Both Ezio and Altaïr return for more parkour-assisted assassinations in Assassin’s Creed Revelations.
Ubisoft has decided that we haven’t seen enough of Ezio and the Renaissance, and have taken elements of what was originally a 3DS game and brought it to the grown-up consoles. The third and final chapter in the ‘Ezio trilogy,’ Assassin’s Creed Revelations give us a look at a more mature assassin than the brash young womanizer we were introduced to in Assassin’s Creed II. At the ripe old age of 52, Ezio’s gotten a little grey in the beard, but with age comes wisdom. And Lethal Weapon quotes.
While he doesn’t directly confess that he is perhaps a little old for ‘this s**t,’ he does mention that "it used to be so easy" after climbing up a castle wall. This also comes right after a carriage chase which culminates in Ezio falling down a ravine and limping with the resultant injuries, so he seems to be doing pretty well despite his lamentation. The story at this point in the game – which purportedly takes place in Revelations’ first hour – has Ezio on the hunt for a Templar called Leandros (voiced by Steve Blum, as they already have Nolan North voicing Desmond). Leandros holds one of the keys that access a vault hidden deep below the fortress in the Assassin city of Masyaf from the first game.
To get to him, Ezio must utilize some of his new techniques and equipment, like his upgraded Eagle Sense that gives him more information on the routes of guards and targets, and an ample selection of bombs. There are three types of bombs the assassin has access to – Lethal, Tactical, and Distraction. In one example, Ezio lays a trip mine on a guard he’s killed, and as with past instalments, a nearby patrol comes over to examine the body. Consequently, this proves fatal to them, and Ezio is on his way once again.
A second type of bomb had Ezio able to bounce the device off a wall around a corner, which attracted the attention of some guards to its point of detonation. Another type featured was a standard impact explosion that killed any guards in the vicinity. These bombs are crafted at special stations that are found around levels, and "ingredients" that cause different effects can be obtained in the usual array of chests scattered across the cities.
Once Ezio finally takes down Leandros, he gains the key and has one of the first flashbacks where you get to play as Altair. This flashback takes place 2-3 years before the original Assassin’s Creed, and serves to reintroduce Altaïr to players who perhaps missed out on the original game.
This section is brief but really highlights the graphical upgrades Ubisoft Montreal has managed to incorporate over the years. The textures of the material on Altair’s hood are visible, and there is a lot more refinement in the character models and facial animations. However, this slightly younger Altaïr no longer possesses Desmond’s likeness as he did in the first game. He does keep the scar, but his new look is probably to highlight the recently revealed factoid regarding Ezio and Altaïr not being directly related.
As well as some tweaks to the Animus UI – due to story developments depicted in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood which we won’t spoil – there is an awful lot of new content and gameplay in this new entry. Chase breakers from the multiplayer component have been added to the single-player campaign in one form or another, and you’ll be able to get to know your fellow assassins a bit more as you recruit them. With the game due to ship in November, we now just have to wait to see if Revelations will turn out to be another Brotherhood or Bloodlines.
Stay Tuned.
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