New feature time! Instead of taking the standard “review” route for Assassin’s Creed Xav and I decided to have a little conversation about the game via email, and them post the ensuing mayhem up for the world. If you enjoy it, you might just see it pop up from time to time!

We’ve split it into two parts, one today and the other on Monday. And buyer beware, there’s a minor “spoiler” in here… but it’s something that happens 5 minutes into the game so we’re not really spoiling anything… And if you’re on the fence about the game, you probably oughta know this ahead of time to help make a decision.

Either way, tell us what YOU think and I hope you enjoy!

Last night I grabbed Assassin’s Creed for the Xbox 360, before you ask — I did get the limited edition.

Initially I was worried about the game because the reviews have been all over the map, but Ubi Soft Montreal is such a talented group of people that I got off the fence of would I or wouldn’t I get it and picked it up.

After about three hours (and 5 achievements later, thank you very much) I don’t know about this game.
It’s good, don’t get me wrong. But this might be the very definition of a game that was hurt by it’s own hype.

Xav

So yea, I got the limited edition too… I’ll be honest I’m a little disappointed in the Altair figure. I mean it’s tiny! They shoulda took a page from Bioshock’s playbook on that one instead of making something that looks like you’d get it in one of those quarter machines at the super market. But I digress..

Assassin’s Creed definitely suffers under the weight of it’s own hype. A lot of that is probably our fault as gaming media, we covered every single mention of the game. I think we were all so impressed by the original IP idea and the elements of Prince of Persia style running and jumping coupled with some cool fighting. Plus that trailer with the song from U.N.K.L.E. was just too awesome.

Slight spoiler ahead but you find out 5 minutes into the game so it’s really no big deal

All those sci-fi looking elements have shown their true colors and in my eyes have spoiled the story line a bit for me. The fact that you’re really just some idiot that had awesome ancestors doesn’t do it for me. And the whole theory of strapping him into a machine to “live out” the memories of his ancestors falls flat. I mean if we KNOW we’re playing a simulation and not something really happening, where’s the repercussions for making the wrong choice or failing? It’s like the holodeck on Star Trek, if something goes wrong you just re-load the memory.

Am I wrong?

Dan Zuccarelli

I totally get what you mean. One thing I don’t understand is why they felt they had to go this route to begin with. When the game was shown back at X05 titled as Assassin it had the same look and feel as the virtual world you play in, I wonder if this Matrix-esque plug in mechanic was always the idea.

Why? Isn’t it cool enough to be visiting amazing locales of history and stabbing fools in the face? It feels like the character you really are was thrown in there to help players relate to someone.

Story aside, there is a glaring issue with the mechanics of the game. While overall my experience has been enjoyable I wonder when the same five menial tasks will become boring in its repetitiveness.

Pick-pocketing, saving civilians and eavesdropping are essentially the only three tasks you perform in this game — aside from killing. While exploring the world is fun and exciting and I could do it for hours, I’m quickly reminded of Spider-Man 2: The Movie Game.

Remember that one? Swinging around the city was exhilarating and you could spend a day doing just that - but how did it fill your time? Menial tasks like saving civilians from baddies or falling from rooftops, catching balloons and other redundant ideas that were added to pad the length of the game. Too many of the same thing happen over and over again, yet, I can’t stop playing it.

It’s like I know it should be worse than it is, but instead of being angry I’m just disappointed in what could have been…

Oh and how sick are you of watching the animation of Altair on top of a perch that shows off the cityscape?

Xav

I think it’s my disappointment with the Matrix-esque stuff that bothers me most. I just get the impression that whatever I do in the world doesn’t matter since I’m really just replaying a memory. Whatever I’m doing in game really doesn’t matter cause it’s happened already.

I agree with the mechanic, but I imagine the stealth stuff comes into much greater play later on as the targets get harder and harder to get at. Of course we’ll have to wait and see but that’s my hope.

I don’t mean to totally slam the game, cause I am enjoying myself so far and I don’t see the game’s limited mechanics boring the hell out of me like, say, Manhunt. I think I need to just let go of what I wanted the game to be (and what it could’ve been) and just enjoy it for what it is.

I do have a theory as to why they’re doing this stupid sc-fi angle for though. Limitless sequels. Just grab a guy and go into his memories. You can do it in any time period anywhere on Earth and not have to worry about tying plots together.

Do you find the sci-fi inspired HUD and such distract from the game? I find it weird that the flags you have to collects seem to not be totally there, but digital in some weird way. Is it an effect or are they trying to tell us something?

DanZ

Check back Monday for part 2!!!