This is a game which constantly frustrates but not for the reasons most videogames might. There are so many well intended innovations and noble ideas which just don’t work out and jar with you, as with superior execution or just a bit more thought they could’ve been fantastic.
The control system is one such example. The 4 fascia buttons representing actions for your head, weapon hand, free hand and legs with the R button putting you in conspicuous mode and changing the actions of all four. Nice idea, but the controls don’t have the tightness of the genre frontrunners and interaction with the environment is often fiddly and inconsistent.
The brave narrative that tries so hard to explain away any purely videogame elements (the HUD, collectibles, visual cues etc) as part of the story is admirable but ultimately confusing, often feeling unwarranted.
The stealth dynamics are shoddy, lacking the sturdiness of the Metal Gear model and more resembling the Hitman games (but lacking their variety which often lead to humorous situations amidst the brokenness).
Stealth in games requires a rigid rule-set that’s both consistent and easily understood. This has neither, with enemy soldiers barely batting an eye as you stroll around brandishing a blood soaked sword one minute but other times easily alarmed for next to nothing! The escape dynamic is also horribly unbalanced with it often being far easier to simply dispatch your pursuers rather than being constantly spotted by new sentries (seemingly as if all connected by 1000AD walkie-talkies!) as you search for a hiding place.
Combat is kept simple, although enjoyably visceral, and quite easy (especially once you’re given the counter move) meaning it can be repetitive and soon becomes laborious.
With all of it’s faults though, Assassin’s Creed is still strangely compulsive. The much lauded graphics are brilliant with amazing lighting effects that really bring the dusty, sun drenched cities to life and immeasurably add to the feeling of immersion. It’s this feeling of walking (and climbing) around a living, breathing city that is the games main draw. Like GTA, if you take the game as more of an experience and ignore the nuts and bolts issues there’s plenty of fun to be had scaling to the steeple tops and just admiring the view.
Unfortunately this too becomes repetitive as the 3 cities don’t offer much in the way of variety and the immersion factor begins to creak when you here the same tired sound bites emitted on every second street. The missions contained within don’t change as the game progresses and can become a chore with the pace decidedly slow throughout.
Ultimately, it’s a flawed, repetitive game that that will probably have you losing the will to complete it long before the end. Here’s hoping for a much improved sequel.
Transporter 2 (2005 / USA/France)
