Assassin's Creed (PS3) Preview
Posted by Frank Mohr on 07.27.2006
Vitals
Genre
Action Adventure
System
PS3
Release Date
Q2 2007
The game voted Best of E3 2006, Assassin's Creed looks to revolutionize the stealth action genre.
The medieval hack and slash has become a bit of a staple of action gaming over the past few years, but Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed for the PS3 is looking to turn the genre on its collective ear.
The game focuses around an apprentice assassin named Altair, trained at the historic castle of Masyaf, which is located in the mountains of what is now Syria. Altair is looking to be a skilled acrobat and combatant, armed with a crossbow-like projectile weapon, a sword, and, the assassin's choice, a ritualistic dagger concealed on his left arm.
The game takes place in the port city of Acre, as well as the surrounding countryside, and also moves on to the cities of Damascus and Jerusalem. Each has its own distinctive theme, and the sprawling countryside that lies between each city also contains diverse environmental settings. The game will also lead players to the assassin fortress at Masyaf, and the forests that gave the setting to the historical Battle of Arsuf.
Assassin's Creed contains a shocking mix of real historical fact played against the developer's dramatic narrative style. The developers behind this game are the masterminds behind the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, among other games, and have been involved in the project since the release of the aforementioned game. The nearly two years of work show itself in the incredible detail shown in the early versions of the game. Crowds and groups work dynamically, using a system reminiscent of the radiant AI seen in the recent Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion. Great care has been taken by the developers to ensure that every action the player performs will have a realistic reaction from NPCs. For example, should the player be running full tilt and happens to careen into a passerby, as well as both parties most likely becoming intimate with the floor, the NPC may react with anger, and potentially even violence. Onlookers will take pause, may laugh, jeer, or become horrified by the unfolding events. Likewise, attacking or killing someone in the streets will have townsfolk running in terror and attracting guards to the area.
As you may expect form this dynamic system, the kills Altair needs to perform to advance the storyline will often be complicated affairs. Stalking the victim takes time, and opportunities may present themselves to the patient observer. Of course, it is also possible to simply run in, slash them to bits, and escape in a mad dash through city streets. The decision is entirely up to the player. The game also employs some interesting elements for moving through the environments. Developers comment that anything that juts out more than about 2 inches can be interacted with by Altair. This means dynamic wall climbing and platform jumping like something right out of a Hong Kong kung fu flick. Simply running with a full head of steam should be avoided, though; a kind of balance system is being implemented, adding yet another touch of realism to the game.
All in all, the game is shaping up to be one of the first must-have titles for the PS3. Interesting setting, innovative controls, beautiful graphics, and tons of violence; is there anything else one could hope for in the next generation? Assassin's Creed is currently scheduled to hit shelves sometime in 2007.
