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Assassin's Creed ad perfects macho slo-mo walk
If you've been watching any of the TV networks (in the States) this week catering to the male 18-49 demographic then you've probably already seen the commercial for Assassin's Creed. The game releases next week and it's time to lay on the marketing thick. We must give props to Ubisoft's marketing and the commercial's creators for sticking with almost all in-game engine scenes. We certainly appreciate when a game commercial pretty much lays out a "what you see is what you get" approach to advertising. It really doesn't hurt that Assassin's Creed is gorgeous. Reviews are already starting to trickle in, but we'll wait until the non-exclusive reviews start getting posted to get a better feel for what the critics are actually thinking. We've seen enough awkward Assassin's Creed stuff over the last six months to stay cautious for now.
Home made Assassin's Creed wrist blade [update]
[Update: Based on community response, we have decided to remove the video displaying an actual knife. We'd like to point out that it was never our intention to endorse the creation or use of such a device, but rather to point out an interesting bit of gaming culture. We have replaced the video with the LEGO version, which, nerds that we are, we found much more interesting anyway.]We really have no idea how we missed this. It seems some enterprising Assassin's Creed fan created his own hidden knife similar to the one used in the game. It was created way back in July though, so those of you allergic to old news had best look away. The rest of you can marvel at the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the thing. The creator, known as sandman_seven, detailed the construction of the device on the Ubisoft forums (and apparently attempted to sell them as well).Now, while we can't deny the inherent coolness of such a device, it also creeps us out just a bit. So, we urge you to enjoy the coolness, but don't try this at home. If you must make a shank, may we suggest you make one out of LEGOs. To see what that looks like, you need only watch another video embedded after the break.[Thanks, OBM]
Kristen Bell gets digitized for Assassin's Creed
We'll admit it -- we're fans of Ms. Bell, from the spunky, spitfire junior private eye she played in Veronica Mars to the unseen, but ever present blogger in Gossip Girl, and even the lead in the god-awful Pulse. So, naturally, when she let it slip last December that she was contributing to Assassin's Creed, our hype meter exploded under the pressure. Now, giving us a little taste, Ubisoft released the first image of what Kristen Bell looks like in the game. Despite a less than flattering hair style, the actual rendering looks extremely similar. Speaking about Kristen Bell, producer Jade Raymond stated she "is a remarkable actress who was able to bring her character to life in a dynamic way that I don't think anyone else could have done properly." We'd still prefer some QT with the less creepy Bell any day of the week, though.
Penny Arcade's take on Assassin's Creed DS
It's difficult to imagine what steps Ubisoft will take to adapt Assassin's Creed for the Nintendo DS, what with the console game's "next-gen" graphics and mature themes, but the theorists at Penny Arcade took a stab at predicting its presentation, holding up a bloody, lacerated comic to demonstrate their prophecy.We wouldn't be too upset with their proposed game, a marriage between Assassin's Creed and Animal Crossing. Not every console title can make as successful a transition to handhelds like The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. Compared to some of the other multiplatform titles that've appeared on the DS -- Peter Jackson's King Kong and TMNT, for example -- the game sounds like a treat. We would be lucky if Assassin's Creed DS turns out to be half as good as this infantalized Assassin's Crossing concept.See also: DS Daily: Card-based RPG or minigame collection?
Assassin's Creed nabs 37/40 from Famitsu
We've been big supporters of Assassin's Creed throughout its development. Not only because it looks fantastic, but because the advertising for the game has been incredible and we are very easily swayed. Thankfully though, it seems our faith has not been misplaced: The game walked away with a combined score of 37/40 from the notorious reviewers at Famitsu. (You can see a tiny scan right here.)As a point of reference, 37 is one point lower than Super Mario Galaxy and the same as Halo 3 , so it seems that Ubisoft's marketers can now add "critically acclaimed" to Assassin's Creed ads. ... As if they needed to be more compelling.[Via EvilAvatar]
Famitsu reviews Assassin's Creed: 37/40
As if we needed further proof that November will assassinate your wallet, Famitsu has heaped glowing praise atop Assassin's Creed. According to a forum post on the Ubisoft forums, Famitsu has given the title a very respectable 37/40, with the individual reviews standing at 10, 8, 9, and 10. Incidentally, Famitsu handed the same overall score to Halo 3. There are some tiny scans of the reviews on the forums, but our Kanji is a little rusty. Thankfully, someone went to the trouble of summing things up. Apparently, the Famitsu reviewers were impressed by the story, presentation, and addicting acrobatics, noting that Assassin's Creed is a true next-gen title. Some knocks against it are the one button combat, confusing map, and occasional camera problems. All in all, it sounds pretty solid. Good news for gamers, bad news for bank accounts.[Via Evil Avatar]
Assassin's Creed is gold, strikes November 13
We always said we'd cut off our left hand ring finger and replace it with a retractable blade to find out the Assassin's Creed release date. Fortunately, Ubisoft didn't make us keep our end of the bargain, announcing the game has gone gold and will arive November 13 -- that's less than three weeks away.In what is now an uncharacteristic move, the game will come out simultaneously on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A limited edition version will be made available at the usual $10 addition ($69.99). As noted by the press release, those who order either version from GameStop will also receive an art book.
Assassin's Creed goes for gold, stabs it
We'll kids, we've got good news and bad news. The good news is that Ubisoft's medieval sneak-a-thon, Assassin's Creed, has gone gold and has a confirmed release date of November 13. The bad news is that you now have one more game to add to the list. You know the one. That list with all the games you need written on it. Everybody keeps one of those, right? Right next to the list of all the essentials you can live without to save money. You know, things like laundry detergent and toothpaste. You don't really need those things, do you?
Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed art direction
While we're quite excited about Assassin's Creed, we're worried the game can't possibly live up to the gorgeous concept art and character design (not to mention lofty game design goals) they've been showing off. Take this nearly two-thousand word feature on the CGSociety's website – with dozens of beautiful concept art images – looking at the art direction of the Ubisoft title: The beautiful Crusades-era architecture of cities like Damascus and Jerusalem and the striking assassin Altair are already visual hallmarks of the current generation of games, even if the actual game is still a relative unknown.[Thanks, Anton]
Assassin's Creed gameplay video in three parts
If you're anxiously expecting Altair to jump out of the shadows this holiday in Assassin's Creed, here's a little something to hold you over -- or make you foam at the mouth like you've been chewin' cyanide. The three-part gameplay video chronicles an assassination mission in Montferrat: the first video is the intro; the second part is filler; and the third part is the kill and attempted escape (parts two and three after the break). Everything looks good until the third part when you see the combat. Sure, the cutscene killings look cool (a la Heavenly Sword), but the combat appears a bit slow and awkward (one guy fighting when there are ten other people standing around). As we learned during our hands-on time with the game, there won't be a demo for gamers to experience the "different" style of Assassin's Creed before its release. Eh, they've got a couple months to work out the combat kinks ... or longer.
Welcome to Nintendoville, population: all of your money
Nintendo released a partial list of their upcoming releases today, and if nothing else, it reinforces the notion that your money is only yours until you can find a convenient time to hand it to Nintendo. Buy food or whatever while you can, because starting ... now, a flood of awesome DS releases is going to tempt you. Between now and some time in the first quarter of next year (with a lovely break in December) the DS will be home to wall-to-wall awesome.We've cherry-picked only what we think is the most interesting from the list, and it's still too many games. Not only that, this doesn't include anything from Capcom, so go ahead and add Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations. There's stuff on this list that may be of interest only to niche audiences (i.e. us) like Diary Girl, but we can do that, because we made the list. Besides, a personal organizer on a DS card? That's just neat, no matter what it looks like. Check after the break for our list.
Assassin's Creed to stalk DS in February '08
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Assassin_s_Creed_confirmed_for_Nintendo_DS_in_Feb_08'; Lending some convincing creed-ence (OOF!) to those nearly forgotten rumors, the DS version of Assassin's Creed has appeared on Nintendo's "holidays and beyond" release list. Those hoping to abandon their Pokémans in favor of, uh, poking a man in the back with a dagger should note that the game falls into the "beyond" part of Nintendo's schedule. Ubisoft's pint-sized bump-off sim is currently set for release in February 2008.Aside from a release window, not much is known about the game. Will it play anything like November's console versions? Will the stylus be used to simulate violent and inevitably controversial slashing motions? We've already sent the appropriate demand to Ubisoft: Your assassinz, let you show me them.
Assassin's Creed confirmed for DS, release in February
It's our turn for the big news today, after Nintendo's US press conference, and Assassin's Creed for the DS is leading the pack. Jade Raymond's action-oriented historical quest has been rumored for the handheld for months, but a huge list of upcoming Nintendo releases confirmed the title's existence. In what form, we cannot yet speculate, but suffice to say that we're hoping for the best rendition Ubisoft can squeeze out of a pair of screens, and not some minigame-fueled spin-off.Lesson: apparently, we should really, really listen to GameStop-fueled rumors, because they are so often true.
Assassin's Creed Collector's Set is super sexy
We'd heard about the Collector's Edition for Assassin's Creed, but now that we've laid eyes on that 12-inch figurine, our lust for it has reached fever pitch. Listen to that ... if you're quiet, you can almost hear significant others from all across the country wondering aloud "Where you're going to put that ugly thing" from more than a month in the future.While the Altair figure does look incredible, we're having some Big Daddy flashbacks looking at his weapon. Anyone else think Ubisoft should go ahead and set up the "Broken Stiletto" figure replacement site now?[Via X3F]
Assassin's Creed comic provides more questions, few answers
Oh tome, neither secret nor old, what information lies between the cover's fold? Whose to say if this promo material, reportedly obtained at a GameStop manager conference or a Best Buy Gamer's Day in Toronto if we're to "BELIEVE" NeoGAF, actually ruins Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed for you. It ultimately depends what you consider spoilers. Opinion: It doesn't contain any "Darth Vader is your father" level reveals, opting for more "Porkins dies in the Death Star fight" style non-spoilers. However, if you want to maintain your Assassin's Creed story virginity, you better steer clear of sidcuddlesGHIII's Photobucket account, which contains the entirety of the comic.[Via NeoGAF.]
New Assassin's Creed trailer does the trick
A new trailer for Assassin's Creed has sneaked onto the web (see what we did there?). The trailer, which looks to be a cinematic from the game, features a group of apparently evil men trying to figure out what to do about a particularly nasty problem. As you can imagine, Altair, the game's eponymous assassin, has caused this group no end of trouble. Without ruining it, let's just say that they don't figure out what to do by the end of the trailer. Honestly, the more we see of this game, the more excited we are. Check it out (see it in HD here) and tell us what you think. [Via Joystiq]
New Assassin's Creed trailer is delightful
We can't speak to the quality of Assassin's Creed at all. When it's (supposedly) released in November, we have no idea if you'll love it, if you'll hate it or if you'll be indifferent. What we can say with plenty of confidence though is that the person in charge of making trailers for Assassin's Creed should win a major award. We're not sure what award you get for making really short movies that make viewers want to flip out and stab people, but they should win that one.We're sure you all remember this one, now we have this rad new offering. We don't even want to tell you much about it, for fear of ruining it. Just know that the Knights Templar are involved. ... As is a bloody feather. OK, seriously, that's it. You need to go watch.
Assassin's Creed contest video: neca ne neceris
Remember the Assassin's Creed short film contest that was announced earlier this summer? Well, the deadline is drawing near (August 20th if you don't know) and entries are starting to find their way onto the internet (as videos tend to do). The entry above was sent to us by Charles Pham of Missing Link Cinema. Entitled "neca ne neceris" which roughly translated means "kill or be killed," the film tells its story entirely through visuals. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It's sure to give other entries that we've seen a run for their money. Give it a watch and tell us (and the fine folks of Missing Link Cinema) what you think. If any of you out there are also entering the Assassin's Creed contest, let us know. We'll try and feature some more here on X3F.
Sessler: Don't judge unfinished Assassin's Creed
During Microsoft's E3 press conference, Ubisoft decided to demo their golden child Assassin's Creed, but things did not go as smoothly as they had hoped. You see, the demo was a tad buggy and suffered from bad collision detection, floating bodies and a somewhat questionable framerate. And everyone noticed. Assassin's Creed has suffered some negative press these past few days as some gamers have been bashing the on-stage demo and the game.Enter G4 TV's Adam Sessler who climbed atop his soap box to tell gamers that we have no right to judge the game based on the bugs, because it just isn't finished. Sessler makes a great argument stating that video games are one of the only artistic mediums in which the artists allow fans to preview their work before it's complete. Bugs are normal in unfinished products, it's as simple as that. And we have to agree. Let's just take a deep breath and ignore Assassin's floating bodies. See, we bet you feel better already.
X3F Hands On: Assassin's Creed
Earlier today we got a chance to sit down with Ubisoft and get shown Assassin's Creed up close and personal, while at the same giving us a chance to actually control Altair ourselves. The demonstration was the of the same mission shown at Microsoft's Press Briefing from Tuesday night. Fortunately, we got to see the objective through to its completion, whereas Jade Raymond's cut off as soon as the slaver was assassinated. After our Ubi rep went through the mission, he handed us the controller and let us have a go at the streets and rooftops of Jerusalem, which is 15 times larger than the previously demoed city at E3 06. Did it play as good as it looked?
