I loved Assassin’s Creed 2 (in retrospect it was my favourite game of last year) and Brotherhood gives you more of the same. The setting this time is Rome, and despite some framerate hiccups this still manages to be one of the most beautiful games on any console.

The storyline this time is slightly less gripping, but still good nonetheless. And while the single player doesn’t quite have blockbuster feel of a true single, it’s no mere expansion pack either. This game will take you around 20 hours to complete, and that’s just the main storyline. There are plenty of side quests to take one, Borgia Towers to burn, and feathers to collect (if you’re into that.)

If you were a fan of the last Assassin’s Creed, then this is a no brainer. The combat has been slightly refined, but otherwise you’re getting much the same gaming goodness. And you get a lot of it too: this is a single player game which really gives you your money’s worth.

That’s not to say it’s without fault.

The missions could use a bit more variety, and by the end of Brotherhood I’d had my fill of tailing people, particularly since the game is very pedantic about keeping line of sight with your target.

Then there are the controls.

On the one hand, climbing and free running feels great, and it’s not difficult to do. On the other hand, when it comes to making precise jumps and platforming that requires exact timing, things get a little bit frustrating. There were times when I’d be fleeing a bunch of guards, and if I so much as grazed a wall, the game would send Ezio into a climbing animation.

That’s not so much of a problem, and in fact possibly a necessary evil, but what isn’t are the platforming levels which Ubisoft have shoehorned into the game.

I found the very last level excruciating and completely unnecessary. The controls of the game simply weren’t built to handle the precision that was required. This was a shame, since it left a bad taste in my mouth at the very end of the game.

Having said that, the overall experience on offer here is great. Sure, there are a few issues, and when it comes to story and dramatic coherence, this is no Grand Theft Auto IV.  

But it is a fantastic, gorgeous and enjoyable adventure.

If you liked the previous Assassin’s Creed games, or simply enjoy grand single player games, then Brotherhood is for you.

Related

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood could have been just a quick cash-on on the success of Assassin’s Creed 2. Early signs weren’t great: Ubisoft were going to add multiplayer to a series which, let’s be honest, really didn’t need it. Not to mention, for the first time in the series we’d be returning to the same time-period and character; in this case, renaissance Italy and Ezio Auditorre. It’s good then that Brotherhood exceeds expectations.The multiplayer is decent, and different enough to stand out from the pack. It’s all tension as you hunt down your target while at the same time trying to avoid being assassinated yourself. There’s a levelling system in place too, which is nice, but to be honest this will only have niche appeal and it’s not likely to survive long in the land of Xbox Live, where shooters and sports games reign supreme.

For me, the campaign is where it’s at. 

I loved Assassin’s Creed 2 (in retrospect it was my favourite game of last year) and Brotherhood gives you more of the same. The setting this time is Rome, and despite some framerate hiccups this still manages to be one of the most beautiful games on any console.The storyline this time is slightly less gripping, but still good nonetheless. And while the single player doesn’t quite have blockbuster feel of a true single, it’s no mere expansion pack either. This game will take you around 20 hours to complete, and that’s just the main storyline. There are plenty of side quests to take one, Borgia Towers to burn, and feathers to collect (if you’re into that.)If you were a fan of the last Assassin’s Creed, then this is a no brainer. The combat has been slightly refined, but otherwise you’re getting much the same gaming goodness. And you get a lot of it too: this is a single player game which really gives you your money’s worth. That’s not to say it’s without fault. The missions could use a bit more variety, and by the end of Brotherhood I’d had my fill of tailing people, particularly since the game is very pedantic about keeping line of sight with your target. Then there are the controls.On the one hand, climbing and free running feels great, and it’s not difficult to do. On the other hand, when it comes to making precise jumps and platforming that requires exact timing, things get a little bit frustrating. There were times when I’d be fleeing a bunch of guards, and if I so much as grazed a wall, the game would send Ezio into a climbing animation. That’s not so much of a problem, and in fact possibly a necessary evil, but what isn’t are the platforming levels which Ubisoft have shoehorned into the game. I found the very last level excruciating and completely unnecessary. The controls of the game simply weren’t built to handle the precision that was required. This was a shame, since it left a bad taste in my mouth at the very end of the game. Having said that, the overall experience on offer here is great. Sure, there are a few issues, and when it comes to story and dramatic coherence, this is no Grand Theft Auto IV.  But it is a fantastic, gorgeous and enjoyable adventure.

If you liked the previous Assassin’s Creed games, or simply enjoy grand single player games, then Brotherhood is for you.