[AC] I Don't Want to Play Bloon Defense

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Certainly, the blokes at Ubisoft follow this rule - Assassin's Creed: Revelations is pretty much a reskin of the previous games, with a couple of bells and whistles cobbled onto the side (bombs and hooky-things are a nice addition, kudos) but the blood and guts look the same. And rightly so, it ain't broke.

However, if something isn't broken - you certainly don't need to take something which IS broken and mash it to the side; hoping that it will grow some sort of symbiotic relationship and miraculously not be crap. Sandbox games are brilliant because you are allowed to roam wherever you like. This is especially true with the 'screed series - if you want to climb that impossibly high tower and then throw yourself off the top, then go do-it to-it good buddy! However, what you DON'T need is the constant reminder to "Quick, stop whatever fun thing you're doing and come play our arduous tower-defense game which is super-duper clunky on the PS3 controller and takes fricken ages!"

It's like the whiney girlfriends in GTA: San Andreas all over again.

Assassin's Creed: Revalations

'Screed is one the most innovative series out there, and has always been a series which has captured my imagination. Playing each game is like sitting down to watch a new series like Fringe, Heroes etc - you don't know what's going to happen, but you know each little bit of info you are receiving it part of a larger whole. I heard about the latest edition in the AC franchise from The Video Games Blogger.  To be honest "Revelations" is a bit of a non-title - with a game series such as 'Screed, there is always going to be "Revelations". Come on guys - bit more imagination!

Rumours are that the latest story will take place between 1000BC and 2000BC in ancient Greece or Create. This came as a real surprise to me as I expected the story to keep following Desmond's ancestors closer and closer to the present day (Imagine Victorian England and then the Vietnam War!).

[Warning! Certain spoilerage ahead, tread with caution if you plan to play the games]Assassin's Creed 1 followed Altair (12th Century) and his adventures during the time of the Third Crusade. Assassin's Creed 2 introduced us to Etzio (15th Century) and follows him on his lifelong dream to have a bare knuckle fist-fight with the Pope. Having achieved his destiny, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood continues to follow Etzio (now sporting a rather fetching beard) as he gets laid and fires cannons whilst trying to unravel the mysterious messages he received at the end of the previous game.

In a parallel story, we also follow Desmond; a modern day man who has been reliving the above mentioned ancestors' memories through a machine called the animus. The messages which Etzio receives at the end of AC:2 are actually meant for Desmond (and there is a rather pleasingly fourth wall breaking moment when, in the 15th Century, the Goddess Minerva looks directly into the camera - and past Etzio - to address Desmond in 2012).
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With the trend seemingly bringing us closer and closer to the present day, it feels strange to take a 2500 year leap back to ancient Greece, but I can certainly see the appeal. Imagine: Triremes and togas, slingshots, gladiators and mythical beasts. 

Interesting link: AC Timeline.



ps. I was going to write an article about Lion's Arch and the lore and changes that have been build up over the years. But I thought it would be remiss of my to write it without having seen the new preview video.

Guild Wars: Wintersday 2010

Ah look, its the non-denominational secular holiday man! Here he comes in his generic multi-faith red suit, with his non-threatening possibly Sikh inspired white beard. He's come to hand out inoffensive non-specific winter-themed gifts! Hooray! Merry Christma... I mean, Yay for Wintersday!

Guild Wars' Christmas is always an amusing time, ANet try so hard to please everyone that you get odd uncanny valley Christmas cliches cropping up left right and centre: Elder Skruug, Grenches, Jingle Bears etc etc. Far from finding this attempt to side-step the normal PC problems galling, I actually find it quite quaint, perhaps its my rose-tinted view of the GW universe.

Looking forward to Christmas this year - in and out of game - in Guild Wars they are bringing Melandru (Goddess of Nature) and Balthazar (God of War) into the mix to join Grenth (God of Death) and Dwayna (Goddess of Life) in the Wintersday celebrations. Unfortunately, I'm missing the finale which takes place over New Year, as I'll be up in the Lake District - my friends parents own a hotel up there and its a great place for a New Year's Eve party!

In the real world, it's mine and the Mrs' first Christmas outside of our family nests and although it will be a little weird, I can't wait! Our tree is up, I've made mulled wine, wrapped the presents and spent all my savings (my girlfriend had the excellent idea to be born JUST after Christmas, meaning I have to buy her presents x2). So, its going to be a scant Christmas, what with the monetary constraints, but we'll have fun, I'm sure! To top this off, we got Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood the other day, shes dead into it; even to the point where if she can't find her glasses she will sit inches away from the telly, see below: