Assassin's Creed III

"On this land, I am torn. Part of me wants to fight and repel all outsiders. The other part of me is the outsider. In the name of liberty, I will fight the enemy regardless of their allegiance. While men of courage write history of this day, the future of our land depends on those who are truly free."

- Ratonhnhaké:ton, Assassin's Creed III Gameplay Trailer.

Assassin's Creed III is a 2012 action-adventure video game that is developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Assassin's Creed series, and is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed: Revelations. The game tells the stories of Haytham Kenway and Ratonhnhaké:ton, ranging from the years 1753 to 1783, and concludes the story of their descendant Desmond Miles.

Assassin's Creed III was released on October 30 in the United States for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and October 31 in Europe and Australia, while the PC version was released on November 20 for the United States and November 23 in Europe. The game was also released for the Wii U in North America on November 18.

Development
With the game in development since January 2010, by its release date Ubisoft had worked on the title for almost three years. In a statement made by Yves Guillemot, he shared that "what we have seen is just fabulous."

Despite the many possibilities for a new setting, according to Creative Director Alex Hutchinson, the team settled on the American Revolution "once we realized you could meet Washington, sail a boat, leap from tree to tree in the middle of winter and hunt wildlife".

The game runs on a new version of the Anvil game engine called AnvilNext, which improves environmental effects. There are also seasonal changes; the landscape is warm and open in the summer, but is covered in snow during winter, which subsequently affects gameplay.

In winter, thick snow causes people to move more slowly and stumble about in the drifts. Although the seasons change in line with specific memories, fog and rain occur naturally.

Another technical aspect of the engine is that it can depict up to two thousand troops engaged in battle, in contrast to previous games' one hundred, along with detailed close-ups.

Navigation
Exploration is based around a large countryside area known as the Frontier, which is one and a half times larger than Rome in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, and not as empty as the Kingdom in Assassin's Creed, as one third of the quests and gameplay content are contained there. The cities of Boston and New York may also be explored, and have new details and ambiance.

Since there is a lot more travel included within the game, the fast travel mechanic is making a return, which allows for quick travel from any location, as opposed to previous games. A whole new system of unlocking fast travel has been implemented, which is integrated into the game's natural progress.

More varied methods of movement have been added as well, including climbing trees, cliffs, and other natural elements, alongside leaping over wagons, or sliding under obstacles. Other freerunning elements also have Ratonhnhaké:ton jumping through windows, to trees, and then onto rooftops. Accompanying this, the zipline feature also makes a return in one instance.

Combat
Dual-wielding weapons has been implemented, while fighting and stealth have been completely overhauled with new features, such as "double-counters," "multiple takedowns," and chain kills. Ratonhnhaké:ton can go into battle with a wide variety of weapons at his disposal, including two Hidden Blades, a tomahawk, flintlock pistols, rope darts, and a bow and arrow. Ratonhnhaké:ton's second Hidden Blade is able to be ejected and used as a dagger, so it can also be used to skin hunted animals.

Context sensitive actions, such as using enemies as human shields, is also included. The target locking system has been removed and replaced by automated enemy selection, effectively changing the combat dynamics. In addition, assassinations can now be performed with weapons other than the Hidden Blades, most notably the tomahawk and bayonets on rifles.

The combat system has been greatly improved, as there are thousands of new animations, few of which have been carried over from previous installments. Simple defense and counter-attacks are now more difficult, and combat has been focused on putting Ratonhnhaké:ton on the offensive, with attacks based on both speed and momentum.

The counter system has been completely revamped, as the developers wanted to create more strategy and options, which prompted them to create new reactions based on button presses. To counter, the Circle (PS3) or B button (Xbox 360) should be pressed, followed by that of a secondary button, with each having their own reaction.
 * Pressing the Square button (PS3), the X button (Xbox 360) or the Y button (Wii U) allows Ratonhnhaké:ton to kill his target.
 * Pressing the Circle button (PS3), the B button (Xbox 360) or the A button (Wii U) will have Ratonhnhaké:ton throw his enemy to the ground.
 * Pressing the Triangle button (PS3), the Y button (Xbox 360) or the X button (Wii U) will allow Ratonhnhaké:ton to use his secondary weapon.
 * Pressing the X button (PS3), the A button (Xbox 360) or the B button (Wii U) will let Ratonhnhaké:ton stun or disarm his enemy.

With these combinations, the game's developers were able to create multiple combos and enemies that resist different types of counters. As such, in order to get a kill spree going, the player needs to press an appropriate button for each enemy archetype.

Memories
Desmond uses the upgraded Animus 3.01, and finds himself reliving "significant events." 100% synchronization in memories returns, though synchronization is treated more like experience in an RPG leveling system, except with a finite amount available.

Activities completed within missions have their own value. The more synchronized Desmond becomes, the more the synchronization bar is filled, which can also be increased through replaying missions. Checkpoints were also introduced to mission replay, meaning that entire memories need not have to be replayed in order to achieve the 100% synchronization requirement.

Other
The economic system in the game is different, as Ratonhnhaké:ton can now hunt animals, enabling him to sell the resources gathered from them. These resources can be more valuable depending on quality of the kill performed on the animal, and on the weapon type used to kill it.

Along with this, a new property system known as the Homestead has been added, in which Ratonhnhaké:ton lives in a manor with surrounding land, to which he can also invite other citizens to stay nearby. Here, the inhabitants are given a second chance following the events of the war of the American Revolution, and they generate income through trade and crafting. Following this, the Homestead expands with every resident that inhabits the area.

The regenerative health system similar to the type featured in Assassin's Creed has been implemented, and in order to regain his health, Ratonhnhaké:ton must escape from combat and rest.

There will also be puzzles similar to the Glyphs, though they will not be given by Subject 16.

Platforming missions, like the Assassin Tombs or Lairs of Romulus, are making a return, in the form of Peg Leg missions. As stated by Corey May, "People like those. We like those. It's not something we'd remove."

Season Pass
Before the game's release, Ubisoft announced a new feature known as a Season Pass, which is available for purchase on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Store for 2400 Microsoft points and $29.99 respectively. The Season Pass allows early access to five downloadable content packs. Among these packs is the three-part Tyranny of King Washington, while the rest of the downloadable content houses multiplayer components. DLC is also an option for the Wii U, though plans on how a Season Pass accompanies this is currently unknown. Choosing to purchase the Season Pass would net an overall 25% discount on all five downloadable content pieces, and it was released alongside Assassin's Creed III on October 30.

Plot
The plot of the game begins in the present day, with Desmond, his father William, Rebecca Crane, and Shaun Hastings finding the Grand Temple in a cave in Turin, New York. Using the Apple of Eden to access the structure, Desmond activates a large portion of the equipment, as well as an apparent timer to the event expected on December 21, 2012. His mind then falls into a fugue state, at which he is returned to the Animus and bleeds back to Haytham Kenway, father to Connor.

Haytham murders an Assassin  at the London, stealing a medallion, which Haytham and his associates speculate might be a key to a storehouse of "those who came before", and dispatch Haytham to the British American colonies to find it.

After preventing an attempt by a crewman named Louis Mills to turn him over to a trailing ship while he was on board the Providence, Haytham arrives in Boston. Upon reaching Boston, he is tasked with finding five men faithful to his cause: Charles Lee, William Johnson, Thomas Hickey, Benjamin Church and Jonathan Pitcairn. Upon finding these men, he kills a slave trader named Silas Thatcher and frees a large group of Native American slaves belonging to the Kanien'kehá:ka tribe in the process.

One of these Kanien'kehá:ka, Kaniehtí:io, agrees to help Haytham on the condition that he kills General Edward Braddock, the man responsible for capturing the Kanien'kehá:ka tribespeople. After tracking his movements, Haytham slays Braddock as he retreats from battle at Fort Duquesne. Haytham and Kaniehtí:io then travel to the entrance of the Grand Temple, however Haytham is disappointed to find the medallion he possesses cannot open it. In this moment, the pair reveal their romantic intentions towards each other, and shortly after, Charles Lee, Haytham's second in command, is singled out for his help and recruited into Haytham's Order. It transpires, however, that Haytham and his associates are actually Templars.

In the modern day, this event surprises Desmond to the point that he ejects himself from the Animus, as his mind attempts to absorb the facts. On his attention returning to the Temple, Desmond engages in a brief fight with his father, as he feels like he is treated as a pawn, and results in William punching Desmond in a short bout of anger. Once the tensions between the Assassin team cool down though, Shaun gives Desmond a choice: to explore the Grand Temple or return to the Animus.

The story then switches to Ratonhnhaké:ton. After playing hide and seek with his childhood friends in the forest near to his village, the young Kanien'kehá:ka encounters Charles Lee and his associates, who forcibly informs Ratonhnhaké:ton that he wishes to speak to the village's elders. On the Kanien'kehá:ka boy's return, he discovers his village burning, ultimately causing the death of his mother.

Some years later, a teenage Ratonhnhaké:ton is told by a village elder that the reason no-one is allowed to leave the nearby valley is because they are there to protect the Grand Temple, and shows him a crystal-like sphere, which activates at his touch and allows him to communicate with Juno. Juno informs him that he and his village are guardians of the Grand Temple, and that current probabilities indicate that unless he leaves, his village will be destroyed and his people slaughtered. After showing the Kanien'kehá:ka teenager the symbol of the Assassins, she tells him to leave the valley, find Achilles Davenport, an Assassin, and convince the elder, embittered fighter to train him.

After accomplishing this by protecting the Davenport manor from bandits, Ratonhnhaké:ton adopts the name "Connor" on Achilles' suggestion, and the pair set off to collect supplies to rebuild the decaying Davenport Homestead from Boston. Here, Connor comes into contact with Samuel Adams, after Haytham attempts to frame his son for the event dubbed the, to which he is required to clear his notoriety through Adams' advice.

On his return, Achilles presents Connor with the Aquila, a ship he can use to patrol the Eastern American seaboard. As Connor learns the art of being an Assassin, he is brought into the cities of Boston and New York, as well as a large open area called the Frontier.

After being made a full-fledged member of the Assassin Brotherhood by Achilles, Connor sets out to eliminate the Colonial Templars. William Johnson is first assassinated after he attempts to purchase the land on which Connor's people reside, and Connor's next target is Jonathan Pitcairn, who leads the British forces at Bunker and Breed's Hills. After Pitcairn is dealt with, Connor next targets Thomas Hickey, whom Connor discovers is plotting to assassinate George Washington.

Connor finds Hickey, however after a brief scuffle, both are thrown into prison. However, Hickey isn't detained for long, since he is freed through Haytham and Lee's influence. In this regard, Connor is framed for the plot to assassinate Washington and is sentenced to the gallows, but Achilles and his fellow Assassins manages to free Connor at the execution. Connor then takes off after Hickey, who is present, and manages to assassinate him before the Templar can kill Washington.

With Haytham, Lee, and Benjamin Church still at large, Connor fears they still plot to eliminate Washington. Connor meets with Washington, who informs him that Church has stolen goods vital to the Continental Army and has fled. Connor agrees to pursue him and, in the process, finds his father, Haytham, as well.

Haytham reveals his own pursuit for Church, who has betrayed the Templars as well, and the two agree to set aside their differences for the time being to find Church together. Upon traveling to the Caribbean via the Aquila and pursuing Church's ship, Haytham and Connor locate Church and kill him, before the two then travel to meet Washington.

Here, Haytham discovers a letter that reveals Washington has ordered the removal of all the indigenous tribes from the land, as a number of which have supported the British. In the letter, one of the tribes to be removed is the Kanien'kehá:ka, despite Connor's own tribe showing a completely neutral attitude to the conflict. On this, Connor severs his ties with Haytham and Washington and takes off to protect his tribe's village.

On arriving, Connor finds the village to be safe, but also discovers that the Clan Mother has dispatched several tribesmen to turn back the Continental troops sent to purge the village. Connor neutralizes them non-lethally to avoid conflict, however he is forced to assassinate his closest childhood friend, Kanen'tó:kon, who had been influenced by Charles Lee.

Following this, Connor becomes torn in his mission to eliminate the Templars, with the thought that he could convince his father to follow the Assassin ideals. With this, Connor sets off to pursue Lee, who has been disgraced by Washington and had taken refuge in Fort George. On the assistance of Lafayette, Connor infiltrates the fort, only to find Haytham. His father reveals that Lee has escaped once more with Haytham's medallion, and the pair engage in battle. Now accepting that his father will not be convinced, Connor kills Haytham, who refuses to repent in the end.

As Desmond plays these events out in the Animus, he is occasionally taken out in order to find power cells crucial in the process of exploring the Grand Temple, in which the efforts take Desmond to locations including Manhattan and Brazil. During these trips, he encounters Daniel Cross, an Assassin-turned Templar who was responsible for nearly wiping out the Assassin Order in 2000, by killing its modern day Mentor and initiating a widespread purge of the Assassins.

While exploring the Temple, Juno tells Desmond the events that led up to the first cataclysm that scarred the Earth, and it is during one of these lectures that Desmond reveals how Lucy's death by his hand was no accident, and that he chose to kill her after the Apple of Eden revealed to him that she was a triple-agent and intended to take the Apple to Abstergo Industries.

When a third power cell is located in Cairo, William offers to locate it instead, while Desmond continues to search for the key to the Grand Temple's inner barrier through Connor's memories. However, William is captured by Abstergo and held in their Roman facility, the same one that Desmond was kept at when they detained him to view Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad's genetic memories.

Through a video message, Dr. Warren Vidic demands Desmond bring the Apple of Eden to him in exchange for William. In response, Desmond infiltrates the laboratories, where he encounters Daniel again. As Daniel corners Desmond in the laboratory that he was kept in prior to his initial escape, the Templar begins to suffer from the Bleeding Effect, as a result of being "raised" in an Animus and reliving the memories of his Russian ancestors, Nikolai and Innokenti Orelov, therefore causing him to briefly speak Russian.

Daniel then flees from the room in panic, with Desmond in pursuit. After a short chase, Desmond assassinates Daniel with his Hidden Blade and rescues William, after using the power of the Apple to control a nearby security guard into killing Vidic.

Back in the past, Connor pursues Lee once more. After eavesdropping on a ship's captain to ascertain Lee's location, and chasing the Templar through a vessel under construction, the two come to a stalemate after falling through a section of the ship, due to a fire that breaks out.

During this time, Connor is impaled in his waist by a broken piece of the ship, and Lee asks Connor why he continues to persist, even though the Templar Order follows a cycle of their power waxing and waning. Connor replies "Because no one else will," and shoots Lee in the chest, preventing the Templar from finishing him off. A badly wounded Lee then escapes across a nearby lake via a ferry, with an injured Connor in pursuit. Finally, Connor finds Lee in a pub, to which the pair takes one last drink before Connor finishes the job by stabbing Lee in the chest.

Connor takes the medallion from Lee's body, and several months later, he returns to his tribe's village only to find they have moved elsewhere. He then locates the crystal sphere, presumably left behind for him to find. In the vision that it shows him, Juno reappears and instructs him to hide the medallion where no one else will find it. Connor does so, burying the medallion in the grave of Connor Davenport, Achilles' deceased son and his namesake.

Now with the knowledge of the medallion's location, Desmond retrieves it and uses it to access the confines of the Temple. Here, he and the others find Juno's apparition, who instructs Desmond to activate a pedestal which will save the world from the ongoing solar flares. However, Minerva's apparition suddenly appears and reveals that by doing so, he will also die and inadvertently free Juno from captivity, allowing her to begin her conquest of the world. She explains that Juno was sealed long ago during the war between the First Civilization and humanity, when she plotted to use the machines designed to save the world against it.

Minerva, prodded by Juno, then shows Desmond that if the Sun were to unleash its power on the world, he and several more would survive in a post-apocalyptic world, in which he would become a religious icon whose ideals would be mistranslated and lead the world to continue its perpetual cycle. Believing the world would stand a better chance fighting against Juno, Desmond instructs the others to leave to prepare for the oncoming struggle. After they leave, Desmond then activates the pedestal, taking his life and saving the world. From there, Juno appears and tells Desmond that his part has ended and now it is time for her to play her part.

In an epilogue, Connor takes down the portraits of the Templar members in the secret basement and burns them, signifying the end of his journey. In addition, his return to his home village is detailed further, as upon his arrival, Connor spoke to a hunter that had been camping there, who revealed that the new United States government had sold the land his village rested upon to settlers, in order to settle war debts. Connor also travels to the pier in New York, where he witnesses the last of the British Regulars leave America for good. However, at this same encounter, Connor sees evidence of the slave trade present in the newly formed nation, right next to the pier of citizens cheering at the departure of the British.

Multiplayer
Ubisoft Annecy, who developed the multiplayer components for Brotherhood and Revelations, along with Ubisoft Bucharest, have been tasked with bringing multiplayer back with this installment.

There is a cooperative mode named Wolfpack, where 2 to 4 players are tasked with killing certain NPCs during a time limit, through a sequence of 25 stages. Another feature is the addition of Domination, a team mode, where players of the Animus games console need to capture areas of the virtual map they are designated, before protecting them from the opposite team.

Unlike the previous multiplayer section featured in Brotherhood and Revelations, which was presented in-game as a training initiative for Abstergo recruits, the multiplayer of Assassin's Creed III is shown as a product of Abstergo Industries' entertainment branch, as a way of influencing the general public through a games console adapted with the Animus' technology.

Characters
Sixteen Animi Avatars form the base of Assassin's Creed III's multiplayer:
 * Bear
 * Carpenter
 * Commander
 * Hessian
 * Huntsman
 * Independent
 * Lady Maverick
 * Mountebank
 * Night Stalker
 * Pioneer
 * Preacher
 * Red Coat (pre-order character)
 * Robber
 * Sharpshooter (pre-order character)
 * Silent Shadow (Ubisoft Passport character)
 * Strong Man

The three additional characters, introduced via downloadable content, are as follows:
 * Coyote Man
 * Governor
 * Highlander

Locations
Accompanying the Animi Avatars, seven locations are currently known for multiplayer.
 * Animus Core
 * Boston North End
 * Boston Harbor
 * Fort Wolcott
 * New York Brewery
 * Northwest Passage
 * Virginian Plantation

All of these maps have different variations, some featuring rain or snow, and others set during day, evening, or night.

Marketing
Following the official reveal, Ubisoft announced incentives for gamers who pre-ordered Assassin's Creed III from Amazon, GameStop, or BestBuy, in the form of a free steelbook casing that featured artwork by renowned comic book artist Alex Ross.

For newcomers to the series, the Assassin's Creed Double Edition was released on the PlayStation Network, which brought together Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II in a virtual compilation box.

Assassin's Creed III also has four missions exclusive to the PS3, which have been available for download since the game's launch date. The storyline is based around Benedict Arnold, a Continental Army general who later defected to the British Army.

With Assassin's Creed III: Liberation released for the alongside Assassin's Creed III, linking the two titles will unlock Connor's tomahawk for the Assassin Aveline de Grandpré to use.

At the 2012 Tokyo Game Show, Sony also announced that the 500 gigabyte bundle of the its new, slimmer PS3 would be available with Assassin's Creed III.

Following this, the Xbox 360 version of the game comes in a two-disc set. The first disc contains the single-player portion of the gameplay, while the second disc is required for multiplayer.

Criticisms
Initially, the pre-release media for Assassin's Creed III came under heavy criticism by some fans and critics for its portrayal of British Regulars. This was mainly because, in every trailer and image released since the reveal in March 2012, the victims of the game's protagonist Connor were almost exclusively of British allegiance; leading some to suggest that the game would be an America versus Britain story.

This claim was repeatedly contested by the game's developers, with co-writer Matt Turner denying it would be an "America Ra Ra" story, and that there were members of the Templar Order on both sides of the conflict.

Despite these assurances, criticisms for the decidedly one-sided portrayal of British Regulars continued until 2 August 2012, when Ubisoft released an AnvilNext trailer that depicted Connor killing several Continental Army soldiers, as well as British Regulars.

A number of game review sources deplore the numerous glitches and bugs within the game, even with the day one patch.

Editions
Ubisoft announced several collector's editions of Assassin's Creed III; with three available in Europe and Australia, one available worldwide, and two available for North and Latin America.

Freedom Edition= Join Or Die Edition=
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * A steel book case, with cover art drawn by award-winning comic artist Alex Ross.
 * A collector's box.
 * A 24 centimeter high quality figurine of Connor.
 * An exclusive lithograph.
 * George Washington's notebook.
 * An additional Animi Avatar, the Sharpshooter.
 * Two exclusive single player missions, Lost Mayan Ruins and Ghost of War.
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * A collector's box.
 * Ratonhnhaké:ton's medallion.
 * George Washington's notebook.
 * An exclusive single player mission, Ghost of War.
 * An additional Animi Avatar, the Sharpshooter.

Special Edition=
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * Special packaging.
 * An exclusive single player mission, A Dangerous Secret.

UbiWorkshop Edition=
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * Assassin's Creed: Subject Four.
 * Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia Second Edition.

Digital Deluxe Edition=
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * George Washington's notebook. (PDF file)
 * Three single-player missions.
 * The Captain of the Aquila's uniform and traditional Colonial Assassin outfit.
 * Two additional Animi Avatars, the Sharpshooter and Red Coat.
 * Best of audio tracks collection from previous Assassin's Creed games.

Limited Edition=
 * A retail copy of Assassin's Creed III.
 * George Washington's notebook.
 * A statue of Ratonhnhaké:ton, with tomahawk and Hidden Blade.
 * Assassin's Creed-inspired colonial flag.
 * A metal belt buckle.

Charity Edition= TRUNK CONTENTS
 * Assassin’s Creed III Backpack satchel
 * Assassin’s Creed III Tomahawk USB Key
 * Assassin’s Creed III Steel postcard
 * Assassin’s Creed III Notebook
 * Assassin’s Creed III Belt Buckle
 * Assassin’s Creed III Wristband
 * Assassin’s Creed III Iron on patch
 * Assassin’s Creed III Steel Book
 * Assassin’s Creed III Lead Figurines
 * Assassin’s Creed III Tomahawk keychain
 * Assassin’s Creed III Liberation keychain
 * Sony PS3 ULC – Captain of the Aquila, Colonial Assassin,  Red Coat Multiplayer Pack
 * Sony PSVita ULC – Mysteries of the Bayou
 * Assassin’s Creed III Liberation
 * Assassin’s Creed III Freedom Edition
 * A 24cm high quality figurine of Connor
 * A steelbook case art drawn by awards-winning comic artist Alex Ross
 * George Washington's notebook
 * One exclusive Lithograph
 * Bonus Single Player Mission: Lost Mayan Ruins
 * Bonus Single Player Mission: Ghost of War
 * Bonus Multiplayer Package: The Sharpshooter (Unleash the Sharpshooter fury in multiplayer with 1 new character, the Sharpshooter, 1 Relic, 1 Emblem, 1 special Picture and the Title of "The Jester")

Nominated
Spike TV Video Game Awards
 * Game of the Year - Lost to The Walking Dead Video Game
 * Best Xbox 360 Game - Lost to Halo 4
 * Best PS3 Game - Lost to Journey
 * Best Action/Adventure Game - Lost to Dishonored
 * Best Graphics - Lost to Halo 4
 * Best Character - Lost to Clap Trap (Borderlands 2)

Gallery
Concept art=