Assassin's Creed Revelations Special Edition Playstation 3

Released on 15-Nov-2011

• Assassin's Creed Revelations beta launches for PlayStation 3

  PlayStation 3 owners are getting stuck into the beta trial version of Assassin's Creed Revelations, which has launched exclusively on Sony's console this week.

  Members of the PlayStation Plus and Uplay service have been able to try out the new and improved multiplayer mode of the stealth action game in a trial that began on September 3rd 2011, running until September 11th.

  It allows players to take control of one of nine different playable characters and try out four of the game's modes - Wanted, Manhunt, Deathmatch and Artifact Assault - across three maps.

  Feedback from this week's trial will be used to refine the finished game, with the beta content representing just a small portion of the full array of features planned.

  Assassin's Creed Revelations will launch on Xbox 360 and PC as well as PlayStation 3 in November 2011 and will be the final chapter in the story of master assassin Ezio Auditore.

  The adventure will see an ageing Ezio travelling to the heart of the Ottoman Empire, which is under threat of destabilisation by a Templar army.

  Published: 05/09/2011

• 18-year-old amateur singer chosen for Assassin's Creed theme

  While James Bond may fork out huge sums in order to get the most famous voices for his theme songs, there's no such gaudy excess in videogames. Case in point: Assassin's Creed Revelations, which has just added an 18-year-old competition winner to its credits, as the singer of the game's official theme song.

  Madeline Bell, from California, landed the gig after entering a talent contest organised by publisher Ubisoft. Entrants had to use the UJAM website to record their own vocals over the top of the music, composed by Hollywood music man Hans Zimmer.

  Zimmer, whose credits include The Dark Knight and Pirates of the Caribbean, then helped to pick the winner. The judges praised Madeline's recording for the 'quality, tone and passion with which she interpreted the melody'. It was also hailed for being 'true to the Assassin's Creed brand', which isn't quite as rock and roll.

  Madeline took home $1000 in prize money and will record the song professionally with Zimmer in the studio. We'll get to hear the result when Assassin's Creed Revelations is released on November 15th for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

• More Assassin's Creed to come in 2012

  The story of Desmond Miles, the hapless soul whose jaunts into the past have formed the storyline for the Assassin's Creed series over the last four years, will come to an end sometime next year in a new game.

  Speaking to Eurogamer, Assassin's Creed: Revelations creative lead Alexandre Amacio said: 'In Assassin's Creed we set up a timeline with this whole end of the world plot of December 2012. That's fast approaching, and the story we have to tell, we obviously need to do it before we arrive at that point.'

  Fans need not panic, however, as the series will continue with different protagonists. 'Assassin's Creed is all about cycles', explained Amacio. 'We have the Desmond cycle, which is set to end on December 2012, but there's many cycles within the brand - that's the whole point. History is our playground.'

  Assassin's Creed: Revelations, due on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on November 20th, will draw a line under the storylines of both Ezio and Altair, the ancestors whose memories Desmond has explored in all four games to date. This means that whatever Ubisoft has planned for 2012 will involve an entirely new character and perhaps even a new time period.

  Where would you like to see Desmond go next?

• Assassin's Creed Revelations - Preview

  End of an era

  Being the third Assassin's Creed game in as many years and the fourth in the last five, Revelations has left some fans worrying about franchise overkill. But while the latest entry in the popular historical, science fiction action series contains many familiar elements, there are six development studios collaborating on the project, which promises to be huge in scope, highly polished and potentially brilliant.

  It also set to tie up all the disparate threads of the three protagonists from the previous games, completing the war between the Assassins and Templars during the Renaissance era in a satisfyingly grand finale which provides fans with the answers theye been seeking and inevitably paves the way for a new Assassin's Creed story arc. It isn subtitled Revelations without reason.

  Turkish delight

  
  

  Revelations switches the action from Rome to Constantinople (now Istanbul), the ancient city where east meets west, as players once again step into the assassin boots of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Now 50 years of age, Ezio of the year 1511 is older, greyer and altogether more grizzled. Nevertheless, he rich in experience and craft, just as deadly as ever in his older year, and still more than capable of swinging around the streets like some kind of 16th Century Batman.

  The main story focuses on your search for an ancient artefact hidden away in a fortress by Ezio ancestor Altair, the hero from the original Assassin's Creed. It said to be a weapon powerful enough to end the war between the Templars and Assassins for good, but to gain access to it you must first locate a series of seals hidden across Constantinople four districts. Each time you do so, you unlock memories sealed away by Altair, allowing you to relive them through gameplay in a new device which fills in the story in the years between the first game's Crusades and the Renaissance of the later instalments.

  Keys to the city

  
  

  Featuring landmarks like the medieval stone tower Galata, the Hagia Sofia mosque and the Topkapi palace, Constantinople is wonderfully realised. Free running parkour style around the game world is as slick as ever, while the introduction of a hook blade enables Ezio to leap higher than ever before, grapple onto nearby walls and attach himself to the multiple zip lines that criss-cross the city, offering quick escape routes and the chance to perform stylish airborne drops on unsuspecting guards.

  You'll scale vast structures and gaze out across the world in awe, move stealthily through bustling streets and back alleys in a bid to avoid detection, acrobatically vault across rooftops while giving chase or fleeing foes, and when necessary engage multiple opponents with your steely blades.

  Ready for battle

  
  

  Revelations retains much of the open-world third person gameplay of its predecessors, then, but it has now evolved to allow for a more action-focused experience than was previously the case. We've seen Ezio destroy an entire harbour with some kind of Renaissance flamethrower before zip-lining onto the last boat out of town, players can now craft and buy different types of grenades, while the versatile hook blade also offers evade and trip moves in combat.

  Assassin's Creed Revelations is set to launch slap bang in the middle of the biggest month of the year for new game releases, going up against fellow big hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Saints Row The Third. But with highly polished combat and platforming gameplay, a wonderful new open-word playground in which to make the most of them, and a story that promises to conclude this chapter of the franchise with a bang, you wouldn bet against Assassin's Creed being the last man standing.

  Preview by: Tom 'Master Assassin' Ivan
  Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
  Release date: 15/11/2011
  Preview Published: 26/10/11

  Published: 26/10/2011

• Assassin's Creed Revelations features surrealfirst-person sections

  Assassin's Creed Revelations features urrealfirst-person sections

  For the first time in the best-selling series, the upcoming Assassin's Creed Revelations will feature sequences that are played in full first-person perspective.

  The Revelations revelation came as mission design director Falco Poiker spoke to games website Spong about the new game. Admitting that it was ery hardfor him to describe, Poiker explained that the ali-esquefirst-person elements take place in the limbo dreamworld where modern day series protagonist Desmond Miles is trapped.

  "It's definitely a departure, and very cool I think,Poiker said. ou get a lot of information about Desmond and his backstory by completing these. Where he came from, what his life is like... the artwork and surroundings are very surreal and symbolic of his life... He's trapped in his own mind. Our best comparison is Inception - Desmond is in a dreamland, but is able to access Ezio's memories. Ezio in turn then goes and accesses Alta's memories./p>

  Assassin's Creed Revelations is set for release on December 2nd for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
  

• Assassin's Creed Revelations - Review

  Farewell Ezio

   

  Assassin's Creed: Revelations is the third and final chapter in the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who started off as an impulsive ladies man but has now matured to become a master assassin. In Revelations he's much older, wiser, and unfortunately plagued by his past.

  As far as farewells go, Assassin's Creed Revelations is a fine send off for Ezio. It has easily the most gripping story in the series to date, and provides answers to a lot of the questions that have been building in the fans' heads. Of course, it doesn't give too much away about the wider Assassin's Creed mysteries, as there's another game coming out next year.

  New Frontier

   

  Revelations takes place in Constantinople (now Istanbul) in the year 1511, with Ezio on a mission to find five keys hidden by his ancestor and mentor Altair. The keys will unlock a powerful secret under Masyaf, a castle that once served as home to the Assassin Order, but things won't be easy as antagonists the Templars are also on the same quest.

  The city of Constantinople plays a major part of Revelations, delivering a stunning portrayal of a city historically known as the crossroads of the world. A melting pot of different religions, cultures and races, it's bustling with life and places to explore that serve up plenty of interesting encounters and environmental challenges for the acrobatic, roof-climbing Ezio.

  The city is split into multiple areas, each of which has a unique style and feel from the other, from the interweaving streets of the Galata district to the lush, green locations of the Imperial district and the ship-laden docks. It's a joy to explore.

  Captain Hook

   

  Revelations introduces a handy new tool for Ezio dubbed the Hookblade, which doubles up as both a hidden blade and a new way of navigating the city's rooftops. By holding circle, or the B button, Ezio will stick out his blade and latch on to any protruding surfaces in his path. This means that he can leap across much wider gaps and scale building much faster. Not bad for an old man.

  Another new mechanic in Revelations is the ability to make bombs. By looting ingredients from chests and enemies or purchasing them from stores, three different types of bombs can be created; lethal, tactical and diversion, all of which have different properties and uses. There are a substantial amount of different bomb types in the game so you're encouraged to be adventurous with your crafting.

  The Bomb

   

  Although it might not be the headline act, Revelations also features a stellar multiplayer component. Developed by the team behind the excellent Splinter Cell Mercs Vs Spies mode, it sees players aligning themselves with either the Assassins or the Templars and hunting down their enemies. As with the single player game, the focus is on staying hidden, stalking targets and picking the right moment to strike. Overzealous killers leaping out to pin down their prey will often find themselves on the sharp end of another player's blade. The multiplayer's slower pace and more thoughtful approach to gameplay makes a refreshing change from the run and gun shooters dominating the market and is well worth investing time in once you're done and dusted with the single player campaign.

  Taking the tried and tested gameplay from previous efforts and introducing some great new weapons and ways of exploring its wonderful world, Assassin's Creed: Revelations is arguably the best game in the series so far. If you're a fan of the franchise, picking up Revelations is a no-brainer, but it's also a great place for those that haven't played the previous games to start, as it kicks off with an in-depth recap of all the events, meaning you won't feel like you've missed out on a thing.

  GAME's verdict

  Good:
  + Beautiful City.
  + Cool new weapons.
  + Story answers some burning character questions.

  Bad:
  - Formula feels a little familiar.
  - Story can baffle on occasion.
  - Short on revelations about the wider series.

   

  Review by: Tamoor 'Al-Mualim' Hussain
  Version Tested: X360
  Review Published: 16.11.11

  Published: 16/11/2011

• Assassin's Creed: Cutting through history

  Assassin's Creed has become such a mainstay of the game charts, and in such a short space of time, that it's easy to forget the mystery and confusion that surrounded the launch of the very first game back in 2007.

  Teasing glimpses of the Middle East in the 12th Century suggested a historical epic, but strange digital glitches hinted at science fiction. It was an open-world game, but nothing like the free-roaming crime capers the genre usually offered. And it was apparently a stealth game, but without a need to hide in boxes or crouch in corners.

  When the game finally arrived, the pieces fell into place. Ubisoft's Montreal studio had conjured up a breathtakingly lifelike recreation of historical cities, and populated them with crowds that flowed and moved in realistic ways. Our hero, Altair, was a member of the Order of Assassins, waging a centuries old war with the rival Templars. Oh, and he was being controlled by a relation from the future, via a machine called the Animus which allowed Desmond Miles to relive the memories of his ancestors.

  Most impressive was the nimble ease with which Altair could scamper around Jerusalem, Acre and Damascus. His fluid free-running made rooftop escapes and daring climbs incredibly intuitive and fun. Few will forget the first time they climbed a tower, admired the view and then dove off into a haystack far below.

  However, the gameplay beneath the technology was fairly raw. Altair had to carry out nine assassinations, which were triggered by performing set tasks. These tasks included such heart-pounding exercises as sitting on a bench and eavesdropping, or walking very slowly behind someone.

  Ubisoft clearly took notice of the criticisms levelled at Assassin's Creed's more repetitive moments, as two years later Assassin's Creed II improved the series hugely with more dynamic missions, a stronger story and a more interesting hero. With a hop forward in time to 15th Century Italy, Ezio Auditore became our lead, bringing with him a rakish charm that marked him out as a Rennaisance James Bond. Accessories and gadgets could now be purchased, from no lesser vendor than Leonardo DaVinci himself, and the game was rightly praised for the way it took the immersive world of the first title and built a deep and rewarding game on top.

  The second game also showcased a series capable of delivering multiple narratives at the same time. As Ezio's story unfolded in the past, Desmond's story followed suit in the present. Hidden in the game, behind mysterious glowing glyphs, was yet another tale. Subject 16, a previous user of the Animus, had buried clues to his fate throughout history. Solving the mind-boggling puzzles, and deciphering the dense conspiracy-laden history lessons within, added yet more layers to the increasingly immersive Assassin's universe.

  With the formula cracked, Ubisoft quickly set about improving, adding and tweaking the game for the best results. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood followed in 2010, just a year after Assassin's Creed II, leaving some fans worried that the game would be a jumped-up expansion pack rather than a true follow-up.

  The worries proved unfounded, as Brotherhood not only continued Ezio's story in thrilling fashion but introduced some remarkable new features to the series. First among these was the brotherhood of the title, a growing team of assassin's that could be recruited, trained and then called upon to assist in your nefarious hits. Brotherhood also introduced multiplayer for the first time, in the shape of a cleverly designed suite of game modes that used the stalk-and-slay gameplay of the main story to weave a paranoid multi-layered game of cat and mouse, with players all hunting one of their peers - while someone else in turn hunted them.

  In just five years, Assassin's Creed has gone from a curious oddity to one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed gaming series of this console generation. This week sees the release of Assassin's Creed Revelations, an ambitious entry that brings original star Altair back into the frame alongside Ezio, while Desmond roams digital limbo trying to return to normality. With Altair and Ezio reaching the end of their adventure this year, and Desmond's story set to wrap up in another sequel in 2012, the future and past for assassins everywhere has never been brighter.

• Ubisoft asks fans to help pick future Assassin's Creed locations

  
  Ubisoft asks fans to help pick future Assassin's Creed locations

  Ubisoft has sent a survey to fans on its Assassin's Creed Uplay mailing list, asking them to vote on possible locations and time periods for future games in the series.

  There are eight options to choose from, all of which could throw up intriguing new gameplay possibilities. Medieval China and feudal Japan both feature on the list, as do the American and Russian revolutions. Ancient Rome and Egypt are also suggested, along with Victorian England and the Spanish Conquistadors.

  The recently released Assassin's Creed Revelations brought the stories of previous heroes Altair and Ezio to a close. Next year's Assassin's Creed 3 will reportedly be the last to feature Desmond Miles, the modern day hero who relives the memories of his ancestors in the games.

  But Ubisoft has admitted they want Assassin's Creed to be an annual event, and there's certainly scope in the idea to take the series to interesting new places in 2013. Where would you like to go?

  Assassin's Creed Revelations is out now for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
  

• Soul Calibur V - Preview

  Soul story

  After a break of almost four years on home consoles, Soul Calibur V brings the popular weapons-based historical fantasy fighting series up to date with a new story, returning and fresh characters, refined battle systems, improved visuals, plus expanded online and character creation modes.

  Kicking off 17 years after Soul Calibur IV, the story continues the tale of the two swords, the legendary blade of evil Soul Edge, and Soul Calibur, the holy blade later designed to create a balance. It follows the journey of Patroklos, the latest character to wield the cursed weapon, in what leads to an epic showdown between good and evil.

  With more emphasis on the single player story mode than in previous series entries, Soul Calibur V's campaign is longer than usual for a fighting game. Featuring plenty of characters and cinematic cutscenes between fights, which take place across 20 gorgeous backdrops, it does a really good job of introducing the game's characters and fighting styles by switching player control between a good chunk of the roster.

  Swordplay

  Soul Calibur V's action is as extravagant and over-the-top as fans would expect, but its fighting system has been reworked to offer quicker and smoother combat, removing the sluggish gaps found between moves in previous instalments, when the gameplay was arguably a bit too heavy, especially online, with players not feeling an instant reaction to their moves.

  There's plenty of care and imagination evident in the game's varied weaponry, which largely dictates the fighting style of each character, with spears used for jabbing from distance, nunchuks for getting in close and giant hammers that are awkward but brutally effective.

  Speed, lateral movement and carefully timed single blows, rather than long combos, are the key to success. The defensive game has evolved to introduce a quick side step move, while the basic guard button operates as it used to, with players needing to block incoming attacks at the correct height, and requiring precise timing to parry or counter moves.

  Masters of battle

  Soul Calibur V features a character levelling system which works across its various game modes, including training and arcade, to rank up your fighter while also unlocking customisation options and items, most of which are used in the character creation mode, which sees players select a basic fighting style or character template and fiddle with the presets to make their own combatant.

  In series tradition, Soul Calibur V also features a guest character from outside the franchise. Following in the footsteps of Star Wars' Yoda and Darth Vader, and most recently God of War's Kratos, is Assassin's Creed star Ezio. A rounded fighter who's powerful from far, mid and close-range, he has a number of tricks up his sleeve, including his trademark hidden blade, a crossbow and a Roman longsword.

  From our limited play time with Soul Calibur V, it's clear the game puts up a great fight. With quicker and smoother combat than ever before, and without losing any of its trademark style, it's also set to be a more immediate and accessible experience than its predecessors.
  

  Published: 17/01/2012

• New Assassin's Creed Revelations map pack available now

  Fans of Assassin's Creed Revelations can get hold of the latest new batch of downloadable content for the acclaimed action game.

  Available now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, the Mediterranean Traveller Map Pack provides gamers with a number of new multiplayer arenas in which to do battle, with several all-new maps joined by a trio of classic favourites.

  Brand new arenas include the Jerusalem, Constantinople and Dyers maps, while long-term fans will be pleased to see the return of the Firenze, San Donato and Siena levels from Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.

  Each of the six maps offers its own unique terrain, hideouts and gameplay opportunities, while fans will be able to unlock a number of new Trophies and Achievements.

  Assassin's Creed Revelations features an improved multiplayer mode that boasts all-new levels, characters and abilities, as well as an in-depth solo campaign that concludes the epic tale of master assassin Ezio Auditore.

  Ezio will soon be making cameo appearances in two of February 2012's biggest console releases - fighting sequel Soulcalibur V and role-playing epic Final Fantasy XIII-2.

  Published: 25/01/2012

• Assassin's Creed 3 dated

  Ubisoft has stuck a dagger in its calendar and confirmed the release date for the next entry in the Assassin's Creed series. And here it is: Assassin's Creed 3 will arrive on October 30th this year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. A Wii U version is also in the pipeline, but may arrive later depending on when the console launches in Europe.

  Details are scarce as to what Assassin's Creed 3 will feature, but we do know that it's been in development for three years and will be the last we see of series protagonist Desmond Miles, the hapless modern day hero who has jaunted back into the memories of ancestors such as Altair and Ezio Auditore in the Crusades and Renaissance periods.

  Ubisoft has already confirmed that 2012 marks an important cut-off point in the saga, tying in with the various conspiracy theories and doomsday prophecies that drive its storyline. Both Altair and Ezio saw their stories completed in last year's Assassin's Creed Revelations, so expect Desmond to explore an all-new historical setting for his final adventure. Rumour ninjas have pegged the American Revolution as a possible choice, but Ubisoft has yet to comment.

  "It's a fantastic product that the team has been working on for three years," Ubisoft top man Yves Guillemot told investors today. "What we have seen is just fabulous."

• Ubisoft confirms Assassin's Creed III release for October 2012

  The next chapter in the blockbuster Assassin's Creed franchise will emerge from the shadows in October 2012, Ubisoft has announced.

  Yves Guillemot, chief executive of the French gamemaker, has confirmed during an investor call that Assassin's Creed III will launch this autumn, having been in development for three years.

  "We will push the title a lot because it's a fantastic product ... What we have seen is just fabulous," he said.

  The Assassin's Creed games puts players in the boots of various trained killers from different eras of history, as filtered through the computer-enhanced memories of one of their modern-day descendants.

  Having debuted in 2007 with the original Assassin's Creed, the series really hit its stride with the widely acclaimed Assassin's Creed II in 2009, which introduced the Renaissance-era protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze.

  Subsequent instalments - Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed Revelations - have completed a trilogy of tales starring Ezio, with Assassin's Creed III set to move the overall story in a new direction.

  Published: 16/02/2012

• Michael Fassbender to star in Assassin's Creed movie

  Assassin's Creed will make the daredevil rooftop leap from games to the big screen in fine style, it seems, with the announcement that Michael Fassbender, one of the most popular actors around, will not only star in the movie version of Ubisoft's hit stealth franchise, but will also co-produce the movie with Ubisoft through his own production company.

  Fassbender is box office gold right now, with critical acclaim for arthouse dramas such as Shame and A Dangerous Method rubbing up against commercial hits such as X-Men: First Class and Prometheus. "Michael Fassbender was our first choice," said Ubisoft Motion Pictures boss Jean-Julien Baronnet. "Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

  It's unclear which elements of the Assassin's Creed games will be used for the movie, but Ubisoft is adamant that it will retain creative control. The publisher even scuppered an earlier attempt to finance the movie by refusing to allow Sony's movie division to tamper with the story.

  It'll be a few years before we see the Animus in action on the big screen, but gamers can look forward to the end of an era when Assassin's Creed 3 is released this November 16th. The game, set during the American Revolutionary War, brings the story of time-hopping hero Desmond Miles to a close.
  

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