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An enormous story comes to and end, with many questions being answered and new ones being raised.
Desmond Miles, 21st century’s protagonist, is in a kind of coma and has stranded on an island made from his memories and fragments in the Animus. Subject 16 is there as well, lending his knowledge and support to Desmond. On this island Desmond makes his very own journey through his past to come to terms with his purpose in life. [These Desmond Sequences are strangely enough very similar to the style of Portal considering the gameplay and level design.] On the other hand he continues to relive his Renaissance ancestor’s life.
After the events with the Borgia in Rome Ezio has decided to search for the origins of the order’s icon, Altaïr Ibn-Al'Ahad (first game’s protagonist). After discovering that, in order to get access to Altaïr’s hidden library in Masyaf, he needs to obtain 5 keys, he begins his journey to Constantinople, where they have once been brought in the past.
Arriving at the ‘Crossroads of the World’ Ezio meets several new, original and interesting characters- on the ally’s side as well as on the enemy’s.
He makes his way through the beautiful capital (which has a touch of Acre from time to time) an and is confronted with love, death, connivery and wisdom amongst the people. He gives it his all for the very last time to finally reveal the secrets of the past and the future.
In the process of finding the Masyaf Keys Ezio manages to relive the memories of Altaïr through named artifacts. Transported back into the 12th century one slips into the role of the middle age assassin as he is, as well, growing older and older, and gets to see what happened after the events of AC1.
Let’s first look at the actual gaming value:
Every connoisseur of the series might know that concerning the gameplay the basics of an open-world climbing and jumping around have still stayed the same. Yet the game offers even more fancy additions than the prequel.
The Guild Control has luckily been retained, and the ability to use bombs and build them yourself has been added which gives one an even greater feeling of acting individually. The eagle vision has now become the Eagle Sense and is much more accurate.
You are still able to re-establish closed shops and buy landmarks, and the counter-system has been turned to fine-tuning with the addition of slow-motion for the final blow.
There is that new feature of Defending your Dens which equals a Tower Defense but I didn’t come too like it very much (maybe because I really suck at it :P). But it’s a very nice idea and something new to the usual gameplay.
Furthermore moving around in Constantinople has become more fluent and easy through ziplines and the new hook blade.
Like in the previous games there are the main missions to advance the plot and also a quite a lot side quests. These are all beautifully orchestrated, with graphics that do not disappoint and emotional and touching compositions.
The difficulty level isn’t unfair but in some cases quite tricky and require more than one attempt in many cases. Especially considering the optional 100% completion of a mission.
The only thing that really bugs me are the way too few and short Altaïr sequences.
However the game is without a doubt a game worth investing one’s time in.
And although it very similar to its predecessors the story makes it a must at any rate. (If one is a fan of the series.)
Now the most crucial point of this game that occurred to me is the mood.
Every Assassin’s Creed manages to perfectly deliver a certain mood.
AC1 evoked a mysterious, adventurous feeling, AC2 left me with melancholy as well as turbulence and vitality and AC:Brotherhood had a more grown-up and dramatic touch to it. What Revelations brought across is wisdom and sadness. A lot of it.
Ezio has aged and most of his life has passed already. In the game you often are reminded of past events and think back of ‘old times’ since you have experienced so much with this character.
The same goes for the aging Altaïr who undergoes loss and betrayal to achieve his ultimate wisdom.
If you are not reminded of the shortening life span of your character then you are confronted with deaths of people you have already become attached to.
There are as well very funny and uplifting moments but the overall atmosphere is quite gloomy.
Many scenes made my flesh creep and brought tears into my eyes.
And that’s exactly how the end of a great story should be.
You have to feel the nostalgia and the grief and determination of the character you’ve established a bond with over all this time.
Once again Ubisoft has managed to tell a story brilliantly empathic, this time properly ending it just to begin with a new one.
9.5 /10
[The multiplayer is not included in this review.]
