Recently Electronic Theatre got yet more hands-on time with the forthcoming Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, this time as part of the beta testing phase currently taking place on PlayStation 3. The beta is based solely on the multiplayer component of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, which plays surprisingly like a typical online deathmatch game mode.
The beta version starts with a beginning video which showcases a number of different character models and some of the weaponry used. After the video you are asked to start a training mission to learn the environment and the general objective on the multiplayer mode. In the introductory session, otherwise known as the Abstergo training program, you get ‘shown the ropes’.
First thing you have to do is select one of the eight character models available, these range from The Prowler to The Priest, with each character model using a different weapon to assassinate his enemy, but has no substantial difference beyond the visual element, for example The Executioner’s axe is no slower for an assassination than The Doctors syringe. This is also the same for the individual characters, no character appears to be quicker than another; it simply appears to be superficial to make the characters different.
The eight character model’s available in the beta include The Nobleman, a sycophantic noble, deformed in both body and mind; The Priest, brother Ristoro vowed a life of piety and poverty, but practiced neither; The Prowler, his blade imitates the lethal methods of the Assassins; The Courtesan, Fiora Cavazza’s extraordinary talents earned her a place in Cesare Borgia’s social circle; The Doctor, ravaging the poor districts of rome, malfatto preys on those unfortunate enough to be caught unaware; The Executioner, A natural ally for the Borgia, Il Carnefice kills to the roar of an approving crowd; The Engineer, Gaspar de la Croix is a master weapons engineer as well as an expert marksman; and The Smuggler, supplying the Templars with the secret contraband, Lia de Russo lied and murdered her way into some of the best deals of the century.
Once the introduction session has begun you are given a total of three targets to assassinate in this area before being able to join a multiplayer match. Also within the start menu it gives you a full list on the amount of point available for each type of kill; 200 points for silent kills, 150 points for focus kills, 100 points per kill just to name a few. Points earned, along with any match bonus given, contribute to the raising of your character level. By levelling up you can unlock abilities and items. The abilities range from Disguise to Smoke bombs, which are very helpful for evading and attacking the other players.
The multiplayer function of the beta build consists of a six player match with the winner being the player with the most amount of points, not kills. This encourages the more stealth approach to the kill, than the easier run and gun/stab method that has been adopted by most multiplayer games until now. This doesn’t mean you don’t get the swift changes in tempo, quite the opposite, from slowly stalking their prey to suddenly scaling rooftops in a dramatic chase or dashing through the streets in an attempt to evade their pursuer.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood will be available from 19th November 2010, on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with a PC version expected to follow early next year.
Website:
http://electronictheatre.co.uk/index.php/playstation3/playstation3-previews/6150-electronic-theatre-preview-assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayerIs anybody going to buy or pre-order this? I've pre-ordered the special edition, can't wait to play multiplayer on this