Overall its the same, some part extends and more cutscene.
Lately you will get to learn about bomb and that was new element in this series, bomb have three or four main function. First it can be force bomb like cherry bomb, you can throw it to enemies and explode 'em. Second like distraction bomb, you can make every enemies, mostly guard, to go into the direction where the bomb was explode or put coin in bomb to make crowd people, guard will begin to examine around that area and give you plenty of time to pass through. Third was sticky bomb, just like the name if you try to throw, it will not bounce and stick.
Other new feature was RTS, its like mini games plenty of fun too, Ezio will role as commander to defense HQ from enemies attack. You can pick defense soldier like the shooter, bowman, then these soldier must put in strategic position. Also you can place defense wall to slow enemies movement, bombing with mortar, even shoot the enemy yourself and pick the gold or points. Enemies wave will rising up along the time and finally war machine came up and make sure you have enough point and soldier to destroy it.
After mission or memory complete you will back to animus and play as Desmond. You can have Desmond journey, its like side mission to open another Desmond part of memory. Inside the labyrinth you will try to find a way solve puzzle path and you doing it in first person view.
The rest about combat is still the same only new animation finish movement and you can pass through enemy when running using new cling tool and about enemy there's new enemy that can use both sword and gun, really challenging to beat 'em. You will have side mission like find book, treasure and like always using eagle vision, most mission inside Istanbul and few mission outside place in another island like lost city.. The plus value in this series is the story and cutscene, you will see real time action in cinematic view and it really stunning.
The graphics is like always still amazing to gaze upon sky view of Istanbul, will take my time to look around, and I not found any of crucial bug along game.
In summary this series give plenty action but not so much than the previous but story-telling is become more intense with lot of cutscene action, and I feel this series is less time to finish all task than previous. I think the ending nearly come to an end maybe about two next series.