Official Assassin's Creed III thread

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Official Website | Assassin's Creed Initiates

PSU's review can be found here (8.5/10)

Credit to Nuvian, Nitey, Nirolak of NeoGAF and others for providing new video game details on Assassin's Creed III. This thread was initially created to report on the rumor of the latest installment of the series being set during the American Revolution via Joystiq but is now the official Assassin's Creed III thread.

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Engine: Ubisoft-AnvilNext
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U
Release date: October 30th (NA) 31st (PAL), 2012
Modes: Single-player & Multiplayer

"Set in the latter half of the 18th century, we'll see the war between the Templars and the Assassins escalate as it crosses over to the New World of America, and witness firsthand the events of the American Revolution."

REVIEWS:

PSU - 8.5/10
The Escapist - 10/10
X360 Magazine – 9/10
OXM – 8/10
OXM Italy – 10/10
Meristation – 8.5/10
NowGamer – 7/10
Eurogamer – 9/10
G4 – 5/5
CVG – 8/10
Polygon – 8/10
IGN – 8.5/10
Gamespot – 8.5/10
Strategy Informer – 9/10
God is a Geek – 7/10
Edge – 8/10
Destructoid – 7.5/10
Playfront (German) – 10/10
4Gamers – 92/100
PS3gen (French) – 19/20
GameTrailers – 9.2/10
Game Informer – 9.5/10
PlayStation Official Magazine UK – 7/10
PS3Gen – 9.5/10
Joystiq – 3.5/5

NEWS:

European Deluxe Editions:

Ubisoft has unveiled two deluxe editions of the upcoming Assassin's Creed III, offering fans two beautifully packaged ways to show their adoration for the franchise (and make the publisher a couple extra bucks in the process, naturally).

If the American Revolution setting of Assassin's Creed III and its new hero Connor are interesting enough to you to drop more than the standard fifty to sixty bucks on the game, here are a few more options, the "Freedom" and "Join or Die" editions of the game.

(Keep in mind that these editions are only officially announced for Europe at this point. Ubisoft says North American fans should hold tight for an announcement on this side of the Atlantic.)



The Assassin's Creed III "Freedom" Edition

Assassin's Creed III retail game.

A 9.5" high-quality figurine of Connor.

A steelbook case art by Alex Ross.

George Washington's notebook revealing all the truth & secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution.

One exclusive Lithograph.

2 in-game Single Player Missions:

Lost Mayan Ruins: Connor's mission leads him in an old Mayan pyramid, full of mysteries and revelations. Players will be able to unlock Captain Kidd's fabled cutlass, a deadly, brutal and beautiful piece of steel.

Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favor. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac's War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.

1 in-game Multiplayer Package:

The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of "The Jester".



The Assassin's Creed III "Join or Die" Edition

Assassin’s Creed III retail game.

The medallion of the Assassins with its high-quality curd ladle.

George Washington's notebook revealing all the truth & secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution.

1 in-game Single Player Mission:

Ghost of War: The tide of the Revolution turns into the Templars favor. Defeat your enemies and unlock The Pontiac’s War Club, a powerful Native American weapon.

1 in-game Multiplayer Package:

The Sharpshooter package: Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of "The Jester".

Lost Mayan Ruins DLC available with Gamestop pre-orders:

Lost Mayan Ruins, a DLC mission included with one of the three special editions for Assassin’s Creed III, will be available as a pre-order bonus at Gamestop. There are at least two other DLC missions and a multiplayer package on offer through the various bundles, so assuming other retailer-specific offers pop up soon, there may actually be some way to get them all with one purchase.

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AGB has posted shots of the pre-order goodies you get with Assassin’s Creed III through GameStop and Best Buy. Hit the break to have a look.

The Lost Mayan Ruins solo mission and unlockable Sawtooth Cutlass weapon from Gamestop is below.





At Best Buy, a pre-order will net you the Ghost of War solo mission and Pontiac’s War Club which is an unlockable weapon.





Each mission is also included in one of the various editions of the game.

Limited Edition announced:

Ubisoft has lifted the lid on a Limited Edition version of Assassin’s Creed III for North America and Latin America.



Due for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 30, the $119.99 Limited Edition includes “essential items” for consumers to “ignite the American Revolution,” including:

• Assassin’s Creed III video game.
• Stunning 9.44″ Assassin statue featuring Connor poised to strike with tomahawk and hidden blade.
• Embroidered 28″x48″ Assassin’s Creed-inspired colonial flag.
• 3″x3.25″ sturdy metal belt buckle to proudly proclaim your allegiance to the Assassins.
• George Washington's Notebook, revealing the truth & secrets about the Assassins and the Templars during the American Revolution.

The Limited Edition is available for pre-order today at GameStop, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.

PC owners will get their own Digital Deluxe Edition. For $64.99, it includes:

• Assassin’s Creed III video game.
• George Washington’s notebook revealing his true story during the American Revolution.
• Three single-player missions taking players from the high seas to Cozumel Island in search of Captain Kidd’s fabled lost treasure.
• The Captain of the Aquila’s uniform and traditional Colonial Assassin outfit, boarding axe and Scottish flintlock – rumored to have fired “the shot heard round the world” – for use in the single-player campaign.
• Sharpshooter and Redcoat characters for use in multiplayer.
• A collection of the best audio tracks from previous Assassin’s Creed games.

Extensive DLC/Season Pass:

PS3 version getting 60 minutes of exclusive gameplay:

Amazon U.K. has revealed an updated cover for the Playstation 3 version of the upcoming multiplatform title, Assassin’s Creed III. The box art now includes a banner advertising the Playstation 3 exclusive contents in the open-world action-adventure game, which “includes 60 minutes of exclusive gameplay.” You can check out the updated cover, as well as the latest screenshots, in the slideshow at the top of this article.

Assassin’s Creed III marks a major overhaul for the popular Assassin’s Creed series. The sequel will feature a new playable character, Connor Kenway (who can be seen on the cover), as well as a new setting, the American Revolution. The open-world action-adventure title is currently being developed by Ubisoft Montreal with assistance from other Ubisoft development studios.

Alleged leaked achievement/trophy list:

Rude Awakening - Re-Enter the Animus.
Daddy Dearest - Complete Present - Stadium.
Criss Cross - Complete Present - Skyscraper.
The End is Nigh - Complete Present - Abstergo.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished - Open the Temple Door and learn Desmond's fate.
Mystery Guest - Complete Sequence 1 & 2.
How D'ya Like Them Apples - Complete Sequence 3.
Heroes are Born - Complete Sequence 4.
The Day the Templars Cried - Complete Sequence 5.
Tea is for Englishmen - Complete Sequence 6.
The Whites of Their Eyes - Complete Sequence 7.
Caged Wolf - Complete Sequence 8.
Two if by Sea - Complete Sequence 9.
Grim Expectations - Complete Sequence 10.
Difficult End - Complete Sequence 11.
The Sum of Truth - Complete Sequence 12.
Perfectionist - Complete 100% of all main mission constraints.
An Extraordinary Man - Complete the Encyclopedia of the Common Man.
Patent Not Pending - Craft one of Franklin's inventions to decorate your Manor.
House Party - Recruit any of the Artisans and see them settled on the Homestead.
A Complete Set - See all the optional characters settled at the Homestead.
Original Gamer - Win a game of Fanorona, Morris and Bowls on the Homestead.
Bring Down the House - Explore Fort Wolcott.
Kidd Gloves - Uncover the mystery of Oak Island.
All Washed Up - Complete all Naval Missions aboard the Aquila.
Entrepreneur, not Pirate! - Complete all 12 Privateer Contracts.
Tumblehome - Upgrade the Aquila.
By Invitation Only - Be invited to join a Club.
In Good Standing - Complete all challenges for any of the Clubs.
Man of the People - Liberate all districts in Boston OR New York.
Monopoly Man - Send a convoy to Boston, New York and the Frontier.
Head in the Cloud - Find all pivots and sync the Animus to the Cloud.
Blowing in the Wind - Retrieve every page for one of Ben Franklin's Almanacs.
Completionist - Complete ALL progress tracker grid entries.
Multitasking - Complete 50% of the Progress Tracker entries.
Spit Roast - Perform a double assassination using a musket.
Circus Act - Kill 15 guards with a single cannon shot.
Predator - Hang 5 enemies by using rope darts.
Prince of Thieves - Loot a convoy without killing any of its guards.
Whit's fur ye'll no go by ye! - Block a firing line 5 times by using a human shield.
Jager Bomb - After becoming fully Notorious, kill 10 Jagers before losing your notoriety.
Magna cum Laude - Have a Trainee reach the Assassin Rank.
Coureur des Bois - Exchange undamaged pelts at all different general stores.
Eye Witness - Witness a predator killing an enemy.
Fin - Complete each of the epilogue missions unlocked after the credits roll.
Abstergo Entertainment - Reach level 20 in the multiplayer mode.
Hunter/Killer - Reach sequence 10 in a map on Wolfpack multiplayer mode.
Winning Team - Be on the winning team at the end of a multiplayer game session.
Personalized - Customize your multiplayer Profile and Character.
The Truth Will Out - Unlock a hacked version of one of the Abstergo videos in the story quest.

Welcome to Homestead, the game's central hub:

Assassin’s Creed 3 will feature a central hub called the Homestead that protagonist Connor can upgrade and use to trade. Ubisoft has discussed the hub’s features in greater detail.

Speaking with OXM, Assassin’s Creed 3 producer Alex Hutchinson said of the Homestead, “My favorite thing about the Homestead is that in a city, you’re anonymous, you blend into the crowds.”

“But at home, everyone knows your name,” he continued, “They don’t know you’re an assassin, obviously, but they live their lives, going to the tavern – assuming you've attracted the Innkeeper. It becomes a beautiful video game train set. But we’re aware that we’re a trading game, and that’s close to German board games.”

Connor’s action can cause new people to take up residence in the Homestead, and he can also fulfill errands for them, unlocking new crafting recipes for his trouble.

In a bid to make the Homestead feel organic, Hutchinson’s team made the village’s residents go about their daily lives convincingly, “The guys were saying there are 35 people in your Homestead, and each one has around eight activities, with some of the most complex animation we've ever built – and no-one will see it!”

There’s one animation where the butcher takes apart a pig, and you can watch it for two minutes. There’s definitely some showing off going on,” he concluded.

Enter "The Tyranny of King Washington" DLC:

Assassin’s Creed 3 will have a Season Pass, as previously reported, and Ubisoft has provided information on the matter along with the running theme of the game's DLC – which tells an alternate history to the fledgling nation of America.

The Season Pass will grant purchasers access to five forthcoming DLC packs for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Downloadable content will feature “The Tyranny of King Washington”, an all-new single-player campaign available as a continual episodic story through three DLCs that will “let players experience an alternate history of the American Revolution.”

Here’s the synopsis:

“It’s 1783. As the revolution comes to a close, a new and most unexpected enemy emerges. Driven by the desire to secure the fate of the colonies, George Washington, the greatest hero of the revolution, succumbs to the temptation of infinite power. The new King is born and his reign leaves no one untouched. To return freedom to the land, our new hero Connor must dethrone a tyrant he once called friend.”

In addition to the new single player experience, the downloadable content will feature new maps and characters for multiplayer as well as other single-player missions.

“History is our playground, and Assassin’s Creed teams have always loved playing with historical facts and their consequences as a way to better understand a time period.” said Sebastien Puel, executive producer at Ubisoft.

“While Assassin’s Creed 3 concentrates on history as it happens, we wanted to take some liberties with this DLC and tell you how things ‘could have happened.’”

Assassin’s Creed 3 DLC is scheduled for release during a six month period after the game launch, and the Season Pass will run you 2400 Microsoft points and £23.99 XBL and PSN, respectively.

The Season Pass is now available for purchase on the PS Store and will be available from October 31 on Xbox 360 and from November 22 for PCs.

All Assassin’s Creed 3 DLCs will also be available for the Wii U.

Assassin's Creed III will wrap up Desmond's story:

Assassin’s Creed 3 will be the last game to feature the series’ modern day assassin Desmond Miles, Ubisoft has confirmed. The publisher also wants to stop stalling and making people wait for answers.

Speaking with OXM, Assassin’s Creed 3′s lead designer Steve Masters said, “What we’re trying to do is bring some finality to Desmond’s story. To actually wrap up what you've opened and experienced with him.”

“So we’re trying to make it a little bit more direct with the storyline,” he continued, “but at the same time there are still going to be plenty of little mysterious bits for you to dig into, especially in the side stuff.”

Acknowledging fan frustration at the amount of plot stalling across Ezio’s trilogy, Masters added, “We wanted there to be a big leap forward in the story, and we wanted you to feel a good sense of progress in what’s going on in the story”

He concluded, “A lot of the misdirection and the way we've been meandering a little bit has been kind of frustrating as a player and for the audience, so we wanted to make sure there was going to be more substance to get your teeth into.

MEDIA:

Boxart:

Concept art:

Screenshots:

Trailers/Gameplay:

Promotional art (includes DLC):