Assassin's Creed 3 Preview

Dual Wielding Tomahawks? I think I just might

It has been three years since the last numbered Assassin's Creed game. Since then we have had two expansions so to say with AC: Brotherhood and AC: Revelations. Each game added a small new element to the formula but in the end was very much the same as before. Assassin's Creed 3 looks to break the mold and rejuvenate the franchise sending it soaring to all time heights.

Exit Ezio Enter Connor

I may be in the minority here but I always preferred Ezio to Altair. His carefree attitude and witty banter made my time in the animus more enjoyable. However, after 3 games playing as Ezio I will admit that I was growing tired of playing with him. When it was announced that AC: Revelations would be Ezio's final game I was somewhat relieved. I was able to enjoy his swan song even more knowing it would be his last. Ezio's departure marks a big step in the Assassin's Creed franchise. Where do we go from here? Enter Connor Kenway.

Connor Kenway is the new character with which players will have control. He is the son of a British father and Mohawk mother. Early trouble with colonial forces shaped Connor into fighting for justice and against tyranny whenever present. His parentage may be touched upon in the story somehow as a quote of him saying the following has been released, "On this land, I am torn. Part of me wants to fight and repel all outsiders. The other part of me is the outsider." It's always hard introducing a new lead character after so long with the previous. The only concern I have is if Connor will be as engaging and interesting as Ezio. So far all signs point to yes. 

American Revolution: Interacting with George Washington!

The setting for this installment in the American Revolution. I can finally interact with the founding fathers and help shape the making of the United States of America. This can be summed up with only one word, awesome. This is a time period rarely tackled by game developers and it should be really interesting how Ubisoft tackles the challenge. Characters the Connor may run into include Ben Franklin, Paul Revere and of course the one and only George Washington. The Templar ties run deep and Connor will actually take on both Loyalists and Revolutionary forces. How Ubisoft weaves this into the events from history is intriguing. This also marks a different approach for Ubisoft as well as most times the games take place in cities. There are still cities to be explored but Connor will venture out into the surrounding wilderness quite often.

I Love Seasons Too Much...

Assassin's Creed has done a very good job of creating a world that seems alive and bustling. This new installment is taking that further. Along with its usual day/night cycle, AC:3 now has seasonal changes as well as random rain and fog generation. The summer will be as you expect. Green grass warm colors and leaves. The winter will affect game play dramatically. When trying to run in the deep snow Connor will be slowed as well as leave tracks. The setting will reflect the season change as the trees and vegetation has been thinned. These seasonal changes will be marked by which memory you are accessing at the time but the rain/fog generation will be random and you may encounter it in one spot in a play through and not in the next.

Enemies Meet My Tomahawks...Both of Them

The combat for this game is being overhauled dramatically for this game. In the previous games moat fights included holding the block button, waiting for the enemy to attack and then proceeding to counter-attack for the kill. In this game Ubisoft wants to put you on the offensive. Connor should feel dangerous and aggressive, almost like a predator. It is much harder to block and counter. Speed and momentum also play a large role in the combat mechanics. Enemies will react differently if Connor is attacking swiftly and using momentum on his side. Over a thousand animations have been added to this game and very few were carried over from the previous game.

With the new combat also comes new weapons and the ability to dual wield. Often times I would think to myself how cool it would be to have a dagger and sword equipped together in previous games, well Ubisoft is giving me that chance. Connor can equip a large combination of weapons. New to this game are the bow and arrow and tomahawks and trusty old weapons return as well including the dual hidden blades an assassin's best friend.

Animals Beware

The economy system is being updated for the game as well. When I first heard this I thought why change and fix something that isn't broken. To my surprise this system looks better then ever. Connor now has the ability to hunt the animals of the frontier and sell their pelts. The quality for which they are killed affects the amount earned from the resources. This adds a new layer to exploration. Before it was exploring for the sake of exploring. With the ability to hunt there is a method to the madness. Stalking animals could open up a new area you haven't been to just by straying after a deer. It's a very interesting mechanic and could prove to be excellent. A new property system is being implemented as well.

I'm On a Boat

One of the biggest changes in the game is the addition of ship to ship combat. Connor will take control of a ship and proceed to take part in naval combat. This is a huge difference from previous installment and an interesting risk. The tower defense game in AC:Revelations was far from fun and kind of a nuisance. With this however Ubisoft is looking to craft a fun departure from the norm and so far so good. The missions shown have been pretty simple hunt and kill targets. Its the method for which to accomplish this is different. You can fire at a distance with chains to slow the enemy ship down pepper it with cannon fire at mid-range and even shoot fire and smash straight through it. Connor can even board the enemy boat and dispatch foes. This is shaping up to by one of the best new additions in the game.

Prepare to Ram

Is it October Yet?

Ubisoft has made mention of the fact that they would like a yearly release of an Assassin title. This has put fear into many fans that the game could fall into the Call of Duty trap. That being the games become stale and very clone like lacking innovation and steps forward. However Ubisoft has taken great strides to prevent this from happening. The changes being made have Assassin's Creed 3 feeling fresh and injected life into a franchise that was possibly falling into the sequel trap. Assassin's Creed 3 is seeing large innovations that make it feel almost entirely new but at its heart AC:3 is still an Assassin's Creed game. That is a testament to the lengths Ubisoft has gone to make this the best in the series while still delivering a game we are familiar with. Just over a month away from release and October 30th can't come soon enough.