damned if I'm going to waste a dozen or more hours roaming the land collecting useless flags.

The concept of the game is fantastic; the "play within a play" device is used very well, and gives context and explanation to a storyline that in other games simply demands suspension of disbelief. However, this plot device, clever as it is, can also be quite jarring and has a negative impact on the pacing of the game, and gameplay itself. After I've finished assassinating a guy and I'm pumped up after fighting off fifty guards, I really would like to keep going in my game world and explore the next section. Instead I have to sit through almost twenty minutes of unskippable cut-scenes to give a wholly unnecessary context to why I'm here. Often, games are criticised for lack of plot; AC's downfall is that it sometimes concentrates too much on it.

I must admit, I have not finished the game yet, so it may all come together nicely at the end, but for now, each time I exit the animus, I'm left feeling like I want to put the controller down and play something else. COD4, on the other hand, constantly left me wanting to go back for more. Even while I'm playing AC, a part of me is thinking "I could be levelling up on COD4 multiplayer instead of eavesdropping on yet another conversation".

Overall I think the game has some incredible components - the swordfights generally work well, and the free-running has been implemented almost flawlessly. The combination of this and the beautiful environments should produce a gamer's wet dream; instead, I'm just left with slightly damp pants, but a serious horn to see what Ubisoft can come up with for AC 2.

[shagaboopon]

It gets a 7 from me because I feel the game is good but like many have said too repetitive to be a great. The game is really fu nin small doses but I cannot bring myself to do 2 missions straight as it can get a little tiring. As a pickup and play in between other games this really excels and thats why I would class it as a good game yet can understand why others hate it. If you play through this game in a few sessions you'll be more unimpressed than if you take your time.

[Teddy Windsor]

7, for almost exactly the same reasons as kavanf1. I'll keep coming back to it and will eventually complete the game, but I can't enjoy more than an hour at a time.

Teddy

[bigriggers]

I've just returned from my local shopping centre with this game, had to drive round the multistory 15 minutes for a space, 15 minute queue in Game, 5 minutes wait to pay for parking, then another 15 minutes to get out of the hell hole! Probably twice as busy as the pre Christmas rush!

It better be worth it....

[Mattk84]

someonein the play and help thread said they thought it wasnt as repetitive as some had made out but i am also on the 'too repetitive' side.
i too gave it a 7 as it looks stunning in places but the fighting becomes tedious in addition to many other gameplay aspects.

[Mullet94]

I absolutely love this game. I bought it originally on the PS3 and finished it so sold that copy on Ebay and bought the 360 version so I could play through it again for the achievements. I can see how people do say it's repetitive but I don't find it like that at all. Awesome graphics and storyline as well so I gave it a 9.

[BenchyUK]

8 out of 10.

Awesome gae which looks amazing but perhaps a tad short

[gingerninja72]

I'm done with this game (5 assassinations in) and its going back. What a waste of a great concept. Incredible animation, design and artwork ruined by repetitive frustrating gameplay and the most pointless story I've ever come across. I'll give this a generous 6/10

What a shame, this could have been one of the games of the year.

[thomo]

I enjoyed it, more to do with the fact that i was expecting it to be total arse after all the reviews i've read. I was pleasantly surprised.

Never really had a problem with repetative games, they seem to have a strange masochistic appeal to me. It felt like a cross between Crackdown & Shenmue.

I managed to finish it the other night and was very confused at the end. Then i read this and it all seems to fall into place *Warning-Spoilers* http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=175552

After playing through the game and reading that link, think the franchise has huge potential for the next 2 games. The hard work is done, they just need to concentrate on more diversity in the gameplay.

[zeroecho99]

I was dubious about getting this also after reading general reviews but I took the plunge and bought it altho mainly because I had £20 of vouchers towards it so it only cost me half price!

Played for a couple of hours and done my first assassination and i'm pleasantly surprised after the slating it had been getting. There's no getting away from the stunning visuals but I think the game overall is excellent. Like Thomo I don't mind some games that are repetative and this game appeals to me and one I'll be playing for awhile.

[PulsarPilot]

I'm done with this game (5 assassinations in) and its going back. What a waste of a great concept. Incredible animation, design and artwork ruined by repetitive frustrating gameplay and the most pointless story I've ever come across. I'll give this a generous 6/10

What a shame, this could have been one of the games of the year.

A little harsher than I was going to be, but I can defo see your point.I've got to the third city, so I presume I still have a lot of the game to see, but for me, it's not nearly as good as some people say.
The mechanics are excellent, but as a whole, it is'nt much of a game really, it's ok for an hour or two, but it's, how can I put it, a bit boring really
Gave it 7, just because the running/jumping and fighting IS fun.
BTW, what the hell is the point of the doctor/nurse stuff (trying to advoid spoilers).

[aphex232]

just finished this game and gave it a 9.

The GFX are the best ive ever seen on the 360 imo. there are a few annoying things like, if it wasnt for the help sites, it'd take a life time to find all the flags. And the achievements are not that planned like the conversationalist one is annoying, i'll never be able to get that one!

but in all the gameplay,story and visuals outweigh this by tonnes

[evolved77]

Just started playing this game, having pick up a copy on Ebay for a decent price - as inital reviews seemed to suggest it was a good game but not a great game, so I didn't want to spend big on an ok game.

Have to say all in all, this game is just so dissapointing!

It looks fanstastic. The game mechanics are amazing. And strangely, although I'm finding the game a struggle, I can't not stop playing it!

But my sweet Lord - is just so repetitive! Surely some extra dialogue here and there would have done wonders and the missons, well there not alike but just the same four or five themes over and over... and over.

I just hope if they plan to make a second game under the AC brand, they just concertrate on a little more on the story and missons, because this could have been so much better, with not too much improvement.

All in all, so much potential - must try harder - 7 out of 10.

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I just had to get this off my chest - thank you!

[crow99]

Originally Posted by evolved77

Just started playing this game, having pick up a copy on Ebay for a decent price - as inital reviews seemed to suggest it was a good game but not a great game, so I didn't want to spend big on an ok game.

Have to say all in all, this game is just so dissapointing!

It looks fanstastic. The game mechanics are amazing. And strangely, although I'm finding the game a struggle, I can't not stop playing it!

But my sweet Lord - is just so repetitive! Surely some extra dialogue here and there would have done wonders and the missons, well there not alike but just the same four or five themes over and over... and over.

I just hope if they plan to make a second game under the AC brand, they just concertrate on a little more on the story and missons, because this could have been so much better, with not too much improvement.

All in all, so much potential - must try harder - 7 out of 10.

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I just had to get this off my chest - thank you!

Its interesting, I purchased one off here for £15 which seems a bargin, just waiting for it to be delivered.

Is it a long game? As it sounds impressive but one of these that you give up after an hour and a half.

Maybe you need to play half hour in one sitting then something else

[rio1981]

Are all games not slightly repetitive in one way?

The trick for game designers is to make sure the things gamers have to do again were enjoyable first time around and looked forward to for doing again. I really enjoyed Assassins Creed, a great game, I think the designers just about got the right balance.

(Although I can understand why some feel the way they do)...

[kav]

Originally Posted by rio1981

Are all games not slightly repetitive in one way?

The trick for game designers is to make sure the things gamers have to do again were enjoyable first time around and looked forward to for doing again. I really enjoyed Assassins Creed, a great game, I think the designers just about got the right balance.

(Although I can understand why some feel the way they do)...

I said this in the post above, but just quoted it here as an explanation for why I think the repetitiveness of the tasks in Assassin's Creed is irritating in comparison to other games:

Because of the repetitive nature of its gameplay, AC has been compared with Crackdown, unfairly in my opinion. Crackdown did a fantastic job in creating a fun, addictive way to level up your character that made you want to go back again and again. Since you start off Assassin's Creed with pretty much all your abilities, you don't get the same sense of satisfaction as you did with Crackdown. For example, in AC, I never once thought "damn, I'd love to climb that building, but it looks too tall - I'll need to collect more flags to level up"...why not? Because I could climb every building right from the start. People complained about the tedium of orb collecting in Crackdown, but at least it served a purpose to the plot. In AC, the highly tedious flag collecting serves no purpose whatsoever except to cheat all but the most devoted gamers out of attaining some achievements. I like achievements, but I'll be damned if I'm going to waste a dozen or more hours roaming the land collecting useless flags.

[evolved77]

Originally Posted by crow99

Its interesting, I purchased one off here for £15 which seems a bargin, just waiting for it to be delivered.

Is it a long game? As it sounds impressive but one of these that you give up after an hour and a half.

Maybe you need to play half hour in one sitting then something else

I wouldn't say long, but due to the missions being basically the same 4 or 5 types, it maybe seems longer than it really is?

And as for all games being repetitive, thats a fair point - Forza 2 is just driving and CoD4 is just shooting Germans!

I feel silly for saying this, because I am still playing the game, it is so well done and it does draw you in, but I still feel a little bored when I play it.

I got my copy for £16, and to be honest, Im happy with that. Its by no means a bad game whatsoever. For me good game, could've been awesome.