Status:
No manual and Play Tested
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Assassins Creed: Revelations (PS3) Review
Released in 2011, Assassins Creed: Revelations closes out the story arcs of two legendary assassins: Ezio Auditore and Altair Ibn-La'Ahad. Set primarily in Constantinople (Istanbul) during the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the game offers a more introspective and mature narrative, along with refined mechanics introduced in previous entries. While it doesn't drastically innovate, Revelations serves as a fitting, albeit safe, conclusion to the Renaissance trilogy.
Gameplay & Mechanics
| Feature | Description | Verdict |
|---|
| Parkour & Movement | Classic AC free-running system with added Hookblade for extended climbing and ziplines. | Still fluid and satisfying, but aging compared to future entries. |
| Combat System | Counter-heavy system with more weapon variety and faster animations. | Still a bit too easy, but stylish and visceral. |
| Stealth Mechanics | Remain basicblending, hiding, and distraction tools. | Functional but limited compared to stealth-focused franchises. |
| Bomb Crafting | New feature allowing players to craft lethal, tactical, or distraction bombs. | Adds customization, but not essential or game-changing. |
| Den Defense | Tower defense minigame where Ezio defends Assassin dens from Templar attacks. | Unpopular additionclunky, out of place, and rarely fun. |
Overall, Revelations builds upon Brotherhoods foundation but shows signs of franchise fatigue. The new systems feel more experimental than essential.
Story & World
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Ezios Journey: A mature, introspective tale about legacy and closure. Ezio travels east seeking answers from Altairs past.
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Altair Segments: Short but powerful flashbacks that fill in key parts of the first Assassin's backstory.
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Desmond's Limbo: First-person, abstract puzzle-platforming sequences within the Animus to recover Desmonds consciousness.
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Setting Constantinople: Beautifully rendered with vibrant bazaars, towering minarets, and diverse districts.
The narrative is stronger than the gameplay changesfocusing on legacy, wisdom, and the burden of knowledge.
Graphics & Presentation
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Visuals: Slightly improved from Brotherhoodcharacter models and lighting are more detailed, and Constantinople looks stunning.
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Animations: Parkour and combat animations are fluid and cinematic.
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Cinematics: High-quality cutscenes, excellent facial capture, and dramatic framing.
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UI: Clean, consistent with the rest of the Ezio trilogy.
Though it doesnt leap forward graphically, the presentation remains top-tier for its time, particularly in art direction.
Sound & Voice Acting
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Music: Jesper Kyd returns with a mix of ambient and orchestral pieces, blending Western and Middle Eastern motifs.
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Voice Acting: Roger Craig Smith (Ezio) delivers his best performance yet, portraying a more thoughtful and weary assassin.
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Sound Effects: Satisfying sword clashes, ambient street life, and iconic leap-of-faith whooshes.
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Narration & Lore: Plenty of codex entries, letters, and hidden audio logs for lore lovers.
The audio design elevates the emotional tone and storytelling throughout the game.
Modes & Extras
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Multiplayer: Expanded from Brotherhood, includes new characters, modes, maps, and customization options. Still tense and unique in its stealth-hunting design.
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Side Missions: Recruit and train new assassins, liberate districts, and explore underground Assassin tombs.
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Collectibles: Data fragments, books, hidden memory seals.
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Replay Value: Moderatecollectibles and full sync challenges provide reasons to revisit missions.
Multiplayer remains a hidden gem, while the single-player extras are solid but familiar.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Emotional and mature closure to Ezios and Altairs arcs
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Constantinople is richly designed and atmospheric
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Hookblade adds mobility variety
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Beautiful soundtrack and strong voice work
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Unique multiplayer experience
Cons
Little innovation over Brotherhood
Den Defense feels forced and underdeveloped
Bomb crafting is unnecessary fluff
Desmonds segments are divisive and abstract
Signs of franchise fatigue by this point
Final Verdict
Assassins Creed: Revelations doesnt reinvent the franchise, but it doesnt need to. Instead, it prioritizes narrative payoff and character development, giving long-time players the closure they deserve. While its new gameplay systems feel more like experiments than revolutions, it remains a polished, cinematic, and engaging experienceespecially for fans of the Ezio saga.
Score: 8.0 / 10 A thoughtful and stylish finale to the Renaissance trilogy that favors storytelling over innovation. Not essential for newcomers, but a meaningful sendoff for two iconic Assassins.
