While it’s difficult to imagine the mechanics of the open-world Assassin’s Creed series working well in this format, elements like sneak attacks, hiding places, and free-running convert beautifully into 2D while still being simple to use. Given that Chronicles’ two main modes involve dodging hostile forces and running away from fire, these abilities are easily the most important, and thankfully work the best. There’s a trade-off there though, since the format offers basically no exploration or free-roaming, and the vast landscape of China is reduced to a few lovely backgrounds and buildings to run over. But if you’re more interested in guard-stabbing and vision-cone dodging than exploration, Chronicles’ setup is a perfect fit.
Chronicles also departs from convention by making the points you receive for performance useful for progression. Main series entries assign high scores for completing a mission in a specific way and give you kudos for achieving ‘full synchronization'; Chronicles, on the other hand, gives you a score based on how gracefully you perform a mission and uses those scores to determine what upgrades you get. That change makes careful execution feel much more worthwhile, because you’re rewarded for it with something more substantial than a digital thumbs up. Admittedly this setup could prove frustrating for players uninterested in a challenge, since missing out on upgrades like increased projectile allotment can make the next level a whole lot harder. Still, the experience is a lot meatier for the inclusion of this goal-based system, and it feels pretty good when that gold assassin logo signals a job well done.
While Chronicles’ does a good job of integrating that goal system, other aspects of play aren’t as well executed, particularly in regard to control scheme. Chronicles does manage to dodge some of the handling issues common to AC games, given that it doesn’t deal with fast movement in a 3D space and you’re much less likely to run up a wall by accident. However, those problems aren’t completely gone, as pushing the joystick a little too hard with cause Shao Jun will slide haphazardly in and out of cover and climb into a guard’s line of sight when you didn’t want her to.
That’s a pretty substantial problem, since a single slip-up can mean getting caught by an entourage of guards and blown off the map. And you will be, because while combat is an option and you can brute-force your way past enemies, facing more than two opponents is a virtual death sentence given Shao Jun’s low health count. Thus you have a game that heavily favors stealth and demands tight controls but doesn’t always offer them up, so even sequences that should be simple can result in immense frustration.
Overall, Chronicles feels like something of an Assassin’s Creed puzzle pack, which could be good or bad depending on what you go to the series for. If you’re a lover of outlandish conspiracy theories, character-focused adventures, and gigantic worlds to explore, Chronicles will leave you wanting. But if you’re into straightforward missions that challenge your strategic abilities and reward your skill with a high score at the end, Chronicles has everything you want wrapped up in an aesthetically-pleasing package. It may not be the next great Assassin’s Creed title, and it probably won’t satisfy fans of Shao Jun or players dying to take a Leap of Faith off the Temple of Heaven. But as a quick and dirty challenge pack, Chronicles gets the job done efficiently and with a hint of visual flare.
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Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China review - App Review 4u
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