The Hidden Blade Assassin's Creed in Depth

Well, it's still not perfect. For instance, the small weapons have higher base stats than the medium and large ones (I can't figure that one out), so I tend to dominate with the default Assassin Tomahawk. I bought a dagger that had higher stats than the Assassin Tomahawk, but it uses sword animations because the axe-style animations don't mesh with a dagger. It was just too weird having a 'virtual' blade that was three times longer than the real thing, killing guys without actually touching them. And it still gave the blade sheen/shimmer from a full-length sword, so you would see streaks from a full size blade. It looked like it was magical or something. It was too weird so I went back to the tomahawk. So yeah, stats matter, but there are other bizarre factors that can keep them from being useful.

I'm afraid that I won't be doing any videos any time soon. I no longer have the equipment to record from consoles. I might purchase FRAPS once the PC version comes out (that will be my main version), but I'll have to test drive it first to see how well it works recording from a graphics-intensive game.

Good call on the PC version being your main. Ubi doesn't have much love for its PC audience, but PC usually has amazing fixes for issues that were previously on Consoles.

Plus the graphics and framerates are always better.

Hi DAZ,
Just wanted to say thanks heaps for posting all of your impressions of AC3 and that this topic has finally converted me from a looongtime lurker to a HB member. A couple of things have been bugging me about AC3 though that maybe you can help me out with?

I've been replaying AC2 recently and love the (30 odd) mini assassination missions, Ive noticed the crosshair logo in the legend of AC3 and was wondering how many (if any) there are in AC3? Also are there any Truth puzzles in AC3 and are they as good as 2's?

I know it's only about a day and half till launch but a few things have let the air out of my hype sails. If you could answer these maybe I'd be reinvigorated lol.

Cheers again!

I found this video where the producer explains the new combat mechanics as well as how the Homestead works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_phoHjYSkus

I hope they fix those stats not having a working dagger or shortblade WILL be a gamebreaker for me, period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5uZvprJnWY&feature=BFa&list=SP1l3G8KnZrl...

Don't bother even talking to me, as I'll be viewing the entire playlist.

just got ac3 earlier today i just got my hidden blades and i plan to make a few videos ASAP i shall take some requests in anyone's interested i have a proper capture card to

Thought I saw you online playing earlier....

yup lol 2 daye early for me and people were messaging me asking if it was a pirated copy lol (fyi its not ) XD i only got this today beacuse it was better than waiting 2 days for my freedom edition lol then i can trade in my standard copy towards liberation

Are you getting the same bow glitches on the 360 described by others? or not there int he game yet?

nope not getting those at all i even use the bow mid combat and one hit KO as well as outside of combat and does not alert the guards the ONLY glitch i had (tho i suspect it was my half dead xbox's fault) is whenever my game tried saving it would crash and have a half loaded xbox notification that was lank (it only just got repaired from the RR of Death) so im using my roomates xbox temporarily aside from that some minor clipping some spazzing out corpses and now and then getting detected for no apparent reason.

Great to hear. Maybe the earlier experience was from a pre-release disc and the production ones have a patch.

*phew*

I've been watching this guy as well. But I'm making sure to skip cutscenes to avoid any spoilers. He's actually a pretty good player as he goes along. A real fan for once.

Mine is the retail version (360) and already had a patch available on Friday. It's still super buggy though.

Good to know. Since I won't be getting AC3, might just as well watch a good playthrough.

No problem, I was pretty excited to be able to bring something to this community, I hadn't for a while.
I too, love the Assassination Contracts. I'll get back to those.

I don't think there are any actual Truth/Cluster Missions in Assassin's Creed III, there are similar puzzle elements in the Undergrounds for both Boston and New York (how you unlock Fast Travel).

As for Assassination Contracts, there are quite a lot but I don't know how many simply because I haven't done all of them, I'm not even close to doing all of them because I don't know where they are (Asaic might have something to say about that, the revealed map glitch). Assassination Contracts themselves in ACIII all entail, "Kill this guy." It doesn't ever tell you how to do it, you can do it any way you want. They're a lot easier than in ACII, because there are no constraints. In a sense this is better because they're less scripted. In another sense, it's a bit worse because none of them are particularly important figures, they're just specific guards that you need to eliminate.

However, if you're looking for the same kind of experience that ACII Assassination Contracts had, you'll still find that in this game. It's just that now, the Side Mission structure is a lot different. I don't really know how to explain how it's different but I can try.

Many different kinds of missions are grouped into the same Mission Family/Tree (Homestead Missions, Main Missions, Boston Missions, New York Missions, Club Missions etc.)

And so within these different Main or Side Mission families/trees, you will find different situations, many of which do require you to kill a specific target in a specific way.

Thanks DAZ, great to hear we'll be getting plenty of contracts! It would've been good to get more truth type puzzles too but I'm looking forward to taking out targets in creative ways more! That map glitch sounds pretty frustrating, I hope they patch it soon? Anyway thanks again for the answers! I'm starting to get excited again now, only 12 odd hours (or less ) to go lol.

So there I was, in the Masyaf library. Ezio reaches toward the POE. "No, you will stay here. I have seen enough for one life." Then he gestures for me to take it. Except it's not a POE at all. It's actually a new copy of AC3!
Okay, not really. Just got AC3, but I haven't played it yet because of a promise to someone else to play it first, and I'm a man of honor. I'm excited all right, especially because on the cover it reads "only on PS3 4 exclusive single-player missions".

Read allllll the uPlay passport/instruction leaflets!
Also just pre-install the game so that when the person you promised comes to play it they can go right ahead

Given that sequence 1

Was it the sequence 2 mission where

----------

Question:

As for the mission that took me many tries, it was the one where I can't get detected, can't kill anyone, have to Sabotage cannons and steal a Tactical Map.

Oh yes. I did that one about 8-10 times... once I figured out the route, I did it in two tries... Unfortunately, the first time I accidentally left the fort without the map... I managed to break in the back of the fort by the lower cannon (same fort in the AC3 preview video, so I knew the way in with the climbing, etc) but was detected... did it again for full sync...

I love the ability to whistle and distract enemies. Helps out a lot with "do not be detected."

The whistle idea is great, but it's kinda weird when you actually use it.

Half the time you whistle and some guy further away comes instead. I've had the guys ten feet in front of me ignore the whistle but a guy from 25 feet to my right came and investigated.

Or a whole bunch come instead of just one. "How many redcoats does it take to screw in a lightbulb?" "None, they're all too busy investigating that whistle."

I wish the functionality was a bit more consistent.

It works better when you highlight a guy and then Whistle.

It actually doesn't. That was my very first thought after observing the bizarre behavior and it was just as wonky with and without someone targeted.

I just tested it and you're right. I don't know what it is about it but it usually seems to have a higher success rate for me if he's in the middle of my screen. Hmm..

I was going to suggest that it might be based on which way your camera is facing, but that doesn't explain how guys way off to one side of me (further away and completely out of sight) will still respond to the whistle while the guys I'm looking at directly at in front of me are completely oblivious.

Seriously, I wish I could make videos of it. It's so silly.

I wish they would make it consistent, that's all that matters. Either a target guard, or all guards within a tighter proximity. Something like that.

I have noticed the whistle thing... I only try to use it when I think one guard is in earshot.

However, this worked to my advantage on one mission, and the general came to me from across the group and not the closest guy, haha.

I only mentioned it in context of the "steal the map" mission, as you can whistle the guard by the map away and he investigates a lot of places before getting back to his post by the map. He's the only guy near by, so it works out.

Meh... Sure it's a plot twist... but not one that the astute shouldn't see coming... I surely saw it coming... we can talk later about all the clues leading up to it that tipped me off if you want...

Of course, there are clues but not everyone has the same level of perception and observation. It's still a good habit to not see something before you play, regardless of whether or not you could've guessed it, you know what I mean?

Of course I do. I'd always rather find out in game than before hand...

For those that haven't figured it out... the E3 Demo fort is in the game. At least twice.

Once in memory 3.2 (the fort in the snow with George Washington)... and once just as a fort in the Frontier. It is Fort St. Mathieu - the fort on the river between Boston and the harbor master at the bottom of the map.

It may show up later in the game, I'm not sure... I'm only in sequence 7 so far.

What I meant is, it doesn't give you a memory corridor for killing the Commander. A lot of people assumed from the previews that it would. I worded that terribly.

Fair enough. The location is there though. I'm only through 8 so I couldn't say whether or not they were going to use it again.