Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

I've been reading so much criticism of the slow pace at the beginning of AC3 that i have to take up the pen once again in defence of what is such an amazing experience: Assassin's Creed III intro.

Do you remember the opening of Valve's Half Life? You'd sit in a kind of tram for minutes on end, while the Black Mesa facility rolled by you, slowly taking in the atmosphere and the technology. I remember wanting to start playing the game full speed, but it wouldn't let you. Not yet. You were part of a cinematic experience, slowly reveiling to you who you are, where you are, why you are here, and what would happen, building up to the great moment that all went astray and to hell. To me, that was so impressive, it blew me away. It spelled gaming history, for sure.

And we all knew our Assassin's Creed's up untill now: we'd get introduced to our hero, and would slowly, but surely, learn the tools of the trade.

Not this time around: in the marketing campains we were fed with the picture of this indian guy that would run amok. But when starting the game, suddenly we are in the shoes of an eloquent Englishman who, for three long sequences (!), takes the centre of the stage and introduces us to the world of Brittain and the Colonies, and the plot for the quest of an artifact and 'those who came before'.

This, my dear readers, is sheer gaming history. And that in a game that celebrates historical facts and serves us history as if it where cake at a birthday party.

I won't spoil the plot twist, but i was blown away with this cinimatic experience, which, in my opinion was sheer genius. Having us learn the ropes through the father of the protagonist, and at the same time misleading us in our expectations: never seen before, unique, creative and ultimately thoroughly enjoyable.

Have we become so spoiled and impatient, that we can't appreciate the time it takes to lay down a fundament to a story that, at it's heart, resonates through all of history. A story of hope, fear, love, redemption and freedom?

I guess we have become that impatient, to not appreciate this great moment in gaming, where it takes 5 to (in my case) more that 8 hours to finally, fully begin a game like the ones we were used to.

But, a wise man once said: it is about the journey, not the destination.

And this journey, my goodness, is an impressive one. Visually stunning, narratively impressive, and in terms of gameplay perfected.

Please take in the view, and don't forget to fasten your seatbelts...