The Dawn of Social Stealth: A New Era for Assassin’s Creed
The year was two thousand and ten, and the gaming landscape shifted. No longer were Assassin’s Creed titles solely the domain of solitary blades navigating historical conspiracies. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood dared to ask: what if the Brotherhood was… a team? A team of assassins, vying for dominance in the shadows. The answer was a surprisingly addictive and uniquely tense multiplayer experience, and at its heart lay a diverse and captivating roster of playable characters. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer introduced a novel concept: social stealth combat. This mode wasn’t about open brawls; it was about blending into crowds, identifying your target, and eliminating them without drawing attention to yourself – all while avoiding your own pursuers. But the brilliance of this system resided not just in its mechanics, but in the variety of personalities who brought these mechanics to life. This article will dive deep into those personalities, the Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood multiplayer characters, and explore what made them so integral to the mode’s enduring appeal.
The multiplayer mode in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood was a significant departure from the franchise’s established single-player formula. It succeeded because of its ingenious blend of stealth gameplay, social manipulation, and most importantly, the varied selection of characters. Each character offered distinct skills and a playstyle, forcing players to adapt, strategize, and master the art of silent elimination. The goal in most modes was simple: blend in, identify your target among the Non-Player Characters (NPCs), and discreetly eliminate them before they could do the same to you. The tension stemmed from the constant paranoia – you never truly knew who was a harmless civilian and who was a deadly assassin waiting to strike.
The Art of the Hunt: Understanding the Core Gameplay
The gameplay loop revolved around receiving contracts, essentially assassination assignments, from a mysterious benefactor. You would then be thrust into a map teeming with NPCs and other players, all vying for the same targets. The key to success was mastering the art of blending. Walking among the crowd, sitting on benches, or performing seemingly mundane actions like carrying a stack of books were all crucial to remaining hidden from pursuers and closing in on your target. Observation was paramount. You had to carefully study the behavior of the NPCs to distinguish them from the actual players, who might be using disguises or other abilities to mask their true identities.
Pursuit and evasion were equally important. Once you had identified your target, you had to follow them discreetly, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. But you also had to be constantly aware of your surroundings, watching for signs that someone was hunting you. A slight twitch in an NPC’s behavior, a lingering glance, or a sudden change in direction could all be indicators that you were being followed. The scoring system was based on a combination of factors, including the speed and stealth of your kills, the use of abilities, and the number of times you were killed yourself. The more discreet and efficient your assassinations, the more points you earned. Conversely, drawing attention to yourself, getting killed, or failing to complete your contracts would result in point deductions. This incentivized players to prioritize stealth and precision over brute force, creating a unique and rewarding multiplayer experience. The mental aspect of this game mode is what separated it from the rest, and this was only elevated by the variety of characters available to play.
Meet the Cast: Key Multiplayer Characters and Their Unique Talents
The strength of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer lay in its diverse cast of playable characters. Each character had their distinct appearance, background (albeit often shrouded in mystery), and most importantly, unique abilities that defined their playstyle.
The Courtesan: Seduction and Subterfuge
The Courtesan was the master of deception. Clad in elegant attire, she could seamlessly blend into any crowd, making her incredibly difficult to spot. Her key ability was Morph, which allowed her to momentarily transform into an NPC, making it nearly impossible for pursuers to distinguish her from the surrounding civilians. Disguise was another skill the Courtesan could obtain, allowing her to adopt the appearance of another player, further increasing the confusion and making her even harder to pinpoint. Her playstyle revolved around deception and close-quarters assassinations. The Courtesan excelled at getting close to her targets without raising suspicion and delivering swift, silent blows with her hidden blade. However, she was not particularly strong in direct combat and relied on her agility and cunning to survive. She had few tools for direct combat and had to avoid being detected at all costs, or she could be easily dispatched.
The Priest: Faith and Fire
The Priest was a more elusive character, often seen wandering the streets in religious vestments. One of his key abilities was Firecrackers, which he could use to create distractions and disrupt the movements of his pursuers. These explosions allowed the Priest to escape pursuit or set up assassinations by drawing attention away from his movements. Templar Vision was another power in the Priest’s repertoire, allowing him to see other players regardless of their disguises or blending abilities. He could use this to locate his targets and anticipate potential ambushes. The Priest’s playstyle was more strategic and methodical. He preferred to set up elaborate traps and use his abilities to manipulate the environment to his advantage. He was not as agile as the Courtesan, but his Templar Vision and ability to create diversions made him a formidable opponent.
The Executioner: Brute Force and Intimidation
The Executioner was a towering figure clad in dark robes and wielding a massive axe. His imposing presence was enough to strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. The Charge ability allowed him to rush towards his target with incredible speed, delivering a devastating blow that could instantly eliminate them. The Hidden Gun was another tool in his arsenal, allowing him to take out targets from a distance. The Executioner was an aggressive character who preferred direct combat. He excelled at intimidating his opponents and forcing them into mistakes. His brute strength and powerful abilities made him a dangerous adversary in close quarters. However, his lack of agility and stealth made him vulnerable to more subtle assassins. He was easily spotted and lacked the deceptive abilities of other characters, forcing him to rely on raw power to survive.
The Doctor: Deception and Death
The Doctor was a shadowy figure clad in a plague mask and wielding a variety of deadly concoctions. Poison was his weapon of choice, allowing him to weaken his targets and make them vulnerable to assassination. Morph, much like the Courtesan, was another key ability, allowing him to disguise himself as an NPC and evade detection. The Doctor was a cunning and deceptive character who excelled at using his abilities to manipulate his enemies. He could poison his targets from afar, causing them to slowly succumb to their injuries, or use Morph to get close and deliver a swift, silent blow. He was not particularly strong in direct combat, but his knowledge of poisons and his ability to disguise himself made him a deadly opponent. He had to rely on misdirection and poison to be truly effective.
More Faces in the Crowd
Beyond these core characters, there were many other playable classes in Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer, each with their unique abilities and playstyles. The Barber was a master of disguise, able to seamlessly blend into crowds and evade detection. The Smuggler was a master of stealth, able to move quickly and silently through the environment. The Engineer was a master of traps, able to set up elaborate ambushes for his pursuers. The Noble was a more balanced character, with a mix of stealth and combat abilities. Each character offered a different approach to the game, allowing players to experiment and find the playstyle that best suited them. This variety was key to the multiplayer mode’s enduring appeal, as it constantly encouraged players to adapt and strategize.
Modes of Mayhem: Exploring the Multiplayer Game Modes
The variety of characters was complemented by several different game modes, each offering a unique twist on the core gameplay.
Wanted: The Classic Hunt
Wanted was the original and most popular game mode. In this mode, players were assigned a specific target to assassinate, while also being hunted by other players. The goal was to eliminate your target without drawing attention to yourself, while also evading your pursuers. Wanted was a tense and psychological game mode that required players to master the art of stealth and deception. You had to constantly be aware of your surroundings, watching for signs that someone was hunting you, while also trying to identify your target among the crowd.
Alliance: Cooperative Chaos
Alliance was a cooperative game mode where players worked together in teams to eliminate their targets. This mode required communication and coordination, as players had to strategize and work together to outmaneuver their opponents. Alliance offered a different kind of tension, as players had to trust their teammates while also being wary of potential betrayals.
Manhunt: The Ultimate Game of Cat and Mouse
Manhunt was a more action-oriented game mode where players were divided into two teams: hunters and prey. The hunters had to track down and eliminate the prey, while the prey had to evade capture. Manhunt was a fast-paced and chaotic game mode that required players to be quick on their feet and think strategically.
A Legacy Etched in Blood: The Impact of Brotherhood’s Multiplayer
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer was a groundbreaking achievement that had a lasting impact on the franchise. It demonstrated that Assassin’s Creed could successfully incorporate multiplayer elements without sacrificing its core gameplay principles. The game modes and playable characters of this game laid the foundation for future multiplayer implementations in the series. Subsequent Assassin’s Creed titles continued to experiment with multiplayer, adding new characters, abilities, and game modes. While the series eventually moved away from traditional competitive multiplayer, the influence of Brotherhood’s multiplayer can still be seen in the franchise’s cooperative and social elements. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive. Players praised the game’s unique blend of stealth, social manipulation, and psychological tension. The diverse cast of characters and the variety of game modes kept players engaged for hours on end. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer became a cult hit, with a dedicated community that continued to play the game long after its release. It was a breath of fresh air, deviating from the typical shooter-style multiplayer offerings that were so common at the time.
The Final Assassination: Remembering the Brotherhood
The success of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer can be attributed to several factors, but the most important was the unique and compelling roster of playable characters. Each character offered distinct skills, playstyles, and personalities, making the game incredibly diverse and engaging. The stealth oriented game play and psychological tension only added to the charm of these characters. Whether you were a master of deception like the Courtesan, a strategic manipulator like the Priest, or a brute force powerhouse like the Executioner, there was a character to suit your playstyle. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood’s multiplayer was more than just a game mode; it was a creative and innovative experience that left a lasting impression on the franchise and its fans. It was a testament to the power of social stealth and the importance of character diversity in creating a truly engaging multiplayer experience, and for that, it is fondly remembered. The game took risks, and the quality of those risks will never be forgotten.
