Review of Assassin's Creed: Revelations

AC Revelations is more a standalone expansion of the Ezio Auditore universe than a new game by itself. The story behind Enzio, namely the aim to find Altair's Library in Masyaf, where he learns of Polo's hidden keys map in Constantinople, is a swift plot twist to take us to Ottoman Constantinople, a great addition after the Italian cities of the previous Ezio games. Constantinople looks vivid, colorful, and amazingly active. It is delightful to get lost in its streets or to roam its roofs and climb its minarets. Although, after some hours of playing, the city starts feeling small and the lack of surroundings make it a bit claustrophobic. I got the feeling that Brotherhood's Rome was bigger, more detailed, and airier. Having said that, I am afraid Constantinople is the only new contribution to the game series. The addition of bombs is sort of useless and one does not really need to get to use them to advance on the game. I could say the same about the management of assassin's missions. The historic frame it is not well developed. The story is short, and the pace is fast. There is no time to get to know the main characters and the gamer does not feel attached to them. The relationship of Ezio and Sofia is quite more alluring but still, it feels short and shallowly explored. Finally, the trip to Cappadocia will hurt those gamers with a bit of geography knowledge. There is no possible way to get to Cappadocia by boat and its underground settlements had nothing to do with the one we see in game. It would have been much nicer to climb and jump around the Cappadocian chimneys, but I guess that was too much work for the developing team.

Summing up, Ottoman Empire and Constantinople are a big and complicated frame in which to fit such a short and unambitious game. I certainly recommend the experience of exploring the city, but do not expect much more beyond that.