Assassin's Creed: Revelations

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Bloody adventure game with visceral violence, online play.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is a bloody and violent adventure game set primarily in the 16th-century that has players taking on the role of assassins. Players alternate their time between climbing buildings and combat, the latter of which involves plenty of gruesome, stylized, slow motion execution sequences. The protagonists are good men with noble ambitions -- notably, the pursuit of truth and justice -- but they use violence to solve most problems, even those as simple as retrieving an imported package held up by bureaucracy. Parents should note that this game supports open online play, which may lead to discussions with inappropriate language and subject matter.

  • This game sensationalizes graphic violence, and makes stylized assassinations seem cool. Story themes include revenge, loyalty, and a pursuit for truth and justice.
  • The game’s primary characters are clearly interested in doing good, but occasionally harm innocents in the process, either due to misleading information or through players accidentally tapping the attack button when close to a civilian. Bottom line, though, is that they are assassins and warriors, people whose job is to kill others.
  • The series’ climbing mechanics are satisfyingly simple, once learned. Combat is more complex, but players can generally fall back on basic block and counter tactics to get through most fights. The greatest challenge comes in exploring the world and finding its many secrets.
  • Players fight and kill human enemies using mostly bladed weapons -- swords, daggers, axes -- but they can also use guns, crossbows, and bombs on occasion. Enemies spurt blood and grunt when struck, and writhe in pain on the ground after being defeated. Assassination animations show gruesome kills in slow motion, with broadswords coming down hard on heads and daggers being shoved into throats. Players aren’t supposed to kill civilians, but they can.
  • Dialogue makes reference to "whores" and the act of sex, with some characters making fun of others’ performance in bed. Example: "Your wife really enjoyed having a real man last night, shorty!"
  • Expect infrequent use of cuss words including "s--t" and "ass." Dialogue also includes profanity of a similar sort in other languages, including Italian and Greek.
  • Not applicable.
  • A character references "wine."
  • Creates privacy concerns. Online modes allow players to engage in open voice communication. Players may be part of discussions with inappropriate language and subject matter.

What's it about?

ASSASSIN’S CREED: REVELATIONS lives up to its name and ties up many of the series’ loose ends. To bring newcomers up to speed, the franchise’s overarching story involves a centuries-old war against a pair of ideological factions as seen from the perspective of modern-day barkeep Desmond Miles who, with the help of a computer called the Animus, can recall the memories of his ancestors. This chapter wraps up the story of Renaissance-era assassin Ezio Auditore -- now 50 and graying but as agile as ever -- who searches a staggering beautiful recreation of 16th-century Constantinople for artifacts that help explain what became of Altair ibn-La’Ahad, the Crusades-era hero from the series’ first game. Play is composed mostly of elements fans of the series will be familiar with, including parkour-like climbing, block-based melee combat, and one-off missions that require players to trail enemies and explore ancient chambers. Players will also encounter a new tower defense mini-game, and an updated online multiplayer mode.


Is it any good?

 

Some things about Assassin’s Creed are just too good to change. The series’ immensely satisfying climbing mechanics -- which see Ezio gracefully pulling himself up the sides of landmarks like the Haghia Sophia and the Hippodrome -- are a hallmark of the series, and ought to remain until its end. However, other parts of the experience -- like rooftop guards who quickly call in reinforcements and put a kink in graceful rooftop runs -- are getting old.   

There are new elements, and some of them -- like the parts of the game that see Desmond in bodiless form exploring the bowels of the Animus -- are highly engaging. Others, like the new tower defense game, aren’t as compelling. There’s no question that the franchise’s ongoing storyline remains one of the most ambitious, complex, and satisfying in the history of the medium, but its about time the series –- which has produced four games in four years -- underwent a bit of a shake-up.


What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about violence in games. Have you discussed with your children why you’d prefer them not to play graphic games? How do you ensure that they don’t experience inappropriate games at their friends’ homes?

  • Families can also discuss online safety. What would you do if you ran into a bully or predator online? What sort of markers should you look for to identify them?


This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Parent
November 16, 2011
 
Good
this should be rated e10+ ... Its m because of the previos games. this one is good for 2 and up. teaches about history. A++

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Teen, 15 years old
November 16, 2011
 
Amazing game Isalmic and Christian beliefs coincide with story line
If you let your child play call of duty or battlfield let them play this. Sure, you mercilessly and brutally do away with your enemies with a variety of stylized assassinsations using an arsonal or weapons but you experience a compelling story of wealth, treachery and justice while experiencing the amazing architecture of 16 century Constantinople. And along with the amazing single player you get to experience a polished forfilling multiplayer; so you definitely get your buck worth. I presonally prefer this game to cod even though the two game are essentially incomprable. Theres isnt any sexual content of language that you need to worry about in both the multi and single player. However if your a strong christian you not want your child subject to the views of the protagonists; Ezio and Altai; the story line coincides with both Islamic and chrisian beliefs. So keep in mind the game was made by a multi cultural and religious team.

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Adult
November 27, 2011
 
fantastic game
i have played the game for a while and if you kill an enemy light blood spats and in the so called "sexual part" there is no showed nudety but it learn children much about history and ezio(the assassin) is a good man it is not like gta that you are a criminal and must kill evrybody just for mony would reccoment this 12 jear and older

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Parent
November 17, 2011
 
Great for 14 and up
The assassins creed franshise has always been a franchise that goes for a really realistic setting and characters. Two things are really the big things to look out for in this game (including the ones before it, except for the first assassins creed.) The main purpose of this game, as said in the title is to assassinate certain targets but for a purpose and the purpose is alwas for the good of man kind and is never gory or very bloody, keeping it to an almost cartoonish violence. In this new installment Ezio is on a search for Altairs secret library. The sexual material is, yes, there but you are going to have to look pretty hard to see it. For example you might be walking around on the street and over hear two people talking about someone and calling them a bad name. This game is set in the medieval era and ubisoft has done a fantastic job at capturing that. This game like every one else says will teach many things about that era and is very eduactional.

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Kid, 12 years old
November 26, 2011
 
9+ (:
its fine. the good side: its a little bit educational, and has positive messages and role models. on the other hand it is violent, and has most of its focus on combat and stealthy assassinations,also,the blood can be turned off in the options menu. there is also language, but its not that frequent and can easily be ignored. this and the original Assassin's Creed are the most tolerable and appropriate assassins creed games of the series whereas assassins creed 2 and brotherhood have sexual themes. it also pretty easy, and if this is your first time playing assassins creed, you will adjust to the controls within minutes.

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Kid, 12 years old
November 26, 2011
 
Assassin's Creed: Best Game Ever
This is one of the best games ever. Graphics are almost just like real life, and the gameplay is fun, engaging, and thousands of hours in length (you can do pretty much the same thing over and over, and it never gets old, and the story can take a while to complete). If you take the time to read descriptions, you can know quite a bit about Constantinople. However, it is quite violent. Quite a bit of blood spills in battles, temporarily staining surroundings. Some assassinations show up close views of blades going through bodies and blood spurting out. The violence is not gory, though. It may only seem that way. There is one mission in which, in small talk, some soldiers mention w**re. The language isn't that bad throughout most of it, but if you care to stick around on animus island towards the beginning, the f word is uttered. Back to how great the game is, the combat is satisfying, with new secondary weapon and improved combo kill systems in place. The hookblade adds a lot, and playing previous Assassin's Creed games will make you wonder why they didn't think of it sooner. Bombs are helpful in setting traps, luring guards, and turning the tables in a battle. The eagle sense is used in very creative ways during the campaign, many targets being located by using it. The background is jawdropping from extreme heights, and you can almost feel the wind jumping down from viewpoints. Taking over the city, protecting it with assassins-in-training, and recapturing assassin's dens are all enjoyable, and taking over the Mediterranean gives order to leveling up assassins. If you have the money, buy this game. You'll be glad you did.

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Parent
November 30, 2011
 
wow!
HA really common sense REALLY! this game is literally no joke quite educational AND seriously... but really there is NOTHING bad about this game the sex? theres like none all they do is talk a tiny tiny bit about it but thats really it and the blood and gore i mean dude... just go turn it off in the options, yes you can do that, so my point is is you let your kid play skyrim or so this is the game he will LOVE, it basicly IS skrim and halo combined all the bad words they say is a-s and sh-t.

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Parent of 17 year old
December 13, 2011
 
Educational, but violent.
This is a truly great game. Although it is very violent, mainly focusing on killing it is very educational and teaches players a lot about the Medieval period. It is about assassins so you can stab, shoot, blow up and kill enemies in numerous other ways. It has blood and gore when someone dies although there is an option in the menu to turn blood off. Language is only a few mild cuss words that only some people will take offence to. This game is a must have and is suitable to most kids 12+

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Adult
December 11, 2011
 
Ezio returns
You return as Ezio and continue the awesome story of assassins creed. Best part is that I got this game for free at: tinyurl(dot)com/6nmpeac

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Teen, 13 years old
December 10, 2011
 
Not bad.
It's educational and teaches about history.That's what matters.Not the graphic violence.if you keep thinking about the blood,you will get influenced.just sit back and try to enjoy it.it's just a game.that's why I can play it several hours a day and I don't get influenced.i got it for Xbox and ps3 and I have been playing it for a very long time so you can see.

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This review was written by Chad Sapieha
Platforms:Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Adventure
Developer:UbiSoft
Release date:November 15, 2011
Price:$59.99
ESRB rating:M for Blood, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence

This review was written by Chad Sapieha
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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