The only Assassin's Creed game I've touched before this is 2, which was an absolutely fantastic game. As a sequel, this game is... complicated.
Let's talk about the new things I liked, ignoring the two games in between I haven't played. First and foremost: the ability to start a riot is genius. It makes sneaking around a lot easier, makes perfect sense for the time, and is just entertaining to watch in general. The naval missions are an amusing distraction if nothing special. Infiltrating forts worked quite well as side missions; they always felt satisfying to do. And, the Revolutionary templars are much, much better written than the Renaissance ones were, actually selling me on their ideologies to a degree.
On the other hand, the maps. Boston and New York are damn near indistinguishable, as are many of the frontier regions, not to mention I miss the Renaissance architecture. In comparison, the cities in this game just seem rather boring. Fast travel is more annoying with having to crawl around featureless sewers for an age to find the points, although at least it's a one and done thing. Perhaps worst of all, however, are the optional objectives, the side missions that didn't involve Assassin recruits or forts, the hunting and the crafting, all of which were thoroughly tedious and added nothing to the game. By comparison, AC2 felt like a streamlined version of its successor; the Monteriggioni replaced the crafting and hunting, the side missions were quicker, easier, and not needed for 100%, and the much, MUCH more fun Assassin's tombs replaced the optional objectives. And yes, I did feel Connor was bland at times, though I will say he carried the dramatic moments well.
Oh and also, I played the Wii U version. Don't play the Wii U version. Your horse will get sandwiched between everything and become immobile. Your dual holsters will switch one gun for another when moving between areas. You will fall through level geometry, and occasionally, your game will freeze.
I'm willing to give this a recommendation based on a decent story and some gameplay elements that work, but I won't blame you if you get frustrated.
It's not like I wanted it to be
The only Assassin's Creed game I've touched before this is 2, which was an absolutely fantastic game. As a sequel, this game is... complicated.
Let's talk about the new things I liked, ignoring the two games in between I haven't played. First and foremost: the ability to start a riot is genius. It makes sneaking around a lot easier, makes perfect sense for the time, and is just entertaining to watch in general. The naval missions are an amusing distraction if nothing special. Infiltrating forts worked quite well as side missions; they always felt satisfying to do. And, the Revolutionary templars are much, much better written than the Renaissance ones were, actually selling me on their ideologies to a degree.
On the other hand, the maps. Boston and New York are damn near indistinguishable, as are many of the frontier regions, not to mention I miss the Renaissance architecture. In comparison, the cities in this game just seem rather boring. Fast travel is more annoying with having to crawl around featureless sewers for an age to find the points, although at least it's a one and done thing. Perhaps worst of all, however, are the optional objectives, the side missions that didn't involve Assassin recruits or forts, the hunting and the crafting, all of which were thoroughly tedious and added nothing to the game. By comparison, AC2 felt like a streamlined version of its successor; the Monteriggioni replaced the crafting and hunting, the side missions were quicker, easier, and not needed for 100%, and the much, MUCH more fun Assassin's tombs replaced the optional objectives. And yes, I did feel Connor was bland at times, though I will say he carried the dramatic moments well.
Oh and also, I played the Wii U version. Don't play the Wii U version. Your horse will get sandwiched between everything and become immobile. Your dual holsters will switch one gun for another when moving between areas. You will fall through level geometry, and occasionally, your game will freeze.
I'm willing to give this a recommendation based on a decent story and some gameplay elements that work, but I won't blame you if you get frustrated.