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While it was feared Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is merely an update, it turns out to be a sequel of its own.

In 2007, Altair, a prince of the Assassins, the hero of Assassin’s Creed had to administer justice on consoles and PC. Two years later, Ezio Auditore took over with Assassin’s Creed 2. It was therefore quite logical for Ubisoft to announce the arrival of a third episode in 2011, yet he did not. Indeed, to general surprise, the publisher chose to reveal his last May Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Direct result of Assassin’s Creed 2, he arrived with his luggage in a solo adventure worthy of its name and exciting multiplayer mode, but is that really enough to delight fans of the first hour? The verdict in this Video Test …

Much more than a simple update, a true sequel!

Like any good sequel that respect, the history of this second installment of the adventures of Ezio Auditore starts where it stopped the Assassin’s Creed 2 . With his victory over the Spaniard, the apple of Eden in hand, the Italian bel benefits from the arrival of his uncle, Mario Auditore to escape somehow from the Vatican. Back in Tuscany, Villa Auditore, our two friends then enjoy a well deserved rest in the company of Claudia and Maria, sister and mother of Ezio, but also old family friends.

Unfortunately, these few hours of calm are of short duration. Indeed, Cesare Borgia, the villain of the piece power-hungry, do not let him escape were the apple of Eden. With the support of his army, he then takes the assault Auditore Villa, Caterina Sforsa removes, kills Mario Auditore and retrieves the object coveted. Gunshot, Ezio tries to help the few survivors, including her sister and mother, before leaving in pursuit of his tormentor . Exhausted, and left for dead on a country road, he is rescued by a family in the suburbs of Rome. Begins a new adventure for our killer service!

A city of Rome much larger than previous

Much larger than any city previously traveled by Altair and Ezio, the Italian city will be the only place with a few exceptions during quests for Leonardo and Christina (Naples, Florence), this new adventure. Sentenced to start from scratch after the events in Tuscany, Ezio will now try everything to rally to his cause all the inhabitants of Rome. To assist in the mission he has set, it can again rely on mercenaries to Bartolomeo of Alvino, the Volpe thieves, courtesans Claudia, or the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci.

The main adventure, divided into nine DNA sequences of several quests, always varied and affordable ways (Running, Spinning, Murder, escort, etc..) is here to pave the way to Cesare Borgia. Then there is also many side missions (Officers of the Knights Templar, contract murder, Mission Thieves, Courtesans Mission, etc..) Equally varied, including to enable us to increase our control over the city of Rome, but also life (between 15 and 30 hours after the way we play). Able to be replayed at any time, all the quests of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood also have a secondary goal (pushing against a captain for a scaffold kill, do not lose health, catch a messenger in less than a minute, etc..). What better occasion to follow the directions, just to vary a little pleasure, make things worse, but mostly successful sync to 100%.

Side gameplay , many new appointments are

Entirely free of our movements, either on foot or horseback (now usable on any map), rooftop or land, so we walk the streets of Rome looking for villains to slay. Picking up the basics of gameplay of the previous two episodes (travel, Eagle Vision, reputation, etc..) Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood does not still content to be simply a repetition. Indeed, many improvements are present to allow us to get the best talent Ezio Auditore.

Let’s start with the factions (Courtesans, Rogues and Mercenaries respectively to distract the guards away and fight). Always present, they can see their skills grow as long as we reussission s some challenges imposed (list available in neighborhoods general). But before we get there we first need to renovate, with finance, the building that hosts them.

This might seem simple enough, as it says, yet it is not. Indeed, before we get there, we must first free the neighborhood that houses the factions, but all the merchant stalls (Bank, Blacksmith, art dealers, etc..) from the clutches of the Borgias . Then we need to storm the area protected by a multitude of guards, kill their captain, before setting fire to the Borgia Tower, which overlooks the neighborhood. If the first towers are made ??fairly easily, the latest, however, need a little more tact, and above all a fully trained Ezio (more health, better weapons, better armor, etc..).

Once this is done, then we can begin the renovation of an entire neighborhood of Rome. The reconstruction or improvement of certain buildings allows us to increase the value thereof, and of course to increase our revenues , while such as being in any shops selling all items recovered from here and there. So a good way for us to get their hands on new equipment (weapons, armor, etc..), But also to acquire more and more goods. So playing the rebuilders, even the carpet shop in his spare time, Ezio do not forget as long as it is above all an assassin.

Ezio a much stronger and effective than ever

Always good with his hands, he can overcome his enemies using different weapons. If for the most part they are well known to fans of Assassin’s Creed 2, especially, some are entirely new, however. So, very quickly, Ezio can get your hands on a crossbow or a few poisoned darts , ranged weapons are easy to use and very effective. So be it melee, fighting with far more dynamic than before (thanks to a whole new system for fast execution), or remotely, Ezio therefore has a wide range of techniques enabling him to come to overcome all those who stand in her way. Also be noted about this, that a virtual training room gives us the opportunity at any time, to improve our techniques of assassination, combat, race or location.

Alone against all, Ezio occasionally hires some mercenaries and other thieves to help him (option already available in previous episodes), which does not prevent him from going further. Indeed, in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, our traveling companion can now hire a dozen murderers . The latter then come help him on request from us (gauge signal assassin met). What better then than to be able to stop a fight or even prevent it, by seeking support for new recruits. Performing their job brilliantly, the latter still remain vulnerable and are forced to fight on our side if by chance other guards came to pass that way. So we must learn to seek timely and well course do not forget to train them to level up (up to level 10 for assassin), but also unlock new equipment, armor and weapons.

For this, we can give them different missions taking place across Europe through e (damaging property, give false information, attacking a mercenary, warn, etc.).. Once successful, the latter then we can increase our revenues, but also the experience of each of the assassins sent to the front. So here we are trying to juggle the murderers stuck on a mission for a limited time, and those available at any time. A small detail that is important not to overlook, because the more we recruit to our side, and the easier it is for us to fulfill the tasks entrusted to us murder. Remember also to clarify that once we have three signals of murderers, then we can release our opponents a barrage of arrows . What better occasion to use the special attack to overcome very quickly several enemies at once.

Technically speaking, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood holds up

If side gameplay , the basics remain the same (which foot to move alongside Ezio!), technically speaking as Ubisoft has not changed much . While the game is not beyond reproach (Showing late kinematic not always of good quality, lip sync, some areas not really pretty, some lag during quick errands, etc..), but everything he does , it does perfectly . Indeed, once again we are amazed by the depth of field, the quality of management of lighting (day / night cycle, shadows, etc..) Texture quality, life prevailing in Rome, or even the many travel opportunities offered by the architecture of this vast city.

To this we can also add different types of enemies (militia, tracker, raw shooter, archer, keep papal follower of Romulus, etc..). Still in great numbers and there to give us a bit of trouble, especially during phases of infiltration, they sometimes lose their coming our stupidly trace or not to see what happens to a few meters them. Finally, how can we not talk about the soundtrack of the game, while offering French voices rather limits and too often out of sync, is there to accompany the smallest of our actions. Pantyhose perfectly to the action, the music offered are so much work that sometimes we come to forget.

The multiplayer game, much more than simply adding

Conquered by the atmosphere, the universe and the scenario in this Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, we would have to stop there, but did not count on the developers at Ubisoft. Indeed, they have finally taken the initiative to introduce this new album a multiplayer mode. If we were rather septic, at first glance, the idea of playing the killers online, doubt was soon faded after a few minutes of play . Of course, the number of games we’ve done does not allow us to fully enjoy it (leveling, improvements, etc..), but the little we’ve seen has completely seduced .

For example, Hunt mode (6-8 players) we propose to face up to seven murderers on the same card (Rome, Florence, Siena, Venice, Monteriggioni, etc.).. In both predator and prey, we mission is to get your hands on a predefined target in advance . A compass at the bottom of the screen is there to help us move forward, while a multitude of NPCs (Non Playable Character) in the image of our target, are there to sow doubt in our minds. To us, so we try to move as silently as the world (this silence gauge top right), while identifying any suspicious movement. Then we just have to pounce on our prey.

But be careful because it can see us and of course our dodge attack, run away, or worse, humiliate us. We must do everything to remain unnoticed as long as possible, while also trying to be as spectacular. Each assassination then recounts a number of points (depending on our attitude, discreet, carnage, incognito, cunning, silent, etc..), as a miscalculation can quickly bring down our capital. All these points allow us to level up (to 50), but also unlock new abilities (disguise, acceleration, smoke bomb, metamorphosis, etc..), New characters (blacksmith, thief, thief, etc..) , new game modes (Alliance, Hunt advanced), or improving our skills.

Some very interesting game modes

Then the user adds Alliance (6 players, 2 vs 2. Vs. 2), a game mode just as enjoyable to play and we proposing to work this time with another assassin . Here, groups of two players, we need to chase a team, also the target of two other murderers. Once again we have to deal with the multitude of NPCs on the board, learning to detect any suspicious behavior, and especially working in cooperation (increases the number of points earned).

To conclude, let us not forget also about the way Manhunt (8 players, 4 vs. 4.). Here, each team chasing turn, members of the opposing team . Once again, we must work cooperatively to score more points, and especially do not forget that only those who attack have all the elements allowing them to melt quickly on the prey. Again, very enjoyable to play and constantly putting us under pressure, like its predecessors, this game mode puts us, the space of five minutes in the skin of a hunted prey from all sides … great!

And the PC in this?

Several months after the PlayStation 3 version and Xbox 360, Ubisoft finally the PC version of the Brotherhood. A grinding happens so late, but should still delight many players playing in Windows, because you can not say that the publisher is mocking the world. Firstly, it is indeed worth noting that Ubisoft seems to have ended with “protection-with-the-bite-me-the-node”: whether to still be connected to start the game, he n is no longer necessary to have a permanent connection during the game … A first step in the right direction then. In addition, Ubisoft has included three additional content already out on consoles (1.0 Animus, Animus 2.0 and The Disappearance of Da Vinci).

This is not a huge gift, but it is always nice especially since, technically speaking, Ubisoft is doing very honorably. This is not about to enjoy a really improved version for the PC, but the depth of field seems a bit larger than on consoles, while the image definition is obviously greater. The assembly also runs very well and does not require a monster power (double-heart 2.4 GHz, 2 GB of RAM and GeForce 8800GT). Most interesting, however, is looking into an option that we’re not used to praise, but who here really wonder: how 3Dvision. Backed by NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D technology that benefit beautifully from the structure “open city” of the game : Running on the roof are stunning! However, to really enjoy it, it will grow a little configuration of your PC.

In fact, the only real regret associated with this PC version of the game is sadly not a surprise: while the multiplayer is great fun on consoles, we regret that Ubisoft did not go further on the PC side. The first update is already out, but we still do with some problems to reach the parts where – more disturbing – the developers did not see fit to integrate a dedicated server . Too bad the game yet lent itself well to small clashes between friends.

Conclusion

Collected from the day of his announcement as a mere update of Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood is ultimately revealed to be much more than that. Indeed, Ubisoft has succeeded in offering us a single player campaign a year worthy of that name, either at the life of the script or the variety of proposed objectives. But that’s not all because finally arrives, a multiplayer mode just as enjoyable to play. Much more than simple addition, this part appears to be little more essential that lacked previous episodes. You have probably figured out, if to this you add a gameplay still as effective, producing very good quality, then you have before you one of the great games this year … must-have!