Game Summary:

Jerusalem, 1191 AD - The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You are an elite Assassin sent to stop the hostilities by suppressing the powers on both the Crusader and Saracen sides. But as you carry out your missions, a conspiracy begins to unfold. You find yourself tangled up in a conflict that threatens not only the Holy Land, but the entire world. Experience the power of a feared Assassin. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape the events of this pivotal moment in history. ESRB Rated M for Mature

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Game Review:

Assassin’s Creed, available for the Xbox360 and PS3, is based on a the Hashshashin or Assassins, a religious group of Ismaili Muslims, thought to be active in the 8th to 14th centuries as a mystic secret society specializing in terrorizing the Abbasid elite. The group transformed the act of murder into a system directed largely against Seljuk Muslim rulers that had been persecuting their sect. Assassins were meticulous in killing the targeted individual, seeking to do so without any additional casualties and innocent loss of life, although they were careful to cultivate their terrifying reputation by slaying their victims in public, often in mosques. Typically they approached using a disguise; their weapon of choice a dagger, poison, bows and other weapons that allowed the attacker to escape.

The video game is set in Damascus, Acre and Jerusalem during the Third Crusade (1191 AD). The player takes on the role of Altair, who unfortunately carries a heavy American accent, which takes immediately away from the setting and surroundings. Stripped of weapons and trust from his Creed, he sets out to assassinate nine individuals to regain his status. Unfortunately, Ubisoft Montreal didn’t leave the storyline by just by telling a tale set in the Holy Land; instead they added an unnecessary and unexciting 21st Century twist to the plot.

The gameplay is intriguing for several hours, but becomes repetitive all too quickly. The player must – as the title implies – assassinate. Kamikaze actions or just brute force may lead to success. However, Assassins Creed is more fun when played as a stealth game, in which enemies are carefully approached, surroundings explored and an escape plan is made before the assassination takes place. The game offers several side quests, but other than for Achievement Points, these are not really worth playing.

Do to the violent nature of the game, we recommend Assassins Creed for players ages 14 years and older. The ESRB rated the game M for Mature 17+.

Assassins Creed offers great visuals and is fun for several hours. In true Hollywood fashion the story does not conclude and a sequel is under development.