Assassin's Creed on PC

[alman7272]

I got a 360 specifically for AC and Mass Effect. :)

[lars573]

I don't want to play with a joypad, I like my keyboard and mouse. If I wanted to do that, I'd go buy a @#%#@ console. You are right however, it would seem these days that it's just wishful thinking, but one would hope that a port would make an honest attempt to modify the game so that would work on (platform) well. Guess history is against me here...

Deus Ex: IW and Thief 3 both used that horrible Unreal engine offshoot that was never meant to be on PC.

Halo on the PC was miserable, clearly another direct port, it was meant to be played with a joypad, the WASD/mouse was miserable.

Same with Splinter Cell 1, I don't care what anyone says, the controls on PC were garbage.

Prince of Persia was a disappointment on PC for same reason.

Looks like this is no different, it would appear they designed the game to be played with a joypad, with no thought given to other methods (like keyboard/mouse).

Well games like Splinter Cell, Assassins Creed, and PoP just plain aren't going to be designed to work with a equally well with a keyboard. The PC platform just isn't going to account for enough of the player base for it to matter to Ubisoft at all. And Ubisoft (who incedentally is behind all those games) is famous for quickie ports. I'm sure who ever M$ drafted to do the port tried to make Halo work on PC. But they didn't suceed. Yours is not the first Halo PC=teh suck accessment I've heard.

[edyzmedieval]

Well if your using that deeply flawed logic, that's all it can be. Mean while I'll be playing this on the 360 come X-mas.

What's this comment supposed to mean?

[lars573]

This,

I just hope it won't be a stupid console port to the PC, but a really good game.

is such flawed logic it's not funny. The ONLY games designed with the PC in mind these days are RTS games, and some FPS's and RPG's. Everything else is designed for a console and it's controller. Games like Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed are only ever going to be console ports to the PC. Consoles are king in the gamming market, just the way it is.

[frogbeastegg]

After spending half of this evening playing the 360 version I'm in agreement with Bob the Insane. Me likes. To me it plays like Prince of Persia with a dash of Metal Gear Solid and a pinch of Thief, as I've not played Hitman or GTA. You can tell that the same team behind Prince of Persia made this game.

The animation in particular is stunning. It gives me the same feeling as Sands of Time did in 2003 in that it's ahead of anything I've seen before and so natural it immediately makes other games look clumsy. Not seen any trace of the tearing some reviews have been complaining about; I’m using 720p and it looks fabulous.

I notice quite a few reviews complain about the guards standing around to take it in turns to attack you. Wish I could say that - I keep getting stabbed in the back by one guard while another attacks me from the front. Block will only stop attacks coming from head on and its hard to evade when surrounded, so this is a very effective combo.

It's a joy to run around and explore. Picking up the optional missions, hunting for flags, and tagging viewpoints. The areas you are given to play around in are massive! Thief III should have handled its city overworld this way.

If someone could explain to me why the guards in the Kingdom area are permanently hostile and will attack me on sight unless I use blend mode I'd be grateful. It's infuriating to have to shuffle along so slowly each time I reach one of the numerous outposts when there's literally miles to cross. I don't have any problems in the cities.

I could have done without the scifi angle on the story. When I first heard about the game it was being reported as a straight up historical setting with Altair trying to keep peace in the Holy Land by judiciously assassinating people on both sides. The scifi tale may yet win me over; it's by no means bad so far.

I have done the first assassination. Quite a ... lively affair.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The guy drew his sword and started attacking me even though I was in blend mode in a crowd. The city guards joined in. I died. Checkpoint loaded, and the guy does it again, killing me before I had chance to draw my sword. He then went psycho on the city guards. Third time I killed him and ran off across the rooftops, chased by the guards.

I was trying to use my hidden blade for a stealth assassination, yet for some reason I couldn't get it to work. The target kept going psycho on me before I could get close.

No, so far I wouldn't call it game of the year. That doesn't prevent it from being a polished, enjoyable production.

[Bob the Insane]

I just did that one from the demo movies... The French dude in the castle...

That whole leap on someone and stab them thing is not as easy as they made it look...

I died once and then on the second go got into this rediculously huge battle in the middle of which I managed to kill the guy, it is funny having the cut scene, once it ends you realise you are still surrounded by the dead guy's mates and they don;t look happy... Run!!!

Oh, Froggy look out for Templars in the city... They never show up on the maps but you see them occasionally in the city (chap in heavy armour, white shirt and big red cross). There are points for assassinating them but be warned they are hard as nails... I was stunned the first time. I had been kicking the city guard's around and then this one guy did the same to me!!

[frogbeastegg]

Oh, Froggy look out for Templars

I found one in the Kingdom area near one of the viewing points. It was quite the shock. I was sneaking around a soldier's camp in blend mode, worried by the large number of angry soldiers standing around the viewing spot I wanted to climb. So I edged my way around one wall, around a bit more, a bit more, surely the line of sight will break soon, a bit more, then suddenly Altair is crumpling to the ground in a gout of blood. There was a Templar standing watch at the back of the tower and he killed me before I'd finished swinging the camera around so I could see around the corner.

I'm intending to spend some more time sight seeing tonight. Exploring these environments hunting for flags, mini missions and neat little secrets is so relaxing.

[Craterus]

Ah, dilemma! I'm sold on this but do I get it now, or wait for Christmas?

[The Stranger]

bought it today... it rocks

[frogbeastegg]

Ah, dilemma! I'm sold on this but do I get it now, or wait for Christmas?

I'd say that depends on the kind of player you are. If you are content to play a game simply to fool around, experiment and explore then there's a lot to like and a lot to do. Last night I got the 'killed 100 enemies without dying' achievement, played tag with some guards in the middle of a village with curious locals looking on in order to get a second achievement, scaled all 12 viewpoints in the Kingdom area, entered Acre and saved a monk from some thugs, found some hidden flags, got killed by Templars, and did a lot of horse riding. I didn't advance the plot one bit.

Conversely, if you intend to follow the essential path through the game you'd better wait for the price drop. People who play this way complain the game is repetitive, short and limited.

NB: Don't get the impression that combat is easy because of my killing 100 enemies without dying. I was very careful about fighting small parties, assassinating where possible, and picking on the weakest guard type in the Kingdom area. The other types kill me more often than I'd like if I meet them in numbers. I don't know why some reviews have complained about block making you completely invulnerable - when facing any but the most basic enemies I get stabbed in the back by multiple attackers, thrown, or my guard beaten aside. Some of the more advanced types, like Templars, have parried my supposedly unbeatable counterattacks and smacked me for a whole lot of damage.

[Craterus]

Hmm, thanks. Sounds like it would be a good idea to buy it now then.

Thank you.

[Papewaio]

How can a mere assassin stand up against a Geisha.

[tibilicus]

The sooner its out on pc, the sooner we can sleep happy.

On a more serious note seeming it's a first of a trilogy and a friend of mine has completed it on 360 any one for spoiler discusion?

[Ayachuco]

Due to the conversations of froggie and Bob, I will have to get this game today instead of closer to christmas when my bonus gets in.

Oh, who am I kidding? I was going to get the game pretty soon anyway.

I should instead be protesting my employers for not giving our bonus last week and instead delayed it until the 13th of December.

[Odin]

The sooner its out on pc, the sooner we can sleep happy.

Yes. While I am encouraged by the console reviews here so far, I wonder if there will be a demo on this game when they port it. I havent been able to find the time to do much backround work on the title myself.

[Craterus]

No spoilers please!

[tibilicus]

Reveiws are a bit mixed so far.

Some gave it fairly medicor others gave it a very good score. For those who have played it did you feel some thigns were sacraficed in the atempt to link and lead it further into a series of sequal games after?

[frogbeastegg]

For those who have played it did you feel some thigns were sacraficed in the atempt to link and lead it further into a series of sequal games after?

My feeling is that a lot of a mixed reviews are down to the way reviewers played.



Spoiler discussion is fine as long as spoiler tags are used.



I did my second assassination stylishly.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I climbed up onto the rooftop and did a quick circuit stealth assassinating all the archers. Once the coast was clear I climbed down into the courtyard and blended with a passing group of scholars. I let them lead me around the hospital until I spotted my target. Quickly tagging him with eagle vision I exited the group and climbed up into the rafters. A little bit of stealthy working my way along and I ended up on a candelabra right above him. He didn't know what hit him; I did one of those flashy jump+stab kills the preview movies kept showing.

Now I have throwing knives.

[Bob the Insane]

Froggy that was cool, but I just noticed there is an achievement for doing the stealth kill (x in low profile mode) on a main target...

Anyone worked out how to do the jumping kill (x in high profile mode) from above the target? Is it just a case of getting close enough?

To be honest most of my assassinations have devolved into a chase and/or big sword fight with numerous guards during which I kill the target and then make off... Much like my first run though of Hitman, only with more swords...

Hint rather than spoiler...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You can really make you life easier after an assassination by quietly taking out the archers on the rooftops around the target area.

Don't bother with this in before the actually assassination event is unlocked because the guards all respawn...

[doc_bean]

Yes. While I am encouraged by the console reviews here so far, I wonder if there will be a demo on this game when they port it. I havent been able to find the time to do much backround work on the title myself.

Most likely not, most games on the 360 have a demo, this one doesn't.

[Odin]

Most likely not, most games on the 360 have a demo, this one doesn't.

Hey Doc hows things?

I should clarify, I meant a Demo for the PC when its ported (maybe you understood what I meant)

[frogbeastegg]

Froggy that was cool, but I just noticed there is an achievement for doing the stealth kill (x in low profile mode) on a main target...

Yes, I thought I might have scraped that one by doing the drop-and-kill thing, as no one knew I was there until the body hit the ground. Sadly not.

Anyone worked out how to do the jumping kill (x in high profile mode) from above the target? Is it just a case of getting close enough?

Stand above an unsuspecting target, within say five feet of him, select your hidden knife, lock on with L1, and hit and hold a+x at the same time to jump down at the target with your hidden knife drawn. Works nearly every time.



I did assassination number 3 today and it made me Not Happy. Very minor spoilers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I hated the way there no no hope of doing it stealthily! There was no alternate way into the building, and once there you were locked into the cutscene-fight-chase-cutscene cycle until you managed to catch up with the guy and hack him into bloody pieces in the middle of the street! Gah! I had carefully cleared the rooftops without alerting anyone, and expected to be able to enter via the rooftop windows and throwing knife the target.

Very disappointing after my sneaky stealthiness on number 2.

Now I'm better equipped I've begun Templar hunting. 3 down, lots to go. Throwing knives are very useful for this, as it tends to be difficult to get near Templars without them spotting you and sticking their sword through Altair's intestines.

Got all of the flags in the assassin village now, and some more achievements. The one for 25 guards in a single fight was the most challenging to arrange, and to be honest I'm glad that is over and done.

Today's antics have cemented my hatred for combo kills. The only thing they kill is me. Seems every time I try it one or two of my target's friends hack me in the back, stopping my attack and lopping off a quarter of my health bar. I wonder if you can get the 50 combo kill achievement by fighting the instructor in the training ring? He's the only enemy I can get them to work reliably on.

[Craterus]

I ordered it, so soon I can join in with all this technical discussion!

[Ayachuco]

I've been playing it all day on Thanksgiving and just finished up to the 1st half of Memory Block 3 in Acre. I haven't really been stealthily killing my targets so far although I was close in my second attempt. Accursed troublemaker pushing me into a guard right next to him.
The block/deflect move is only invulnerable in Damascus, it seems or perhaps its b/c the quality of the guards there are really low. I don't really like doing combo kill moves b/c a) I haven't gotten the timing down pat yet and b) the counter attack move or the grab and throw, then hidden dagger suits me much better.
Other than that, I've been riding around on my horsie and bullrushing the guards. Man, that brought me back my memories of driving around in my Cheetah and running over people on GTA. Another good memory from GTA that still pisses me off, is Altair's inability to swim just like Tommy Vercetti in GTA:Vice City. I also have been killing guards indiscriminatly, I usually attack them when I see them on the street. There was one corner of Acre well suited to the task. I just killed the guards and hid in my haystack and jumped out and killed a curious guard before he was on alert. I think there was like 30 bodies along that street. It was funny. My only disappointment is the lack of random stuff you could do. I mean capturing flags is good and all but the only ones I like are the viewpoints/save citizens. I wish we could also kill innocent people and stuff like that, but oh, well. I'll just suffice by going to Jerusalum.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

the low profile assassination move from behind works really good, I just blend and circle behind the guard and move in close enough and deftly stab him in his back and watch him slowly fall down. I also encountered my first Templar in the game. I was walking from the section of the wall where I killed all those guards and a Templar was hiding in a building and saw me. He DOMINATED me, my counter attacks and grab/throw movers were countered by a counter throw, he could hit aside my deflect move, my combo attacks only pissed him off since he had to waste his time blocking. I was fortunate that there were some vigilantes around to hold him while I got in some cheap shots. My second Templar encounter was a little better since I was able to lure him up a roof and was able to grab him and throw him off the roof after three failed attempts.

Can anyone tell me what the STEP move (A button during high profile on the 360) does during combat? Is it a way to move closer to the person like when you attack one guard and switch to another guard and vice versa? Remember, I just got my throwing knives and am going to Jerusalum, thats how much I progressed as getting upgrades/old equipment back.

[doc_bean]

Hey Doc hows things?

Hey Odin, I've been keeping pretty busy. Real life stuff

I should clarify, I meant a Demo for the PC when its ported (maybe you understood what I meant)

I did. I can't see them releasing a PC demo when they won't release one for the 360.

Perhaps they'll go the way of a late demo though, in that case the PC might get one too. But I wouldn't bet on it.

[Warmaster Horus]

I don't see them releasing a demo when a major part of the game is freedom of action. Maybe if they limited the area, but even then, it wouldn't be a good representative, in my opinion. It's like GTA games. No demos for those.

And, anyway, if they did make a demo, it would take them time. And I'd prefer to have the game itself ASAP.

[Odin]

Well no Demo for the PC pretty much eliminates me then, I might pick up a PS3 sometime in 08, until then if it dosent come with a demo I dont bother (particularly a port)

[frogbeastegg]

I wish we could also kill innocent people and stuff like that

You can kill anyone you see. I found this out by accident when I tried to stealth assassinate a guard and a random civilian walked by. I wasn't using the lock on and the stab decided to target her instead of the guard. Another time a fleeing woman stepped right into the middle of a swordfight and died.

Can anyone tell me what the STEP move (A button during high profile on the 360) does during combat?

I think it ties together with some of the more advanced combat moves so you can do that quickstep->guard break->kill the more advanced soldiers will use on you. Now I'm further along in the game the loading screen voice over occasionally mentions something about this, usually right when it is a short load so the speech gets cut off.




Am I alone in killing the mentally ill people? The pushing and shoving has broken my cover too many times. Once one pushed me into a guard when I was trying to eavesdrop, and it took me forever to get back to being anonymous. I ended up having to kill most of the district's guards because I couldn't get sufficient distance to break the line of sight. Guards on the rooftops, guards around every corner, guards following me, patrols, more madmen tripping me up ... Nightmare.

The big assassinations are irking me. Spoilers up to the end of memory block 4

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

There have been two now where I've been forced by cutscenes and game design to chase fleeing targets through the streets and hack them to bits in front of a screaming crowd while half the city guard busy themselves with stabbing me in the back.

The most recent one I did was the one with the execution fetish. I worked my way through the crowd to the front, locked on and hit him with a throwing knife as the information I'd gathered suggested to do. The knife either missed or didn't kill him, and, fed up with yet another "hack the target to pieces like a common street thug" scenario I let myself die so I could try again. This time I carefully sneaked my way onto the rooftops, took down the guards patrolling there, and worked into position so I could lock on to the target as he waltzed up and down doing his speech. I threw every knife I had at him - 5 - and they all hit. Did he die? Did he heck. Had to repeat the rubbish brawl and run method yet again.

The hospital doctor, has been the only enjoyable one thus far.

NB: Not done the Acre mission in block 4 yet.

[Craterus]

You can kill anyone you see. I found this out by accident when I tried to stealth assassinate a guard and a random civilian walked by. I wasn't using the lock on and the stab decided to target her instead of the guard. Another time a fleeing woman stepped right into the middle of a swordfight and died.

Yeah, I killed a fat bloke who was listening to a preacher in the poor district of Damascus. That was deliberate though.

Oh, and I was just trying it out, nothing against fat people!

[Bob the Insane]

Just finished it...

Some of the later missions can get pretty intense...

The story gets really interesting but the very end is the worst kind of "to be continued"... Can't wait for the next one...

For the accidentally killing people, I often get that when fighting with the short blade, because once slected at range you throw knives and upclose you use your short blade. After killing the last guard I would hit X one to many times and would throw off a knife in a random direction ending in the occasional scream... oops...

I found a useful skill for dealing with some of the thougher enemies if you end up in a fight is to grab a throw them down in front then quickly hit the up onm the DPad to switch to punch dagger and then right trigger and x to jump kill...