StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Seeing as nobody's made a post yet, I figured I would since I just finished the game.

In short, it's not Assassin's Creed 3. Don't go in expecting AC 3, because you'll be disappointed if you do. If you really liked the second game and wanted more, it delivers just that. Unfortunately the improvements in AC:B aren't as big as they were going from AC 1 to AC 2. For the most part they're minor things, new abilities here, new uses for factions there, more scenes with Desmond in the real world, which are arguably the best part and leaves you wanting to see Desmond get some more action.

Once you're far enough along, the ability to recruit apprentices for the Assassins is a really nice addition to the game. It might make some things a bit too easy, but the fact that calling on them to assassinate enemies has a pretty long cooldown helps it from getting ridiculously overpowered. (I honestly think the arrow-storm is a bit too powerful, but oh well.) Hopefully we'll get to see something similar in AC 3 when they finally get around to finishing it.

Story-wise, the stuff that goes on in the real-world is a lot more interesting than the stuff that goes on in Ezio's. You get to see some Borgia intrigue, more Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza, and basically all the characters from AC 2 make a return. I'm not sure how big of an impact the events in Brotherhood are going to have on AC3, but if you like the story, gameplay and want more of AC 2, I'd suggest playing it since there's plenty to do in the game. Otherwise you'll probably want to wait until AC 3, which will hopefully feature Desmond as the main playable character.

The kill-streak thing they introduced helps keep the combat moving more quickly than in AC2, and calling in dudes to help you shank the enemies does so as well. It is pretty much Assassin's Creed 2.5, but there's definitely enough to justify a full retail release.

As far as the multiplayer goes, it's the kind where you're either completely frustrated or completely in love with how the match is going. It's a game that's really meant to be played with a group of friends, so you can shit-talk and joke about the kills that you pull on each other.

In short, it's not Assassin's Creed 3. Don't go in expecting AC 3, because you'll be disappointed if you do. If you really liked the second game and wanted more, it delivers just that. Unfortunately the improvements in AC:B aren't as big as they were going from AC 1 to AC 2.

Arguably that's due to how BAD AC1 could be. I did like quite a few of the changes/improvements in Brotherhood (otherwise I wouldn't be calling them improvements), and I like some of how the Facebook game Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy is tied to it. (It expands the lore, you can get up to 75 EXP every four hours to dole out amongst your recruits, you get bonus EXP for completing Contract memories in Project Legacy -- albeit those require story progress in Brotherhood to access -- and you get bonus florins for owning a Landmark in both Brotherhood and Project Legacy.)

Best exchange of the game:

Desmond: "Hey, whassa-matta-you Altaïr?"
Rebecca: "That's racist!"
Desmond: "You're racist!"

Never did figure out what those red footprints are supposed to be, someone on Something Awful thought that they're actually a red herring.

Once you're far enough along, the ability to recruit apprentices for the Assassins is a really nice addition to the game. It might make some things a bit too easy, but the fact that calling on them to assassinate enemies has a pretty long cooldown helps it from getting ridiculously overpowered. (I honestly think the arrow-storm is a bit too powerful, but oh well.) Hopefully we'll get to see something similar in AC 3 when they finally get around to finishing it.

Over at SA they loved the "metagame" from recruiting the Apprentices, and personally I see why -- it's possible to get attached to them, you can give them a mild customization when they hit max level (if you use a color besides Assassin White then that will be the color on their new cape), and I actually started a save over from shame after blundering with an attempted Borgia Captain kill only to lose BOTH of my level 1 recruits to him. (Just to make it worse, this guy was actually dodging Ezio's Hidden Blade counter kill attempts and hitting Ezio in the process!)

The only change I can think of that I definitely want would be longer-range targeting for Assassin Signals -- if it's within line of sight for my Assassin to see it, then even if it's too far for him (or her?) to lock on with a personal weapon, it should be considered close enough for my Assassin to tell someone else to kill it.

My notes on the guards this time around: while the enemies don't seem to ever attack simultaneously, they do vary their tactics moreso than in AC2, they'll sometimes grab you to give other guards a free hit, and in general they attack more frequently than in AC2. I've noticed them actually pull Ezio off of his horse, and in large enough numbers they CAN pose a threat to your Assassin recruits, I've seen them nearly kill even higher-level ones! In general they're still grouped in pairs or quartets, but I've definitely noticed more Seekers than in AC2 (weren't those mainly in Venice anyway?), and there's some variation in the groups' composition.

• * Regulars: Seemingly the same as in AC2 except they're either unarmored or not (no more "half-armored"), and the armored Regulars will mount horses so as to attack you and your allies, which quickly gets annoying if you're already in a frenetic brawl, though you can "counter" them during their charge to unhorse them. Personally I think that these armored Regulars-turned-horsemen actually use throwing knives when you try to go vertical... but you, your recruits, the Mercenaries, and the returning-from-AC1 Vigilantes can pull them off of their horses in return.

• * Agiles: Seemingly the same as in AC2 with the above general differences.

• * Seekers: They'll sometimes do the "throw sand" special attack that Ezio can do with his Fists (or when he runs out of Bullets or Throwing Knives), they appear more often, and when you commandeer their polearm it's actually useful for a change. When trying Virtual Training, they'll be the most likely guard type to interrupt your kill streak or attempts at the Flawless challenges.

• * Crossbowmen/Arquebusiers: Will actively back away from you unlike AC2's rooftop archers (who were just unarmored Regulars that used a bow if you weren't already close) if you try to close the distance, they won't draw a melee weapon (for you to counter), and you still can't block or counter their shots, making them somewhat more dangerous than AC2's archers. Oddly enough, somehow the Templars trained all of them at le parkour.

• * Brutes: Seemingly more dangerous this time around in my experience for some reason, but the kill streak mechanic now makes them also somewhat more manageable -- should be a high priority in your choice of who to "aim" at first.

• * Papal Guards: Haven't fought enough of them to weigh in on this, but Ubisoft claims that they'll sometimes draw a pistol in addition to their melee weapon, and I've seen footage of one smacking Ezio when he tried to go for an attack.

Out of combat, the guards still tend to go back to what they were doing if you stay out of line of sight long enough (even if the SSI chevron goes almost completely red) just like in AC2 -- unlike Arkham Asylum or Splinter Cell: Conviction where the inmates or enemy mooks would stay tense or FREAKED THE FUCK OUT -- but in general the groups seem to more readily detect Ezio and enter Open Conflict when he poisons a guard or nails a hiding spot assassination, sometimes when he kills one from behind. (For the latter, it doesn't help that Ezio seems to only get "silent" Low Profile insta-kills when using the Hidden Blade, not even the Short Blade, even though the physical motions involved might be nearly identical.)

While I do like that Ezio can now permanently carry a Heavy Weapon (axe or two-handed sword), even if it's in place of a Medium Weapon (longsword or bludgeon), I personally would have wanted Ezio to be able to permanently carry a polearm, so I don't have to constantly seek out (pun intended) a Seeker to get my "chucking spears!" fix.

Story-wise, the stuff that goes on in the real-world is a lot more interesting than the stuff that goes on in Ezio's. You get to see some Borgia intrigue, more Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza, and basically all the characters from AC 2 make a return. I'm not sure how big of an impact the events in Brotherhood are going to have on AC3, but if you like the story, gameplay and want more of AC 2, I'd suggest playing it since there's plenty to do in the game. Otherwise you'll probably want to wait until AC 3, which will hopefully feature Desmond as the main playable character.

I agree that the "DNA Sequences" story wasn't as compelling or epic as AC2's was, and to be honest it really peters out by Sequences 8 and 9 to my dissatisfaction. You can count me among those who was NOT happy at Spoiler The worst part story-wise was less Leonardo.

I'll be picking this up at some point. I liked AC2 so much that I just can't fail to.

Hang on, clarify: The bits with Desmond are actually good now?

Oscar Wilde wrote:Hang on, clarify: The bits with Desmond are actually good now?

Other than a platforming segment at the beginning (with some really strained dialogue), you can exit the Animus whenever you want to to talk to the team members, check your email, and free-run around the area where you've set up shop. There's new email and dialogue to uncover every Sequence, and there are hidden collectibles in the free-run area.

Edward Yee wrote:Never did figure out what those red footprints are supposed to be, someone on Something Awful thought that they're actually a red herring.

It's the path taken by Ezio, Claudia and all the Monterrigioni and Borgia soldiers to get into the sanctuary and the escape tunnels. Blood shows up red in eagle vision.

Vympel, story-wise ACB may underwhelm -- at least compared to AC2 -- but gameplay-wise ACB's a most-ways improvement except for that spoiler'd bit, and I agree that the whole of it justified a full retail game release... even if it may hurt your enjoyment of AC2 gameplay-wise afterward due to how improved ACB's game mechanics are. (There's even subtler things like less "archer corpses sliding off of rooftops," and far less randomly-ragdolling bodies.)

Jordie, someone else on SA thought that too, glad to know that it's not the only idea -- I didn't think of it that way.

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Other than a platforming segment at the beginning (with some really strained dialogue), you can exit the Animus whenever you want to to talk to the team members, check your email, and free-run around the area where you've set up shop. There's new email and dialogue to uncover every Sequence, and there are hidden collectibles in the free-run area.

Not ENTIRELY true -- once the last Sequence concludes, you cannot Leave Animus, which also means no more e-mails, no more interaction with other characters (just straight platforming), and no more chances to collect the hidden collectibles. Incidentally, the collectibles only appear after you've re-entered the Animus (between Sequences 1 and 2).

Shame that the game doesn't have a replay option for the Desmond portions, but also no "skip cinematic" option like the memories have.

Edward Yee wrote: My notes on the guards this time around: while the enemies don't seem to ever attack simultaneously, they do vary their tactics moreso than in AC2, they'll sometimes grab you to give other guards a free hit, and in general they attack more frequently than in AC2. I've noticed them actually pull Ezio off of his horse, and in large enough numbers they CAN pose a threat to your Assassin recruits, I've seen them nearly kill even higher-level ones! In general they're still grouped in pairs or quartets, but I've definitely noticed more Seekers than in AC2 (weren't those mainly in Venice anyway?), and there's some variation in the groups' composition.

The guards are definitely a lot more troublesome this time around, especially in specific memories. I do like the addition of the crossbow for dispatching guards though. It's a nice balance between throwing knives and the gun for ammo capacity and power.

• * Papal Guards: Haven't fought enough of them to weigh in on this, but Ubisoft claims that they'll sometimes draw a pistol in addition to their melee weapon, and I've seen footage of one smacking Ezio when he tried to go for an attack.

Out of combat, the guards still tend to go back to what they were doing if you stay out of line of sight long enough (even if the SSI chevron goes almost completely red) just like in AC2 -- unlike Arkham Asylum or Splinter Cell: Conviction where the inmates or enemy mooks would stay tense or FREAKED THE FUCK OUT -- but in general the groups seem to more readily detect Ezio and enter Open Conflict when he poisons a guard or nails a hiding spot assassination, sometimes when he kills one from behind. (For the latter, it doesn't help that Ezio seems to only get "silent" Low Profile insta-kills when using the Hidden Blade, not even the Short Blade, even though the physical motions involved might be nearly identical.)

You'll run into plenty of Papal Guards inside the Vatican, and yeah, they'll use pistols. If you want instant kills with the hidden-blades, use a smoke bomb or an aerial kill.

The worst part story-wise was less Leonardo.

Leonardo may not have showed up as much but getting to use a lot more of his vehicles was a very nice addition. I rather liked the tank bit.

According to one of the SA users, you CAN kill Borgia Captains with thrown polearms, one recommending the one overseeing a Guard Post (defined as guard groups who stand side by side facing outward with crossed arms) and someone else recommending the one who addresses his troops on an open field about his experience against Assassins. Would be nice to be able to replay Borgia Captains besides Iacopo de Grassi (killed in Sequence 2) and Battista Borgia (killed in Sequence 3) though...

I was more concerned about the "silent" kills, which seemed more common in AC2 than in ACB -- but that speaks better of the AI this time around. As for aerial kills... are you thinking of regular air assassinations, or the "momentum" air assassinations? Basically wall-run with an equipped Hidden Blade near an enemy and you'll be able to attempt an Air Assassination, even during Open Conflict -- though it's way more successful against prone enemies. I know though that both Papal Guards and the final boss are immune to Smoke Bombs though -- I've tried them.

The other nice things about the crossbow for me are that #1, they're "silent" like Throwing Knife or Hidden Blade kills (yet oddly enough the Short Blade is not), and #2, they have a surprisingly good "hipfire" accuracy to me, or at least it seems that if I use it in close. Oh, and it can be used for melee counter kills to boot -- though whenever it's the sweep/headshot it'll use up Crossbow Bolts, the way that Medium Weapons use up Bullets when using the Hidden Gun "kill streak" (though Bullets aren't used up during counter kills of the same person who's struck), and the Short Blade can use up Throwing Knives thrown at enemies.

Speaking of weapon "power" though, I've noticed that armored Regulars don't see to counter as they could in AC2, though Papal Guards may (still haven't really encountered them enough to get a feel for their tactics -- although is Cesare indeed a "reskinned" Papal Guard?), but back in AC2 you could deal damage with such "non-fatal" counters or even Disarms.

In my experience with ACB, I've used only the Hidden Gun to kill Borgia Captains at range -- in my experience, it's the only weapon that has consistently scores one-hit kills against the ones who flee (though allegedly the thrown Polearm does too), I've had one survive and run when I tried a Crossbow shot... but oddly enough, Captains who stand and fight WILL survive at least one Hidden Gun shot, even if you were to land several attacks first. (A shame that we didn't get more than one guy actually ON his tower, and Iacopo de Grassi overseeing from atop his tower is a damned lie.)

How difficult or easy was it for you to get full sync on "Hell on Wheels" (no-hitter when playing the tank)?

The no-hitter with the tank was arguably the easiest of the lot, admittedly I did that one last.

Strange, for others that was the most difficult.

I'll add by the way regarding Desmond's role -- in addition to the aforementioned platforming section(s), he plays a much more... personal role in unlocking "The Truth." (Albeit this too is a platforming section.)

picked it up today. I love AC (except 1, hurr hurr hur) Looking forward to checking it out this evening.

DPDarkPrimus wrote:

Oscar Wilde wrote:Hang on, clarify: The bits with Desmond are actually good now?

Other than a platforming segment at the beginning (with some really strained dialogue), you can exit the Animus whenever you want to to talk to the team members, check your email, and free-run around the area where you've set up shop. There's new email and dialogue to uncover every Sequence, and there are hidden collectibles in the free-run area.

The thing is, I stopped caring about any part of the game not involving Ezio right about the time it turned out that Spoiler

The good thing about your idea is that now that it's out there, Ubisoft won't use it since they claim that they can't use unsolicited ideas for legal reasons. I must warn you though, regarding Desmond... the gameplay with Desmond is somewhat improved although it comes down to just NPC-team interaction and free-run platforming, but regarding his connection to the that spoilered stuff, it gets WORSE. SO. MUCH. WORSE.

Chardok, while there are concerns about how long the multiplayer will last (this is very important), especially with word of an AC game next year, the single-player's "gameplay" value is great, even if I prefer the AC2 story.

Edward Yee wrote:The good thing about your idea is that now that it's out there, Ubisoft won't use it since they claim that they can't use unsolicited ideas for legal reasons. I must warn you though, regarding Desmond... the gameplay with Desmond is somewhat improved although it comes down to just NPC-team interaction and free-run platforming, but regarding his connection to the that spoilered stuff, it gets WORSE. SO. MUCH. WORSE.

Chardok, while there are concerns about how long the multiplayer will last (this is very important), especially with word of an AC game next year, the single-player's "gameplay" value is great, even if I prefer the AC2 story.

I find the story direction doesn't really bother me all that much. It's not like the game ever claimed to be realistic, and plenty of major sci-fi franchises have done sillier.

I loved AC2 so much that even though this doesn't APPEAR to advance the story a lot, I would just love more of what I got. So, whatevz on that. I'll give the story a pass. and the MP sounds pretty nifty so....stabbystabstabbitystab


Plus I want to buy Rome.

Also because Nolan North. So there.

I just finished the game. I loved it, but I hated the levels as Ezio going around restricted to using the damn apple to kill your enemies, and I hate, hate, hate the way the game ended. A video game ending hasn't frustrated me so much since the first Assassin's Creed game.

Had a fantastic night yesterday playing Manhunt with a couple friends, one of whom had just gotten the game. Myself and the other more experienced friend spent the night teaching the newbie a lot of tricks, and a good time was had by all, although as my friend commented "the game doesn't consider you a human being until you're ranked at least level 11".

SilverWingedSeraph wrote:I just finished the game. I loved it, but I hated the levels as Ezio going around restricted to using the damn apple to kill your enemies, and I hate, hate, hate the way the game ended. A video game ending hasn't frustrated me so much since the first Assassin's Creed game.

That really was the game-playing equivalent of blue balls, wasn't it?

I've been playing a bit on my friend's 360, and while I am still boycotting all Ubisoft products until they ditch the DRM crap, it does look quite pretty. As for the Ancient Alien Matrix blah-de-blah...how else do you jibe something like the Apple, really? It makes for a nice conspiracy-theory feel to the plot.

The problem is not that you're using the Apple per se, it's that you can't use anything BUT the Apple, so you can't even use Medicine, you have to wait for the Apple to auto-heal you, and the limit to the Apple's AOE is when it drains Ezio's Health to the point Ezio collapses.

Got nearly 50% sync and I haven't even touched the first Core Memory of Sequence 5 yet, HA! Can any of you can confirm if the number of targets for Arrow Storm = the number of available recruits you have? That (and "spare recruits") is the only reason I can think of to have more than six.

Note: Only Ranked matches guarantee that you'll be on the same team as whoever you invited. Unfortunately it seems my sister's playing (on my PSN) was enough to make someone on Something Awful swear off Manhunt, complaining about "pubbies" being drawn to the one-sided (only Hunter or only Hunted) nature of the mode... too bad that's why I'M drawn to Manhunt.

It's so much cooler to kill people with coordinated friends.

Did anyone else have an issue in multiplayer with really long wait times in lobbies between games? I'm talking something on the order of five to ten minutes.

That's going to be fixed in the patch along with the free DLC come December 14th, apparently.