I know a few people have asked about first thoughts on Assassin's Creed, and while I have not been fortunate enough to play it yet, I found this in-depth review from Gamepro.com that may answer some of the board member's questions.
A few highlights from the review:
"After a weak showing at the past E3, many people were left to wonder if Assassin's Creed could live up to the developers' ambition and the media hype...Many outlets proclaimed the game to be the biggest disappointment of the show and we were all left to wonder if the game's large, expansive world and complex control scheme, which both sounded great in theory, would actually translate into a cohesive and compelling gaming experience.
"Assassin's Creed is a fluid experience in which every individual element seamlessly works in harmony with the others...From walking around on the street to free running on the roof tops, the controls make it easy to manipulate Altair during his quests...
"...every onscreen person in Assassin's Creed has a presence and gives off a sense that they are unique individuals; this in turn helps flesh out the game's expansive world. As you move through the city streets you will be approached by beggars who will grovel and plead for money, merchants who proudly display their wares, menacing guards, and every other kind of citizen you would expect in the game's (mostly) ancient setting.
"But if you do happen to find yourself in a scuffle, know that the fighting mechanics in the game are based on timing, meaning you can't just hack 'n slash. While you can repeatedly swing your sword by hitting the X button, learning the nuances of battle, like dodging, countering, and using your combo attacks, are the key to making it out of the fray alive. Just as there is no set path to completing you assassination objectives, there is no set way to finish a battle. If you so choose you can simply run away, you can, provided your free-running skills are good enough...
"Approach this game with that frame of mind and you will be rewarded with one of the best gaming experiences around."
Full Review, including some really nice screenshots, here: Gamepro's Assassin's Creed Review
All quotes taken from Todd Melick's review: Assassin's Creed for XBox 360
A few highlights from the review:
"After a weak showing at the past E3, many people were left to wonder if Assassin's Creed could live up to the developers' ambition and the media hype...Many outlets proclaimed the game to be the biggest disappointment of the show and we were all left to wonder if the game's large, expansive world and complex control scheme, which both sounded great in theory, would actually translate into a cohesive and compelling gaming experience.
"Assassin's Creed is a fluid experience in which every individual element seamlessly works in harmony with the others...From walking around on the street to free running on the roof tops, the controls make it easy to manipulate Altair during his quests...
"...every onscreen person in Assassin's Creed has a presence and gives off a sense that they are unique individuals; this in turn helps flesh out the game's expansive world. As you move through the city streets you will be approached by beggars who will grovel and plead for money, merchants who proudly display their wares, menacing guards, and every other kind of citizen you would expect in the game's (mostly) ancient setting.
"But if you do happen to find yourself in a scuffle, know that the fighting mechanics in the game are based on timing, meaning you can't just hack 'n slash. While you can repeatedly swing your sword by hitting the X button, learning the nuances of battle, like dodging, countering, and using your combo attacks, are the key to making it out of the fray alive. Just as there is no set path to completing you assassination objectives, there is no set way to finish a battle. If you so choose you can simply run away, you can, provided your free-running skills are good enough...
"Approach this game with that frame of mind and you will be rewarded with one of the best gaming experiences around."
Full Review, including some really nice screenshots, here: Gamepro's Assassin's Creed Review
All quotes taken from Todd Melick's review: Assassin's Creed for XBox 360
