Assassin's Creed Unity: Dead Kings

 Xbox One
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Eurogamer Italy
    Jan 15, 2015
    80
    With the Dead Kings DLC, Ubisoft has done a good job adding interesting mechanics and ideas to the original (and quite boring) Unity’s gameplay. Despite the lack of an interesting story, this DLC is entertaining thanks to the different peace granted by the Catacombs, with their nice puzzles. It’s a free DLC. Just enjoy it, and have fun.
  2. Eurogamer
    Jan 14, 2015
    80
    They say time heals all wounds, but free DLC can't hurt either. Dead Kings offers much for those still enamoured by the series, and its offering as a freebie is a fine gesture to anyone left aggrieved by last year's failings.
  3. IGN
    Jan 12, 2015
    78
    Despite a lackluster story and some unnecessary new obstacles, its large playable area and unique underground locations give you lots of opportunities to use its explosive new weaponry, hone your stealth or combat skills or simply experience more of what you enjoyed about Unity’s original release.
  5. SpazioGames
    Jan 21, 2015
    75
    Assassin's Creed Unity: Dead Kings surprised us as a solid and rich in content DLC, offering new challenge, a new and destructive weapon and numerous side quests that engage players for 6 to 8 hours: a good amount of time for what is a free DLC.
  6. Everyeye.it
    Jan 15, 2015
    70
    Dead Kings is free, but is it worth at least the 5/6 hours of gameplay it offers? To an extent, since the new location (at least underground) works as a change from what we're used to, but the gameplay feels a little bit off when enclosed in the maze-like catacombs.
  7. Hobby Consolas
    Jan 23, 2015
    69
    Dead Kings adds new weapons and puzzles to Assassin´s Creed Unity gameplay, with a darker approach and a couple of surprises for the fans. But still it has a poor storyline.
  8. CD-Action
    Mar 17, 2015
    65
    It carries you over to a drab, sad place and tells a story that doesn’t make sense. Maybe it would be best – both for Ubisoft and players – to just forget about Unity? [03/2014, p.72]
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  9. Destructoid
    Jan 15, 2015
    65
    There's an air of freshness about it that works in some ways and falls flat in others. Dead Kings isn't likely to reignite anyone's love for Assassin's Creed, but it certainly won't extinguish any existing flames, either.
  10. USgamer
    Jan 15, 2015
    60
    Dead Kings brings back the challenge rooms from Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Revelations. That means a dark, dank underground setting full of platforming and puzzles. If puzzles aren't your thing, Arno's latest tale may not be for you. For everyone else, it's a solid, but unspectacular addition to Unity.
  11. We Got This Covered
    Jan 14, 2015
    60
    Although it’s not something that you’ll remember for years to come, it’s serviceable and does a decent job of expanding the game’s universe.
  12. GameSpot
    Jan 14, 2015
    50
    As much as I appreciated the shift away from the crime investigation premise of Assassin's Creed Unity, sending Arno on a mere fetch quest turns Dead Kings into the blandest kind of open-world adventure, in which a man who used to be a hero is reduced to a mere errand boy.
  13. Metro GameCentral
    Jan 13, 2015
    50
    It makes the stealth more interesting and there’s a successful tonal shift from the main game, but free or not this expansion fails to improve on any of Unity’s major problems.
  14. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jan 16, 2015
    40
    Apologising for broken content with more broken content feels like a bit of a slap in the face, and Dead Kings' confusing, far-from-user-friendly new mechanics make this DLC a bit of a disappointing prospect.

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 65 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 65
  3. Negative: 26 out of 65
  1. TheQuietGamer
    Dec 31, 2015
    6
    Decent DLC for a bad game. This free bit of new content gives us another location to explore and a story that takes place after the events ofDecent DLC for a bad game. This free bit of new content gives us another location to explore and a story that takes place after the events of the main game. The gameplay is more puzzle oriented and the majority of the content takes place in France's underground catacombs. To be honest the majority of the complaints I have with this DLC are the ones that I have with the main game. This DLC is a step in the right direction, but the Unity's gameplay issues are still a problem.

    The storytelling hasn't improved here. In fact it might have even gotten worse. I had already written off the characters and conflict before I had started playing this so it's not a huge deal to me, but I honestly couldn't tell you what was going on here. Thankfully the new locations we get to explore have a wonderful atmosphere and are filled with things to do.

    Not only do we get missions that serve as a continuation of the main plot, but this new sandbox area also comes with a bunch of new side-content to tackle. The majority of it is collectible hunting, but the new side-missions, cooperative or otherwise, are actually worth tackling. I found myself actually doing some of it. Something I can't say about the main game.

    New changes are brought to the gameplay in the form of a devastating guillotine gun and the catacombs themselves. The catacombs are much more close quarters than the rest of the game. The use of the lamp in these sections is minor and ultimately not noteworthy. It's about how these location change your approach to combat and stealth. The new guillotine gun weapons pack a lot of punch and are quite fun to use.

    These new additions ultimately don't do much to change the experience, but they at least make it a little bit more entertaining. The real change comes from the new emphasis on puzzle solving. The puzzles are fun and bring back some of that classic AC feel to the game.

    It's a pretty brief experience that offers a few more hours of story-driven gameplay and even more side-content. There's plenty of new gear to collect and some cool new weapons to try out. The best thing about the DLC though out side of being free is that it adds some cool new features and inventive scenarios to a game that was severely lacking in both. It's just a shame that you have to put up with Unity's shortcomings in order to experience it. The crap gameplay for the main game keeps this DLC from being as enjoyable as it could have been. Why would one put up with suffering through the tainted core experience just to get to the enjoyable parts of this DLC?

    It's free and offers some solid new content. However playing it requires you to continue dealing with the flaws inherent with the design of Unity. Because of that it's hard to recommend. But if you are looking for more Unity this is the best way to continue playing it. Just know the irritating gameplay of the main game are still present. Only "Dead Kings" makes it all a little more bearable.    … Full Review »
  2. Mazmorrero47
    Jan 17, 2015
    10
    Overall, a pretty decent addition to Assassin's Creed Unity. Maybe a bit too heavy on puzzles, and there's barely any story, but if you enjoyOverall, a pretty decent addition to Assassin's Creed Unity. Maybe a bit too heavy on puzzles, and there's barely any story, but if you enjoy the traditional AC experience, this will make up for some entertaining 24 hours (the approximate amount of time to complete 100%).… Full Review »
  3. memus
    Oct 30, 2021
    5
    Feels like a rip-off of the original game:
    * The gray filter and missing crowds make Franciade look bad.
    * The graphical fidelity and    Feels like a rip-off of the original game:
    * The gray filter and missing crowds make Franciade look bad.
    * The graphical fidelity and direction are a step down from the main game. Feels more like an Xbox 360 era game.
    * The story is meh (and rushed).    … Full Review »
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