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TIPPING THE SCALES OF POWER WITH YOUR KNIFE

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 60 / 67
Date: April 13, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is on of the most anticipated games to be ported to PCs. For this, the Director's Cut edition was produced, adding some content over the console versions (mostly rooftop action missions), and care was taken to make the gamepad to keyboard/mouse-transition as seamless as possible. For the most part it was successful.

This is a TREMENDOUSLY BEAUTIFULLY GAME. The first thing that grabs you is how REAL the city environments feel. The graphics are just OUT OF THIS WORLD! You will need a very good PC to enjoy their full potential (minimum requirements provided below), but real skies, dynamic shadows, facial expressions and realistically flowing robes are only beginning to describe it! Run on a roof and the other citizens will gather around and comment on your crazy behavior! Throw someone on a vendor's cart and he will come after you complaining about his ruined produce! And the city is alive well beyond your character. If only BIOWARE could take some lessons for its next BALDUR's GATE...

Adding to this is the wonderful sound! From the crowd murmurs and the NTCs cries for help, to the whistling of the wind and the well-chosen background music, a good sound-card and speakers set is recommended to truly enjoy this game. If you have a 5.1 speaker system (I do not) I can imagine the experience to become even more immersing.

As to the gameplay, you control Altaïr ibn La-Ahad ("The Flying One, Son of None"). He is a member of the Assassin Brotherhood that sides, well, with both...sides, during the 3rd Crusade. In a story twist, he is also your ancestor, the game being your/his flashback memories. This is a twist I could do without, but I would guess it lays groundwork for the sequels.

The Third person perspective works beautifully and will never loose your interest. Most missions require sneaking and murdering in the shadows. Others will have you eavesdropping for passwords or pickpocketing documents to gain access into target buildings. Some will have you sharpen those sword skills. Still, the game does not avoid its share of stupid "keep this...suicidal character from getting killed" missions. Keep in mind though that ASSASSIN's CREED is rather a strategically thinking action TPS, not a hack&slash fast-paced one.

Controlling your character with a keyboard/mouse takes a lot of getting used to as you have to manage running, climbing, fighting as well as modifying your actions from low to high visibility. The keys are remapable but their complexity will never let you forget you are playing a game. Now for some bad news.

These are the official MINIMUM Requirements:
* Pentium D 2.6GHz (YES, Dual Core!) (or AMD equivalent)
* 1GB RAM (WinXP) or 2GB (WinVISTA) (3GB RECOMMENDED!)
* nVidia 6800 (or Shader Model 3.0 compliant or ATI equivalent)
* Dual-Layer DVD-ROM (or BluRay disc)
* 12GB HDD Space (although my install folder was no larger than 7GB)

As one can see, this is worse than CRYSIS! What I cannot get is how on earth ASSASSIN works on only 512MB of RAM of the XBox, yet it is recommended to have...3GB of RAM on a PC! Sure, the extra content is nice but who did the porting, unpaid interns? Has ANY PC optimization been attempted at all?
Keep also in mind that (as with CRYSIS) in order to fully enjoy the game, barely meeting the minimum requirements means you will barely experience the game. I refuse to deal with WinVISTA so, obviously, this review pertains to DirectX-9. The game is also DirectX-10 compatible, something I cannot comment on though. And now for some good news.

UBISOFT has been recently hit with a $5million class-action suit for hardware (OK, "allegedly") damaged by StarForce bundled with its games. Since, they have announced to be abandoning its StarForce partnership - so let's all rejoice: unlike other UBISOFT games, ASSASSIN's CREED does NOT sport StarForce! Instead, a much milder SecurDisc is used.
It is a pity it took litigation to finally listen to their own customers (suing StarForce would make much more sense, but try finding them in Russia!), but let's count our blessings.

So, overall, this is a well made and beautiful, immersing (although quite short) game that needed more work in PC optimization (where it looses 1 star Overall) and character control (where it looses 1 star for Fun).

As Altair himself would have put it: "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted."
Well, not everything - and certainly NOT StarForce.

PC version is locked in at a widescreen ratio but still entertaining game... for a while.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 24 / 34
Date: April 13, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Just a warning... if you have a standard non-widescreen monitor, the pc version of Assassin's Creed is locked in at a widescreen ratio. There is no option for full screen either. Which means that it will play on a standard monitor but the black bars on top and bottom are huge! They take up half the screen. This might be something to consider before purchasing this game if you have a standard full screen size monitor. It doesn't matter which resolution you choose, the black bars will be huge on a regular 4:3 monitor. I chose 1024 x 768, 1280 x 960, and 1280 x 1024: all the same: huge black bars.

The game itself is still very entertaining but the controls on the pc take some getting used to. In fact, you can definitely tell this game was meant to be played on the console not the pc. Once you get used to the pc controls, the game become much more enjoyable.

The graphics are incredibly good although it seemed like the further I got in the game, the more faded the graphics looked in places on the pc version. Also, I really, really like the amount of freedom you have in Assassin's Creed. You can choose however you want to accomplish each objective and whatever order you want. The game is pretty open that way. You can explore the city for hours if you want before doing the objectives too.

Because of the inability to play in full screen and the awkward controls on the pc, I'd rather play this particular game on the PS3 or xbox 360. Even on the console, there is still a problem with the game play. It gets pretty redundant after a while. How many times can you protect a citizen, pick pocket, etc.? After about the 4th or 5th assassination, you might start to get a little bored with this game. There are 9 assassinations you must make and I really started to lose interest after the 4th or 5th one. It gets to be the same thing over and over again.

Better than expected

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 16
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

When I first saw the trailer for this game, it looked like it had potential. But then I started to see all the negative reviews when it came out on PS3 and 360. How it's repetitive and there's not much actual assassinations and you waste time doing other things. So it was pushed from my mind.

But I have to say, this game is really fun. I didn't know this type of game was possible on the PC. The last time I remember having this type of intuitive control and ability to jump and move around anywhere was Mario 64. And this game takes that fluid character control and ups the ante by 1000x and increases the graphics, adds hundreds of people and lets you kill anyone. I don't know what to say, it's just extremely fun to just run around, walk around, climb, jump across roof, fight random civilians and the guards. It's just perfect. Well, closer to perfect than any game I've played yet.

Anyways I had some concerns with people saying you'll need a gamepad for this. I have a PS3 for Blu Ray, not games, but a friend brings over AC sometimes and personally I prefer the keyboard/mouse combo. With a controller you just feel so constricted and you never forget that you're the one guiding the character on screen. With keyboard/mouse it's easier to get past that and move as if you're in the game. But I understand it's preference and if you're a console person you might feel differently.

I don't know of all the improvements made from the console versions but I noticed at least 4 new side-quests. There's one where you stealth kill archers and guards for your fellow assassins, one where you have to race to another informer within a certain amount of time, one where you "escort vip", and one where you need to throw someone into merchant stores. Adds a bit of variety while you stack up enough investigations for the main kill.

I love the fighting in this game. I thought it was a little dull but once you get Counter, oh my god. Insanely fun and engaging combat sequences. I like that Ubisoft put in a lot of variety to what kinds of moves the Counter skill can pull off. It's just satisfying to watch the incredibly cool maneuvers this guy pulls off against 20+ enemies closing in on him as he spins and ducks and slices. One of my favorite has to be the one where he gets down and stabs a foot then charges up and impales a blade into the skull. Such a pretty game.

Graphics are incredible but yeah the specs are pretty high. I'm running it at max settings with 2x anistropic, 4x anti-aliasing, at 1920x1080 resolution with great fps on a 3.2GHz C2D, 2GB DDR2 800, 8800GT 512, system.

I don't usually buy single player games because of the lack of replayability. So unless it's a great experience, I'll stick with my mutliplayer. Bioshock was a huge letdown for me, but AC was a pleasant surprise. Bioshock had an interesting story but AC has the FUN gameplay. Games I usually go for are CoD4, TF2, etc. All PC of course. Consoles are for kids or for street fighter or rock band sorts of games. Assassin's Creed on PS3 was kind of lame but the PC experience is well worth it if you've got a system to run it.

It's not a perfect game. There isn't an option to save so you'll have to sit through long speeches again if you die. There are some little things I might nitpick about. But from the games available on the market, it's definitely one of the best. I'm excited about other games with this engine because the movement and combat are just so damn fun.

The only keys I customized were the weapons(which is pretty much preference) and I made "Q" eaglevision and "E" target. Works great.

I know it's not a game I'll play again and again like CoD4 but it's a 4.5 for a single player. Downfall is the repetitiveness but the gameplay engine is just spectacular.

I don't care how nice the can looks, dog food will always taste like dog food.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 13 / 18
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Well this game has finally made it to PC. After nearly half a year of conversion ,PC owners can now find out why the Xbox and PS3 community loves/hates this game so much.

The gameplay is about the same as console games, and since I previously wrote a review for the xbox version, I hesitate to repeat all of it. To sum up gameplay; guards attack you for going to fast, it is wrong to punch the retards even if they started it, no matter how many guards you are up against they will still come at you one at a time like a bad martial arts movie, cinematics and conversations are unskippable, but it looks really good.

The big change I noticed in the PC version is the ability to warp to locations. No longer do you have to walk all the way back to the mountain after each and every kill. But, there were penalties for this new found gem of gameplay.

First, the game is locked in wide screen mode. I played on a wide screen display but for most "normal gamers" out there this would be annoying. I noted in one review a person swore they changed it. Sadly, they altered the resolution, not the aspect. They played the tall, skinny version of Assassin's Creed.

I used my own controller setup so I cant tell you how nice it works with a mouse and keyboard. From the 2 seconds I used it in the intro I can tell you this, get a controller. I use an adapter which turns my PS1 controller into a USB connection. Worked wonderfully.

It is nearly impossible to quit this game. The Youtube video of the sums it up nicely. At minimum, you need to make about 10 keystrokes over about 2 minutes to exit. Impressive since I never found out how to quit and had to exit using alt+F4 every time. I would also not recommend trying to minimize the game. It will never restore and you will have to end it in task manager.

Aside from that, it was a decent port. I didn't have the video artifacts or crashes that many complain about. I ran it on a dual core 2.4, 8800GTS Video and with just 2 gigs of ram. Maxed my settings completely without a hitch.

The new content was a bit of a let down given that it was shamelessly tacked on. I figured Ubisoft would come through with their marketing promises and include naked pictures of Jade Raymond in hopes of selling out even more, but alas more disappointment to follow. A couple of extra mission types are tacked on. Talk to an informant, kill archers, race across town and that sort of stuff Nothing really new, and nothing that adds to the story or enjoyment.

In all, Assassin's Creed was a decent console game (if you tried not to think about it too much) and it is a functional game for PC. The user interface is terrible and the widescreen mode is obnoxious, but if you can tolerate that it will be enjoyable.

Garbage

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 20 / 37
Date: May 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Save your money. I have tried to find something positive to say about this game but I can't. This has to be one of the worst games I have played in years (and I play them all). It is unimaginative, repetitive, quickly becomes boring and frustrating after you (and I am not exaggerating) do the same missions 30 times, climb the same towers 50+ times, see the same graphic cutaway 50+ times, save the same person in the crowd 30+ times, etc. Also you are not completely "playing" the game, every 15 minutes or so it cuts away to a poorly written hack story line that you are forced to sit through. The sad part is this had the potential to be something great open world design and fairly good graphics. To be perfectly honest I am bitter and angry that I spent 50 bucks on this garbage of a game. Ubisoft should be embarrassed of this release and fire the designers.

OK...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: May 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

A few reviewers summed up this game very well. I just wanted to nod my head in agreement...

Excellent Graphics, Nice open ended gameplay, Good voice acting. Play control is not too bad (takes a while to get used to).

Boring, repetitive missions and slow story line. Game gets old after a few hours.

Great Game....but high requirements

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 11
Date: April 12, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows® XP (with Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista®

Processor: Dual core 2.6 GHz Intel® Pentium® D or AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 3800+

RAM: 1 GB Windows XP / 2 GB Windows Vista

Video Card: 256 MB DirectX® 10.0-compliant video card or DirectX 9.0-compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)

Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0-compliant sound card

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0 libraries (included on disc)

DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive

Hard Drive Space: 8 GB

Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional controller

Ifyou have a computer good enough to run Assassins Creed then I just have three words for you......

"GET THIS GAME"

DirectX 10.1 support, or lack thereof

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 14 / 26
Date: May 13, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Assassin's Creed for the PC was released with DirectX 10.1 optimizations which enabled better performance for 10.1-compliant video cards, which are currently only made by AMD/ATI. Ubisoft has now patched the game to disable DX10.1 support, and has no announced plans to reinstate it. Several websites have connected this action with the co-marketing agreement between Ubisoft and Nvidia, suggesting that this is a deliberate and corrupt move to cover up Nvidia's weaker performance on 10.1 games. The net result is that consumers are getting ripped off -- not just ATI card owners, but Nvidia buyers as well, because actions like Ubisoft's encourage Nvidia to cheat rather than improve its products.

Best Game played in the last five years.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: May 31, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is so life-like in its historical representation that it will emerse yourself in 1191 Crusades of the Holy Land. Here you follow the memories of Altair, the head Assassin as he conducts himself on nine missions (Not to mention a hundred side missions that you can enter freely of your own will). I can see this game engine use in other simulations, like Shinobe of Japan, or even a Bourne Supremacy game. The details are amazing, masses of people interact and the slightest mishap will draw you into an incounter. Fight or flee. Its your choice. One aspect of fascination is the computer's prediction on weather you will make a leap from one rooftop or not. Precision was taken to allow a sense of fear as the computer predicts based on your angle and speed. This changes with just a mili-second of decision. It is very real aspect to the game. Even the horses move with realism... A must have.

Great gameplay and graphics!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: June 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

First off, I have a high-end machine courtesy of pcgamer mag's dream system specs, so no problems there. Plus I have wide screen monitors which I heartily recommend. I actually was able to play this on high settings very nicely, whereas Crysis had to be lowered for it to look good on my rig.

I found using my logitech gamepad the way to go w/ this game, the keyboard/mouse was not as nice for me.

The voice acting and cut scenes are enjoyable, and in particular I really liked how you switch between the present and the past. In the present you have a meglomaniac yelling at you to get back into the machine, and once in the machine of course you take out all your anger on your targets.

The fighting is fun to play once you get a handle on the counter-moves. The sound effects during battle are excellent, and the various moves you can pull off are always fun to watch.

The cons for me are:

- can't easily exit the game
- can't skip cut scenes even after you've seen them already before
- the ending battle is ridiculously impossible! It took me something like 10 hours of attempts to finish that end battle. So the good news is you can eventually do it :)

The end of the game leaves you hanging and wanting more, so I am definitely awaiting the sequel.

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