Assassin's Creed Revelations

Scratched wrote:
conejote wrote:

Really looking forward to this. I just got back from Florence yesterday, and I have to say it's pretty amazing just how well they captured the historical center of the city. It was kind of odd walking around feeling like I'd been there before--and had murdered many, many people.

Google earth is good for that too.

I am playing AC2 now and am always remembering my visits to Florence and Venice. It usually goes along the lines of "Hmm, I have to see if it is really climbable next time I visit..." And yes, they captured it just perfectly. Just yesterday I was passing (in game) next to the building I used to live in when in Venice! I found it the same way as in real life - walking back from San Marco under Torre dell'Orologio and further. Worked flawlessly.

Tagged because I like Altair quite a bit. And I finished Brotherhood the other day.

Grubber788 wrote:

Tagged because I like Altair quite a bit.

Could you explain why? I think there was a PSP game about him I never played but from AC1, he just seems like his one character trait is that he got over being a jerk. Other than that, he's pretty vanilla.

I don't know why, but I'm really looking forward to this one. I've really enjoyed the Assassin's Creed series so far.

LobsterMobster wrote:
Grubber788 wrote:

Tagged because I like Altair quite a bit.

Could you explain why? I think there was a PSP game about him I never played but from AC1, he just seems like his one character trait is that he got over being a jerk. Other than that, he's pretty vanilla.

Altair always seemed more principled to me than Ezio. Altair starts as a reckless douche and is develops along a less than golden path, but I like the way his story ark ends in AC1.

Even though this is a thread about what is essentially Assassin's Creed 4, I'll spoiler tag this:

Spoiler:

The people Altair kills use their dying breaths to make compelling arguments against what Altair does: assassinate people. He shows a lot more conflict about the missions Al Mualim assigns him than Ezio does. I think I like Altair because unlike Ezio, Altair directly questions what he does. Ezio's tale is more of a revenge tale, which is fine, but I like a little diversity in my assassins.

Keep in mind, I also like Jacob from ME2 quite a bit. I feel like both characters are often portrayed as vanilla, but I prefer to think of them as subtle.

Grubber788 wrote:

Altair always seemed more principled to me than Ezio. Altair starts as a reckless douche and is develops along a less than golden path, but I like the way his story ark ends in AC1.

Even though this is a thread about what is essentially Assassin's Creed 4, I'll spoiler tag this:

Spoiler:

The people Altair kills use their dying breaths to make compelling arguments against what Altair does: assassinate people. He shows a lot more conflict about the missions Al Mualim assigns him than Ezio does. I think I like Altair because unlike Ezio, Altair directly questions what he does. Ezio's tale is more of a revenge tale, which is fine, but I like a little diversity in my assassins.

Keep in mind, I also like Jacob from ME2 quite a bit. I feel like both characters are often portrayed as vanilla, but I prefer to think of them as subtle.

Some speculation I read

Spoiler:

In AC2 you read the codex of what Altair was up to after AC, and after the genetic memory branches off after conceiving a child. He became obsessed with the apple and used it to extend his life, among other things - Ezio meets Altair in ACR. Does he go over to the Templars? who knows, but Ubi have shown art of a hidden underground Templar compound, which would be a nice place to hide out.

There are some great new Multiplayer films on Gametrailers.

Grubber wrote:

Altair always seemed more principled to me than Ezio. Altair starts as a reckless douche and is develops along a less than golden path, but I like the way his story ark ends in AC1.

Ezio hasn't had any such humbling but it's entirely possible their story arc is the same; Ezio's just earlier in his than Altair.

At the very least, Ezio has learned that proper assassins do not break into a party, stab a man viciously in front of all the other guests, and then scream their name.

Plus, Ezio can walk briskly without the guards coming after him, and didn't get his ass Samus'd.

LobsterMobster wrote:

Plus, Ezio can walk briskly without the guards coming after him.

Now that's skill.

Higgledy wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:

Plus, Ezio can walk briskly without the guards coming after him.

Now that's skill.

I read the original statement as being very dirty, and would have considered that +1 in Altair's favor.

In the video, the developer kept saying that "there are no skin replicants," even though there were obviously duplicates of the types walking around. They even brought back the "make duplicates of yourself" perk. Does anyone know what he was talking about?

Additionally, I saw some comments on another board about their re-using maps from AC: B, which is what the CTF map here looked like to me. Can anyone confirm/deny this? If it's true, it makes me a whole lot less likely to pay full price for AC: R.

CptGlanton wrote:

Additionally, I saw some comments on another board about their re-using maps from AC: B, which is what the CTF map here looked like to me. Can anyone confirm/deny this? If it's true, it makes me a whole lot less likely to pay full price for AC: R.

I'm not sure if I'd mind this. So long as it's not just a quick copy and paste, I don't see anything wrong with keeping a good map. It's like how there are classic maps in many games that get played all the time because they're good fun. If anything it's a step in preserving the AC multiplayer as a part of the long term franchise.

I can see where Glanton's coming from, but I felt Brotherhood was also an overpriced cash-in. Right up until I played it and saw that it had more content than most single-player games that come out these days, even without the multiplayer stuff. I'm willing to give Revelations the benefit of the doubt, even if it does reuse a few maps.

LobsterMobster wrote:

I can see where Glanton's coming from, but I felt Brotherhood was also an overpriced cash-in. Right up until I played it and saw that it had more content than most single-player games that come out these days, even without the multiplayer stuff.

If anything, the AC series should be a shining example of how to reuse content and the engine through your games. Enough reuse that you can build worlds without having to start from zero, enough new that you're not just in a recoloured version of the same city. And that's in addition to how they change the game from one release to another.

I'd be more forgiving had I seen more 'new' of other types in those videos, but I really didn't.

CptGlanton wrote:

I'd be more forgiving had I seen more 'new' of other types in those videos, but I really didn't.

I can definitely feel where you're coming from with that since I'm ready to move on from Ezio's story.

Prederick and I were talking about where the next game should go. I offered Meiji-era Japan, since it's an interesting period in the nation's history and I think the AC team could provide a much more realistic interpretation of it than the usual demons and ninjas. Then Prederick countered with New York City during the "gangs of New York" period, and made me feel intense shame that I could ever want a game in any context that did NOT have that setting. Do you know who lived right around there at that time? Try Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Mark Friggin Twain. They've even already been mentioned in the "lore," and the design of the city would lend itself perfectly to AC's parkour mechanic.

The reuse of Monteriggioni in AC:B made perfect sense. Reusing the engine also fits pretty well since they can make entire new cities (based off real life ones) that just makes the game feel like a totally new experience, but with that same sense of familiarity.

It's like giving your dog a haircut. It's still you're good ol' dog, but it looks new and shiny!

LobsterMobster wrote:
Grubber wrote:

Altair always seemed more principled to me than Ezio. Altair starts as a reckless douche and is develops along a less than golden path, but I like the way his story ark ends in AC1.

Ezio hasn't had any such humbling but it's entirely possible their story arc is the same; Ezio's just earlier in his than Altair.

At the very least, Ezio has learned that proper assassins do not break into a party, stab a man viciously in front of all the other guests, and then scream their name.

Plus, Ezio can walk briskly without the guards coming after him, and didn't get his ass Samus'd.

Not to mention Ezio never got

Spoiler:

betrayed by the head of his order like Altair did. More specifically, he wasn't used by the head of his order as a pawn for the Templars

Regarding the reuse of MP maps: I don't see how that is any different than CoD or Gears reskinning 'classic' maps and reissuing them for a premium price as DLC. And considering how many 'free' maps that AC: B gave out (I use free lightly as many of them were nighttime variants of maps already in the game) I'm not terribly bothered by it.

CptGlanton wrote:

In the video, the developer kept saying that "there are no skin replicants," even though there were obviously duplicates of the types walking around. They even brought back the "make duplicates of yourself" perk. Does anyone know what he was talking about?

It's likely he's not referring to what we think he is but I can't think of what he could be talking about. I may need to watch the videos again to try and work it out.

LobsterMobster wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

I'd be more forgiving had I seen more 'new' of other types in those videos, but I really didn't.

I can definitely feel where you're coming from with that since I'm ready to move on from Ezio's story.

Prederick and I were talking about where the next game should go. I offered Meiji-era Japan, since it's an interesting period in the nation's history and I think the AC team could provide a much more realistic interpretation of it than the usual demons and ninjas. Then Prederick countered with New York City during the "gangs of New York" period, and made me feel intense shame that I could ever want a game in any context that did NOT have that setting. Do you know who lived right around there at that time? Try Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Mark Friggin Twain. They've even already been mentioned in the "lore," and the design of the city would lend itself perfectly to AC's parkour mechanic.

I would be all over either one of these.

CptGlanton wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

I'd be more forgiving had I seen more 'new' of other types in those videos, but I really didn't.

I can definitely feel where you're coming from with that since I'm ready to move on from Ezio's story.

Prederick and I were talking about where the next game should go. I offered Meiji-era Japan, since it's an interesting period in the nation's history and I think the AC team could provide a much more realistic interpretation of it than the usual demons and ninjas. Then Prederick countered with New York City during the "gangs of New York" period, and made me feel intense shame that I could ever want a game in any context that did NOT have that setting. Do you know who lived right around there at that time? Try Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Mark Friggin Twain. They've even already been mentioned in the "lore," and the design of the city would lend itself perfectly to AC's parkour mechanic.

I would be all over either one of these.

There is the argument that ninjas and samurai have been done to death but I'd still love them to do it. The New York thing is brilliant. It's unexpected (well it was :P) and yet a completely perfect setting for the game.

Higgledy wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:
LobsterMobster wrote:
CptGlanton wrote:

I'd be more forgiving had I seen more 'new' of other types in those videos, but I really didn't.

I can definitely feel where you're coming from with that since I'm ready to move on from Ezio's story.

Prederick and I were talking about where the next game should go. I offered Meiji-era Japan, since it's an interesting period in the nation's history and I think the AC team could provide a much more realistic interpretation of it than the usual demons and ninjas. Then Prederick countered with New York City during the "gangs of New York" period, and made me feel intense shame that I could ever want a game in any context that did NOT have that setting. Do you know who lived right around there at that time? Try Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Mark Friggin Twain. They've even already been mentioned in the "lore," and the design of the city would lend itself perfectly to AC's parkour mechanic.

I would be all over either one of these.

There is the argument that ninjas and samurai have been done to death but I'd still love them to do it. The New York thing is brilliant. It's unexpected (well it was :P) and yet a completely perfect setting for the game.

I've always wanted them to do a Victorian London version. That'd be roughly the same time-period. I think it could be awesome to be Spring-heeled Jack the mis-understood assassin.

It was a long conversation, Higgledy. The deeper you dig into that time period the more perfect it seems.

Higgledy wrote:

[There is the argument that ninjas and samurai have been done to death but I'd still love them to do it. The New York thing is brilliant. It's unexpected (well it was :P) and yet a completely perfect setting for the game.

I'd make that argument. Sure, a more restrained take on Japan could be done, but it'd still be largely tread upon ground, and AC's great strength is that is goes into settings well off the beaten path. I don't have a bunch of games set during the Crusades, nor the Renaissance, and I much rather they continue, and do Civil War-era New York, Victorian London, Revolutionary France or Russia, India during the Mutiny, or a billion other great eras that haven't been done a billion other times.

Russia has a lot of untrodden ground (snow?) but I don't know if the architecture would lend itself to this kind of game. Always a fan of the Cossacks, though.

French Revolution would be a good one, especially considering how strong of a presence the French have in Brotherhood, and Ezio mentions that 'there were a couple of French girls in Firenze' during one of the missions.

I mean, if Machiavelli can be an assassin, why not the Scarlet Pimpernel?

I actually can't think of a game I've played that was set in a realistic version of feudal Japan.

I think at least parts of Bushido Blade were pretty toned down (not exactly their "liberated" women), and wasn't there another realistic swordfighting game at some point? Way of the Samurai? Then there was that one that was based on real battles that actually took place, where you needed to target the weak spot on the giant enemy crab for massive damage.

Those are very different games from an Assassin's Creed, though. The other problem with a Japanese setting is getting the Assassins and Templars to Japan in the first place. The nation has been isolationist for most of its history.

I could picture a game related to the British dealings in China or India in the early nineteenth century. That'd be cool.

My first hope for AC3 would be Japanese based. But then again, I absolutely love that era of Japan with Samurai and so forth.