Current Events > AC Unity is actually pretty good, playing it without many glitches.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Recently decided to pick up Unity to try it out.

It reminds me of how I played 3 a long while after release, when most of the bugs were fixed. Unity has bug fixes + removing all the mobile app nonsense.

Solid game, I like a lot of the changes they made. Multiplayer is pretty cool, the assassination missions are the best in the series (up to this point, haven't played Syndicate), and the side missions are pretty cool.

I do think there are way too many fucking chests in this game, and selling "time saver pack" maps with microtransaction currency is a fucking travesty.

If there's anything I've learned, it's that you don't buy an AC game day one if you don't want to deal with a ton of glitches.
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Wow, nobody cares about this game.

Shame.
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Most of the glitches were way overblown by reviewers and fans. "OMG, this guy's face disappeared during a cutscene, this game is unplayable!" Those glitches were patched rather quickly and they even apologized by making much of the DLC free.

What actually made me dislike it was that the multiplayer, at least on PS4, was literally broken. It was impossible to find a match. Wouldn't have been a big deal if it was a separate mode like the other games, but they made it tied to single player unlocks. Also, the companion app was a frustrating piece of shit.

I did really like what they did with the gameplay. For the first time since Assassin's Creed 1, I felt like I actually had to be stealthy and plan my assassinations instead of just effortlessly mowing down hordes of soldiers. Unfortunately, Syndicate undid that and just went back to AC2-4 combat. Still didn't care for the setting, characters, or the apparent lack of modern day story though.

I felt similarly about Just Cause 3
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Vertania posted...

Most of the glitches were way overblown by reviewers and fans.

Possibly true for consoles but it was a real unoptimized PoS on PC until it got fixed up.

My main issue with the game though was what they did to the combat. Yeah it wasn't as easy but it felt so damn tedious, fights took ages in comparison to how they used to and weren't as flashy or satisfying, either. Came a point where I'd just run from every fight and only actually engage in combat when there was no other choice.
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Much to my surprise, I can still find matches on PC today. When you're moving together as a unit doing stealthy stuff, it's surprisingly fun. The multiplayer works a lot better than I expected it to. Did they have MP in Syndicate?

And Unity's assassinations are in the direction I thought the series was going to go after the first one. Bigger play areas, more opportunities and options, and multiple approaches. A miniature Hitman style level, where you have to find the target, and get to him by whatever means you see fit. I was very disappointed in 2 with how incredibly scripted everything was, and was used to it up until Unity.

As for the story, it's passable. But it has as severe "cliff notes" feel. When Bellec murdered Mirabeau, it was not only really obvious he did it in the first place, but there was not really any development between Arno and Bellec. So the big, poetic clash which was meant to typify the era really falls flat. Napoleon only really feels like a friend if you follow his side quest line.

The same is true with de la Serre and Elise. One thing I will commend about 2 is that it really managed to establish Ezio and his family effectively and quickly, and there was enough time between Leonardo and Ezio for them to feel like actual friends. But Unity, perhaps in the interest of yearly development time, skips over a lot of that and only hits the highlights.

However, I really liked the villains in this game. While I would prefer the traditional memory corridor conversation, like when killing Germain (the grand master), the memories still worked well to get the villains across. The coop missions where you could see their influence helped as well. Of course, I think the villains in AC don't need too much development since you're carving through them all, so I think that's why they work despite the cliff notes story.
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Bringit posted...

My main issue with the game though was what they did to the combat. Yeah it wasn't as easy but it felt so damn tedious, fights took ages in comparison to how they used to and weren't as flashy or satisfying, either. Came a point where I'd just run from every fight and only actually engage in combat when there was no other choice.

That's the one thing I loved about the game. It actually tried to be a stealth game again. They always give you these stealth tools throughout the series, but you rarely ever have a reason to use them since it's easier to just rush into a crowd and button mash everyone to death.

I liked the game, but that "eagle sense" or whatever it was called gave me headaches.
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Bringit posted...

Came a point where I'd just run from every fight and only actually engage in combat when there was no other choice.

See, to me, this is how it should be in an AC game. It's how it was in the first.

Of course, with Unity, it basically goes to easy mode once you get high level gear.

That's another thing I like: the gear system and the skill system. I liked how the game didn't force tutorial story missions on us, and let us pick and choose which skills we wanted and when.

The gear was a good progression replacement for the previous equipment style progression. You get the sense of being stronger than low level enemies, and I liked the feeling that high level enemies posed a real threat until you got good enough gear. And the cosmetic aspect was nice as well.

Even more, there was actually something to spend money on.
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Jabodie posted...

Did they have MP in Syndicate?

And Unity's assassinations are in the direction I thought the series was going to go after the first one. Bigger play areas, more opportunities and options, and multiple approaches. A miniature Hitman style level, where you have to find the target, and get to him by whatever means you see fit.

Syndicate had no multiplayer whatsoever. I wouldn't have been against it if they actually fixed it, but it's probably better that they didn't try.

Syndicate does have a few assassinations that are Hitman-like, where they highlight different opportunites you can take to make the kill. However, because of the change in combat style, it's still much easier and faster to just slaughter everybody and rush the target.

It's a bit of a shame to me.

I personally think Unity was a huge step in the right direction - more like the original game than most of the series.

But the main story needed more development, especially to really establish the context of the Revolution. I like the "from the shadows" approach they took rather than the "AND CONNOR WAS THERE, WITH PAUL REVERE" sort of approach they took, but I think they should have shown the political climate more in the story and less in the side missions.

Had this game another year to develop, and they not include the companion app bullshit, I think this would have been the best AC game up to its release. But alas, the rushed development really let it down. Especially the story in the long run.
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Origins may end up being the best game in the series. That might be too optimistic, but they've had more time to develop it and have had a lot of opportunity to learn from fan feedback by now. Everything I've seen in the previews makes it look fantastic.

I haven't seen too much. I did hear there's a loot system with color rarities. Can't say I'm happy about that tbh.

Also heard climbing won't be as emphasized since there wasn't much verticality in ancient times. That sounds pretty interesting tbh.
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Jabodie posted...

See, to me, this is how it should be in an AC game. It's how it was in the first.

I totally get your point but I was running in Unity because combat sucked, not because it was more beneficial to stealth.

I'm not really sure how I feel about the series focusing on stealth at this point. Logically, it absolutely should but it's never been a strong point and switching priorities is only going to alienate the fans. I have no problem with them adding more options though to make stealth actually worth doing just not at the expense of me being able to Darth Maul my way through an area when my patience is running thin.

That said there have been like 600 entries in the series now and I'm way past the point of buying them at launch so catering to me probably isn't going to help them.
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can you still buy maps for the collectibles ingame or is it only as a dlc?
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Bringit posted...

I'm not really sure how I feel about the series focusing on stealth at this point. Logically, it absolutely should but it's never been a strong point and switching priorities is only going to alienate the fans.

Pretty much everything they've done since Brotherhood has alienated some of the fans.

Bringit posted...

I totally get your point but I was running in Unity because combat sucked, not because it was more beneficial to stealth.

Honestly the combat feels essentially the same to me. The only difference is that enemies can outlevel you, and there are snipers all over the place. It's basically the same, only there's actually a chance you might lose this time around.

You can't cancel animations like in previous games, but I think that's to avoid the spam X to win and hit B once in a while gameplay.

Bringit posted...

I have no problem with them adding more options though to make stealth actually worth doing just not at the expense of me being able to Darth Maul my way through an area when my patience is running thin.

That's perfectly doable in the game so long as you gear up. That's how I approach most coop missions.
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The problem with Unity I found wasn't the glitches, it was the god awful controls and the terrible storyline. Coming off of Assassins Creed Black Flag you'd think it would be an incredible experience, but it felt like 1 step forward 4 steps backwards.

I dont get the hype, these games are all the same
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Ivany2008 posted...

The problem with Unity I found wasn't the glitches, it was the god awful controls and the terrible storyline. Coming off of Assassins Creed Black Flag you'd think it would be an incredible experience, but it felt like 1 step forward 4 steps backwards.

The biggest difference in control is that actions have an animation cast time they didn't used to. This is something I personally prefer.

Fucking around with windows though is infuriating.

In terms of climbing, I feel like there's as much control as ever. As in, you never knew when Ezio was about to randomly jump to his death, instead of the platform right in front of you. Such a consistent problem in the series.

As for story, the only AC stories I actually liked were 1, Revelations, and 3 tbh, ignoring modern day. I come in with low expectations.

Doe posted...

I dont get the hype, these games are all the same

They're like gaming fast food. Just good enough that you're down for a new one after a while, but not particularly great.
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Doe posted...

I dont get the hype, these games are all the same

Except they're not, and the differences between Black Flag to Unity to Syndicate are enormous.
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UrCa1988 posted...

Except they're not, and the differences between Black Flag to Unity to Syndicate are enormous.

Everybody forgets about Rogue smh
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Jabodie posted...

UrCa1988 posted...

Except they're not, and the differences between Black Flag to Unity to Syndicate are enormous.

Everybody forgets about Rogue smh

Rogue's my favorite, I just don't mention it because Unity was supposed to be the mainline >_> Also it's basically Black Flag+
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UrCa1988 posted...

Jabodie posted...

UrCa1988 posted...

Except they're not, and the differences between Black Flag to Unity to Syndicate are enormous.

Everybody forgets about Rogue smh

Rogue's my favorite, I just don't mention it because Unity was supposed to be the mainline >_> Also it's basically Black Flag+

I'd probably put Black Flag at my top for shear fun value, as I had a lot of fun playing pirate. I still think the best ship battles were in AC3 though.

One minor thing that infuriates me about Black Flag is that the community challenge rewards are unobtainable, but remain in the menu.

There's also a random sword in Unity that has this problem as well, as it came with the Season Pass.
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Jabodie posted...

I'd probably put Black Flag at my top for shear fun value, as I had a lot of fun playing pirate. I still think the best ship battles were in AC3 though.

One minor thing that infuriates me about Black Flag is that the community challenge rewards are unobtainable, but remain in the menu.

There's also a random sword in Unity that has this problem as well, as it came with the Season Pass.

I like Rogue because of the huge departure in story. Gave a cool look at motivation for the Templars that even though there's some truly evil people there, they've also got people who believe it's the right thing to do.
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UrCa1988 posted...

I like Rogue because of the huge departure in story. Gave a cool look at motivation for the Templars that even though there's some truly evil people there, they've also got people who believe it's the right thing to do.

Rogue suffers from the "rushed out" syndrome, where a groundwork for something really cool is there, but it's clear this game was churned out in a year to make a deadline with how short the campaign really is.

I'd like to have seen Shay develop a little more (and Gist have a better voice actor). Maybe a little more time with the Brotherhood, a little more time in his period of doubt within the order, and definitely more time turning that doubt into resolve.

I was glad that he remained a Templar to the end. I was worried the Versailles sequence was going to show he switched back.
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Jabodie posted...

Rogue suffers from the "rushed out" syndrome, where a groundwork for something really cool is there, but it's clear this game was churned out in a year to make a deadline with how short the campaign really is.

I just finished replaying it this week and I can't believe the story only had 6 sequences. Like, I rushed through it in one day at release, ignoring everything but the story, and I still thought it was longer. They gave you a shit ton of exploration and side activites (even more than Black Flag) that added a lot of play time, but the rewards were almost pointless since there were so few missions to use them on.

Also keep in mind Rogue released like a month before Unity with very little marketing (at least in comparison to a normal AC game).

Their budget and attention was toward rushing Unity.
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It is, the combat in particular seemed like a major step up for the series. Shame that the glitches ruined the game for some people. Still the best looking open world game yet.
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Honestly, I don't even mind the NPC texture pop in. Most of the time, I don't notice it.

I personally feel like having such large crowds is worth the trade off in pop in. The weird thing is that the crowds don't really hit my frames much either.
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Jabodie posted...

Also keep in mind Rogue released like a month before Unity with very little marketing (at least in comparison to a normal AC game).

Their budget and attention was toward rushing Unity.

I was almost certain they shared the same release date. But yeah, at the time, it seemed like they were just pushing it out to make yearly sales off of people who didn't have a new console yet.

It still seems weird to me that they'd spend so much time designing the areas, then have so little story to fill them with. Like, the River Valley alone felt bigger than Black Flag's map (in terms of land mass), and there was still the North Atlantic and NY on top of it.

Still love the game though. There's a good amount of backstory buried in it that helps explain the events of the Americas era and the modern day story. Also really, really liked that it gave a different perspective on the Assassins vs. Templar war. Made me go back and view the other games in a different light.

I was happy that the games shifted back from the cartoon evil Templars of the Ezio games to the more morally gray Templars in the Colonial era. I also find it funny that somewhere in the game lore the Templars refer to the Borgias leading a "dark age" of the order.
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On another note, I was reading this ranking of the series earlier and I can't get over how stupid it was:
http://www.thegamer.com/ranking-every-assassins-creed-game-from-worst-to-best/

Altair's Chronicles is legitimately one of the worst games I've ever played and they're acting like Unity is worse just because of the glitches. There's also no excuse for putting Bloodlines or Discovery above the original or for having Liberation in the top 10.

You know, now that I think of it, Unity should probably be told from Elise's perspective. The entirety of the story is focused on the Templar Order. The fact that Arno is an Assassin almost doesn't matter to the story, made even more obvious when he's expelled from the Brotherhood.

So why not make a game that's focused almost entirely on the Templars have a Templar protagonist? Or better yet, a dual protagonist setup like Syndicate?

I feel like the story really could have been awesome, switching between Arno and Elise in different missions/sequences in the game.
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Altair's Chronicles is honestly garbage. I ended up using an action replay to cheat my way through since the controls sucked so bad.

Bloodlines is definitely worse than the original, but I think there's an argument to be made about Discovery if you like 2D platformers enough.

Generally I think 2 is really overrated. Of course, I thought it went in the wrong direction as a sequel, so that colors my perspective.
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Jabodie posted...

You know, now that I think of it, Unity should probably be told from Elise's perspective.

They probably weren't comfortable having a female protagonist again after Liberation. If they would have brought back those "certain outfits for certain abilities" shit...

I think the dual protagonist idea would have even worked better in Unity than it did in Syndicate, especially considering the multiplayer aspects. Guess it would have been too much to implement in their time frame. Kind of hope they just stick to one from now on though.

Jabodie posted...

Altair's Chronicles is honestly garbage. I ended up using an action replay to cheat my way through since the controls sucked so bad.

lol that's exactly what I did too. Just flew over most of the levels.

I actually just replayed the whole thing today. Getting ready to replay AC1 and didn't remember a damn thing about it other than the horrid gameplay. Also wanted to see if it was as bad as I remembered... and I think it was actually worse so. Should have just read the synopsis.

Vertania posted...

They probably weren't comfortable having a female protagonist again after Liberation. If they would have brought back those "certain outfits for certain abilities" s***...

It's a shame, really. Could have been a huge marketing opportunity. They would have hit the "female protagonist" appeal at the golden hour, before every other piece of media was going for it.

Vertania posted...

I think the dual protagonist idea would have even worked better in Unity than it did in Syndicate, especially considering the multiplayer aspects. Guess it would have been too much to implement in their time frame. Kind of hope they just stick to one from now on though.

It's just the story structure that would really make it work.

Idk how Syndicate is, but Unity really emphasizes how they are both stars in equal measure. And there could be some minor gameplay differences to emphasize being a Templar or an Assassin.

Oh well. Not like I can change the game.

Vertania posted...

Should have just read the synopsis.

Which is probably like two sentences.
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