Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Violent action game with mature themes is for adults only.
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Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
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What’s It About?
ASSASSIN'S CREED: BROTHERHOOD continues the tale of modern day protagonist Desmond Miles as he uses a device called the Animus to remember the life of Ezio, an Italian assassin who lived in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Desmond and his friends are members of an ancient fraternity of assassins that wage war against another centuries-old sect known as the Templars that wants to exercise control over humanity. Like previous games in the series, players spend most of the time in the past, exploring an open world -- Rome, in this case -- by running through streets, up walls, and over rooftops. Players are free to engage in missions that further the game's narrative -- many of which involve assassinating key targets -- or take on optional side quests, such as renovating Rome, exploring underground mazes, and reclaiming areas of the city by defeating prominent military officers. New features include the ability to call on fellow assassins for aid and a multiplayer mode that has players hunting specific enemies while being hunted themselves. This game is intended for adults.
Is It Any Good?
The Assassin's Creed narrative has grown so complex that players new to the franchise will likely be at a bit of a loss as to what's going on. Brotherhood provides a quick overview, but the only way to fully appreciate the story is to play the series through from its first game. Assuming you've done that, you'll likely find this second glimpse into the life of Renaissance-era assassin Ezio fascinating as he toils to free Templar-oppressed Rome while modern-day Desmond explores some of the very same locations 500 years later.
Combat has been improved to allow players to go on the offensive rather than simply defend and counter, and the ability to work with allies creates a sense of fraternity and strength that previous games lacked. It sometimes feels a little like a glorified expansion to Assassin's Creed II (you'll note that this is a sequel to a sequel rather than the third numbered entry in the franchise), but the narrative twists, tweaked fighting, and new multiplayer element combine to make it worthwhile.
Online interaction: This game supports online multiplayer with open voice chat. Players could be exposed to inappropriate language and topics of conversation as well as solicitations for personal information.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about open world games that offer players the freedom to act as they choose. Are these games more immersive?
Families can also discuss the sort of things can be learned from this game. Did you take the time to read the historical notes about famous locations and people scattered throughout the environment? Do you think they are accurate and educational?
Do you think the option to kill random civilians -- even if not exercised – makes a game world feel more realistic? What is the role of violence in this game?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: UbiSoft
- Release date: November 16, 2010
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: M for Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
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