Assassin's Creed 3: the only thing I like is the combat

Having not yet played this, I can't really comment, so I'll say this instead, my one big fear in the combat this time around is that it will nail the feeling of truly fighting skilled opponents and your needing actually learn and be skillful, but will completely discard the beauty of the old combat that saw you weave through dozens of enemies at a time in an the most exquisitely aesthetic dance of death. It always struck me that an Assassin SHOULD be able to mow through poorly skilled and armed enemies with ease, but actually have to be skillful and think his way through a fight with a skilled fighter. I'm hoping they have struck a balance between the two, but I fear it will prove that they have not.

Having not yet played this, I can't really comment, so I'll say this instead, my one big fear in the combat this time around is that it will nail the feeling of truly fighting skilled opponents and your needing actually learn and be skillful, but will completely discard the beauty of the old combat that saw you weave through dozens of enemies at a time in an the most exquisitely aesthetic dance of death. It always struck me that an Assassin SHOULD be able to mow through poorly skilled and armed enemies with ease, but actually have to be skillful and think his way through a fight with a skilled fighter. I'm hoping they have struck a balance between the two, but I fear it will prove that they have not.

It's still totally the same as in the previous installment don't you worry. It's just like in ACB that there were spear men that you need to counter in the different ways, this time is the same. I was in one spot of the town which seems to spawn endless enemy and killed like hundreds of them non-stop

nothing else just the combat ime playing it at the moment and its a slow starter but i like more than just the combat, bad article

Just my take on the matter, gents! I expect plenty will beg to differ.

nothing else just the combat ime playing it at the moment and its a slow starter but i like more than just the combat, bad article

Please, can you learn to construct proper sentences? I've read a bunch of your replies now and they're hellish to try and understand. Also, rather than just randomly stating it's a bad article (it's not, btw), perhaps you could try telling us why you think it IS.

Fionarei, that's good to know, thanks. How does the combat flow, is it very stop-start like in AC2 or does it flow nicely between kills like in AC1 & Brotherhood?

nothing else just the combat ime playing it at the moment and its a slow starter but i like more than just the combat, bad article

Hmmmm.......It's a "bad article" because it doesn't match your opinion of the game??

Clearly the forum's "preview" button is broken because if you thought about that before posting, you may well not have bothered.

Fionarei, that's good to know, thanks. How does the combat flow, is it very stop-start like in AC2 or does it flow nicely between kills like in AC1 & Brotherhood?

I'm finding the combat flows really nicely. It takes reflexes / skill / luck to get the first kill, and you can still put together a chain of kills like in brotherhood

Kool, cheers dude.

Also this is the first game in a long while that i've played all day without getting bored / switching games. Usually my boredom point is a couple of hours

I have to agree. So far, I'm about four to five hours in, and I'm STILL playing the prologue, which, to be fair, is nothing more than a drawn out tutorial. I hope it does open out as the reviews have said it does, otherwise this is shaping up to be the biggest disappointment of the year. It just feels tedious.

On the subject of the combat, it feels more satisfying, a little more cathartic. Firearms I'm not convinced by as yet, they feel as though they've been tacked on as they are an essential part of the era, rather than being fully integrated, like the crossbow and hidden gun of the previous games, for example. Or maybe it's just me.

On the subject of the combat, it feels more satisfying, a little more cathartic. Firearms I'm not convinced by as yet, they feel as though they've been tacked on as they are an essential part of the era, rather than being fully integrated, like the crossbow and hidden gun of the previous games, for example. Or maybe it's just me.

I find a pistol shot to the ones who keep countering helps keep the fight flowing

I can absolutely sympathize with this Ed, after my first day of playing the game I was thinking almost the exact same thing. It does take a stupidly long time to actually get to the game you were promised and then once you do it doesn't exactly blow you away. Connors annoying, urban areas feel less impressive (syncing an area is just a chore now) and the frontier just feels like a big bit of filler.

But, as Log has advised, it does turn it around. The frontier starts to feel like a lawless playground where you can ambush redcoats without consequence, infiltrate enemy forts and hijack convoys of goodies. There's also fun little legends to investigate as well as rare/unique animals to track and hunt. The towns and cities really start to shine when you're hunting the Almanac pages that are similar to Crackdown 2's orbs, its then you start to appreciate that what the cities lack in grandeur they make up for in detail. Unfortunately Connor is annoying throughout.

I'm not the biggest Assassins Creed fan and still think the latest game has some obvious flaws and it is a tad glitchy, but that being said I do think its the best in the series yet. The original game was a good idea badly executed, the second game trimmed the fat while building upon what was good, and now the third has managed to re-invent itself but still feel absolutely like an Assassins Creed game.

(I don't mention Brotherhood or Revelations because frankly after tearing it up as Ezio in ACII trying to play those two felt like just doing the same thing over again and both bored the arse off me - for as long as I could play them.)

I disagree strongly with this article. I've been playing for 15 hours now and i feel it's the best in the series by far. The problem, as far as i can see it, is that so many people have had preconcieved ideas as to what this game SHOULD do rather than just enjoying the game on it's own merit. Everyone just wants to be connor already, in the city, killing everything, within 30 minutes.

Sit back, enjoy the beginning with Haytham, enjoy the atmosphere, the superb voice acting and the story and the combat and the parkour etc and stop moaning. I did not have high expectations and perhaps that's why I'm enjoying it so much.

Assassins creed 2 was a great game, i've played it twice, but nostalgia fanboyism, as with so many games, has turned it into something better than it was. It was flawed. AC 3 whilst still flawed takes significant steps forward and i wish people would stop slating it because they're not able to don the white robe and tear it up straight away.

On a side note, the game whilst still a bit pro-american has not been nearly as prejudiced as i feared, it actually feels very british at times.

Totally agree

the game takes ages to get to the point but awell

I've yet to buy this as not got the time to play it right now, but i am playing through Dishonored and i find myself wishing that Assassins Creed had missions with at least some of the structure of Arkanes effort, but at the same time i feel that Dishonored could sometimes do with some of AC's action/combat thrown in to liven it up a little...

I can imagine Dishonored is quite off-putting to some as it's not always easy/accessible, but at the same time i hope that doesn't mean when i come to AC3 that the missions feel too simplistic and generic - having played and enjoyed each and every one of the others that's always been one of my bugbears with the series, and it doesn't sound like it's made a quantum leap in that regard? Time will tell of course, i'll be my own judge as always!!

I disagree strongly with this article. I've been playing for 15 hours now and i feel it's the best in the series by far. The problem, as far as i can see it, is that so many people have had preconcieved ideas as to what this game SHOULD do rather than just enjoying the game on it's own merit. Everyone just wants to be connor already, in the city, killing everything, within 30 minutes.

Sit back, enjoy the beginning with Haytham, enjoy the atmosphere, the superb voice acting and the story and the combat and the parkour etc and stop moaning. I did not have high expectations and perhaps that's why I'm enjoying it so much.

Assassins creed 2 was a great game, i've played it twice, but nostalgia fanboyism, as with so many games, has turned it into something better than it was. It was flawed. AC 3 whilst still flawed takes significant steps forward and i wish people would stop slating it because they're not able to don the white robe and tear it up straight away.

On a side note, the game whilst still a bit pro-american has not been nearly as prejudiced as i feared, it actually feels very british at times.

Have to agree with you totally buddy Haytham is a good role to play and it sets you into the game nicely the trip to America was very well done they could have just had a cut scene (glad they didnt) i fell like im in the game at times it is by far the best AC it takes its time most people theses days are rush rush rush im glad it takes its time

I also fell this game is for true AC fans im 7-8hours in and not even got my assassin gear yet but im loving it

Fionarei, that's good to know, thanks. How does the combat flow, is it very stop-start like in AC2 or does it flow nicely between kills like in AC1 & Brotherhood?

It's the most fluid game I've ever played to be honest, if that's explaining it at all lol. Just assassinating with the hidden blade has now turned awesome, if you're just casually walking you can stab and keep going and it just looks so cool, same again for running, except you sort of dance around momentum wise. Killing enemies normally with the tomahawk or swords is just effortless, in a good way - especially the animation on screen. It's quite simple but the payoff means you can murder 10 guards ok providing you know how to deal with each type - simple to use, difficult to master (not overly difficult) - the perfect combination.

I also found the prologue to be the best beginning to a game I've ever played, both in plot twists - seriously, avoid this article for even a glimpse of a notion - and also in spectacle.

Naval battles are ok, but I wish there was more role playing on the ship (steady now, rpg I should say). My favourite Creed was 2, now it's this one.

Assassins creed reached its climax with Assassins creed two, I think it would be fair to say that Brotherhood, Revelations and Assassins creed three didn't live up to the standard set by its predecessor. The story through both 1 and 2 was somewhat solid and got more and more abstract as it went along… perhaps the writers got carried away. It’s a shame since I really enjoyed Assassins creed but it just seemed to lose “it” (whatever that might be) as the franchise continued.

Everyone has been very careful about even tiny spoilers.

Why would you go and do that?

Everyone has been very careful about even tiny spoilers.

Why would you go and do that?

A little too late for you and maybe some others but I've removed the spoilers from his post.

Didn't he colour out his spoilers, I saw none in black text. I think the game is far more enjoyable without spoilers so kudos to removing them anyway.

I apologise for saying its a bad article,its not a bad article at all .I actually agree with the article in the most part its the title that bothers me ,Ime only on sequence 5 so i cant comment on the game as a whole ,I can only say who ever wrote this article must have liked other things about the game ,thats what i meant.

As an enormous fan of gaming, having played games since i was very young as my dad is also an avid gamer, i find it unbelievably annoying when game reviewers slag off games in the way that this article did. This game took years of work, serious amounts of money, unbelievable talent and skill to create, and you've played it for 7 hours and you just put it down as 'loathsome'. Get a grip mate, your dogmatic and over-oppiniated. I've bought this game, and yes there are some things that need to be ironed out, such as the intro, and a couple of glitches, but you cant deny this is a fantastic game in many ways, far surpassing the constant repetition of COD games or Battlefield, The infinite side missions, the whole new world to explore, countless new characters, 1000's of conversations, its like no other game ever made, and i've played too many. I'm not saying my oppinion is better than yours but you're obviously not a true gamer if you cant appreciate this game, its a work of art, and you've slated it, without even finishing the story, which btw is the best of all the AC storys. Get over yourself, and give the developers the credit they deserve!

*an added comment, (call me sad) but i've played this game for 33 hours, its consumed most of my college holiday. I've completed the story, a lot of side missions and loads other things, and STILL not even close to finished. Don't listen to this article if you're a fan of Assassins Creed, i literally just made an account on this thing to state how furious i was about his relentless critisisms. He should be sacked.

He should be sacked.

Its an opinion piece. He has a different opinion to you. Not entirely convinced thats a valid reason to sack him

And its my oppinion he should be sacked, (not for stating his oppinion, thats fine, if he doesnt like it then fair enough) but for condemning this game entirely without giving it credit where its due. Fair enpugh, maybe not sacked, but anybody could have written this kind of article, he shows very little appreciation for the immense attention to detail and the copious amount of time and effort put into it. Its a lumbered, bias and fairly un-informative review, and probably deterring people from buying the game, which to be honest is just unreasonable. You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

Its a lumbered, bias and fairly un-informative review, and probably deterring people from buying the game, which to be honest is just unreasonable. You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

Again its an opinion piece, not the review. Even the tag line clarifies this

You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

Could you not have decided to boycott the OXM website/forum at the same time?

Just a thought.....

Don't listen to this article if you're a fan of Assassins Creed, i literally just made an account on this thing to state how furious i was about his relentless critisisms.

I'm pretty sure any fans of Assassins Creed aren't really going to let an opinion piece affect their decision to buy this game. I'm enjoying the game aswell, but I have to agree with some of what this opinion piece said, it is a bit annoying having to go through such a long beginning learning all the skills that I learn't playing the previous 4 games. One of the few thing I disagree with is that he feels that the combat is the most enjoyable part, which I feel has gone the other way as it just feels like lots of mini QTEs. But that's just my opinion, I'm not going to call for him to lose his job over it. Grow up!

And its my oppinion he should be sacked, (not for stating his oppinion, thats fine, if he doesnt like it then fair enough) but for condemning this game entirely without giving it credit where its due. Fair enpugh, maybe not sacked, but anybody could have written this kind of article, he shows very little appreciation for the immense attention to detail and the copious amount of time and effort put into it. Its a lumbered, bias and fairly un-informative review, and probably deterring people from buying the game, which to be honest is just unreasonable. You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

If only your parents had stop procreating for creating this kind of offspring, the world would be a better place.

I'm sure I've got a tissue I can send you if you want you big crybaby.

This game took years of work, serious amounts of money, unbelievable talent and skill to create, and you've played it for 7 hours and you just put it down as 'loathsome'.

Sorry to hear it rubs you the wrong way, old chap, but as I point out throughout the piece these are entirely provisional observations. I even end by linking to our (largely positive) review.

That said, any game that takes this long to get into its stride isn't exactly "a work of art" in my mind, and as regards the "1000s of things to do" - forgive me, but don't the lion's share boil down to "go here" and "collect X of Y"?

You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

Some people slate us because we over-enthuse about things, others because we under-enthuse about things I'd like these two sets of people to meet and undergo some sort of techno-biological merging process.

I'll write more when I've finished the game.

This game took years of work, serious amounts of money, unbelievable talent and skill to create, and you've played it for 7 hours and you just put it down as 'loathsome'.

Sorry to hear it rubs you the wrong way, old chap, but as I point out throughout the piece these are entirely provisional observations. I even end by linking to our (largely positive) review.

That said, any game that takes this long to get into its stride isn't exactly "a work of art" in my mind, and as regards the "1000s of things to do" - forgive me, but don't the lion's share boil down to "go here" and "collect X of Y"?

You may not agree with me, but i stopped buying the OXM for exactly these kinds of reviews,

Some people slate us because we over-enthuse about things, others because we under-enthuse about things I'd like these two sets of people to meet and undergo some sort of techno-biological merging process.

I'll write more when I've finished the game.

at least you got a big response from such short article and i like the differant opinions and strong views aint that what forums are for

nothing else just the combat ime playing it at the moment and its a slow starter but i like more than just the combat, bad article

Hmmmm.......It's a "bad article" because it doesn't match your opinion of the game??

Clearly the forum's "preview" button is broken because if you thought about that before posting, you may well not have bothered.

ok ok point taken it was a terrible post,i will try,no i will be more constructive from now on ,what i meant was there is more to this game than just the combat

i like the differant opinions and strong views aint that what forums are for

Definitely!

i think the game is a very good game the only thing is that it takes to long to become a assassin for five or six chapters to be connor

I think everybody is right, except when it's different to my opinion. I don't mean to be arrogant, but as a demi-god I am kind of always right so...what's a boy to do.

This game is starting to go down in my opinion. I really dont like the timed fights / chases

I've now played this for (what seems like HOURS) after completing Dishono(u)red - which is very good BTW. I'm REALLY struggling to get into AC3. The cutscenes are long, the gameplay is so on-rails it could work for Virgin Trains! In short BORING! Twice I've got so frustrated at 'evesdropping' I've turned the xbox off. Everyone says it gets better further in - but having played all the other AC titles - and enjoyed them - I'm very disappointed with this so far. I hope my patience lasts long enough to get past this tedium.

I'm afraid that I had the twist in the prologue completely ruined for me because the in game database updated and told me what was coming about an hour before the big reveal. Was not happy, and it's been one of many many bugs I've had. Seriously I didn't have this many problems with Skyrim.

I'm also intrigued why considering the tutorial lasted longer than most games, with big chunks dedicated to every little mechanic imaginable even ones we have all done a thousand times (seriously, why do games still teach us to walk? When was the last time any game didn't use the left thumb stick?) new weapons like the the rope spear are just handed over in a cut scene and you're left to yourself to figure it out for youself.

I love AC but I agree I am finding this one a bit of a slog and over blown, it's trying too hard to be epic and failing. The cities are just too boring and the wilderness too vast to lend them selves to the story scale the devs were obviously hoping for and at the risk of upset the entire US I just find it really hard to care about the Revolution (although it is making me laugh that Shawn as the only Brit keeps referring to it as such whilst all the Amercans call it the War for Independence) AC1 and 2 had settings that lent themselves to epic stories, whether because of the scale of the Crusades or the breath taking architecture and moral vacume of Renaisance Italy, but AC3 is a collection of glorified sheds and a group of people arguing over VAT on hot drinks.

I'm still playing, almost inspite of myself, so hopefully it'll improve as the game gets going.

I agree mostly with this, I remember thinking at about sequence 4, I haven't even got my damn clothes yet, the build up was a bit long winded and the world just didn't feel as polished as in earlier games, or maybe it was too polished I'm not quite sure. Regardless I don't think revolutionary america can possibly compare with renaissance Italy in terms of wealth of culture and the huge advancements being made. For me there in lies the problem, it doesn't feel new. I remember how AC2 was so much better than the first just because of how much they added, now it doesn't bring anything new to the table, well not much anyway. The one thing I really enjoyed was the naval missions because that was fresh and new and really cool but I felt they needed to expand on this. Assassins creed has always been one game that could see me doing nothing except running through the city for hours on end just to see what's what but now the cities are empty and devoid of the life and charm that made the environments of the other games so good to play. Honestly assassins creed is nothing new in terms of game play the whole free running bad ass killer had been done before but it was the story and world that really carried it for me and those are two areas that AC3 failed to deliver.

Having completed the main story i feel i have to disagree with the general feeling that the game is 'unfocused' in the middle.

The story itself is focused and makes sense, and if you follow the story quests you get a taut, tense story. My feeling is that the game is as unfocused as the player chooses to be. If you choose to go off and do all the brawlers / homestead / hunting club missions adhoc during the story of course its going to feel less coherant.

Discuss . . .

That's pretty much the staple for open world adventures though. You can either focus and let story and missions guide you, and trundle off with no clear goal in mind and just do whatever you please.

I'm afraid that I had the twist in the prologue completely ruined for me because the in game database updated and told me what was coming about an hour before the big reveal.

I've somehow managed to fight my way through the first four levels, but am not yet Connor (tries to avoid spoliers). Have I missed the 'twist' cos up to know I'm just glad to get the training wheels off.

I'm afraid that I had the twist in the prologue completely ruined for me because the in game database updated and told me what was coming about an hour before the big reveal.

I've somehow managed to fight my way through the first four levels, but am not yet Connor (tries to avoid spoliers). Have I missed the 'twist' cos up to know I'm just glad to get the training wheels off.

If you aren't yet Connor it hasn't come yet. Won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil it for you too.

You're a good man Cunning and don't let anyone tell you different. I'm at about the same point I'd guess, around 6-7% in and still playing as whatshisface. No idea how long it took me, I has trying to find all the pigs in boston. And failing to catch that raccoon.

I always found some aspect as AC combat annoying, such as the fact that it will sometimes lock you onto one individual person when you want to run away instead.

Haven't played AC3 yet but i hoped they have got rid of issues such as this.