Assassin's Creed III

The PC version of Assassin's Creed III is above and beyond what you will find on the console version. It's got better visuals, smoother frame rate, easier controls and better gameplay mechanics. It's not a difficult choice whatsoever when deciding on a platform to play this 'Game of the Year' contender on.

The best version so far. It solves many issues and keeps some others, and, even though it doesn't make the most of current PCs, we still think it's the best way to enjoy this outstanding game.

New Assassin's Creed probably should try harder to engage the player but yet in its current shape it is almost flawless. [Christmas 2012]

If you're looking for the best platform to play Assassin's Creed III, well, take a look at the PC version and you won't be disappointed.

Still, as flawed and frustrating as this game can be, Ubisoft has brought us one of the most ambitious, entertaining, and expertly-built games of 2012. Assassin's Creed 3 is overbearing and sometimes just a little too much to handle, but after you play it, you'll see why it's worth all the trouble.

Quotation forthcoming.

Assassin's Creed 3: The historical setting is well done, the game is full of great content, you can spend weeks of playing Assassin's Creed 3, having much fun with the new hero Connor. On the other hand, the game could have been released in a more polished state, and though the PC version is much better than that of the consoles, the graphics are not state-of-the-art.

The PC version has the technical edge on console versions and is therefore a slightly improved experience, but other than that it's got all the same triumphs and flaws: it isn't as huge an improvement upon its predecessors' achievements as many players will be hoping for, but it's still up there with the best that the series has achieved. Even if it isn't quite the best.

Assassin's Creed 3 offers a spectacular way to fill in the blanks in your knowledge of the American Revolution - it never holds back on scope, drama or action.

Although it's hard not to appreciate the story (the line between the good and the evil was never this thin in any previous Assassin's Creed) numerous technical issues prevent you from forgetting it's just a game. In addition controls are not very intuitive and low resolution textures occur far too often. Still it's definitely worth playing. [1/2013, p.52]

After the last chapters, the official third episode of the series manage to renew some gameplay mechanics, thanks to the amazing beauty of the Frontier and to the well designed naval battles.

Assassin's Creed III rekindled my love for the series. The new setting and characters were a great welcome for me, and the story was well told through some great writing and voice acting. There are some complications here and there that can bog the player down, but for the most part, the amount of content you get in this game is a steal for the price. The PC version is by far the best way to go if you have the rig for it, and the options for the PC players are satisfying.

What, no French revolution? For Europeans, birth of the United States is not really very interesting time nor environment. And after Ezio (or Haytham Kenway), Connor is bland, irritating protagonist. Game is also full of chores that add very little to the experience. [Jan 2013]

Assassin’s Creed III proves to be, despite its promises, a rather indecisive game. It comes with so many strong elements, that it could have been the best Assassin’s Creed ever, but it fails to harmonically balance those elements. [January 2013]

Even with these upgrades, in 2012 the series' looks are not as cutting edge anymore as they were four or five years ago. Apart from the jump in resolution and performance you'd expect from a title geared towards gaming PCs, there's not much eye candy that would elevate this experience on the same level as other current PC titles. It still does look good, though, especially if the clouds open up and the sun bathes the detailed landscapes in warm light and stark shadows. And you should never underestimate how a game like this profits from the boost in pixel density and temporal resolution. It's still, in short, the best version of this game – if you're willing to hook up a gamepad to your machine.

Visually this is the best version, if you have the appropriate hardware. But neither the top-notch storytelling nor the best visuals can hide the fact that in terms of gameplay the series is stagnant.

The biggest problem with a game this deep is that all the distractions prevent you from actually getting through the campaign, which I admit is fairly bizarre (and could be a very subjective criticism.) I kept thinking that playing through certain aspects were either required or would benefit me, when they actually weren't, and I could have just as easily blitzed through the campaign.

Assassin's Creed III may not be the sequel I hoped for, but it remains another solid entry in the time-bending franchise. The setting is a lot of fun to explore and the first half really works on a storytelling level. Unfortunately, the quality is thwarted by a weak villain, boring hero, and frustrating mission designs. Couple that with a disappointing ending and it's hard to be enthusiastic about Ubisoft's latest Assassin's Creed game.

Entertaining storytelling and fantastic naval combat marred by terrible mission design and endemic feature creep.