Assassin's Creed 3 is Back

Assassin's Creed 3 has a succinct flavor, but lacks the subtlety that made its predecessors so enjoyable.

Assassin's Creed 3 is a more personal, extremely well told story that puts in a considerable amount

of effort to make you care about its world and its characters, spinning an elaborate back story told

in a panache we now associate unmistakably with the studio. Without delving deep into the details,

most of which would constitute spoilers, I guess it'd be safe to state that with plot elements generously sprinkled in between your stabbing and telling and exploration, you'd be hard pressed to find a dull moment in the main arc. 

There is so much content in it that you don't even realize you're consuming. Imagine my amazement, when after a three-hour session, I was going to bed and typing out a text to my friend describing all I'd just played through, and I ran well into more than a few texts.

The Desmond arc, the central link that binds the entire Animus skullduggery, especially, has been given a lot of thought and money. this was the first time actually found myself wanting to go back to present day---2012 just to witness how the Assassin-Templar encounter melded itself into the whole doomsday-scenario-thing. The Frontier, Boston and New York are great places to loiter about and mind your own bussiness that feel very alive and richly populated, even when they are empty.

There is always something to do around the corner of the building, always a deer to hunt, always a bear to fight with your bare hands, and nearly always a citizen to save and convert to your guild. Combined with the naval battles, it's pretty amazing.

Were it not for the frame rate/glitch issues and the slightly sketch redoing of the combat mechanics, then which come from the otherwise exceptionally built Anvil next Engine, I'd have little to complain about in Assassin's Creed 3. I just miss that instant feeling of belonging in the world and fitting in super naturally that I got from ACII to somehow make its way back into their release schedule.

Strengths:

1) Brilliantly told, personal tale with a great cast of characters.

2) The scope and quality of the engine is breathtaking- I recommend playing it on PC.

3) Sound design as always is exceptional.

4) Roaming around Boston and New York is like virtual tourism, two hundred years ago.

5) Strong multiplayer component with familiar, engaging gameplay mechanics.

Weaknesses:

1) Lacks the same spirit and charm as ACII; you can't feel it till you've played them both.

2) Connor's great, but his combat's a little wonky.

My Ratings:

Graphics: 8.5/10

Gameplay: 8/10

Singleplayer: 8/10

Multiplayer: 8/10

Sound: 9/10

Overall: 8/10