Assassin’s Creed: Hands on
Think of the most influential videogame action-heroes. Remember how Sam Fisher and Master Chief blew your mind using their skills within legendary quests that kept us hungry for more. Such heroes are rare, but today we’re recommending Altair, hero of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, as another such significant arrival on Xbox 360.
Assassin’s Creed represents the vanguard of next-generation action from Ubisoft. The team responsible for Prince of Persia: Sands of Time has spent three years redefining the genre, casting aside all preconceptions of how a videogame hero should perform. When you take control of Altair the old rules don’t apply, or rather they no longer hold back your mission. Next-generation technology has allowed Ubisoft to define Altair using real-life rules and common sense game design. As Altair you experience freedom and interaction like never before. Assassin’s Creed takes its influence from movies like Brave Heart and Ben Hur – blockbusters unafraid to take things seriously. Events in the game take place in the 12th Century Middle-East, within three major cities and the Holy Land that surrounds them. It is the time of the Crusades, so there is much unrest among the people. Altair’s role is to hunt down and punish those leaders for whom power has become an addiction, which he does using stealth, skill and a certain degree of respect. We explored Jerusalem for our hands-on demonstration. Altair arrives without knowing very little of his mission, so must carefully walk among the people looking for clues. One of the ways he might find information is by helping citizens under distress – sometimes the occupying soldiers take to bullying, which must be stopped. Here’s where you’ll experience Altair’s spectacular fighting skills, which range from a stealth kill through blade-clashing sword fights and ferocious reversal attacks. There’s also an element of strategy – target the leaders and their men lose confidence, bystanders often help out too. It’s crucial to Altair’s mission that he keeps a low profile, which leads him to perform the antics he’s most famous for – ‘Free Running’ across the rooftops and climbing to the highest points for observation. Anything that protrudes more than a few centimetres can be used as a foot or hand-hold. He’ll automatically reach out to obtain the best grip, and balance along wooden beams. Your responsibility is to choose the most effective route – essential for running away from trouble after the assassination. You’ll often catch your breath as Altair claws at an overhanging ledge above, and you’ll certainly gasp at the incredible view when he perches to ‘Equalize’ his position. What does ‘Equalize’ mean? We asked Ubisoft the same question! In practice you’ll see the viewpoint change to show Altair against the backdrop of the vast, sprawling city laid out below. The term itself is tied up with the mysterious science-fiction storyline that nobody will know until playing the game on 16 November… Don’t you just love secrets?! |
