The Hidden Blade Assassin's Creed in Depth

The October Issue of the Official Playstation Magazine Australia has an Interview with Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Producer Vincent Pontbriand. In this interview, he tells us about some awesome new stuff in ACB, including something on MP you guys will want to hear, and Machiavelli's role in the game.

So I hope you enjoy...

A Stealth Mission!!

"Impossible" you may say, but there is going to be a 'long and perilous' stealth mission near the beginning of the game!

You remember how in the E3 Demo, Caterina Sforza was captured by Cesare? Well, in this mission, Ezio must inflitrate the Castel Sant'Angelo, the fortress where Rodrigo Borgia houses his troops, where Caterina is being held.
Here, you must sneak in without being seen by the 'outnumbering Papal Guards'. You will have to climb and use free running to inflitrate the castle walls and reach the higher grounds to save Caterina. Once you save her, you must protect her and fight mobs of enemies. 'Ezio must use his arsenal of weapons and his new moves, such as the ability to use the gun in combination with his srowd, to survive against all odds as well as his stealth skills'

A hard a stealthy mission in the game. Just what we've been asking for...

The Fight Club

"Say what?"

In the fight club, 'based in the Mercenary HQ, Ezio can bet on fights and enter into the tournament. Challenged in a duel and encircled by an enthusiastic crowd, players will be challenged in different combat where quick reflexes and strategic thinking are your only allies to victory...'
There are different combats like unarmed and no counter, and the number of enemies you choose to verse, will increas ethe amount of money you gain if you succeed!

Da Vinci and his War Machines

'Leonardo left the villa at the end of AC2. Ezio hasn't seen him in a while, but, suddenly, all the guards in Rome seem to have new guns. So there is something suspicious going on. Leonardo will return and offer certain services' (I know what you're thinking ) 'to Ezio, but as for his motivations, you'll have to play the game to see what they are.'

Nothing new on the war machines, it just says about the Chariot Gun and the Gondola Flares Shooter 'which burns the sails of ships, making them immobile and useless'. 'Ezio's going to need to destroy them to stop Cesare's advance through Italy...' There wil be more on how Cesare got the plans CLOSER TO THE RELEASE OF THE GAME

Machiavelli's Role

'Machiavelli will play a much larger role in Brotherhood than he did in AC2. He's the leader of the Assassin's in Rome when Ezio arrives and he's not going to just let Ezio come in and take over. So expect some competetition between Ezio and Machiavelli. At the same time, he has a lot to learn about leadership and Ezio will be a major influence on him, despite their conflict...' Mac's gameplay role will be the mission giver, giving you Assassination Missions as well as the locations of Templars in the city. 'But how you dispatch them, is, of ourse, up to you.'

Horse Combat

Now you can perch yourself on the Horse Saddle and jump onto beams to start a fluid free running sequence.
'Also, Ezio can now use various weapons such as crossbows, swords or spears, and fight enemies such as horsemen and footmen - in a similar fashion to a joust.'
A new attack in when you impale a guard, who's on a horse, from the ground, with a spear. 'I believe there is nothing more gratifying than, when you are about to lose a target in a horse chase, to jump from your horse and climb on a building as to reduce the distance, only to jump and assassinate the horse rider. It's just Epic.'

'Rebuild Rome'

Nothing new on this, but now they've called it 'Rebuild Rome'.

Multiplayer Beta/Progression/Confirmed Character Total!

'The more effective you are during your game session, the more experience you will get.' By obtaining experience, you can unlock extra content. The extra stuff you unlock will add variety and options.

During the BETA, 'you will unlock one ability slot, and the diguise ability at level 2. Later you will unlock more slots and different abilities... We will also include a specific progression system that we will reveal later on'

In the BETA, 'you will have Wanted Mode, eight characters, different abilities. The BETA will also feature several maps not shown at E3, including AN INDOOR MAP!! You will be able to test the progression system with a specific leveling curve for the BETA. And last but not least, you will have the ability to unlock lots of elements!'

'You will have 14 Characters in the final game, without counting the exclusives with pre-order, special editions etc. Each will have several colours, evolutions their own move set, signature moves and weapon'