Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Updated Impressions

Ubisoft Montreal made the trip halfway around the world to show off a new demo of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and we went behind closed doors to check it out.

Assassin's Creed 2 was a commercial and critical smash last year, and Ubisoft is making the most of its biggest franchise with another release in 2010. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will see stealthy renaissance man Ezio receiving help from a band of fellow assassins, whom he can direct to perform kills on his behalf. We got a look at a new portion of the single-player game at Gamescom 2010 to see how this squad management feature will work.

The demo opened up with a look at Rome, with Ezio perched on a ledge overlooking the city's famous Colosseum. From there, he jumped down onto a horse, dispatching its owner and taking control of the steed in one swift movement. We then watched as the development team demonstrated how to call in assassination support to take out some guards. With two enemies targeted, Ezio was able to bring in two blade-equipped killers to dispatch the guards, which used up one block or "token" from a two-token bar at the top of the screen. This bar means that support is a resource that needs to be carefully managed, but it replenishes automatically over time.

Riding into a new location, Ezio noticed a citizen who was being harangued by a set of government officials. He had the option to help the innocent person out, which he took, again calling in support to take out the threat. The victim was so overwhelmed by this act that he offered to join the brotherhood. He started out as a lowly level-one member of the guild, but you can build him up over time, just like the other members of your team.

Players of Assassin's Creed 2 should remember the pigeon coops, but in Brotherhood they'll serve a real purpose--you'll use the birds to communicate remotely and take on missions abroad. We were shown a map screen that displayed most of Europe, with assassination opportunities available in each major city. Ezio chose to send his recruit on a simple mission from Moscow, with the assassin's chance of success displayed at the top of the screen. The emphasis has been to bring asset management seamlessly into the game, rather than separately in the villa as it was in AC2.

While these side missions will be optional in the game, we got to see a main storyline assassination during our demo as well. Ezio was sent in to kill a commander in charge of a small group of soldiers. It was a relatively easy task to perform the kill, and with the leader dispatched, the remaining men dispersed quickly from the scene. The last step was to burn the commander's tower to the ground, letting the public know that area of Rome had been liberated.

Our demo also revealed lots of other cool new details about the game. Ezio is equipped with a parachute, which was given to him by Leonardo da Vinci in order to quietly descend from high places. For those who tread beyond the beaten path, there will also be 101 Borgia flags to collect in the game. Most interesting, though, was the revelation from producer Vincent Pontbriand that the campaign structure is "not exactly the same as it was in AC2" and that the team will be "showing a little bit more of the present" in reference to Desmond's story.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will launch on November 16 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a PC release to follow sometime thereafter. Pontbriand says to expect a "15-hour-plus experience," so to prepare yourself, be sure to read the rest of GameSpot's in-depth coverage of the game so far.

128 Comments

  • k0k066

    Posted Dec 18, 2010 11:21 pm GMT

    @superdude
    now u will be able to buy maps for feathers and flags -.-

  • Conduras

    Posted Nov 13, 2010 11:45 pm GMT

    so the lamers from Ubisoft are delaying it 3 months on PC ? this is a game i will enjoy downloading rather than buying .

  • ishan316

    Posted Nov 1, 2010 7:28 am GMT

    Assassin's Creed 2 was the best game I played in 2009...

    And from the looks of it, Brotherhood will be the best game I'll play this year!

  • AmoNPhegoR

    Posted Oct 29, 2010 7:12 am GMT

    This Game Rocks!!! I cant Wait to play.... Ezio Is now A master Assassin Ehh??!!!

  • ash2197

    Posted Oct 4, 2010 12:27 pm GMT

    Bye the way you dont have to be old to know the olden days. I bought my first a console(NES) when I was ten(dont ask me how I got one) and then a ps1 when I was 12... and now I have my xbox 360(I'm thirteen). LONG LIVE 2D MARIO!!!

  • ash2197

    Posted Oct 4, 2010 12:23 pm GMT

    People may hate this but in the credits for AC2 I enjoyed using 1 hidden blade much more than using 2... I guess I like the brutality desmond has with his hidden blade more than the finesse that ezio uses with his hidden blades.

  • Supperdude9

    Posted Sep 27, 2010 2:24 pm GMT

    When I read "101 Flags" I couldn't help but cringe from the memories of AC1.

  • Kou-Nurasaka

    Posted Sep 27, 2010 10:59 am GMT

    15 hour single player, really in-depth and innovative multiplayer concept, awsome storyline, amazing and innovative gameplay, fantastic audio and voice overs, and really lovable characters. No wonder Ubisoft loves this franchise so much. Glad my pre-order is already 100% synchronized!

  • jairuz637

    Posted Sep 26, 2010 2:32 am GMT

    is it stand alone or dlc?

  • 10matt1995

    Posted Sep 18, 2010 2:37 am GMT

    Awesome, i just hope it isn't repetitive.

  • rancor_

    Posted Sep 16, 2010 6:04 am GMT

    @i_am_snake
    A 15 hour DLC? With multiplayer?...

  • i_am_snake

    Posted Sep 16, 2010 1:51 am GMT

    I feel that this game is only a DLC. I really want an Assassin's Creed 3.

  • togothian

    Posted Sep 14, 2010 9:06 am GMT

    @titan_assassin, thanks your probaly right, its just ive always liked how ass creed is based in areas games dont usually visit, but im show modern would still work

  • titan_assassin

    Posted Sep 14, 2010 12:07 am GMT

    @togothian, you do realise that all evidence says the next assassins creed will be modern times, because it'll be desmonds story after getting ezios abilities. altho i agree, victorian london would be sweet as.

  • Drakan11

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 9:54 am GMT

    @freaknizzle If it helps you sleep at night to believe they suck, then by all means. The majority of users and critics completely disagree though. Too bad for you.

  • daltonhouse33

    Posted Sep 8, 2010 7:51 pm GMT

    @drummerdickens duh im fully aware of that

  • freaknizzle posted Sep 8, 2010 6:22 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    freaknizzle

    Posted Sep 8, 2010 6:22 pm GMT (hide)

    @Drakan11 It is because those games SUCK! Plus, the Xbox 360 has a higher pixel core processor (better graphics). Don't bother arguing i never check my inbox.

  • drummerdickens

    Posted Sep 7, 2010 6:55 am GMT

    @daltonhouse33

    The i in 1080 means interlaced.

    1080i is worse than 720p.

  • Drakan11

    Posted Sep 6, 2010 4:42 pm GMT

    mikees1.....I own both and 360 is collecting dust. That waste of space can't play Infamous, MAG, Uncharted, Resistance, Killzone 2, MGS 4, Little Big Planet, God of War III, Heavy Rain, Demons Souls.....so why bother even having it.

  • khoofia_pika posted Sep 5, 2010 5:48 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    khoofia_pika

    Posted Sep 5, 2010 5:48 am GMT (hide)

    How awesome would it be if the next Assassin's Creed was set in India?