ASSASSIN'S CREED BROTHERHOOD
.png)
Gameplay
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is an action-adventure, stealth game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective. The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, a first for the series. For most of the single-player campaign, which is estimated to provide 15+ hours of gameplay, the player controls returning protagonist Ezio Auditore DA Firenze from Assassin's Creed II; at predetermined points in the narrative, the player takes control of Desmond Miles, who is reliving Ezio's memories through the Animus in the modern-day. For the first time in the series, Desmond can leave the Animus at almost any given time to explore Monteriggioni, Where the Assassins have set up base, and find hidden secrets. Desmond can also access virtual training missions via the Animus, which test the player's skills in combat and free-running.
The series' combat system has been modified in Brotherhood. Striking first and offensive actions are more deadly than in previous games, where counter-attacks were the most efficient. Before, this made the player wait until their AI opponents struck, which slowed down the pace of fighting. The AI in this game is thus more aggressive and enemies can attack simultaneously. To dispatch them, Ezio can use melee and ranged weapons at the same time, including his hidden pistol, which could previously not be used in combat. After killing one enemy, the player can start an execution streak to dispatch multiple enemies quickly. Ezio can also throw heavy weapons (axes, spears, and swords) at his enemies. The variety of enemies also saw an increase with the introduction of new archetypes such as horsemen, arquebusiers, and papal guards.
Ezio using the BAM system (Brotherhood Assist Move). The ability to recruit NPCs found across the game world into the Assassin Brotherhood and summon them during fights is one of the new features added in Brotherhood.
The game introduces the titular Brotherhood system, which allows the player, as Ezio, to recruit new Assassin initiates after destroying any of twelve "Borgia towers" around Rome where papal troops are stationed, and then rescuing disgruntled citizens from being harassed by city guards. The player can then send these Assassin recruits to assignments around Europe or call them for support during missions (if they are not already occupied). Tasking the novice Assassins makes them gain experience, and the player can customize their appearance, skills, and weapon training to some degree by spending the skill points they have earned. Assassins can die on missions, from which they will not return.
In Brotherhood, Ezio gets to master several new gadgets, including Leonardo da Vinci's parachute, which can be used when jumping from tall buildings, as well as poison darts, a faster acting poison, and a crossbow. A series of side missions given by Leonardo allow the player to briefly use his war machines, such as a cannon-equipped Great Kite and a prototype tank, which he was forced to design for the Templars; Ezio must destroy these machines and their designs before more can be created. Other side missions include assassinating Templar agents in Rome, completing challenges for the three ally factions in the game (Courtesans, Thieves, and Mercenaries), and exploring underground locations to find the keys to the treasure of the Followers of Romulus—a secret cult who worship Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. After reaching certain levels of synchronization, the player can also relive several repressed memories of Ezio's past lover, Cristina Vespucci.
The primary setting of the game is Rome, which has fallen into ruin due to the corrupt rule of the Borgia papacy and the Templars, who have concentrated all the wealth in the Vatican. Similarly to Monteriggioni in Assassin's Creed II, the player can invest in the city, witness its development, and unlock rewards. To renovate a particular area of Rome, the player must first liberate it from Templar influence by destroying the nearest Borgia tower. Doing so unlocks new missions and opportunities. Rome is larger than any of the cities seen in Assassin's Creed II (being roughly three times bigger than Florence and is divided into five districts: Vatican (Vaticano), Central (Centro), Trans-Tiber (Trastevere), Country (Campagna) and Antique (Antico). Unlike previous installments, travel between different cities or regions is no longer present, as most of the action take place around Rome. Instead, a series of tunnel networks throughout the city allows the player to travel to the different districts. However, certain main and side missions take the player to various locations outside of Rome, including the harbor of Naples; the Alban Hills (Colli Albani); and part of Navarre, Spain, among others.
Horses play a larger role in Brotherhood, not only used as a means of transport (inside the city for the first time) but as a component of acrobatic sequences and advanced combat as well, allowing ranged weapons to be used while riding them. The game also features various types of horse-related assassinations, such as horse-to-horse assassinations. To facilitate traversal, Brotherhood introduces merchandise lifts, which can be used to quickly climb up high buildings or structures.
Like previous Assassin's Creed titles, characters based on historical figures are present in the game, including Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolò Machiavelli, Caterina Sforza, Rodrigo Borgia, and Cesare Borgia. Locations in the game include the Colosseum and the Pantheon in Rome; and the town of Viana in northern Spain.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)