Repetatives 'killer' game

Originally expected hot from the gaming community has been 'Assassin's Creed' already shooed proverbial shortly after publication with torches and pitchforks through the village. The hype was the final product simply does not do justice, they said - a view I can understand in part.

In 'Assassin's Creed' over take the role of the Assassin Altair in the Orient at the time of the Crusades ... - well, actually it's about the kidnapped bartender Desmond, Altair's descendant in the present, which is forced by a machine - the Animus - to sift through in his genetic memory memories of a certain period of life of its ancestors for something that his captors are desperately seeking - what it is, is revealed only as the game progresses. So absurd the story may sound, the science fiction part with Desmond only plays a subordinate role, because you as Altair in the virtual past is most of the time on the road and can fully engage in the medieval atmosphere.

This is certainly the most impressive thing about 'Assassin's Creed': a metropolis of that era, such as Damascus or Jerusalem, restored to their previous splendor and invite you to explore. 'Assassin's Creed' is namely not a pure action-adventure, but an open world title, which is why it is possible to be (which is quite logical within Altair's memories, whose dimensions are limited by the Animus: you can not remember places where Altair has not yet been the appropriate time) to move freely - and 'free' is to be taken literally.

'Assassin's Creed' is clearly a spiritual sequel developed even at Ubisoft Prince of Persia series: Altair can climb sent walls and facades up, jumping from roof to roof and some daring maneuvers (such as the so-called. 'Death leaps' in which he himself headlong) put into effect by a very high altitude in the depth. This propensity for acrobatics to rapidly prove: the urban rooftops are the player best friends, she should be discovered by the guards and forced to flee. Also climbing of viewpoints allows many interesting discovery.

The sense of freedom is imparted to the same extent by the graphics engine. This is not stingy with details, provides tremendous vision and can, due to atmospheric used lighting effects - among other things, a 'cloud effect' built in, so the sun when clouds move, is covered briefly what, realistically, is also changing the exposure - the world come to life from Altair. His Rest of the atmosphere is doing the soundtrack, which really purely serves to underscore the scenarios and urges at no time interfere in the foreground.

Whatever reason there may be so that this grandiose game gets only three stars?

'Assassin's Creed' has unfortunately ready for every positive aspect also a negative. The playful freedom, especially the jump from rooftop to rooftop, feels indeed great, the gameplay itself is very repetativ - as well as the mission objectives. In each city, the same procedure will apply: see liaison, off contract and, consequently, information advice (about the same old three methods: Eavesdropping, browse, pick pocketing), possibly a few optional missions meet (also always the same: save citizens , find vantage points, collecting for informants with or without time limit flags on or off certain goals), carry out assassination and then flee back to the liaison, while the whole city is behind one. The most important part - the assassination - but disappointed most: Those who expect a similarly subtle approach as in the offshoots of the 'Hitman' saga, is wrong - you can easily ignore the information collected and pure march into the lion's den with his sword drawn, approximately 20 to 30 guards kill - and finally the ultimate goal.

The fighting is in 'Assassin's Creed' quickly tiresome routine, because it dive (especially towards the end, where confrontations are inevitable) on so many opponents that Sony's 'God of War' against acts conservatively. The numerous dueling Achievements - of which presupposes an example the killing of 25 guards in a single fight (!) - Can be achieved without great effort. The combat system itself is also extremely modest: once you have the ability to 'counterattack' learned you only have to wait for an attack to push the opponent to the ground or to put it right by one-hit-kill incapacitated. No competition for titles such as 'Ninja Gaiden'.

Of course, you will not usually forced to fight. If you spotted, an escape is possible, but mostly useless because the cities seem more guards accommodate as residents and on every second roof an archer is at least positioned; In addition, the enemy can run faster than Altair. It is also possible to go out of the way disputes and to remain undetected - if one leaves the game ...

To circumvent soldiers and town guards is namely pure gambling - sometimes strolls or you walk past them, and even though they have never seen Altair, it's suddenly "an assassin!" - Already one being chased. To avoid this, it is sufficient, however, to go a little slower and to fold their hands ('submerging' - it pretends to be a scholar who also praying through the cities wandering in white robes). The same scenario we learn about horses: they galloped too fast, once all guards are chasing you, holding down the A button and rides thus slowly, everything is in perfect order. What shoud that? It applies in the Holy Land already as criminal, if you're in a hurry? Crawling to walk through the city in any case does not meet my definition of fun ...

Even the graphics engine is to criticize: so beautiful she is also to be considered, it is negative in that many textures are loaded only when Altair moved towards them. For example, throw objects often no shadow - the shadow is not loaded until you stand directly in front of them. In addition, horses may remain in rocks or houses 'stuck'. Unfortunately - and this is probably their biggest shortcoming - the frame rate is not constant and even increases in battles with many enemies on the screen noticeably.

'Assassin's Creed' would be a great game, the developers have completely exhausted its potential, unfortunately is not the case, so it is just 'OK'. Because of its simple, repetativen gameplay and ridiculous sci-fi story, it is not recommended without reservation - who can live with the flaws, but entertained for many hours. And because Altair is an assassin, get German politicians for a change a real 'killer' game donated ...