It seems Ubisoft have forged themselves a tricky task, with expectations for Assassin's Creed running very high. Many gamers appear to be wanting that next big step in game development as we head into the second phase of the 360 and PS3. With the likes of Call of Duty 4 breaking the mold and being hailed as a genre defining experience, can Assassin's Creed's original approach to stealth-based action teach Sam Fisher or Solid Snake a thing or two? Let's take a journey back to Middle Ages to find out.

The year is 1191 and the Crusades are in full swing. Richard the Lionheart leaves a trail of devastation across the Holy land, as those unwilling to submit to Christianity are slain without remorse. You are Altair, a fearless individual whose purpose in life is to serve his master's wishes by acting as a blade in the crowd. As a member of a secret sect of assassins, bound only by their own creed, you will be responsible for changing the world as you take out the 9 key members of Richard's crusade.

Fleeing from enemies is one of the most entertaining aspects of Assassin's Creed.

Though you play as Altair, you aren't technically in control of him. You are actually a young man named Desmond Miles, a descendant of Altair. Unfortunately for him, he has the secrets of the assassins deeply ingrained in his DNA. There are those ruthless enough to kidnap Desmond to get that information, no matter the cost. These individuals are fighting a secret war that has spanned back to the Crusades, and are still known today as the Knights Templar. In their modern guise, they have the means to extract this information by placing Altair's descendant into a machine called the Animus, and this is the projector through which we view Altair's journey.

The format of the game sees the player free roaming a large environment with various assassination targets being assigned by the master. It's then up to you to choose which target to hunt down first. That's just the start, though. Stripped of rank at the beginning of the story, Altair must seek permission to pursue each target from the Assassin's Bureau in that city before beginning his mission. However, you don't just go out and find your target before sinking a blade into them.

In each city there are high points scattered throughout. These are often towers belonging to mosques, or parts of the city ramparts. Once you have unlocked a few high points by climbing them and taking in your surroundings, you form a map of the area and reveal tasks for you to take on. These range from interrogation duties to helping fellow assassins and informants with their assignments, and are vital in collecting enough information to formulate a plan of action. You'll need to complete three of these side missions before you'll be permitted to eliminate your target.

Next comes the assassination itself, which can go horribly wrong with poor planning. This is where Altair's physical abilities shine, as he has the ability to scale any surface with a hand hold. The game has an awareness indicator that changes color from white to yellow to show that guards are suspicious of you and your actions. Once the target is dead, they will give chase, and the indicator will flash red, informing you to run away before you get killed. The key is to break the line of sight between Altair and his enemies before finding a suitable hiding spot to let things cool down. It's good that moving around quickly is made simple by the excellent control system, which involves holding the run button and then applying a sprint/free run button at the right moment to automatically leap from rafter to rafter of broken buildings or quickly scramble up a wall to reach a hand hold. This system is intuitive and works brilliantly throughout.

One of the most impressive ways to shake off a large number of guards is to climb a high point. That may seem like madness, as the city guards can also climb and jump from roof to roof, albeit not quite as fluidly as Altair. However, reaching the top of these viewpoints offers an interesting alternate route, which is straight down. Anywhere in the game world where Pigeons can be seen roosting Altair can perform a death defying swan dive, known as the Leap of Faith. As shown in one of the story's earlier cutscenes, this is a ritualistic jump, used by the assassins to give the illusion of a complete lack of fear when it comes to horribly painful death. It is, in fact, a parlor trick where an assassin jumps into a conveniently placed hay stack. Doing this leaves your enemies convinced of your death, and therefore the search for you will be called off. The gameplay is just packed full of original ideas like this.

On the other hand, the game's swordplay is probably its weakest link. While this is no hack-and-slash affair, there is a bit of repetition and ease to the combat, and this is due to both the simplistic enemy AI and the counter system. Counterattacks are key in Assassin's Creed, with battles being arranged so that a successful counter will most likely execute an enemy with a move that's both flashy and gruesome. Failing to master this tactic may lead to some frustration early on, as enemies know how to block and counter themselves. But once you get the timing of this down, you'll easily mow through tons of enemies, as they only attack individually, leaving you with ample time to dispatch them one by one.

The view is truly phenomenal.

The game world is pretty big, so there's plenty to explore for those who love the free roaming aspect of gaming. There are also various flags scattered across each city and landscape, making the game a scavenger's dream. The collection of these items is not a primary concern and doesn't affect the story, so you're not forced to find anything that you don't want to. Cities are adjoined by an area of wilderness, which you'll need to traverse via horse. In the early stages of the game, it can be a bit annoying to have to travel back and forth every time you complete an assignment. However, as you progress, you are given the option to fast travel to each city, which remedies this issue.

Graphically speaking, all aspects of the game look great. If Oblivion's Imperial City impressed you as it loomed into view, then Assassin's Creed will leave your jaw on the floor. Riding towards a never before seen city or area is always a breathtaking moment, carrying a dramatic sense of realism. Buildings in the distance look like a beautifully designed backdrop until you realize that they are another part of the environment which can eventually be explored. This is one of the most outstanding features in the game, and the draw distance in combination with the city designs are unsurpassed by virtually any other title. The fantastic character models and animation also add to the high visual quality. When you're not amazed by the detail of the citizens that inhabit each city, you'll be astounded by Altair's fluid movements, both in combat and from rooftop to rooftop. All of these factors create an excellently well-presented package. Factoring in the lush ambient sounds of medieval city life and the well-suited soundtrack, Assassin's Creed stands as an incredibly polished and attractive title.

Overall, Assassin's Creed is a truly original property, and deserves much merit for its fresh approach to stealth gameplay. The freedom to climb and move so adeptly is brilliantly implemented, and having AI that is able and willing to give chase considerably adds to the realism. And although the combat may get a bit repetitious, it's offset by option of fleeing the scene. If you combine that with graphics that are stunningly drawn and excellent sound production, you're left with a living, breathing holy land that you'll be enjoying for some time to come.