Assassin's Creed III

(Please Note: This is a review for the single player portion of the game.)

I've been a fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise for a while; always looking forward to each release. Although the fatigue was indeed setting in after the previous title Assassin's Creed: Revelations, I still had optimism for this next numbered title. While my experience with the game was good, there were some select issues with the game that need to be addressed and ironed out should they (read: inevitably do) release their next title.
The game takes its time introducing (and for long-time fans: reintroducing) basic mechanics, but while this trails behind, the new interesting setting for the game is opening around you: the Boston- New York area during the mid to late 18th century (1700s) at the time of the American Revolution. Being in this area at this time means that cities aren't as sprawling or tall like in Israel and Italy, so you will be spending more of your time on the ground rather than on rooftops. But while the cities may not be as grand as before, the game makes up for this with a vast and beautiful forest frontier.

Once you get past the beginner tutorials and plot hooks, you finally take control of Connor: a half-and-half Native-British man with a duty to protect his village from the advancement of the colonies. Having grown up in a different environment than Altair or Ezio, Connor has the know-how of traversing the treetops of the large frontier. This is handled better then I would have expected from the somewhat clumsy controls of the franchise. Although this game still has the occasional issue of climbing when you don't intend to.
Amongst Connor's skills is a knack for hunting. Using a range of tools and tricks he can investigate the landscape to identify animal types, bait or trap the area, hide in bushes or trees, and range hunt with arrows or get up close and personal to get a clean and high quality kill. This is a fun means to pass the time aided by the multiple ways to stalk and kill prey. Though its engaging, the reasons to hunt are mostly unmotivated.

You can sell your bounty to shops for quick money, or you can save your resources and invest them back into your homestead. Similar to Monteriggioni in Assassin's Creed 2, Connor can help his Assassin mentor Achillies build up his land by recruiting people through brief missions and using their services in building and trading. With enough work, you can use the homestead to upgrade yourself with better ammo and weapon capacity. This system while ambitious, is poorly introduced and explained. Even though the character upgrades could be helpful, they are mostly unessential. I've carried the same equipment (like axe and pistol) through the entire game and did not feel the need to change them.

Another poorly introduced feature is a once cherished one: the assassin recruits. Each recruit is character whom you influence to the assassin side by doing liberation side missions in the two cities. Most of these show up on your map, but you must notice a few of the key ones when you pass by an area, which can be annoying. Once full recruits, each new member adds a new recruit skill like having a marksman take out an enemy, or enemy disguised recruits to help escort you into a restricted zone. So while the recruits can come in handy, completing their goals can take a significant chunk of your time.
Though the wide collection of features seem to have no real correlation, the events of Connor in the American Revolution make for the familiar compelling storytelling that comes with the Assassin's Creed titles. It’s especially fascinating to anyone who has studied American history in school. You will recognize historic names, dates, and events as they transpire, and it is always interesting to see how Connor gets into these situations.

Connor is an outsider finding himself in the Assassin Order through visions of fate. He has a very personal stake to help his people and kill the ones who oppose him. You see a fair bit of grey area towards the Templars, and it helps show that neither side has a large amount of influence on the new American soil. I found myself confused as to Connor's motivations towards helping other characters, but in a way it makes sense since Connor is just as confused about the situation and who to help as I was.
Outside Connor's story, the science-fiction hook is in full effect, with Desmond doing real world missions for artifacts that power the plot device to save the world from death and destruction. Though these sections are limited and linear, they slightly scratch the itch of a set in modern day Assassins Creed and left me wanting more. The human characters on the outside still leave something to be desired, but the addition of Desmond's father helps a bit. The holographic " ones who came before" are showing more signs of mortality, which don't mesh well with their portrayal as near-gods in the previous titles.

With Desmond's efforts having come to a close, I personally felt the ending lacked player involvement. The solutions for the impending doomsday were explained, but once Desmond makes his own choice it all ends rather abruptly. Though there is a way for Assassin's Creed to continue on, the finality of the ending will hopefully bring something refreshing to the modern day side, just like each numbered game has brought a something completely new to the animus side.
 
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