Anticipation galore...!

I am sure I am not alone in my anticipation for the coming of next week, and specifically the release of Assassin's Creed. After years of hearing stories of a game, part Thief, part Prince of Persia, the time has finally come - well, almost. While most of the site is mired down in lust for Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4, I'm waiting for my chance to climb through the cities of the middle east, target the scum of the time, and bring their miserable lives to an end.

In keeping tabs on the game as it nears release, we've been treated to many videos and trailers that highlight several key aspects to the game, in particular the fighting mechanism and the exploration part of the game. The former looks to be simply awesome, with promises of epic fights and ... from what I've read ... over 200 individual animated combat moves that take place depending on stance, opponent position, and a myriad of other factors. And then there is the later - the climbing of the cities. I don't know about everyone else, but the most entertaining part of Crackdown was seeing a tall building off in the distance, and have to get to the top. Case in point: who doesn't remember climbing to the top of the Agency Tower the first time? I sure do, and it was awesome. The climbs and climbing animations takes that of Crackdown, doses it up with Amphedimines, a healthy dose caffeine, and then runs it on a treadmill at max speed. That is...it takes it to the next level, and I can't wait to see it.

So, with three more days to wait, I give you another bit of exclusive gameplay video. Enjoy!