Review of Assassin's Creed: Revelations - PS3
Released in 2011, Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the fourth installment in the highly popular Assassins Creed series, developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. Continuing the story of Ezio Auditore, the game takes players through the vibrant cities of Constantinople and beyond, while concluding the overarching narrative arc of Ezios journey and bringing closure to key storylines. As the final chapter of Ezios story, Revelations serves as both a fitting conclusion to his trilogy and a bridge toward the future of the franchise, introducing new mechanics while maintaining the core gameplay elements that fans have come to love. But does it successfully meet the expectations set by its predecessors?
Story and Setting
Assassin's Creed: Revelations picks up where Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood left off, following Ezio as he travels to Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in search of the legendary keys that will unlock the secrets of the mysterious Altairs library, a central piece of the Assassins Creed lore. Along the way, Ezio must confront his past, navigate political intrigue, and fight against the Templars, who are also trying to uncover the power of the First Civilization.
The story of Revelations provides an emotional and satisfying conclusion to Ezios journey, exploring themes of aging, legacy, and self-discovery. Ezio, now in his 50s, grapples with his role as an Assassin and what his future holds, making for a mature, reflective narrative. The game also ties together the broader Assassins Creed mythos, offering insights into the ongoing struggle between the Assassins and Templars, while expanding on the lore of the First Civilization and their mysterious artifacts.
In addition to Ezios narrative, the game features the return of Altair, the protagonist from the original Assassins Creed, whose story is told through flashbacks. These sequences offer a deeper look into the life of Altair and his journey from a young, arrogant Assassin to a wise leader, and they serve as a fascinating juxtaposition to Ezios own arc.
While Revelations provides a satisfying conclusion to Ezios story, it also introduces new narrative elements and ties up lingering threads, ensuring that both new players and long-time fans of the series will find enjoyment in the story. However, while the narrative is strong, some might find it a bit too convoluted at times, especially for newcomers to the series.
Gameplay and Mechanics
The gameplay of Assassin's Creed: Revelations builds on the foundation established by Assassins Creed II and Brotherhood, refining existing mechanics while adding a few new ones. It maintains the signature blend of stealth, parkour, and combat, offering a sense of fluidity and freedom that makes the game stand out in the action-adventure genre.
-
Parkour and Exploration: As with previous entries, movement and exploration remain core to the gameplay experience. Constantinoples detailed environments are full of rooftops to climb, hidden alleys to navigate, and historical landmarks to explore. The parkour system is as smooth as ever, allowing Ezio to flow effortlessly between buildings, leap from ledges, and scale towers. The addition of the hook bladea tool that allows Ezio to zip across ropes and swing between rooftopsadds a new layer of verticality and speed to the movement system.
-
Combat and Stealth: Combat in Revelations is familiar but refined, with Ezio using a combination of his swords, hidden blades, and other weapons to dispatch enemies. The counter-based combat system
