Assassin's Creed: Revelations
Encyclopedia
Assassin's Creed: Revelations is a video game in the Assassin's Creed
franchise developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal
. The game was released for PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows
, the game is delayed until December 2, 2011. Throughout the course of the game, the three protagonists from the previous games are featured: Ezio, Altair, and Desmond. It has been announced that it is the last game to feature Ezio Auditore da Firenze and the final game to be set in the Renaissance era.
Also added and expanded are siezing districts of the city from the Templars. While capturing a district is very similar to Brotherhood, the Templars will attempt to recapture districts, which Ezio must defend using a "tower defense" minigame, where he controls a group of assassins from rooftops against several waves of Templar soldiers and siege equipment. Similar to Brotherhood, initiates can be sent on missions to other regions, eventually wresting control from the Templars, and then using the city to produce a stream of income and new Assassin recruits.
The game is playable in full 3D across all three platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, with the console versions supporting both stereoscopic 3D mode for 3D HDTVs and for 2D HDTVs. All Revelations gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.
. Matchmaking and game interface are also improved. Ubisoft
says that while the component is returning, they’re putting greater focus towards the narrative, as it’s the heart of the franchise. As players level up in the multiplayer game, they move up in their Abstergo Templar rank and gain access to more information about the company.
New multiplayer modes are added to the already existing modes, including "story-oriented quests", as well as a much requested Capture the Flag mode. Some multiplayer maps are based in the island of Rhodes
. Among the new additions is a new multiplayer mode - Deathmatch - which differs from the previous multiplayer gameplay in that there is no compass pointing toward your assigned target, rather, there is a box in the top right of the screen where your current target is displayed, which glows blue when you enter the line of sight of your target. There is also Simple Deathmatch, which also removes the abilities and perks from the players.
The multiplayer function is protected by the Uplay Passport system on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which requires a code for access. Codes are included in all new copies of the game, but are tied to a single Uplay account. This means that players who purchased their copy second hand, will need to purchase a new code to access the multiplayer. Codes are available for purchase from within the game menu.
. It takes Ezio to Constantinople in 1511 AD, consisting of four districts: Constantin, Beyazid, Imperial, and Galata
; Cappadocia
during the rise of the Ottoman Empire
, part of which is a completely underground city populated solely by Templars; and Masyaf
, which holds the old Assassins' stronghold (featured in the first Assassin's Creed
game) to which Ezio travels at the beginning of the game. He discovers Altaïr has sealed within the fortress an ancient artifact that is said to be a powerful weapon which could end the Templar and Assassin war forever, and has hidden the keys in Constantinople. Ezio uses relics of the first civilization that hold memories of Altaïr to relive Altaïr's experiences, during which players will control Altaïr.
The game also continues Desmond's story in the modern day, following the events of Brotherhood
, where he is trapped in the Animus, in comatose state, in which he has found a safe mode known as the Black Room. In the Black Room, Desmond must find a key memory that links him with Altaïr and Ezio to reintegrate his splintered subconscious and regain consciousness. While in game, Ezio meets a variety of historical characters, including Manuel Palaiologos
, an heir to the now lost Byzantine Empire, Byzantine Templars who will be lurking in the shadows of Constantinople, Prince Suleiman
, a man who will one day become one of the Ottoman Empire's greatest Sultans and his uncle, Prince Ahmet
.
Desmond enters a memory portal, which places him in the perspective of Ezio Auditore. Ezio has traveled to Masayf to attempt to unlock the secrets Altair had previously discovered and to find the true purpose to his order. Upon arriving he finds the stronghold overrun by the Templars, who mark him for death. Ezio escapes to the bowels of the fortress where he discovers the entrance to Altair's library. He learns that five keys are required to unlock the door, that the Templars have the first, and that the rest lie in Constantinople. Upon recovering his first key, Ezio learns that each key is encoded with Altair's memories by having an Animus-like experience in which he relives key moments of Altair's life.
Upon arriving in Constantinople, Ezio is greeted by Yusuf Tazim, the leader of the local Assassin Order and also befriends a young student named Suleiman. Ezio learns that the Templars have already recovered one of the keys, and the rest were hidden in the city by Niccolo Polo. While searching for Niccolo's old trading post, Ezio comes across and befriends Sofia Sartor, a young Italian traveler and book collector, and he quickly becomes infatuated with her. Ezio has Sofia help him track down the locations of the remaining four keys, while keeping his true intentions secret from her. Meanwhile, Constantinople is in chaos due to conflicts between Prince Ahmet and his brother Selim, who are quarreling over who will inherit the Sultanate. Caught in the middle of the conflict, Suleiman reveals to Ezio that he is an Ottoman prince and that he suspects the Templars are behind Ahmet and Selim's feud. Ezio eventually uncovers evidence that Manuel Palaiologos
, with Templar support, is attempting to raise an army to overthrow the Ottomans and reestablish the Byzantine Empire. Ezio kills Manuel and recovers the final key, only to discover that Ahmet is the true mastermind of the Templar plot to find Altair's library. Realizing that Ahmet knows about Sofia, Ezio races back to Constantinople.
With the five keys in his possession, Ezio manages to witness Altair's life after the events of the first game. After killing Al-Mualim, Altair takes possession of the Apple of Eden and assumes leadership of the Assassins. However, one of the Assassins, Abbas, does not support Altair. When Altair and his wife Maria Thorpe leave Masayf for ten years to repel the Mongol invasion, Abbas stages a coup, seizing control of the Assassins and executing Altair's youngest son. Altair returns to take revenge on Abbas, but Maria attempts to stop him. Abbas then takes the chance to kill Maria. Altair is forced to flee and go into exile for the next twenty years, in which time Abbas' paranoia and madness weakens the Assassins and undoes many of the gains they had made against the Templars. Altair finally returns to Masayf and manages to convince the Assassins to turn against Abbas. He then kills Abbas and takes back his rightful place as the leader of the Assassins. Years later, having seen the future through the Apple of Eden, an elderly Altair encodes his memories into the keys and entrusts them to Niccolo.
Meanwhile, inside the Animus, the entire environment begins breaking down as the Animus begins deleting unnecessary data. Subject 16 sacrifices himself to prevent Desmond from being deleted himself, giving him enough time to escape through the memory portal.
Back in Constantinople, Ezio discovers that Ahmet has killed Yusuf and kidnapped Sofia, demanding the keys for her life. Ezio agrees to the trade, but immediately gives chase to Ahmet after he ensures that Sofia is safe. He manages to recover the keys, but before he can do anything about Ahmet, Selim arrives with his armies and executes Ahmet himself. Because Ezio is a personal friend of Suleiman, Selim decides to spare Ezio's life but warns him to leave Constantinople and never return. Together, both Ezio and Sofia return to Masayf, where Ezio explains the true meaning of the Assassin's Creed and uses the keys to unlock Altair's library hidden underneath the castle. Upon entering, Ezio finds the library empty except for Altair's skeleton and a sixth key. Taking the key, Ezio discovers that the library does not hold Ezio's book, but the Apple of Eden (the one Ezio possesses is apparently a different one). Altair sealed himself inside the library in order to preserve its secret. Ezio decides to leave the Apple in the library, and begins talking to Desmond, not knowing exactly who he is but knowing that he is watching. He tells Desmond of his intention to finally retire from life as an Assassin, believing that he has served his purpose. He expresses his hope that Desmond will be able to find the answers to the questions that he and Altair had suffered so much to uncover.
Suddenly, Desmond is approached by Jupiter, another hologram similar to Juno and Minerva. He explains to Desmond that the First Civilization built numerous underground vaults that would independently study various methods to save the planet from destruction, with all of the data being transmitted to a central vault where he, Juno, and Minerva tested them. However, none of their methods were effective and they failed to stop the solar flare that destroyed the First Civilization. Jupiter continues telling Desmond that he has the power to save the planet from the second solar flare, and shows him the location of central vault. Desmond then finally wakes up from the Animus to see Rebecca, Shaun, and his father standing over him. They had managed to smuggle him out of Rome and used the coordinates from the Animus found at the end of the Da Vinci Disappearance to take him to the central vault. Desmond's arm then glows blue and upon seeing Ezio's Apple of Eden, tells the other Assassins that he knows what to do. Underground, the central vault activates.
On April 29, 2011 the game's name was released on the official Assassin's Creed Facebook
page, with a link which led to a flash file. The teaser clip included the words, "Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad, Son of no one" in Arabic which hints that Altaïr, the main protagonist of the first game, may once again be the main protagonist of the game. A third teaser clip for the game showed the city of Constantinople, which hints at it being the setting for the game. In the E3 rumor section of its April 2011 issue, Xbox World 360 said Assassin's Creed: Revelations is not Assassin’s Creed III, but suggests that game is also secretly in the works. Assassin's Creed: Revelations is likely to be "another slimline Brotherhood-style offering", Xbox World 360 stated. The game was unofficially unveiled on May 5, 2011 by Game Informer
, and officially revealed at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011
.
The PC version of Assassin's Creed: Revelations does not force players to always be online to work, Ubisoft has confirmed. The French publisher has claimed that its policy is a success, insisting it has seen "a clear reduction in piracy of our titles which required a persistent online connection", however, Revelations is free of always-online DRM
. It will, however, require an online activation the very first time the player plays the game. Following that, the player can play offline.
Additionally, Ubisoft released an Assassin's Creed: Revelations Avatar collection Xbox 360, which includes a Codex prop, Desmond’s black hoodie, and a pet eagle. Also, the following outfits will be available: Ezio, Bombardier, Guardian, Sentinel, and Vanguard (female only). Media Molecule
announced that on November 15, a new Ezio costume for Sackboy will be made available in LittleBigPlanet 2
to promote the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.
Those who pre-order through Best Buy
will get an exclusive multiplayer character. All day one copies of Revelations for the PlayStation 3 will have the first Assassin’s Creed bundled as part of the disc, which launched in 2007. Ubisoft called the announcement a "special partnership" between itself and Sony Computer Entertainment America. The publisher has since confirmed the deal will apply in Europe.
for all platforms.
(Armor of Brutus) in single-player, weapons capacity upgrades, and two additional multiplayer characters (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester).
On the day of the game's launch, Ubisoft announced that it was working on various DLCs
for the game. The first one they announced is called the "Ancestors Character Pack" that will be released in December, 2011. The character pack will include four new multiplayer characters which include the Privateer, Corsair, Brigand, and Gladiator. It will be available for 320 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360, or $3.99 on the PlayStation 3. The second DLC pack announced was the "Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack", which will be available on January 24, 2012 and will cost the same price as the first one. The contents of the pack have not yet been announced.
for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively.
IGN
gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure." 1UP gave the game a rating of B+, stating "While Revelations lacks that one supreme improvement or standout mechanic that defined AC2 and Brotherhood each, it's still a damn fine sendoff for Altair and Ezio."
Edge
gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "unlike the elegant lead, who's grey-haired but unbowed by the end of the adventure, Assassin's Creed has been quietly compromised by age." Eurogamer
also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, writing "where Brotherhood enhanced the thrill of being Ezio Auditore, Revelations distracts from it. Ezio may look old, but it's the series itself that really shows its age."
VideoGamer gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, stating "So, for the first time, a new Assassin's Creed game is worse than its predecessor, the first time the short development period has had a noticeable impact on the game's quality. It's a game of nearlies and might-have-beens: summed up by the hookblade, a supposedly key new feature which in practice merely extends Ezio's reach slightly, and allows him to glide down the occasional zipline." GamePro
also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "at its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink -- plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign."
Game Informer
gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, writing "a number of new features have been attempted to make Revelations feel new and different from its predecessors. In that quest for broader variety and a unique identity from the earlier games, Revelations makes some missteps that are hard to ignore. However, the game offers more of what has been great about the franchise, and that should be enough to bring most fans to the table, even if it a poor starting point for new players." GameTrailers
also gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, saying that "the engine is a bit long in the tooth and some of the content isn't entirely worth exploring, but if you're looking for an unforgettable top shelf action/adventure, heed the creed."
Official Xbox Magazine
gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "What's available here remains as ridiculously appealing as ever. It's still a thrill unique to the series to be perched six stories high, looking out across miles of meticulously rendered game world - even if that dazzling, danger-filled world has grown overly familiar, having traded what was once revolution for iterative evolution." PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
gave the game a rating of 9 out of 10, stating "As a conclusion for Ezio's chapter, Revelations proves an utterly brilliant swansong."
On November 18, 2011, PSM3
reported that Assassin's Creed III is to be set in Egypt, which states in its rumour section that the 2012 sequel could use the setting for "at least part of the game." That information tallies with hints dropped in Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Computer and Video Games
reported. Computer and Video Games wrote: "Darim, the son of past protagonist Altair, namechecks the ancient Egyptian capital of Alexandria
at the end of Revelations, noting that he has moved books there from the Assassin's library."
On November 29, 2011, Empire State Gamer spotted a supposed Ubisoft survey that could have outed locations for future Assassin's Creed games. The online quiz asked participents which locations and time periods they'd like to see in the "next Assassin's Creed games". Assassin's Creed: Revelations details emerged via the exact same kind of survey. The survey mentions, among other historical periods, Medieval China, Victorian England, The American Revolution, and Feudal Japan. The survey also made mention of Ancient Egypt, a setting that's been hinted for Assassin's Creed 3.
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
franchise developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft Montreal is a Canadian video game developer owned by French publisher Ubisoft.Ubisoft's North American studio is located in Montreal, Quebec...
. The game was released for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, the game is delayed until December 2, 2011. Throughout the course of the game, the three protagonists from the previous games are featured: Ezio, Altair, and Desmond. It has been announced that it is the last game to feature Ezio Auditore da Firenze and the final game to be set in the Renaissance era.
Gameplay
The game follows the series' standard open-world gameplay. New gameplay additions include an item called the hookblade, which can be used to zipline across the city or grab enemies to yank them in for a combo attack. The hookblade reportedly speeds up navigation by around 30 percent. Along with the hookblade, Ezio also has 300 different bomb variations at his disposal, which are to be crafted. The game features "Dali-esque" first-person platforming missions in a radical departure for the series.Also added and expanded are siezing districts of the city from the Templars. While capturing a district is very similar to Brotherhood, the Templars will attempt to recapture districts, which Ezio must defend using a "tower defense" minigame, where he controls a group of assassins from rooftops against several waves of Templar soldiers and siege equipment. Similar to Brotherhood, initiates can be sent on missions to other regions, eventually wresting control from the Templars, and then using the city to produce a stream of income and new Assassin recruits.
The game is playable in full 3D across all three platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, with the console versions supporting both stereoscopic 3D mode for 3D HDTVs and for 2D HDTVs. All Revelations gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer gameplay is also makes a return in Revelations. The mode expands the basics of online modes from Brotherhood with new characters and locations. Players are able to customize their characters' appearance and weapons, as well as start a guild and create its unique coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. Matchmaking and game interface are also improved. Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
says that while the component is returning, they’re putting greater focus towards the narrative, as it’s the heart of the franchise. As players level up in the multiplayer game, they move up in their Abstergo Templar rank and gain access to more information about the company.
New multiplayer modes are added to the already existing modes, including "story-oriented quests", as well as a much requested Capture the Flag mode. Some multiplayer maps are based in the island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. Among the new additions is a new multiplayer mode - Deathmatch - which differs from the previous multiplayer gameplay in that there is no compass pointing toward your assigned target, rather, there is a box in the top right of the screen where your current target is displayed, which glows blue when you enter the line of sight of your target. There is also Simple Deathmatch, which also removes the abilities and perks from the players.
The multiplayer function is protected by the Uplay Passport system on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, which requires a code for access. Codes are included in all new copies of the game, but are tied to a single Uplay account. This means that players who purchased their copy second hand, will need to purchase a new code to access the multiplayer. Codes are available for purchase from within the game menu.
Setting
The game features all three of the series' major characters so far: Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Altaïr ibn La-Ahad and Desmond MilesDesmond Miles
Desmond Miles is the main protagonist of the Assassin's Creed series. He was born March 13th, 1987, which is the 72nd day of the year...
. It takes Ezio to Constantinople in 1511 AD, consisting of four districts: Constantin, Beyazid, Imperial, and Galata
Galata
Galata or Galatae is a neighbourhood in the Beyoğlu district on the European side of Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Galata is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn, the inlet which separates it from the historic peninsula of old Constantinople. The Golden Horn is crossed by...
; Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
during the rise of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, part of which is a completely underground city populated solely by Templars; and Masyaf
Masyaf
Masyaf is a city in Syria, in the Hama Governorate, notable for its large medieval castle.It was used by Hashashins as their headquarters after the destruction of Alamut....
, which holds the old Assassins' stronghold (featured in the first Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
game) to which Ezio travels at the beginning of the game. He discovers Altaïr has sealed within the fortress an ancient artifact that is said to be a powerful weapon which could end the Templar and Assassin war forever, and has hidden the keys in Constantinople. Ezio uses relics of the first civilization that hold memories of Altaïr to relive Altaïr's experiences, during which players will control Altaïr.
The game also continues Desmond's story in the modern day, following the events of Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010, Microsoft Windows in March 2011 and Mac OS X in May 2011...
, where he is trapped in the Animus, in comatose state, in which he has found a safe mode known as the Black Room. In the Black Room, Desmond must find a key memory that links him with Altaïr and Ezio to reintegrate his splintered subconscious and regain consciousness. While in game, Ezio meets a variety of historical characters, including Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos was the youngest child of Thomas Palaiologos and Catherine Zaccharia. He was brother of the de jure Byzantine Emperor Andrew Palaiologos, Zoe Palaiologina, Grand Duchess of Moscovy and Helena Palaiologina, wife of Despot Lazar Branković of Serbia...
, an heir to the now lost Byzantine Empire, Byzantine Templars who will be lurking in the shadows of Constantinople, Prince Suleiman
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system...
, a man who will one day become one of the Ottoman Empire's greatest Sultans and his uncle, Prince Ahmet
Şehzade Ahmet
Şehzade Ahmet was an Ottoman prince who fought for throne in 1512-3.-Background:Ahmet was the oldest living son of Beyazit II. His mother was Bülbül Hatun. In Ottoman tradition all princes were required to work as provencial governors in Anatolia as a part of their training...
.
Plot
The game begins where Brotherhood left off. Present day protagonist Desmond Miles' mind has suffered a breakdown from the events of the previous games, and to save Desmond's mind, the Assassins put him into a specialized safe area of the Animus. Upon awakening inside the Animus, Desmond meets Subject 16, who occupied the Animus before him. 16 explains that Desmond's mind is fragmented, and that the only way for him to separate the pieces of his true self from those of his ancestors is to continue to play out their stories until there is nothing left for them to show Desmond. Once he reaches that point, the Animus will be able to separate the three individual's memories.Desmond enters a memory portal, which places him in the perspective of Ezio Auditore. Ezio has traveled to Masayf to attempt to unlock the secrets Altair had previously discovered and to find the true purpose to his order. Upon arriving he finds the stronghold overrun by the Templars, who mark him for death. Ezio escapes to the bowels of the fortress where he discovers the entrance to Altair's library. He learns that five keys are required to unlock the door, that the Templars have the first, and that the rest lie in Constantinople. Upon recovering his first key, Ezio learns that each key is encoded with Altair's memories by having an Animus-like experience in which he relives key moments of Altair's life.
Upon arriving in Constantinople, Ezio is greeted by Yusuf Tazim, the leader of the local Assassin Order and also befriends a young student named Suleiman. Ezio learns that the Templars have already recovered one of the keys, and the rest were hidden in the city by Niccolo Polo. While searching for Niccolo's old trading post, Ezio comes across and befriends Sofia Sartor, a young Italian traveler and book collector, and he quickly becomes infatuated with her. Ezio has Sofia help him track down the locations of the remaining four keys, while keeping his true intentions secret from her. Meanwhile, Constantinople is in chaos due to conflicts between Prince Ahmet and his brother Selim, who are quarreling over who will inherit the Sultanate. Caught in the middle of the conflict, Suleiman reveals to Ezio that he is an Ottoman prince and that he suspects the Templars are behind Ahmet and Selim's feud. Ezio eventually uncovers evidence that Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos
Manuel Palaiologos was the youngest child of Thomas Palaiologos and Catherine Zaccharia. He was brother of the de jure Byzantine Emperor Andrew Palaiologos, Zoe Palaiologina, Grand Duchess of Moscovy and Helena Palaiologina, wife of Despot Lazar Branković of Serbia...
, with Templar support, is attempting to raise an army to overthrow the Ottomans and reestablish the Byzantine Empire. Ezio kills Manuel and recovers the final key, only to discover that Ahmet is the true mastermind of the Templar plot to find Altair's library. Realizing that Ahmet knows about Sofia, Ezio races back to Constantinople.
With the five keys in his possession, Ezio manages to witness Altair's life after the events of the first game. After killing Al-Mualim, Altair takes possession of the Apple of Eden and assumes leadership of the Assassins. However, one of the Assassins, Abbas, does not support Altair. When Altair and his wife Maria Thorpe leave Masayf for ten years to repel the Mongol invasion, Abbas stages a coup, seizing control of the Assassins and executing Altair's youngest son. Altair returns to take revenge on Abbas, but Maria attempts to stop him. Abbas then takes the chance to kill Maria. Altair is forced to flee and go into exile for the next twenty years, in which time Abbas' paranoia and madness weakens the Assassins and undoes many of the gains they had made against the Templars. Altair finally returns to Masayf and manages to convince the Assassins to turn against Abbas. He then kills Abbas and takes back his rightful place as the leader of the Assassins. Years later, having seen the future through the Apple of Eden, an elderly Altair encodes his memories into the keys and entrusts them to Niccolo.
Meanwhile, inside the Animus, the entire environment begins breaking down as the Animus begins deleting unnecessary data. Subject 16 sacrifices himself to prevent Desmond from being deleted himself, giving him enough time to escape through the memory portal.
Back in Constantinople, Ezio discovers that Ahmet has killed Yusuf and kidnapped Sofia, demanding the keys for her life. Ezio agrees to the trade, but immediately gives chase to Ahmet after he ensures that Sofia is safe. He manages to recover the keys, but before he can do anything about Ahmet, Selim arrives with his armies and executes Ahmet himself. Because Ezio is a personal friend of Suleiman, Selim decides to spare Ezio's life but warns him to leave Constantinople and never return. Together, both Ezio and Sofia return to Masayf, where Ezio explains the true meaning of the Assassin's Creed and uses the keys to unlock Altair's library hidden underneath the castle. Upon entering, Ezio finds the library empty except for Altair's skeleton and a sixth key. Taking the key, Ezio discovers that the library does not hold Ezio's book, but the Apple of Eden (the one Ezio possesses is apparently a different one). Altair sealed himself inside the library in order to preserve its secret. Ezio decides to leave the Apple in the library, and begins talking to Desmond, not knowing exactly who he is but knowing that he is watching. He tells Desmond of his intention to finally retire from life as an Assassin, believing that he has served his purpose. He expresses his hope that Desmond will be able to find the answers to the questions that he and Altair had suffered so much to uncover.
Suddenly, Desmond is approached by Jupiter, another hologram similar to Juno and Minerva. He explains to Desmond that the First Civilization built numerous underground vaults that would independently study various methods to save the planet from destruction, with all of the data being transmitted to a central vault where he, Juno, and Minerva tested them. However, none of their methods were effective and they failed to stop the solar flare that destroyed the First Civilization. Jupiter continues telling Desmond that he has the power to save the planet from the second solar flare, and shows him the location of central vault. Desmond then finally wakes up from the Animus to see Rebecca, Shaun, and his father standing over him. They had managed to smuggle him out of Rome and used the coordinates from the Animus found at the end of the Da Vinci Disappearance to take him to the central vault. Desmond's arm then glows blue and upon seeing Ezio's Apple of Eden, tells the other Assassins that he knows what to do. Underground, the central vault activates.
Development
In November 2010, Ubisoft's CEO Yves Guillemot teased "something Assassin's related" in 2011, despite an earlier statement by Ubisoft Montreal's Jean-Francois Boivin that no Assassin's Creed game will be released in 2011. Geoffroy Sardin of Ubisoft later confirmed that there will be a "big" Assassin's Creed game in 2011. Guillemot also explained that ultimate goal for Ubisoft is to release new games in the franchise annually along with Ubisoft's most popular other franchises. In February 2011, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the next Assassin's Creed game would be released during its next fiscal year, which starts on April 1, 2011, and ends on March 31, 2012.On April 29, 2011 the game's name was released on the official Assassin's Creed Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page, with a link which led to a flash file. The teaser clip included the words, "Altaïr Ibn La-Ahad, Son of no one" in Arabic which hints that Altaïr, the main protagonist of the first game, may once again be the main protagonist of the game. A third teaser clip for the game showed the city of Constantinople, which hints at it being the setting for the game. In the E3 rumor section of its April 2011 issue, Xbox World 360 said Assassin's Creed: Revelations is not Assassin’s Creed III, but suggests that game is also secretly in the works. Assassin's Creed: Revelations is likely to be "another slimline Brotherhood-style offering", Xbox World 360 stated. The game was unofficially unveiled on May 5, 2011 by Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
, and officially revealed at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011, commonly known as E3 2011, was the 15th Electronic Entertainment Expo held. E3 is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry presented by the Entertainment Software Association . The event took place June 7–9, 2011 at the Los Angeles...
.
The PC version of Assassin's Creed: Revelations does not force players to always be online to work, Ubisoft has confirmed. The French publisher has claimed that its policy is a success, insisting it has seen "a clear reduction in piracy of our titles which required a persistent online connection", however, Revelations is free of always-online DRM
DRM
-Information technology:*Digital rights management, access control technologies that limit the usage of digital content and devices*Data Reference Model, one of the five reference models of the Federal Enterprise Architecture...
. It will, however, require an online activation the very first time the player plays the game. Following that, the player can play offline.
Marketing and release
Ubisoft announced a PlayStation Network timed exclusive multiplayer beta for Assassin's Creed Revelations on August 10, 2011. The beta began on September 3, 2011 and finished September 17, 2011, exclusively for PlayStation Plus and Uplay members on Playstation 3. On September 8, 2011, the multiplayer beta opened to everyone with a PSN account. The beta offered access to nine characters (The Sentinel, The Vanguard, The Guardian, The Vizier, The Thespian, The Deacon, The Bombardier, The Trickster, The Champion – all boasting different abilities), three maps (Knight's Hospital, Antioch, Galata) and four playable modes (the previously seen Wanted and Manhunt options joined by new Deathmatch and Artifact Assault variants). On September 12, 2011, Ubisoft extended the multiplayer beta until September 17, 2011.Additionally, Ubisoft released an Assassin's Creed: Revelations Avatar collection Xbox 360, which includes a Codex prop, Desmond’s black hoodie, and a pet eagle. Also, the following outfits will be available: Ezio, Bombardier, Guardian, Sentinel, and Vanguard (female only). Media Molecule
Media Molecule
Media Molecule is a British video game developer based in Guildford in Surrey. The studio was founded in January 2006 by former Lionhead Studios employees Mark Healey, Alex Evans, Dave Smith, and Kareem Ettouney...
announced that on November 15, a new Ezio costume for Sackboy will be made available in LittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 2 is a puzzle platformer video game, centred around user-generated content. The game is developed by Media Molecule, published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for PlayStation 3 and was originally scheduled for release in November 2010 but was delayed until January 2011...
to promote the launch of Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.
Those who pre-order through Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
will get an exclusive multiplayer character. All day one copies of Revelations for the PlayStation 3 will have the first Assassin’s Creed bundled as part of the disc, which launched in 2007. Ubisoft called the announcement a "special partnership" between itself and Sony Computer Entertainment America. The publisher has since confirmed the deal will apply in Europe.
Retail editions
There are several different limited editions of Assassin's Creed Revelations. The Animus, Collector's and Special editions are available on all platforms and only available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, while the Signature Edition is only available in North America through GameStopGameStop
GameStop Corporation is an American video game and entertainment software retailer. The company, whose headquarters is in Grapevine, Texas, United States, operates 6,500 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New...
for all platforms.
- The
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010, Microsoft Windows in March 2011 and Mac OS X in May 2011...
(Armor of Brutus) in single-player, weapons capacity upgrades, and two additional multiplayer characters (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester).
- The
- The
- Those who pre-order
- The
| Features | Standard (consoles & PC) |
Animus Edition (consoles & PC) |
Collector's Edition (consoles & PC) |
Special Edition (consoles & PC) |
Signature Edition (consoles & PC) |
Ultimate Bundle (consoles & PC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game disc | ||||||
| Exclusive packaging | (Animus box packaging) | (Special Collector’s Edition packaging) | (standard box with exclusive artwork) | (Black, fold-out cardboard box) | (Black, fold-out cardboard box) | |
| In-depth encyclopedia | ||||||
| 50-page art book | ||||||
| The original game's soundtrack | ||||||
| Assassin's Creed Embers Movie DVD | ||||||
| Exclusive single-player mission | (Vlad the Impaler Prison) | (Vlad the Impaler Prison) | (Vlad the Impaler Prison) | (Vlad the Impaler Prison) | ||
| Exclusive multiplayer character | (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester) | (The Crusader and Ottoman Jester) | (The Crusader and Ottoman Doctor) | (Ottoman Jester) | (Ottoman Jester) | |
| Exclusive armor for Ezio | (Armor of Brutus) | (Turkish Armor) | ||||
| Altaïr Skin/Ezio in Altaïr's Robes | (as a pre-order bonus from EB Games Australia) | (as a pre-order bonus from Play UK) | ||||
| Capacity upgrades | (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) | (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) | (For hidden gun bullets, bombs & crossbow arrows) | |||
| Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine 6"-7" scale replica | ||||||
| Ezio 7-inch action figure |
Downloadable content
A Uplay Passport code comes with new copies of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, which grants access to online multiplayer modes and an exclusive character, The Sentinel. The multiplayer modes the Uplay Passport unlocks include Wanted Mode, Artifact Assault Mode, Manhunt, Deathmatch, Corruption, Steal The Artifact, Assassinate, Chest Capture, and Training Ground. The Sentinel, Vali cel Tradat, is described as a Wallachian noble by birth and a former Assassin. As with other online passes, if the player doesn't have a code, the player needs to pay to access the content. Uplay players can buy a new Passport code online or activate a free trial.On the day of the game's launch, Ubisoft announced that it was working on various DLCs
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
for the game. The first one they announced is called the "Ancestors Character Pack" that will be released in December, 2011. The character pack will include four new multiplayer characters which include the Privateer, Corsair, Brigand, and Gladiator. It will be available for 320 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360, or $3.99 on the PlayStation 3. The second DLC pack announced was the "Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack", which will be available on January 24, 2012 and will cost the same price as the first one. The contents of the pack have not yet been announced.
Reception
Assasssin's Creed: Revelations has received generally favorable reviews, with a score of 81% and 80% on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 respectively.
IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "This is the best Assassin's Creed yet, even if that victory is claimed by an inch and not a mile. If you've been following the lives of Altair and Ezio this long, you owe it to yourself to see their last adventure." 1UP gave the game a rating of B+, stating "While Revelations lacks that one supreme improvement or standout mechanic that defined AC2 and Brotherhood each, it's still a damn fine sendoff for Altair and Ezio."
Edge
Edge (magazine)
Edge is a multi-format computer and video game magazine published by Future Publishing in the United Kingdom. It is known for its industry contacts, editorial stance, distinctive anonymous third-person writing style, yearly awards and longevity....
gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "unlike the elegant lead, who's grey-haired but unbowed by the end of the adventure, Assassin's Creed has been quietly compromised by age." Eurogamer
Eurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, writing "where Brotherhood enhanced the thrill of being Ezio Auditore, Revelations distracts from it. Ezio may look old, but it's the series itself that really shows its age."
VideoGamer gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, stating "So, for the first time, a new Assassin's Creed game is worse than its predecessor, the first time the short development period has had a noticeable impact on the game's quality. It's a game of nearlies and might-have-beens: summed up by the hookblade, a supposedly key new feature which in practice merely extends Ezio's reach slightly, and allows him to glide down the occasional zipline." GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
also gave the game a rating of 7 out of 10, saying that "at its core, this is the Assassin's Creed we've grown to love in recent years, and it still serves as a pretty good time sink -- plus, it's a necessary bridge to next year's already-announced follow-up. But obligation shouldn't be the primary reason to play something, and sadly, that's too often the case in this humdrum campaign."
Game Informer
Game Informer
Game Informer is an American-based monthly magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of popular video games and associated consoles. It was formed in August 1991, when FuncoLand started publishing a six-page magazine, free in all its retail locations...
gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, writing "a number of new features have been attempted to make Revelations feel new and different from its predecessors. In that quest for broader variety and a unique identity from the earlier games, Revelations makes some missteps that are hard to ignore. However, the game offers more of what has been great about the franchise, and that should be enough to bring most fans to the table, even if it a poor starting point for new players." GameTrailers
GameTrailers
GameTrailers is a media website that specializes in video game related content. It provides free access to original programming , game trailers and recorded game play. Along with standard definition , many of the video clips are offered in a higher resolution .Users can upload videos, create...
also gave the game a rating of 8.8 out of 10, saying that "the engine is a bit long in the tooth and some of the content isn't entirely worth exploring, but if you're looking for an unforgettable top shelf action/adventure, heed the creed."
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine
Official Xbox Magazine is a monthly video game magazine which started in November 2001 around the launch of the original Xbox. A preview issue was released for E3 2001, with another preview issue for November 2001. The magazine is bundled with a disc that includes game demos, preview videos and...
gave the game a rating of 8.5 out of 10, stating "What's available here remains as ridiculously appealing as ever. It's still a thrill unique to the series to be perched six stories high, looking out across miles of meticulously rendered game world - even if that dazzling, danger-filled world has grown overly familiar, having traded what was once revolution for iterative evolution." PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
PlayStation Official Magazine (UK)
The Official UK PlayStation Magazine is a now-defunct magazine, launched in November 1995 to coincide with the launch of the PlayStation console. It ran for 108 issues, with the last hitting news stands in March 2004. The first issue sold 37,000 copies...
gave the game a rating of 9 out of 10, stating "As a conclusion for Ezio's chapter, Revelations proves an utterly brilliant swansong."
Sales
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced during an earnings call on November 8, 2011, that pre-orders for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations were "significantly higher" than figures for Assassins Creed: Brotherhood, yet the firm is still expecting a "double digit decline" in sales for Revelations compared to the other title. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations debuted at second place in the UK video game sales chart in its first week. Its week one numbers were better those of it's predecessor Brotherhood by four percent in unit terms and eight percent in revenue, making it the best performing title both in the series and in Ubisoft’s history to date. 61 percent of the game’s sales occurred in the first 24 hours.Sequel
In October 2011, series creative lead Alexandre Amancio gave Eurogamer a few hints as to what we can expect from the next game in the series. "In Assassin's Creed we set up a timeline with this whole end of the world plot of December 2012," he explained. "That's fast approaching, and the story we have to tell, we obviously need to do it before we arrive at that point. It would be stupid of us to be centering a game on a semi-reality and then have that conclusion happen after that date in real life." During an investor call on November 8, 2011 CEO Yves Guillemot made an announcement about that there will be a "major" new entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise in 2012, but didn't offer any more precise details as to what to expect. "There will be another great, full-fledged Assassin's Creed title next year," he said. "It will be another major release and we will be communicating more about it in the coming months."On November 18, 2011, PSM3
PSM3
PSM3 is a video game magazine specialising in all Sony video game consoles and handheld gaming platforms. PSM3 is published by Future Publishing, a UK-based publishing company....
reported that Assassin's Creed III is to be set in Egypt, which states in its rumour section that the 2012 sequel could use the setting for "at least part of the game." That information tallies with hints dropped in Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Computer and Video Games
Computer and video games
A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device, but following popularization of the term "video game", it now implies any type of...
reported. Computer and Video Games wrote: "Darim, the son of past protagonist Altair, namechecks the ancient Egyptian capital of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
at the end of Revelations, noting that he has moved books there from the Assassin's library."
On November 29, 2011, Empire State Gamer spotted a supposed Ubisoft survey that could have outed locations for future Assassin's Creed games. The online quiz asked participents which locations and time periods they'd like to see in the "next Assassin's Creed games". Assassin's Creed: Revelations details emerged via the exact same kind of survey. The survey mentions, among other historical periods, Medieval China, Victorian England, The American Revolution, and Feudal Japan. The survey also made mention of Ancient Egypt, a setting that's been hinted for Assassin's Creed 3.