I began by choosing a character from a list that included doctors, monks, courtesans, merchants, and executioners. I selected the monk, and after all eight players had selected their character, I was transported to a very familiar-looking street scene set in Renaissance Italy. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed 2, and Brotherhood's look and feel are very similar to its predecessor. My first instructions were to find my target, a merchant, and kill him. However, there are many identical-looking merchants (as is the case with all of the types of characters), so I had to rely on my compass to locate him.

 

As I approached my first target, a very disappointing thing happened - I was stabbed through the back of the neck. Hunting a target is only half of the game; you must also be wary of someone hunting you. The other players all look like AI characters, so you have to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour in order to identify other players and defend yourself.

 

 

If you can blend in with the groups of people that populate the street, it’s harder for the player stalking you to distinguish you from the computer-controlled characters. Killing innocent civilians causes you to lose your contract; it also makes you stand out in a crowd, making you more vulnerable to an attack. Free-running will also make you more noticeable, but it has its place in Brotherhood's multiplayer. Climbing buildings to pick off your target with a ranged weapon is just as acceptable as a close kill (although you are rewarded with more points for a silent kill). It is also the obvious way to shake your own stalker if you suspect you’re about to eat blade.

 

The concept is a good one; it’s a twist on the sort of deathmatches gamers are used to, where stealth and behaviour can play a massive part in how the game will unfold. At first glance, it seems that the more successful players will be those who utilise the environment to remain hidden; those predisposed to running around slashing may find themselves in trouble. I found Brotherhood’s multiplayer surprisingly entertaining; it presents a new kind of cat-and-mouse multiplayer concept, and should extend the life of the title.

 

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is due for release on November 16th.