SCI FI PI

Available on PS3, XBOX 360, and (in March) PC


If you haven't seen the pics or video footage you could be forgiven for not quite believing the hype that has surrounded Assassin's Creed. However, now with the upcoming release on PC (with extra side missions), there's very little excuse for the casual gamer not to pick this up.

Why is it so good? In a word - atmosphere.





This is the game you want if you just want to escape your humdrum existence for a few hours. If you would like to head back to 1191 Jersualem and kill Crusaders, so much the better. The game has you, 'you you', slightly in the future, a genetic descendant from a long line of assassins, sent back via technology to control your ancient ancestor's destiny. It seems a bit much on the outset, but it makes perfect sense, and oddly, immerses you even more in the reality of the game.




Inside the 'game within a game' you are part of a city of milling crowds, of straw, dung, chain-clad knights and of course, slinking assassins. Where in the 'real world' of 1191, you might have trouble finding your bearings, targets and mission objectives, your time-travelling helpful hints people make it much much easier, with special vision and of course, maps to help you along. Of course, if you want a be a bit of a purist, you can ignore the adivce and go super hard core. For the most part though, gameplay is intuitive: jumping, climbing and hiding are about moving yourself into position, pressing the right button and then the character will do the rest of the work. For people who aren't fragmasters, this is quite the help. It also makes the game play move along seamlessly, allowing for even more immersion.





Your job as assassin is to rebuild your career (after a bit of a cock-up) - by slaughtering targets in the holy city. Whilst you go about your business, it's hard not to stop and check out the view, or wander the streets and take in the sights. For those who happen to be history buffs and gamers, this is pretty much the bees knees, and makes the sets of Kingdom of Heaven ever so slightly second rate.

If you're looking for a whole new world, a world were you can escape to, this is your game.