E3: Assassin's Creed 3 Game play.

Hunting Demo

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2012-assassins-creed/731077

Naval Battle Game play

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2012-assassins-creed/731104

Short Boston Game play

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/e3-2012-assassins-creed/731114

First I'd like to say that this game looks absolutely gorgeous. The environments look beautiful, a lot of detail and scope. The world is just so believable looking, and then you add that a weather system now exists in the world. The people around you look so much better and lively, they details in the face, the depth and emotion are improved so much. Animations look even more fluid than they did before. The new engine is really showing it's power and it just all looks good.

One of the bigger things that seems to be added game play wise, is hunting. Now you can hunt and kill animals, sell the fur for money which I am sure is going to go towards upgrades and whatever else they have in store. The footage shows Connor dashing through the snow, slipping through trees, scaling them, swinging from branch to branch stalking Deer. Once he catches up to them he slowly makes his way in and then takes his shot to land a killing blow, but this moment of success is short lived when he turns to discover that he wasn't the only one hunting. A pack of wolves have also looking for prey. The game cuts and puts the player in control and in typical quick AC fashion, he takes out the wolves in no time.

The hunting not only adds new stuff to do in the world, but it also adds a new threat when you're out and about preying on your next target. There is also the possibility of using these animals for your benefit, although not hinted at or anything, maybe there will be ways to lure a pack of wolves to distract a bunch of men to make it easier for the player to get to his target? Possibly, or just wishful thinking.

Although it wasn't pointed out in any of these videos, there was an interview where it was mentioned that there as going to be side missions, which is a new addition to the series. I am all for it, from what I have seen of this game so far, I am looking for every reason to explore as much as I can.

The Naval Battle game play is something that I did not expect to see at all. The water looks so beautiful, this might be a small detail to some but I've always loved realistic looking water in games. The sounds of the sea, your crew, cannonballs being shot off and whizzing by you, the folly of cannonballs you're shooting at enemy ships to sink them just all looks and sounds so good. It is really intense looking and a lot of fun.

The last snip of game play doesn't show all that much outside of very brief moment in Boston and a preview of weather effects, during this little showcase it is rain. Like I said earlier, this is just one thing that makes this world so much more livelier than any titles before it.

We also get to see that there is proper cover and that Connor can now assassinate enemies as they approach him from around corners. Just something small added that will only compliment the bigger things. This game is looking really good and I really can't wait to finally play it later this year.