Assassin’s Creed: Liberation Preview – Eurogamer Expo 2012
Assassin’s Creed over the last few years has become one of my all time favorite IPs. I love the story line with Desmond and his ancestors and would love one day for someone to create a real life Animus! The combat and gloriously detailed, surroundings suck me into the world created by Ubisoft and every year I feverishly await the next chapter.
This year however Ubisoft are spoiling us, with Assassin’s Creed III and a stand alone title for the Vita – Liberation. Whilst at the Eurogamer Expo I managed to get some playtime on Liberation; ten minutes of drooling over the Vita screen. Is this title going to stand strong with its bigger brother, or are we in for a traditional hand-held chapter, which doesn’t quite cut the mustard?
Set in New Orleans in the 18th Century. Liberation will see us taking control of a female assassin for the very first time – one Aveline de Grandpré! I took my seat and picked up the Vita, rather unsure what to expect.
I found myself in the Louisiana Bayou – to get myself familiar with the controls I began by running around the swamps. The first thing to strike me was how comfortable the game felt; using the same controls as its bigger brother I was soon jumping from tree to tree like a pro! I was hooked, and after messing around decided to get on track and follow the map to the next mission.
I soon found myself further in the swamp, talking to another character – a woman, who informed me that to get to my targets I would need to cross the swamp in a canoe that she had already prepared for me. I jumped in and found the first taste of touch controls. By using the rear touch pad, tracing my finger upwards I was able to start rowing up the swamp, following the woman. It felt quite a natural way to control the canoe and showed that Ubisoft was prepared to use the Vita’s controls, albeit in a small way. After crossing the swamp I was informed that my targets were camped, given the mission to kill them all within three minutes, silently I went on my way. Scrambling up some trees I soon sneaked above the camp. Now was the time for the first taste of combat, which proved to be fast and fluid, feeling natural upon the smaller screen.
The little time I spent with this title managed to whet my appetite rather nicely. I wasn’t sure yet if Liberation will stand up to its bigger brother, yet this felt and played like a normal Assassin’s title. Everything was there including the eagle vision and I have to say the new character has me intrigued. The game looks beautiful on the Vita with the attention to detail taking my breath away.
Fans of the series are set for a treat and I for one can’t wait to get my hands on this title later this month!
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