Game of the Year, my first "10" ever. The fascinating world of Assassin's Creed is an overwhelmingly satisfying thrill.
The Bad: So good it makes most of your other games really look bad...
This game is the first ever I would give a perfect "10" to, and obviously my vote for Game of the Year. Yet again, Ubisoft has exceeded expectations. This is unlike any game I've ever played.
You have a lot of freedom to play through any way you want. You can be stealthy, agressive, or just wander around a lot exploring this unique and fascinating world. Altair's climbing ability is a thrill, zipping up the sides of buildings like nobody's business, getting a dizzying and breathtaking view at the top, and launching yourself down to the ground with his Eagle ability never gets old. The buildings in this game look like real buildings that you just happen to be able to climb, not like buildings designed for "platforming" that don't look realistic.
The scenery in this game made my jaw sink to the floor. I have never witnessed a more graphically intricate, detailed, and beautiful game. I am in pure bliss partaking in all of this eye candy. Sometimes I think I could just stare at the screen and don't even want to move on. I feel like I am REALLY there.
The story is different and compelling. What happens to Altair is interesting, and you care about what happens to him and want to keep going to find out what happens to him next. He is not "just another thug" or "just another soldier". Who he is and what he does is not black or white, it's a gray area. Just like most real-life people's lives.
The crowds are not just some static cluster of people on the screen. This really is a living, breathing world to immerse yourself in. I really like the way you can blend in with the crowd if you need to hide, instead of the typical methods found in other games. Eavesdropping is also fun.
The controls are spot-on, smooth, and flawless. The frusteration factor on controls, whether you are climbing, moving around, or fighting, is NONE.
Altair is a total bada** in combat. Sneaky or agressive, he makes short work of his foes. It is very satisfying.
The voice acting is convincing and really enhances the realism of the game, and the ambient sounds further your immersion in really feeling like you are in these exotic locations.
This game is nothing short of spectacular, and no Xbox360 collection should be without it. If you could only play one game this year, this should be it.