Long-term fun - Cinema ripe stages

I have Assassin's Creed - Director's Cut Edition (DVD-ROM) several times played with joy.
The anticipation of the second part was nipped by announcing the online coercion, which is why I have dispensed with today on the purchase of Assassin's Creed 2 - a real shame. But at Brotherhood dispensed Ubisoft fortunately on this purchase protection, the pre stood so no more obstacles. Because I do not know the second part, I can unfortunately not make comparisons with the predecessor do what innovations or improvements concerns, but still try an objective evaluation of the game to deliver.

--- KEY REMINDER ---

The main story of ACB is divided into 9 sequences. Because I've only played the first part of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood before, I had to follow the story corresponding difficulties in the beginning. Who knows the second part, is a clear advantage, such as a flashback in Dead Space 2 does not exist.
The main sequences are divided into individual memories that indeed must be played consecutively in part, but you get every now and again the possibility of derogating from the main memory and to address the numerous side quests, or simply to explore the surrounding area. The individual missions of the main memory are very varied and almost cinematic staged, made really great. This quality can hardly compare with the missions of the first part.

--- Side QUeSTS ---

There is hell of a lot to do in Rome for an Assassin. The following is an overview of the many side missions that are not available from the start, but will be released in the course of the main memory.

The influence of the Borgia reduce:
Some Towers are under the influence of a Borgia captain. If you defeat the captain, you can then destroy the tower and thus the influence of the Borgia and renovate from immediately in this area building. But the main people do not always make the fight and flee partially. If they escape, you have to wait for their return until the next changing of the guard. Tactical approach is therefore necessary. For each destroyed Borgia tower one may also recruit an Assassin recruits - more on that below.

Rebuilding Rome:
Where the Borgia have lost their influence, transactions may be reopened as forging or art dealers, etc.. In addition, attractions such as the Colosseum are restored to Rome to help to its former glory. All this costs money, of monuments you really have to put a five-figure sum on the counter, but Ezio gets something for his investment. For each reconstructed building or monument Ezio's income every 20 minutes shall be paid into his account to which he has access to banks increases. In addition, discounts and new items unlocked with the increasing number of renovated buildings. It is worthwhile in any case.

The Assassins' Guild:
For each destroyed Borgiaturm you have the opportunity to recruit a civilian then train him assassins. The recruitment takes place as the "citizen rescue" in the first part, so eliminate enemies and then talk to the citizens. The maximum of 12 recruits can be summoned from then on to support the fight or set targets. In addition, Ezio can command a "hail of arrows", which in its surroundings killing all the enemies using the buttons. At dovecotes Ezio can send his recruits on missions throughout Europe, who are rewarded with experience points for the recruits and money for Ezio. A percentage display indicates how highly the chance of success is a maximum of five recruits could n be sent on the same mission, the experience points are then divided among them. Did the recruits they will reach the highest level applicable in Ezio's hiding place in a nice ceremony to the rank of "Assassino" and include, among other things about crossbow, pistol and smoke bombs, which they use often and meaningful. The Assassins' Guild is a great feature, but also reduces the difficulty level to a minimum.

Guild missions and challenges:
For the guild of courtesans, thieves, mercenaries and assassins, there are small issues, mostly to do assassinations. There are for each guild a list of challenges that can meet Ezio. For example, eliminate a certain number of guards from his horse, completing 40 death jumps, a total of 500 m flying with a parachute etc etc. Has Ezio mastered all challenges for a guild, he gets as a reward a unique weapon, in the case of the Assassins sword of Altair - the strongest sword in the game.

Da Vinci's War Machines:
For Leonardo, you can relive memories of four outside Rome. It goes in every mission about a find of Leonardo's war machines to destroy the blueprints, "stepping on the toes" with the war machine the Borgia and then to destroy the machine.
It should be used to control a carriage with automatic cannon, a tank, a gunboat and a sail glider. These missions are the most diversified of the game and also make quite fun, just by sailing gliders I needed a few tries until I figured as I can keep the thing in the air and not always to lay a crash landing. As a reward for the successful completion there next to models of war machines in Ezio's hiding place of Leonardo hidden double blade, the leap glove, the poison dart device and the possibility to use parachutes.

The treasure of Romulus:
In the underground hiding Romulus must be found six keys. A hiding place is visited in the course of the main memory. Who found all the keys, can look forward to the stylish arms and the powerful Dagger of Brutus as a reward.

Collecting quests:
Whoever finds all 101 Borgia Flags gets the Borgia-cape with the awareness Ezio is permanently set to 0%. With the eagle eye can discover 10 holes, through which you can climb and then have to solve several puzzles. If you have all solved the mystery of the subject 16 is revealed.
Everywhere in Rome treasure chests are additionally hiding, which include lost property for sale or for business contracts in addition to money.

Additional Memories:
As if that was not enough work for all the meantime, you can repeat memories of Ezio's past around Cristina. These missions will be unlocked depending on the percent level of total synchronicity.
In addition, you can still visit two Templars hiding and perform multiple Templar attacks.

--- CONTROL ---

Anyone who has played a part of the Assassin's Creed series, will find their way immediately. Newcomers may have to only "noticeable - mode" to the many keys to be activated, and the use of used to, but after a short time should not be a problem anymore. A mouse with more than 3 buttons bring great benefits, but this is true not only for Assassins Creed. The control mouse and keyboard has given me no problems, even though the fixed camera position is not ideal in a few passages for targeted control of Ezio, even if it looks nice.

--- GRAPHICS / SOUND ---

The graphics are very chic, but not outstanding. Great foresight, highly detailed character models and textures throughout sizable. The sky looks a bit artificial, but see the shadow of very smooth and the lighting is impressive.

The soundtrack is discreet but very consistent and excellent synchronization. The talk did a good job and one way or another voice you'll hear often on TV.

--- TECHNICAL ---

I play on my system (i5-750, 4GB RAM, GTX 470, WIN 7-64 bit) at a resolution of 1920x1200 and maximum details. At first I had a disturbing bucking despite high FPS. The deactivation of V-Sync and reduction on 2xAA brought improvement. The utilization of the V-RAM is as far as I could see more than 600 MB, although the hardware audible (fan) and felt (case - waste heat) is required.
There were no crashes and no bugs. Every now and then a few clipping errors and obviously wrong scaled Schwertknäufe (about 3 times as large as normal) are manageable and disturb the positive overall picture hardly.
For copy protection: The online forced the 2nd part was a reason not to buy the game for me. Fortunately, Ubisoft has deviated in Brotherhood of this interference, and there is only a one-time online activation, then can be played offline permanently, unless of course the multiplayer - so that I can live with that.

--- --- CONCLUSION

Few games have so far managed to captivate me like Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. The staging is cinema ripe, the scope enormous. I made sure to time invested four times in the whole side quests and the reconstruction of Rome, as in the main story. But this is not meant negatively, because the side quests are implemented varied and lovingly.
Full marks and full purchase recommendation!

Tip: If you seek 100% full synchronization, which is the Assassin's Creed - Brotherhood: warmly recommended The Official Strategy Guide. Very clear and helpful with a lot of additional information about story and characters that you do not get out of the game. Helped me a lot!