It’s been a long time that gamers have followed the enduring Ezio Auditore from Italian playboy to legendary Assassin. Assassin’s Creed Revelations traverses the final days of the two lead Assassins Ezio Auditore and Altair Ibn-La’Ahad in order to make way for new heroes to emerge. This is another quality entry into Ubisoft’s successful action-adventure series and releases you into 16th century Constantinople to witness Ezio and Altair lives play out is an incredible experience that is worth the price.

Though you will be playing as Ezio for most of the game this is Desmond’s story. The story picks off at the end of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood DLC, the Da Vinci Disappearance. Desmond is in a coma and his mind plunged into the Animus’s central core. Desmond must try to separate his mind from Ezio and Altair or become a living vegetable for the rest of his life. This virtual reality is presented in the form of an island where you meet an A.I. recreation of Subject Sixteen, Abstergo’s pervious subject and descendant of Ezio Auditore. However Desmond’s segments are completely optional and feature a trip through Desmond’s past through a first-person puzzle sequences that require the player to built blocks to reach the end. Understanding who Desmond was is an enjoyable experience; it’s unfortunate that it is portrayed in such as poor way.

Throughout most of the game you will be playing as Ezio Auditore and sometimes as Altair. Ezio has left Rome and now seeks Altair’s legendary library, previously sought by his father, at Masyaf Castle. Once finding the library Ezio finds that he will require five keys to unlock the library and then becomes race against the Templers who seek the same goal. Throughout you venture you’ll encounter a series of enjoyable characters that range from the leader of the Ottoman Assassin’s to a love interest in search of the keys. As you gather these keys you will be able to relive memories of Altair before and after the first Assassin’s Creed. However it is towards the end of the story that things get chaotic and give a satisfying conclusion that incorporates both Ezio and Altair. Ubisoft attempts again to try and include a political conflict within the story that goes hand in hand to the environmental setting. The great storytelling and voice-acting does a great job of conveying the story, the political conflict between the Sultan’s family ultimately becomes dull but not boring.

One of the most spectacular things about Assassin’s Creed Revelations is the gorgeous views. This is done particularly well because of Revelations soundtrack and controls. New additions like the hook-blade allow climbing and traveling throughout the various locations easier and more accelerating as ever. These attributes are put to better use during certain sequences where music and control meet together to create a sensational experience.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations attempts to create new changes while refining old flaws. Similar to pervious Assassin Creed games you can obtain territories from Templers by lighting signal fires. However new to Revelations is the idea of defending these areas through a tower defense game. Templers will attempt to take some areas back and you attempt to push the Templar forces back. Basically you stand on a roof and assign Assassins to specific locations to fight off waves of enemies. This is a welcomed distraction from the game but it wouldn’t be missed if it was never put into the game.

Revelations beings back the Assassin recruitment that was previously introduced in Brotherhood and improves on that system.  Unlike Brother where recruitment seemed to be more like busywork in Revelations sending your brothers and sisters out to various locations decreases Templar control and increase Assassin control while sometimes gaining more rewards then just experience. There are also quest that are only accessible through fully leveled Assassin’s that make you feel like a Mentor.

Another new addition is bomb crafting. Bombs come into three categories lethal, diversionary, and tactical. Combining certain ingredients at a crafting station yields different effects such as poison, smoke, and lamb blood. Combat hasn’t change much, if you played the last two Assassin Creed titles then Revelations combat system should be familiar to you. If not you can counter and start a chain kill by killing one enemy then tapping the attack button in the direction of the next enemy.

Returning to Revelations is Multiplayer. Ubisoft has taken the old formula and polish it by including new modes, customizable options, and a story that unfolds as you level up. There is a decent amount of variety here that allow for tense moments and more alleviating experience. Modes like Wanted encourage players to think about the quality of your kill over quantity and the idea that you are being hunted ensures that you remain aware at all times, while modes like steal the artifact is more of a all out rush.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations does a terrific job of concluding both Ezio and Altair.  If you’ve played other Assassin Creed titles then Revelations isn’t going to surprise you. The core essence of the game remains true and is a quality upgrade from pervious titles. When Assassin Creed does best is what is expected from the series. However something’s like Den Defense seem shallow. The strong gameplay, story, and characters make this title a worth addition to Ubisoft’s hit series.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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