Plot: What’s it about?
Assassin’s Creed: Liberation was originally an exclusive to the Vita, but now Ubisoft has polished it up and released it on the Xbox Live Arcade. I was glad to see this happen, as I love the Assassin’s Creed series and while the Vita can be great, it can’t replace a console experience. The story is of special note, as you play as Aveline and this is the first time in the franchise that the lead is a female assassin. Aveline is in New Orleans in the late 1770s, carrying out missions for the Brotherhood that mostly involve shattering the slave trade. As you’d expect from an Assassin’s Creed adventure, you encounter some well known folks and of course, some of them you have the chance to assassinate. The story is solid, but as fans of the series know all too well, getting answers or resolution just isn’t going to happen. The campaign length is good for a smaller scope game of this kind and in addition to the main story, you have an assortment of side missions to explore. So while this doesn’t have the scale of the other Assassin’s Creed games, there is ample content here.
If you’re a veteran of the series, you’ll feel right at home within Liberation. The combat system is familiar and while not as fluid as the core Assassin’s Creed titles, the battles are still well executed and always fun. The counter system is here, which ensures combat can be deep and not just mashing buttons. You can be as artful and cunning as you’d like with the combat mechanics, so whether you want grace or brute force, you’ll be pleased. The missions are varied and give you a taste of all of the usual franchise goods, some of which are better than others. You might not like a particular type of mission, but they’re brief enough that you’re back into one you’ll prefer in short order. A new mechanic in Liberation uses outfits to alter Aveline’s abilities, but aside from collectible hunting, most of those instances are scripted. Some of the missions have been altered or scrapped due to the Vita’s touch screens, but overall the game remains faithful. If you’ve never played Liberation, this new shiny version is worth a look, while even experienced players will appreciate the console experience as well.
Video: How’s it look?
As this is titled Assassin’s Creed: Liberation HD, the game has been given a visual overhaul. While the Vita version looked good, this new edition is superior in all aspects. I still wouldn’t rank it alongside the core Assassin’s Creed games in terms of visuals, but it looks quite good here. The improvements are by no means minor either, as side-by-side comparisons show a major shift in visuals. This covers both general depth and animation, as I was surprised to see greatly enhanced character animation. So overall, we’re left with a very worthwhile HD treatment.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The sound is great as well, with good presence that keeps you immersed in the game’s world. The music always shine in this series and Liberation is no exception, with a dynamic score that pumps you up for battle and then knows when to fade more into the background. This is good news, as some games have music that remains prominent even when the audio should focus elsewhere, so this is a skillful soundtrack. The visceral sounds of combat, the music, and the terrific vocal work all come together to form a top shelf audio experience.
