Weaving real world history and global conspiracies into an ancient war between Assassins and Templars.
At E3 2011, Ubisoft has showcased Assassin's Creed Revelation and a portion of the single player campaign known as The Constantinople Escape.The demo throws up lots of questions about the storyline and some of Ezio's new skills and weapons, such as the ability to craft bombs, the hookblade and what looks like a flame-thrower. Creative Director, Alexandre Amancio tells us more.
Note - It's well worth watching the gameplay video about halfway down the page before reading the Q&A.
• Why is Ezio in Constantinople?
Seeking answers, Ezio leaves Rome to travel to Masyaf in search of the lost library of Altair Ibn La’Ahad. Upon arrival, Ezio realizes that a very powerful artifact is hidden inside the locked library of Masyaf. If the Templars get a hold of that artifact, they will be able to crush the assassins and control humankind’s destiny. To open the library and access the artifact, five keys are needed – and all of them are in Constantinople. What began as a pilgrimage becomes a race against time between Ezio and the Templars to find these keys.
• In the Demo, why is Ezio trying to leave Constantinople?
This demo occurs halfway through the game with Ezio hot on the trail of a leading Templar who possesses the last key needed to open the Masyaf crypt. This won’t be an easy task as the Janissaries, the elite Ottoman guards, are hell bent on stopping him as Ezio’s assassinated one of their high ranking officers.
• Tell us more about the Janissaries
The Janissaries are the Sultan’s personal bodyguards. An extremely well trained military corps, recruited as young as 10-12 years old and trained throughout their life, they are considered a precursor of the modern military system. Using mainly firearms, they are experts in combat and are skilled sharpshooters.
• How are the Janissaries planning on stopping him?
Knowing Ezio has to leave by boat; the janissaries raised the large chain that runs across the Golden Horn which prevents any ships from entering or leaving Constantinople.
First destroyed during the Fourth Crusade, the chain was rebuilt along with the now famous Galata Tower and used to protect Constantinople from naval attacks. Counterweight in towers hold the chain together, something Ezio will take advantage of.
Constantinople is a burgeoning city, how is this reflected in the game?
Constantinople is a city that spans two continents – Europe and Asia. In 1511, it was the crossroads of the world, as it was the center of commercial trade. It was home to all great civilizations since ancient times; Greeks, Romans and Ottomans have all claimed Constantinople as theirs. Thus, the city is a great cosmopolitan metropolis, with inhabitants from different parts of the world forming a mosaic of cultures. It is a very immersive city, it’s crowded and exotic which makes the entire ambiance unique. The city has four different districts, each with its own unique flavor and architectural style. For example, for the first time in Assassin’s Creed history, we have a city that is mostly built from wood –very ornate, and busy in its design.
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