Or have those been removed and replaced by the underwater exploration? If so, it sucks. I love the underwater parts, but I loved crypts in AC2's trilogy.

Actually yeah, the discrete climbing puzzles in the tomb sequences actually end up being some of the better parts of the Ezio saga, at least at the start. The first few times you enter one of those hidden tunnels in 2 that lead to Altair's armor, it feels dangerous and like you shouldn't be there. I think you're breaking into a closed church, and it does a good job of giving you that exciting sense of trespassing. The Cult of Romulus stuff was fun, fighting these secret wars in the ruins under an unsuspecting city.

It helped because it felt like a side _mission_ and completing them would make a difference. As opposed to 3, where everything that isn't the narrative is just dumb collectible crap that doesn't change anything. Even the dumb collectible crap in 2 and Brotherhood felt important. You found Altair's armor, took down a dangerous cult and helped your Mama overcome her grief. In comparison, in 3 you collected almanac pages so Ben Franklin could sell a book, and you did agricultural labor. Exciting stuff.

The only thing like that in AC4 that I can recall is the ps3's Aveline mission.

Certainly isn't any sidemission string relying on that.

Ac4 is a fantastic game but there are things I'd like to see them keep.. I guess they gotta "save" something for the upcoming games when they no longer have sailing etc.