G'day there guys and gals!(Please note! As I didn't have the time to review AC Chronicles China when it came out, I'll give my score for the game at the bottom of this review. Also, as the Chronicles are meant as a trilogy, each part will be rated in DLC form)
Assassin's Creed Chronicles China opened the world of the Brotherhood to a 2.5D world, where players needed to navigate puzzles and obstacles in order to progress. Chronicles has so far featured Shao Jun, one of the last members of the Chinese Brotherhood on a quest for vengeance after her mentor's death during the 16th century, all the while the story revolving around the mysterious box Ezio had given her in AC Embers. Now in the India setting, players take control of Arbaaz Mir, a young Assassin on a journey to free his mentor and discover the secrets of two Pieces of Eden.
Immediately we see slight similarities between the previous game, including the usage of Eagle Vision, cryptic clues, collectibles and so on, but I'm glad to say here is where most end. The gameplay itself is mostly the same as its predecessor (as to be expected) including the based missions, painting cutscenes and text exposition, but includes a few new tricks with items such as Smoke Bombs to temporarily stop enemies, and Chakrams, ringed throwing knives that bounce off surfaces. The game also introduces a few more difficult enemy types such as Masters, enemies that hide inside hiding areas, rarely move and will instantly kill you if unnoticed. Also introduced are decayed areas, stalactites, scaffolds and the like that will eventually break and drop, speeding up your movements.
The sound effects sadly are most of the same, but the musical score is revamped and given the eastern civilization twist, with the odd Ezio's Family popping up now and again. I'd also like to mention the terrific art style, as the games do feature a lot of red, but this time around is much more bright and colourful, despite the often dark overtones.
Voice acting is surprisingly well done, the dialogue between Arbaaz's mentor and Pyara Kaur, however short and brief these moments are, but Arbaaz truly ties it together well with his (dare I say) cheekiness and charm. The story itself is ever so slightly off-putting, as a single page of text drops you into Arbaaz's world (so those who do not read the comics/books may be a little lost), however the game does pick up fairly well after that. Without giving away plot points, the ending is fairly cut and dried with not much to go on, but I do recommend to watch after the credits (As the same with Chronicles China) for a tiny glimpse into the future and past of two people in the AC World.
Overall, I am fairly excited to see what will happen next in Russia with one of the fandom's oldest and most beloved character and I do highly suggest fans check out the Chronicles for themselves. India is fairly shorter than China, but the extras (even additional ones such as cosmetics and gameplay styles) is fairly worth your time. To Casuals wishing for a different take on the Assassin's Creed world on a bargain, this is the place for you.
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China - A-
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India - B
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China and India are out now for the standard price of $13
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