I recently finished the single player portion of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and have been considering checking out the multiplayer aspect, so it was perfect timing from Corey Lee, who just sent me this review, which you should now read!
And thanks to Madman entertainment, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD releases.
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Multiplayer
It seems that delving into someone’s DNA never seems to get old for a gameplay concept? Only a year after the wonderful Assassin’s Creed 2, Ubisoft have returned with Brotherhood, continuing Ezio’s struggle against the Borgia once more in Rome. But the focus of this review isn’t about his Templar vendetta. It’s the multiplayer mode that comes with it. Under the pretense of an Abstergo training program, players become both hunter and hunted in a series of matches as they accumulate points, elude rival players and make that perfect kill.
Loved
Crowd Control: Like many RPGs, leveling up in multiplayer unlocks new abilities and perks. For example, Morph is a great way to throw off pursuers around a corner as you turn nearby bots into the same character model as you. However, abilities like Templar Vision would render such a move pointless as you’d be able to tell which bot is the actual player. These elements help give each match a sense of unpredictability as you’re never quite sure what your opponents will throw up against you.
This is Italia: The environments used in multiplayer strongly evoke a sense of nostalgia as many are modeled after locales of AC2. Each location also has its own Chase breakers, obstacles such as lifts and closing gates, to help throw off fellow assassins or make a quick escape. Multiplayer also features that familiar sense of ‘climb-ability’ in which players can make use of high locations for aerial kills or to disorientate opponents. While many may find it annoying chasing someone who is using their environment well, these environments give depth to the gameplay and motivate you to learn them properly in order to target your marks effectively and then escape appropriately.
Sense of Character: There are numerous characters skins to play as in multiplayer. While each one is no stronger or weaker to the other, players like the Harlequin are somewhat more noticeable in a match. Furthermore, each character has their own specific killing animation on assigned targets, an entertaining and satisfying feature to watch.
Hated
Synch Problems: The lobby system in this game leaves a lot to be desired. Joining a game can take a while as everyone is randomly assigned to a match and must wait for the needed amount of players. I’ve also entered matches halfway or even later only to find that I have 2 minutes left to kill someone or I’ll end up back in the lobby empty-handed.
Stunned: The ability to stun your pursuers when they’re nearby is a defense against being assassinated but an unreliable one at that. Keep it in mind.
Boring Variations: Wanted is the multiplayer mode which players are most likely to enjoy as it is assassination in its purest and stealthiest form. Manhunt and Alliance modes however seem a bit contrived as the former has players intentionally defenseless against opposing teams while the latter requires you to share kills.
Brotherhood’s multiplayer is essentially something to be admired. It takes the joy of killing others to a new level with its emphasis on disguises and stealth in winning matches and earning points. While many will still experience glitches and bugs as Ubisoft make continuous patches and updates, the multiplayer already before us is something seen to be enjoyed. Or better yet, unseen to be assassinated.
Corey Lee
And while I’ve got you, would anyone be up for doing an Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood community games night this Friday? Let us know in the comments below.
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