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How Metascores Are Calculated
67
Battle Fantasia
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games. |
The first game in the Assassin's Creed franchise is set in 1191 AD, when the Third Crusade was tearing the Holy Land apart. Shrouded in secrecy and feared for their ruthlessness, the Assassins intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. Players, assuming the role of the main character Altair, have the power to throw their immediate environment into chaos and to shape events during this pivotal moment in history. [Ubisoft]
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more... 100
Games Radar (in-house)
With its riveting story, beautiful visuals and surprisingly lifelike world, Assassin's Creed is an incredibly deep, enjoyable game that kept us addicted from beginning to bizarre end.
 100
GamePro
It's hard to put the sheer size and brilliance of Assassin's Creed into words. It is an epic game that you have to experience for yourself. I will caution that the game is not for the impatient or the faint of heart.
100
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
Forgive the sometimes long load times and other minor quibbles--Assassin's Creed is a resounding success that no one should miss. [Jan 2008, p.76]
95
Game Informer
Its stunning visual style, high concept story, and wildly open level design are like nothing else, even if too much repetition begins to frustrate in the later hours. It’s a game people will still be talking about five years from now.
92
IC-Games
You should love the stunning views and the ability to climb nearly all the buildings in the three cities as well as of the countryside sections.
91
Game Revolution
This beautiful, sprawling sandbox title turns the Crusades of the twelfth century into your personal playground of murder.
91
PSX Extreme
It almost seems as if the humungous world they created and the idea that lies beneath the premise was too big to embrace; it was simply beyond current development possibilities. On the other hand, Ubisoft Montreal did come close, which means we end up with a great game.
91
GameTrailers
The first half of Assassin’s Creed is a truly clairvoyant experience. You’ve never played anything like it. The sagacious story, incalculable crowd interaction, and unprecedented freedom to traverse the environment how you choose are landmark moments. Over time, repetition rears its ugly head, combat becomes a necessary routine, and dimwitted foes snatch you out of the third crusade and remind you that you’re playing a game.
90
Yahoo! Games
Assassin's Creed is a solid enough game to overcome its awkward plot device. It doesn't much matter why you're in the situation you're in. What matters are those wonderful moments when you're sitting on a tower overlooking one of the most gorgeous cities you've ever seen in a game, and you know it's all yours to play in.
90
GameSpot
In Assassin's Creed, the greatest joy comes from the smallest details, and for every nerve-racking battle, there's a quiet moment that cuts to the game's heart and soul.
90
Gamer 2.0
Assassin’s Creed is remarkable in every aspect it performs. From the sprawling city life to the dual-vision storyline, everything blends together to offer one of the most complete and satisfying experiences so far this year.
90
Game Over Online
Though it degenerates into a lot of fighting at the end, and makes a fair number of mistakes in its execution along the way, there’s something entrancing about this game and each of the amazing things you can do.
88
Cheat Code Central
A must-buy title for gamers interested in following an excellent story. The wonderful visuals play a major role in the experience and easy controls and open level design will suck you right in. This is not a game for everyone and misses a perfect rating due to pacing issues.
86
MEGamers
Fabulous mix of action, stealth and innovative platforming. Would have been stupendous if it had blended together more.
85
PTGamers
Assassin’s Creed is a landmark in videogames concerning graphics and production values..., but gets lost in the restriction of tasks, lack of interactivity, IA problems and some frustrating bugs.
85
Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
It has all the ambitions and potential worthy of a true next-gen title, from its visuals to the freedom it offers to the player, although it falls victim of its own limitations. But this title still has the flavour of something quite innovative. [Dec 2007]
83
Gaming Age
After "Bioshock" and "Uncharted," it's hard to imagine a game having an even better setting, but Assassin's Creed seems to have pulled it off.
83
Worth Playing
Despite Assassin's Creed's smooth, almost deft controls and not infrequently gorgeous, gritty ancient urban settings, it is ultimately a game by rote, not salvaged by a compelling story and also burdened with a shell plot that is both trite and superfluous.
81
PSM3 Magazine UK
All the basic mechanics are there, but kinks in the design keep Creed from greatness. [Christmas 2007, p.22]
80
GameZone
While it’s not as brilliant as it could have been considering the game’s timeline and setting, Assassin’s Creed is an astonishing gaming experience you won’t forget anytime soon.
80
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Despite its shortcomings, just tearing about using Altair's acrobatic skills is an experience few games can match. [Christmas 2007, p.119]
80
Jolt Online Gaming UK
It’s visually wonderful, technologically marvellous and honestly a great deal of fun to play, but as with many other people, we have to seriously question its staying power.
80
Playstation Official Magazine UK
Despite its shortcomings, Assassin's Creed is still enjoyable simply because of the breathtaking playground you're let loose in. In terms of sheer visual spectacle, the size and beauty of the world alone sets a new benchmark, showing what developers can really achieve with next generation visuals. [Christmas 2007, p.92]
80
GameDaily
The in-game combat isn't bad either, if you can accept two things—there's not enough variety to the combat, and the extra effot to sneak around often isn't worth it. The guards can be real idiots, too. Past that, this Assassin cuts deep.
80
GameTap
A game that attempts a lot of major development moves and it shows a lot of promise, even if it isn't always executed well.
80
VideoGamer
Don't get me started on the ending. This pretty much nailed the coffin shut on the game's fate as a good but not stunning title. You'll have to experience it for yourself, but it simply didn't deliver what it should have. It left me wanting more, which Ubisoft may well see as job done, but gamers don't buy games with the hope that they're completed within the next few years; they want a conclusion straight away.
79
Console Monster
The easy to pick-up control system, coupled with some enjoyable combat makes Assassin's Creed a good game despite the repetitive and sometimes laborious build up to each assassination.
78
My Gamer
For those who really love games, it's worth picking up for its aesthetic value and its unique gameplay. If you subsist on a diet of Madden and GTA, however, look elsewhere.
75
IGN
If you play Assassin's Creed for an hour, you will probably think it's a fantastic game. But as Assassin's progresses, its dual storylines and repetitive quests begin to grow tiresome. There are so many great individual elements, but they are lost among the myriad of poor decisions from Ubisoft Montreal.
75
WHAM! Gaming
This is designed as the first game in a new Ubisoft franchise, and I do hope there’s another. The little miscues can be fixed, the stealth tweaked, and I’d be up for free running through the French Revolution next time.
70
Total Video Games
Astonishingly accurate when it comes to historic characters, details, and setting, it's a shame that the repetitive, formulaic structure to the game diminishes any impulse that the intriguing storyline provides.
70
GameSpy
Instead of a true stealth engine, you have awkward "hide spots" to accommodate the free roaming. Combat is either too easy or too hard, lacking the brilliance of a dedicated action title. And the free-roaming, bound as it is to mission objectives that would be fine in a more linear game, is just unsatisfying. Each element of the game is individually interesting, but as a whole the package feels incomplete and patchwork more than innovative.
70
1UP
It attempts a lot of ambitious things and it almost succeeds at every one. But it's apparent that these grandiose ideas may have been a little too much to master the first go-round. But hey, at least the groundwork is laid for a killer sequel -- right, Ubisoft?
70
AceGamez
It pains me to score Assassin's Creed so low, as it is stunning in many respects and I want to convey the message that it definitely deserves to be played, even though it tragically falls short as a complete experience.
70
The New York Times
What is most interesting to me is how these features fail to coalesce into the amazing experience the action/adventure/stealth game seems to promise.
65
ZTGameDomain
With a bit more focus and a little more tweaking, Assassin's Creed could have been a great game. Unfortunately, it fails to deliver on many promises we've heard over the last year.
58
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The premise intrigues, but Assassin's Creed is an incomplete template based on multiple other games. [Jan 2008, p.88]
58
Play UK
Nastily boring. [Issue#161, p.88]
40
games(TM)
It may be a technical marvel, a beautiful game of staggering scope and scale, but its gameplay is narrow, linear and never changes. [Chrismas 2007, p.122]
[Anonymous] gave it an8: pasindu S gave it a2: Bob the Builder gave it a10: Lee B. gave it a4: Pin Cushion gave it a5: Stuart gave it an8: Guardian gave it a7: |
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