ASSASSIN'S CREED 3

I've had a love hate relationship with this franchise over the years, the plot and worlds you explore is unlike any other video game out there but Ubisoft seem determined on spreading the games out so much that it starts to lose its sting. Assassin's Creed 1 and 2 were brilliant, a difficult learning curve with some frustrating bugs but immersive and immensely fun. Then came Brotherhood and Revelations, which while introducing some fun gameplay mechanics and story didn't really satisfy the crowd. Assassin's Creed is about assassin's yes but it's also about assassinating people and that's what we love most about these games. AC3 takes us back to the traditional setup of the franchise and it executes it brilliantly, almost one of the best in the series I feel. The game is fluent, the bugs are ironed out and the world and characters are all believable and genuine. I felt a strong attachment to all the characters throughout the game but especially the two lead protagonists so Ubisoft must be doing something right in their story telling department.

So for those not familiar with the series here's a brief recap; you are Desmond Miles in the current day who is a part of the Assassin's Creed who have been fighting the Templars for thousands of years. The Templars seek to rule and control the world while Desmond seeks to free it and in order to unlock the mysteries of the present day Desmond must travel back and relive his ancestors lives as assassin's doing so through a machine called the Animus. AC1 took place during the Crusades, AC2 was based during the Renaissance while AC3 takes place during the American Civil War so expect to see familiar faces like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. The first quarter of the game follows the story of Haythem Kenway who is seeking an artefact beneficial to mankind while the rest of the game follows the life of his son (Connor) growing up and becoming an assassin and hunting the Templars responsible for burning his village. This is the story in a nutshell without giving away too many spoilers because there are a lot of great twists and the story itself is very enthralling. 

Now I could go on and on about Assassin's Creed, with the exceptions of a few hiccups in the middle of the series, but so far it's freaking amazing and I'm obsessed. Probably the standout for me in AC3 was the section of the game where you get suited up in your captains gear and take to the high seas in your own ship. Sailing the seas, engaging in combat with ships and discovering secrets along America's east coast was an amazing amount of fun. I personally could play a whole game surrounding just this mechanic and by the looks of things AC4 is going to be nearly just that. By the time I finished the game I felt I was one with my ship and we could take on and mission with ease. For those who haven't picked up an AC game yet I highly recommend it. All the games are sound and fun but I feel that this one is the best yet and I hope Ubisoft continue along this route in the fights against the Templars!

Genre: 3rd Person Action / Adventure
Platforms: PC, PS3, 360 & WiiU
Score: 9.2