Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

Release Date: November 16, 2010 
Publisher: UBI Soft 
ESRB Rating: Mature



Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the third game in the AC canon despite the fact that Ubisoft is reserving the actual numeral four for the next iteration of the franchise. The game picks up where Assassin's Creed II leaves off, so in case you haven't played the earlier titles, you may be better off beginning there. in case though, here's the breakdown. Desmond has been recently liberated from the Abstergo Company who, by using a tool called the animus, forced him to relive his ancestors' memories in the search of information on the whereabouts of a long hidden artifact that is itself the key to world domination. Desmond and his rescuers discover a secluded place to set up their own animus to further probe his ancestors' memories- in this instance, particular ancestor: Enzio Auditore da Firenze. Yeah, I do know. It is complicated.


When they last saw Enzio at the finish of the 15th century, all kinds of crazy stuff went down, and the effect is a Rome run by the Borgias. The earlier game's villain, the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia, has secured the artifact, the Apple of Eden, and has become Pontiff. The Templars, now backed by the Papacy, launch an assault against the Assassins and Enzio, and his few surviving allies are forced in to hiding out in the city of Rome to bide their time and rebuild.


Much of AC: Brotherhood's single-player experience remains faithful to AC2, but a few new dynamics are thrown in that show to be a positive addition to the already tried and true Assassin's Creed gameplay. For, Enzio can recruit new assassins in to the order. One time you have liberated a district from Borgia rule, you can rescue citizens fighting the guards and train them to become assassins. You can then send them out on contracts in exchange for money and occasional items. If not out on a contract, the assassin can be called out to assist in battle, to silently take out a guard in Enzio's path, or if Enzio has been busy recruiting, have them rain arrows down on a patrol or guard station.


In addition to the rebuilding hard work, you'll even be tasked with helping the other guilds allied with the assassin order (namely, the consorts, thieves and mercenaries) on several missions, and an elderly mate will call on you to recover some stolen schematics. All the while Enzio will be making his play to recover the stolen apple from the Spaniard. Throw in the usual flags, feathers and various treasure chests to hunt down, and the single-player campaign will basically last you a nice 35+ hours if you are a completionist.


Brotherhood is also the first game in the series to feature a multiplayer part. I admit I was initially uncertain about the idea, but I was pleasantly surprised. There's several game types- my favourite, and the most basic form, is Wanted. Up to four players take to the crowded city streets in a game of cat and mouse. The object is to eliminate your target while simultaneously staying step ahead of your pursuer or pursuers.


Kills and escapes are awarded points in varying amounts based on the number of bonuses achieved. While basically walking a mark down and plunging a knife in his back will earn you a chilled 100 points, in case you can manage to poison him unseen while blending in with a crowd you'd be taking a look at something like one,000 points. These points not only select the round's winner, but they also act as experience points by raising your level and unlocking new perks and abilities.


You'll need them in order to change since not all quarry act in the same manner. map you might be playing against a bunch of guys using stealth and hiding in crowds. The next, all the players could be walking around on the rooftops. The general effect is a surprisingly fun, although uneven, multiplayer experience. The bright spots are further tarnished by long load times and, in my experience at least, occasional connectivity issues. Although neither of these issues has yet to keep me from the addictive online play.


All in all Brotherhood is a great game, but not that will win over naysayers of the series. New players will feel a small lost on the story, in the event that they accidentally stumble on of Subject 16�s "The Truth" files, but fans of the earlier titles will be pleasantly surprised by how much there is to do here. Don't let the shortage of a four in the title cease you, this is no AC one.5 or Assassin's Creed Lite. There is lots of meat on these bones to keep you busy for some time.


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