Henry Braymore

Honestly and truthfully, and with 72 hours played, I really REALLY want to like this game. It's beautiful with a lot to do with a lot of subtle and cute nods (yes even a Winnie the Pooh reference in the 100 acre woods that made me smile) but from a narrative and mechanics standpoint that is where I am conflicted, the story itself seems generic with less reminders that you're in a simulation and the assassin/templar metaplot is significantly more background here. While some like this...not me personally. Mechanically it seems to be just going through the motions with most of the newer puzzles feeling like they've been either inspired or ripped straight from other AC titles, like the Anomalies feel like the Brotherhood's Animus Glitches or Revelation's block puzzles. And with 72 hours in there has been a single mission I have encountered that requires a stealth playstyle in a game entirely about assassins and shadow organizations, and a similar issue I have had with Unity in the past. The entire Cult mechanic feels bolted on and really only there because it was done well in Odyssey, which it isn't here. The main story is part of the side quest 'conquer the Danelaw' mechanic which it does a poor job at telling you if you aren't the type to listen to cutscenes. The game itself feels bloated and aimless in its exploration with little impetus to explore everything outside of 'hey there might be another piece of equipment you won't use there' and most locations are only there to house a single treasure. Another departure from origins and odyssey, at least as far as I am (Snottinghamshire) is the removal of Isu vaults, the forerunner vault puzzles that'd be hidden in ruins and all of that, which is disappointing. All in all, it's a solid game with some many underlying issues, that makes me say it makes me feel like Syndicate when I play it and that, while my favorite AC title, is definitely not a compliment . EDITED: Jan 5, 2021