Assassin's Creed : Brotherhood

Once will not hurt, it took a few months hanging around before the new Assassin's Creed, spin-off of the second episode, deign point the tip of his hood on a PC. However, besides the chance to finally get to
explore Rome, PC users will have their patience rewarded by the addition due to the recent DLC and updates to the multiplayer mode. A nice batch of compensation that accompanies an adventure with seductive qualities well. So do not spoil our fun.

My dad Pope

The least we can say is that the last minutes of Assassin's Creed we had left our hunger. Not so much for the elusive and mystical encounter with Minerva lifted the lid on a conspiracy esoteric rather scary for this final level in which Rome did glimpse behind the scenes, even though we already saw himself eating a gelato at the Colosseum and throw a few guilders in the Fountain of Trevi. Well then Brotherhood intends to alleviate this frustration, to start at the very moment when its predecessor is finished. We discover a Ezio disturbed by the revelations of Minerva, but relieved to have completed his quest, defeated Pope Rodrigo Borgia and recovered the precious apple of Eden.

Of course, this happy ending was misleading. The writers of Ubisoft have decided to unleash all their sadism on the poor Ezio who finds himself in just a few minutes severely injured, deprived of all his gear assassin and almost alone in the world about his new nemesis, Cesare Borgia , Son of the Pope and his army chief, a man so cruel as a bad video game can be. Since the defeat of his father papal it was he who took the reins of the country and who now directs an iron fist. Not content to tyrannize a bloodless Italy, he goes into his head to smash once and for all the order of the Assassins and especially Ezio. But our hero is already planning an offensive-cons and decided to go to Rome to hit the Borgias in the heart, challenge their domination and to liberate the city of eternal yoke. To do this, he will have to gather his troops to help rebel factions to reform and unite around this noble cause that much blood will flow.

Obviously, anyone who loved diving in the Italy of the Renaissance in Florence along with the fop will be pleased to discover the rest of his adventures in Rome. From the outset, it is quickly absorbed by a well done story that multiplies the twists and chains of varying sequences that start very well this new adventure. Alas, after a convincing start, Brotherhood tends to dawdle slightly and we shall mainly deal with situations rather familiar sounding sometimes like repetition of the previous section. Staging of the many cut-scenes, themes, characters crossed ... It sometimes feels a little too comfortable in a frame that lacks a little pace in the medium term. Fortunately, approaching its denouement, in particular through parallels with Desmond's future / present (playable several times in the game), rushing things again and it takes a liking to follow a typical scenario, but enhanced with a few surprises that will titillate the fans.

All roads lead to ...

It has escaped no one, Brotherhood turns his back to Florence, Venice and company to take us to Rome, period. For the first time in the series, the adventure has thus only one playing area (main). Much larger than the cities that hosted Ezio last year, it appears here without loading time in all its immensity, subject, of course, have released each quarter according to our progress in history. Open air museum, Rome unveils its monuments here with pride and the ride is often exotic and exciting. However, the thrill felt when we discovered a new city lacks a bit, despite the efforts of developers to give us a little trip through some side quests in independent levels so that their own environments.

The neighborhoods are also quite different visually to avoid monotony, but the proportion of campaign is perhaps a little too big and almost pass for filling. In any case, given the size of this new area of play, we'll be glad to count on the Roman sewage system that allows you to "teleport" from one point to another of the city in one click but also to be able to ride around the city. As John Marston, Ezio can call a horse at any time and go in the streets or in the middle of the field to save time and zap Parkour sessions that might seem redundant. Technically, this spin-off is less stunning than its predecessors and there is even a few times too coarse textures or backgrounds too little detail and geometric. The Brotherhood of Rome is beautiful, sure, but perhaps less attractive and charming than what we imagined. However, benefit from the PC to home consoles, it gains in finesse at the general report and especially the frame rate high on the configs the fittest can enjoy the adventure in conditions much more pleasant.

Ezio Strong

Gameplay side, Brotherhood does not change at all what we know of Assassin's Creed. No major changes to note here and there are therefore capable of Ezio wildest antics with a single click to explore the city freely. The fighting may have won a bit of nervousness as the developers had promised, but the difference was nothing inherently obvious joystick in hand. The offensive was nervous a little easier to get rid of the guards, but the battle system is still very centered on the combo parry / cons-attack that always gives rise to bloody beautiful choreography.

If, on these aspects, Brotherhood rests therefore no surprise on its achievements, its game design, it, especially trying to enrich and deepen the findings of Assassin's Creed II. Firstly, the famous observation points that can reveal whole sections of the map are mostly become Tours Borgia, mini-fortified bastions, seriously guarded, it will destroy hope to see clearly then . Brotherhood thus transforms sessions climb in side quests that are necessary conditions for the assassination more or less discreet of the officer in charge of the premises.

After each destruction, the game map will reveal all the activities available nearby, including shops and important buildings to be renovated. In fact, Brotherhood adapts more or less the idea of management and improvement of Monteriggioni from the previous game to the entire city. Carver, bank, blacksmith and doctor waiting so badly that your earned guilders to reopen and pay you a daily income which you will gradually revive entire neighborhoods of Rome and increase your influence over the city. If we had quickly gone around this in Assassin's Creed and we ended up raising capital as important as useless here, the idea really takes the body and shows itself more efficient and malignant as it there is much to discover and build.

My boyfriend's killer

The main innovation of the Brotherhood against its elders is at the origin of its name. In this episode, in fact, Ezio will have to organize resistance against the power of the Borgias in helping its former allied faction (prostitutes, thieves and mercenaries) to take the bull by the horns, but also to reconstitute gradually a real guild assassins. The first operation will therefore give rise to a lot of the main tasks in which our hero will make some fatal services to its allies. The second will be diluted more subtly throughout the game as mini side quests that will allow it to recruit new comrades. Specifically, the four corners of Rome, we will have to cross the citizens mistreated by men of Borgia. Fly to the rescue (ie in Felstriker guards one by one), the unfortunate will be convinced that the assassination is the ideal career path and will automatically join your ranks. Therefore, you can count on your new friends at any time during the game to go and kill (or at least, try) the target you designate them, a principle that roughly approximates what we could already do with the mercenaries.

To prevent your troops from being decimated in the first chop comes, it will be possible to gain experience for your congregation in making a turn in a special menu available in certain key points of Rome. You can then customize your buddies at both the look as their skills in combat, making them more efficient and less vulnerable. Regrettably, the use of these new friends is a bit too small ("will kill him, hurry up"), but the option has the merit of a share deal not bad, secondly to provide a bit of strategy in certain situations.

Assassin's Creedence Clearwater Revival

Brotherhood does not joking level content and reveals a long and rich solo really where we are quickly overwhelmed as there is to it. Besides the main tasks that remain in line with those of the second strand (assassinations, shadowing, escorts ...), the game is full of side quests and other quests toughest will be keen to complete fully. The assassination missions are their return and exploration of hope to unlock some tombs legendary equipment. Even to qualify for the latest gadget from Leonardo da Vinci, it will plunge into totally independent of levels where it will destroy the creations of our martial friend inventor to prevent Cesare no benefit too. In short, Brotherhood is perhaps the most surprising of Assassin's Creed, but it offers us in any case a truly profound and long adventure that will delight lovers of fine for hours. Liens served last, the PC version is further enhanced with a few extra hours with the addition of the DLC The disappearance of Da Vinci. Good news.

As if this were not enough, this spin-off series offers a completely new multiplayer mode, designed and developed by teams from Annecy to whom we owe already multi the last spin-off. Program, there are four game modes that are available all declined around the same radical principle of kill or be killed. After selecting an avatar from a list of a dozen skins, you end up in bits of city living, restless and populated with NPCs look is cloned on the profiles offered to the players. The idea is simply to prevent us from recognizing our opponents the first time. The developers have even gone as far as to make the random behavior of NPCs (they wriggle, run then stop ...). The goal is to find the target "human" assigned to us in the top right of the screen, thanks in particular to a compass that tells us more or less roughly its location in the map.

Of course, this research will not be an easy one since it is even being a potential target for other players. Suffice to say that it quickly became completely paranoid and suspect that the slightest movement makes us jump. The cocktail designed by developers is really effective and should always be on the alert without losing his composure as soon as we approach its prey or a threat one feels close. In short, it is stressful, but terribly addictive. It should be noted that there is no fighting here, just more or less bloody murders by pressing a single button: you only have but one chance to fulfill his contract. If it gets too rashly our prey (or vice versa if you are approached), the game will warn us that something wrong and we invite a chase always nervous and anxious in the crowd on roofs and eaves levels to try to carry out our mission. Through our performances, we will gain experience as it is often customary now in the multiplayer modes and you unlock special abilities, so for dressing, for example, or attempt to escape his attackers by using a smoke bomb . Here again, PC gamers can immediately enjoy the additions that the consoles did not discover until later with the two updates already included multiplayer mode, including their new maps really welcome. Ultimately, it proposes a multiplayer experience very thoughtful, exciting and original, a beautiful transposition of the spirit of the series that should appeal to fans.

Finally

One could legitimately fear that Brotherhood is a little hollow coming out so quickly after a spectacular Assassin's Creed II. Yet this new chapter in the adventure of Ezio in Renaissance Italy unveils solo a rich and impressive density. Despite its size, its beauty and variety, we regret it is true that Rome is the only real area of play when the series had accustomed us to more changes. But the Italian city full of things to do, neighborhoods to explore, liberate and rebuild, save citizens, indoctrinate and train, secrets to find, side quests to buckle. That cons-balance very well the main missions effective but sometimes lack a bit of originality. Fans should not shun this reunion with Ezio especially as Brotherhood also introduces a new size: A multiplayer terribly well thought out, catchy and exciting. If this result is less surprising and baffling than its predecessors in their time, it remains a ruthless efficiency, sharpened like the blade of his secret heroes.

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