Assassin's Creed (PS3)

Ubisoft's stealth stunner is flawed, but ultimately unforgettable.
2/18/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 4 of 4

This is, unfortunately, very much in contrast with the superb set-pieces that the assassinations turned out to be. They start off with pitched, evocative cut scenes, and once they get going, they're stirring, hectic, harrowing. Once an assassination sequence is in motion, the slightest false move can often draw unwanted attention -- which can mean the difference between taking out your target with ruthless, efficient grace or enduring a protracted war of attrition with his men-at-arms. After playing through Assassin's Creed, it's these sequences that you'll remember and crave to experience again and again as you pine for the inevitable sequel.

Truth be told, half the reason I'm excited to play the sequel is to see where the story goes. Yes, it's strange to say so, given all the flack I gave it, but when you strip the narrative of all its 'Da Vinci Code' mumbo jumbo, Assassin's Creed is a game in which you control a militant Shia whose job it is to kill powerful Sunnis and Christians who are making a mess of the Holy Land. And while he's in perpetual doubt about the motives of his superiors, Altaïr ultimately does his job with unflinching disregard for his own safety. When it comes to games, this is about a bold of a social commentary as you're going to get.

But to suggest that this is what makes Assassin's Creed worthy of experiencing would be unfair (and frankly, the story's presentation is such a mess that it would be difficult to argue this with a straight face anyway, subtext be damned). Yes, the game is flawed in certain areas, but it's a marvel in many more. Where Assassin's Creed excels, it does so wonderfully. Thankfully, there are enough of these sorts of moments to make the less compelling ones worth going through.

This review is based on a retail copy acquired through Ubisoft PR.