After “Assassin’s Creed II” was released in 2009 earning positive reviews and selling millions of copies worldwide, Ubisoft immediately began development of a follow up titled, “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood.”
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood was released in 2010. (same year Red Dead Redemption came out) It received positive reviews from critics, fans and gamers alike as well as selling millions of copies. A follow up titled, “Revelations” concludes “The Ezio Trilogy” while “Assassin’s Creed III” finishes “The Desmond Miles Saga.”
Netflix has green-lit a live action series based on the franchise. “Valhalla” is the most recent installment currently out. Before Assassin’s Creed streams in the future, I want to share my thoughts on Brotherhood, which is my personal favorite out of all the games. I’m a huge fan of Assassin’s Creed.
Today’s review doesn’t contain no crucial SPOILERS. Feel free to check out my non-spoiler article. Does my favorite game of the series still holds up? Let’s get down to business.
Rich & Poor Aspects
Rich: Roger Craig Smith reprises his role as Ezio Auditore Da Firenze and he did an excellent job for his voiceover performance.
Nolan North (my favorite voice actor) & Kristen Bell reprise their roles as Desmond Miles & Lucy Stillman. They both did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Graphics still hold for a game that came out in 2010.
Gameplay retains its usual parkour mechanic with the player capable of navigating the environment by running, climbing on buildings/ledges and jumping from one rooftop to another. Combat is still active allowing you to dodge, counter attack, disarm and enemy’s weapon. You can pick any weapon you want as long as it comes in handy. A wanted level inspired by the ‘Grand Theft Auto” series is present if you perform illegal acts in front of guards. You can reduce your wanted level by tearing down posters, bribing preachers or eliminating a witness. If you’re overwhelmed, you have the option to escape authority blending into crowds, sitting between two people in a bench, hiding in a rooftop garden/haystack or diving underwater for a few seconds. Climbing to the top of a viewpoint revealing a portion of the map.
Ubisoft made innovation adding a unique mechanic. Once you destroy a tower, you’re given the right to recruit a citizen as an assassin. The towers you destroy, the more people you can hire. You can send your soldiers into missions via pigeon coops outside Rome. If you train them responsibly, they’ll gain armor and weapons. An ability is added allowing you to summon a recruit by annihilating a target. If you’re bar is fully charged, you can summon an arrow storm killing many enemies.
New gadgets/weapons are added like poison darts, a deadlier version of poison, a crossbow, two-handed swords/axes/spears and parachutes. As you progress, you gain all the tools you need in sticky situations.
After you destroy a tower in a specific district, you can purchase businesses, repair/own landmarks. On the bright side, you’re given profits.
New enemies are added such as horsemen, marksmen (with guns) and a brute with a suit of armor.
Unlike the previous two games, Brotherhood is entirely set in Rome. I didn’t mind one location. It’s bigger than all the maps from its predecessors.
Horses are given a bigger role for a quicker way to make it to your destination.
If you wish to leave The Animus, you can chat with Lucy, Rebecca & Shaun. If you walk to a statue of Ezio. Desmond quips a line. Which is played for laughs.
Main Missions are presented in 9 Chapters or as the game describes them as “Sequences.”
Side Quests contain a variety of stuff to do like hunting down additional targets/Templar Agents. Collecting feathers/flags. Destroying Leonardo’s machines to prevent The Templars from duplicating copies. Accepting assignments from mercenaries, courteseans and thieves or as Cher calls them “Gypsies Tramps And Thieves.” If you complete a memory the way Ezio did it to achieve “100% Synchronization,” secret memories are unlocked. Explore lairs raiding treasure or special prizes. Participating in challenges specifically for guilds. Solving Subjects 16’s tricky puzzles uncovering an ancient conspiracy.
If you own The Ezio Trilogy or purchased downloadable content, (DLC for short) A new storyline titled, “The Da Vinci Disappearance” focuses on Ezio on a mission to rescue Leonardo and recover is stolen paintings. Most notably, Mona Lisa.
Soundtrack is very memorable. It’s got some Hans Zimmer vibes.
Set after the second game, Desmond, Lucy, Rebecca & Shaun relocate to Ezio’s now abandoned hideout in Monterriggioni as they continue to track down The Apple Of Eden. A powerful artifact containing a variety of powers. The group must find it before The Templars do. Desmond & his allies need to find The Apple Of Eden before the world ends.
Ezio is now experienced and wiser like “Leon: The Professional” teaching new recruits so he can liberate Rome and defeat The Borgia Family. He also seeks The Apple Of Eden making sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Ezio’s memories takes place in 1500-1507. Desmond’s gameplay takes place in 2012.
Ezio’s catchphrase is, “Requiescat In Pace.” It means “Rest In Peace” in Italian. Never gets old hearing him utter out his delivery right after he annihilates a target.
Arc Number is 72. Definitely important.
Like the second game, Leonardo Da Vinci factors in helping Ezio invent gadgets he needs to combat The Templars. He’s like Q from “James Bond.”
Shaun Hastings provides comic relief as he helps Desmond search for The Apple Of Eden.
Twists & Turns are revealed. I can’t tell you every single one. Especially the final scene setting up Revelations.
Poor: I could not find anything wrong with this game. I’m giving Ubisoft an Extra Point for making a flawless game as possible.
The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!
As a huge fan of the franchise, “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” remains as my personal favorite game of the series. If you want to relive the games, I strongly recommend all the games. I’m psyched to see Assassin’s Creed getting a live action series on Netflix. I hope it does justice.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 