Assassin's Creed Brotherhood
- March 16, 2011
- Ubisoft Kyiv
- 33h median play time
Get on SteamAssassin's Creed Brotherhood continues the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, as he seeks to restore the Assassin order and bring down the Borgia family in Rome. The game introduces a multiplayer mode, allowing players to compete in assassination-based challenges. Players can also recruit and train assassins to aid them in their quest, and rebuild the Brotherhood's headquarters in Rome.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Uplay
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- story8,136 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" continues the journey of Ezio Auditore, picking up directly after the events of "Assassin's Creed II." While the narrative is engaging and features rich historical context, many players feel it lacks the depth and emotional resonance of its predecessor, often citing a bloated mission structure filled with repetitive tasks and frustrating synchronization challenges. Despite these criticisms, the game is praised for its character development, particularly in Ezio's arc, and the introduction of the Brotherhood mechanic, which allows players to recruit and manage assassins, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay.
“Good story, nice continuation to Ezio's story after AC2.”
“The story is filled with shocking twists and turns, like a rollercoaster ride of emotions.”
“The narrative is rich with intrigue, political machinations, and personal vendettas, keeping players invested in Ezio's quest for justice.”
“The story is pretty lame; it has a lot of classic Ubisoft padding, and as a result, the game feels bloated at times. Ezio is a great protagonist, but his character arc was nicely concluded by the end of the previous game, so there's not much room for development.”
“The story seems forced; you don't even get to 'hate' the villains. The ending is rushed through time as it was with ACII, and there is too much to do for nothing, so the only incentive to collect everything or do the guild quest is to silence the obsessive completionist within you.”
“The story in this game is just so disappointing. It's painfully obvious that this game was created with its main focus on the extensive side content and missions.”
- gameplay2,540 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" is generally regarded as an improvement over its predecessor, "Assassin's Creed II," with enhanced mechanics such as the ability to recruit and manage assassins, a refined combat system, and smoother parkour. However, some players feel that the core gameplay remains largely unchanged, leading to a sense of repetitiveness, particularly with mission design and the "full synchronization" mechanic, which can be frustrating. Overall, while the game introduces new features and maintains engaging gameplay, it also faces criticism for its occasional bugs and the feeling of being an expansion rather than a fully new experience.
“Good gameplay, the parkour is nice, the combat is miles better than AC2 (for me at least) and killstreaks are fun.”
“The added game mechanics are a nice addition and make the gameplay way more exciting than AC2.”
“Plus the game's mechanics are nicely refined, parkour is smoothed out and just a joy, and combat lets you do cool combos and summon your fellow assassins to do your work.”
“The full synchronization mechanic is really bad and forces you to play a certain way instead of how you want, not get hit by some BS mechanics (looking at you tank level)/not take damage (which is fun when Ezio decides not to grab a ledge you jumped to so you take damage and fail the full sync), or complete something in a time limit (these time limits can vary between easy to ridiculous and make no sense why they set that time).”
“Brotherhood also has a lot of pointless mechanics like all the shops in a district being closed until you kill the big bad Borgia lieutenant in his tower, but not only that you also have to pay to open the shop, which you then pay to shop from?”
“The gameplay started to feel repetitive after a while, with too many missions involving tailing or eavesdropping.”
- graphics1,212 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Assassin's Creed Brotherhood" are generally praised as a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Assassin's Creed II," with many reviewers noting enhanced textures, vibrant colors, and a more detailed environment that captures the essence of Renaissance Rome. While some acknowledge that the graphics show their age and can suffer from occasional glitches, the overall visual presentation is considered impressive for a game released in 2010, with many stating it still holds up well today. Overall, the game is recognized for its beautiful visuals and engaging atmosphere, contributing to a captivating gaming experience.
“Visually, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is a feast for the senses, boasting breathtaking graphics and meticulous attention to detail.”
“The graphics are stunning, the improvement between this and the version I have of AC2 is insane, it's a nice continuation to Ezio's story and Desmond's as well.”
“The graphics have been seriously upgraded since AC2.”
“Another disappointing aspect was the graphics.”
“The game itself is just AC2 but in a new map with slightly better graphics.”
“The graphics have not aged well.”
- music484 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in *Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood* is generally praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective blend of renaissance-inspired compositions and dynamic action themes. While some fans feel the soundtrack does not quite reach the heights of its predecessor, *Assassin's Creed II*, it still features memorable tracks and enhances the emotional impact of key moments in the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The music in Brotherhood enhances the game's atmosphere, blending renaissance-inspired compositions with dynamic action themes.”
“The evocative music enhances the emotional impact of key moments, creating an unforgettable gaming experience.”
“The soundtrack complements the game's tone and setting perfectly.”
“The soundtrack just didn't hit for me like it did in the last game. Even with the hard similarity, aside from a few notable pieces that popped up through the game, for the most part it wasn't boring but it was overused and repetitive.”
“In my opinion, this game has the weakest soundtrack from the series. Save for some tracks, it is quite repetitive (I believe this is due to the fact that we are in the same city and the need to differentiate does not arise).”
“This game is an absolute classic as well as one of my favorites of the series, though the soundtrack is trash, especially in exploration.”
- stability292 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly detract from the experience. While some users note that these issues can be minor or subjective, many others describe the game as "unplayable" due to game-breaking bugs, particularly during critical missions. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from severe technical problems, especially on PC, making it a frustrating experience for many players.
“It's the best Assassin's Creed game in the franchise, runs great on PC, highly recommend.”
“Best Assassin's Creed game out there, massive world to explore, no glitches and has a perfect storyline.”
“Runs great on recent hardware and with high FPS even at 1440p/ultrawide.”
“Unfortunately, the game is so buggy it (at least for me) is unplayable.”
“A buggy unplayable mess in areas: especially the flying machine that won't turn!!!!”
“This game is glitchy, buggy, and runs like garbage, even on machines that exceed its meager system requirements.”
- grinding182 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 81 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in side missions and synchronization challenges. While some appreciate the expansive world and the opportunity for exploration, others feel that the excessive grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment, often leading to a sense of boredom and frustration. Overall, players suggest that those who dislike grinding may find the experience less enjoyable, while completionists might find it overwhelming.
“The combat is really easy in this game, but at least it's not tedious like in AC 2.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The faction challenge system is interesting, but I didn't end up completing them in the course of my playthrough, and grinding them is an absolute chore.”
“I hated the tailing missions; they are purposely long and tedious.”
“The game continues the narrative saga, but quickly becomes tedious in its constant parkour maneuvers and climbing.”
- optimization178 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 46 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe stuttering, frame drops, and general performance issues, particularly on PC. Despite some improvements in graphics, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, often requiring users to adjust CPU affinity settings to mitigate these problems. Overall, while the gameplay and story are praised, the poor optimization detracts from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend for PC users.
“To summarize, AC: Brotherhood is one of the best AC games ever, with great optimization and even better graphics fidelity.”
“Title beautifully optimized, even for lower performance machines - and even that does not take away from the beauty of the graphics in it.”
“For me, it was a great title that fixed most of the issues, like more challenging tower climbing, better combat and economy system, maps with collectibles, and mostly optimization.”
“The game can't even run a smooth 60 fps anyway... what with all the stuttering that tends to go on.”
“I love this game but it is horribly optimized for PC.”
“The game would drop frames out of nowhere and for one stretch was stuttering uncontrollably.”
- atmosphere130 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" is widely praised for its immersive depiction of Renaissance Rome, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that complements the vibrant city life and dynamic day-night cycle. While many reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals and the sense of a living, breathing environment, some express disappointment that it lacks the depth and variety of atmospheres found in its predecessor, "Assassin's Creed II." Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the player's experience, despite some mixed feelings about its execution compared to earlier titles.
“The city comes alive with its diverse districts, architectural marvels, and dynamic day-night cycle, creating an immersive and atmospheric backdrop for Ezio's adventures.”
“The graphics and sound design were also top-notch, bringing the city of Rome to life with stunning detail and atmospheric music.”
“Enchanting music, consuming atmosphere, a wonderful story, and a blitz of nearly perfect mechanics show themselves off with a surprising amount of polish.”
“Set in Renaissance Rome almost exclusively, I found I missed different cities, atmospheres, etc. from the previous game set in different Italian cities.”
“I also felt the game didn't have the same atmosphere and character as the previous two games, and exploring Rome wasn't as much fun with there being so much area to cover and so many things to do all at once.”
“The game also lacks the atmosphere and details of the previous games; it feels like a copy-paste of AC2 and somehow the essence got lost.”
- replayability110 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its high replay value due to optional missions and multiplayer modes, while others find the single-player experience less compelling for repeated playthroughs. Features like 100% synchronization challenges and mission replayability enhance the experience for completionists, but some feel that the core gameplay lacks the depth needed for sustained interest. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, opinions vary significantly on how much value it truly offers.
“This mode adds significant replay value and offers a fresh experience distinct from the single-player campaign.”
“I thought the full-sync / half-sync mission completion was a genius way to encourage the replayability of every mission and side quests.”
“I lost about 20 hours of gameplay on this and had no problem replaying any of it due to how enjoyable and replayable this game is.”
“Final verdict: good to play as a continuation of AC2, but don't see much replayability on its own.”
“The feature of synchronization seems to be a tedious attempt at offering replay value.”
“Otherwise you don't have much replay value and you don't get the precious feeling of having accomplished anything when you arrive at the other end of the journey.”
- humor88 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny due to clever dialogue and amusing character interactions, while others feel that certain jokes fall flat or become repetitive. The game's art style and quirky bugs also contribute to its comedic moments, though long cutscenes can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are highlights of humor, opinions vary on its effectiveness throughout the game.
“I think the art for this game is hilarious, because you see all these characters around Ezio with the word 'brotherhood' and assume they are his friends.”
“It's brilliant and the dialogue between characters is brilliant and had me genuinely laughing at parts.”
“There's a good amount of humor in it too, which saves it from being yet another game about a man with facial hair frowning from a distance.”
“There's lots of banter which is not funny at all and the whiny guy becomes annoying real fast.”
- emotional64 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood" is highlighted by its well-developed characters and poignant moments, particularly in Ezio's journey, which evokes a deeper understanding of his struggles and responsibilities. While some players found the emotional impact less profound compared to "AC2," the game's music and key story events still resonate strongly, leading to moments of heartbreak and personal connection. Overall, the game successfully blends action and emotion, creating a memorable experience, though some felt it could have explored its emotional themes more deeply.
“Some moments from the story, to be honest, felt heartbreaking when [spoiler] villa is attacked by Cesare and in that mission... he killed Mario for real. I loved that guy, why???”
“The ending was truly heartbreaking and it kind of made you understand Ezio on a personal level.”
“The characters are well-developed and memorable, with Ezio's journey taking on new emotional depth as he grapples with his own mortality and the weight of his responsibilities as a leader.”
- character development46 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is notably strong, particularly with Ezio's evolution from a vengeful assassin to a wise mentor, which is highlighted as a compelling aspect of the narrative. While the main characters receive significant depth and progression, some side characters, like Claudia and Leonardo, lack sufficient development, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging storytelling and character design, although some players feel that newer installments do not match the depth of character development found here.
“The game delves deeper into Ezio's character, exploring his growth from a vengeful assassin to a wise mentor.”
“Ezio's continued story is engaging and well-told, with strong character development and historical intrigue.”
“It was a well-made compelling experience with memorable character development arcs.”
“He seriously has the worst character development out of any character I've seen in AC.”
“However, horse riding is clunky, parkour can be miserable, and absolutely no character development or arcs to witness.”
“My only gripe is lack of character development for side characters later in the game - Claudia, Maria, and Leonardo all suffer from this, leaving their stories a bit incomplete.”
- monetization16 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that subsequent titles in the series have suffered from rushed development and excessive reliance on microtransactions. Many reviewers lament the shift from engaging storytelling to a focus on grinding for in-game currency, which detracts from the overall experience.
“This game will help you to remember how it was to play a game with good storytelling without endless grind or microtransactions.”
“Proving that this specific game was a cash grab.”
“Pure crystallized cash grab.”
“Sadly after playing all AC titles after this, they all suffered greatly from the cash grab syndrome, being released with numerous bugs, glitches, and sound desync issues, otherwise known as rush jobs.”
