Each episode of this DLC was better than the last, and I almost cheered when the second episode actively restrains your progression slightly so you just don't do everything. The most basic gameplay functions are actually present here! Unfortunately, most of the quests are little more than fetch quests and as Kassandra/Alexios quotes so well in episode 3: "Go do this, Go fetch this, Go kill him." Just because you say this joke doesn't mean you're funny ubisoft!
I really liked the stories as the episodes went on, however:
- Episode 1 dragged heavily with really bad voice acting and a bit too tedious of tasks imo, but the brief mission with Leonidas was very nice, but I wish it was longer.
- Episode 2 was much better, the repetive gameplay was still here definitely but the story revolved mostly about Kassandra/Alexios helping those from their past and not just helping them move on, but saying goodbye in a way that matters to the player. Was very good stuff! The Phoibe quest especially was awesome. Again, wish it was longer in those regards!
- Episode 3 had probably the coolest buildup, in which you're making a lot of choices and having to do things to be the judge of Atlantis. A great premise that is utterly RUINED by the end because it does the whole ME3 thing, in that the choices you make don't matter.
Speaking of those choices, that's what annoyed me the most of this DLC. Finally, it felt like Ubisoft was fully understanding what choice-based story could be! Choices would be made that directly influenced what would happen in these realms you travel to, because these are your trials, these are tests! But by the end, we lose any sort of possibility that something could change, that you could fail or anything because things have to go a certain way. In Kassandra's case, I can forgive that since you're playing through Layla in the Animus (Once again, it was a bad choice for Ubisoft to input choices in their gameplay of reliving memories! what the fuck that doesn't make any sense!), but even in Layla's eventual choices, nothing changes. Because the story has to go a certain way. It was annoying! Why have choices if you're just going to write an extremely linear story?
I will give the gameplay and art direction massive points though, because the art direction and designs were very fresh and cool (except for the Isu, they felt very uninspired) but each location was so cool and neat to explore, especially Atlantis!
The gameplay and combat also got new things to mess around with, namely a whole new enemy type that you have to strategize with better, and to think about and change up your styles for. It was cool! Felt new, fresh, and most importantly more difficult as the enemies got more powerful!
That's all I have to say though. This game was mid, the DLC was mid, and I cannot fucking believe this took up more than 300 hours of my life.
I really liked the stories as the episodes went on, however:
- Episode 1 dragged heavily with really bad voice acting and a bit too tedious of tasks imo, but the brief mission with Leonidas was very nice, but I wish it was longer.
- Episode 2 was much better, the repetive gameplay was still here definitely but the story revolved mostly about Kassandra/Alexios helping those from their past and not just helping them move on, but saying goodbye in a way that matters to the player. Was very good stuff! The Phoibe quest especially was awesome. Again, wish it was longer in those regards!
- Episode 3 had probably the coolest buildup, in which you're making a lot of choices and having to do things to be the judge of Atlantis. A great premise that is utterly RUINED by the end because it does the whole ME3 thing, in that the choices you make don't matter.
Speaking of those choices, that's what annoyed me the most of this DLC. Finally, it felt like Ubisoft was fully understanding what choice-based story could be! Choices would be made that directly influenced what would happen in these realms you travel to, because these are your trials, these are tests! But by the end, we lose any sort of possibility that something could change, that you could fail or anything because things have to go a certain way. In Kassandra's case, I can forgive that since you're playing through Layla in the Animus (Once again, it was a bad choice for Ubisoft to input choices in their gameplay of reliving memories! what the fuck that doesn't make any sense!), but even in Layla's eventual choices, nothing changes. Because the story has to go a certain way. It was annoying! Why have choices if you're just going to write an extremely linear story?
I will give the gameplay and art direction massive points though, because the art direction and designs were very fresh and cool (except for the Isu, they felt very uninspired) but each location was so cool and neat to explore, especially Atlantis!
The gameplay and combat also got new things to mess around with, namely a whole new enemy type that you have to strategize with better, and to think about and change up your styles for. It was cool! Felt new, fresh, and most importantly more difficult as the enemies got more powerful!
That's all I have to say though. This game was mid, the DLC was mid, and I cannot fucking believe this took up more than 300 hours of my life.