The Secrets of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

Of all the things we loved about Assassin's Creed 2, its Secret Locations were one of the game's less-trumpeted features that tickled our fancies the most. Tucked away among the treachery and rooftop gambolling, Ubisoft saw fit to pay homage to one of its most beloved franchises. Channelling the spirit of Prince of Persia's past, these Secret Locations, buried in catacombs and hoisted high in resplendent rafters of Renaissance Italy, saw Ezio ditching the parkour act for some altogether more traditional platforming.

There's good news then for Secret Location fans as Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood features six brand new areas to explore. And, judging by our sneak peak at the earliest in the game, they could very well prove to be the highlight of the single-player experience once again.

As before, your first taste of Brotherhood's Secret Locations is in a mandatory mission cropping up late in Sequence Two of the game. Entering the Baths of Nero, you're charged with locating the Shrine of Romulus. Of course, mythology fans should recognise that name - twins Romulus and Remus were said to be the founders of Rome, raised by a she-wolf after being left in the wilderness to die as children. As you work your way through Brotherhood's six Secret Locations, you'll learn more of the mysterious cult Sons of Romulus, seen outfitted in wolf skin shrouds during sporadic glimpses throughout this early section.

Things don't start off easily and your first task is to find your way into the Baths of Romulus. You're left to your own devices and to mull over the scene in front of you: a vast, once resplendent, chamber now ravaged by time. The ceiling raises into darkness and crumbling pillars surround an empty pool in the centre of the room. It's all a bit of a blast from the past and, like earlier Prince of Persia games, thorough observation is the key to progress.

A crumbling balcony hangs overhead and your first task is to find a route up above. There're no glowing ledges to guide you here so it's all down to careful scrutiny of your environment, not to mention a bit of trial and error. Eventually, you'll realise it's possible to shimmy up and along the columns ahead to reach the first of four levers dotted above. You'll need to find the circuitous route to pull them all - something that took us more than a few stumbling attempts - but eventually you'll fill that central pool with water, bringing huge chunks of masonry crashing down and blasting a hole down to the lower levels.

Next up, your job is to find your way out of a chamber with four gated passageways leading off in each direction. Again, it's a case of studying your surroundings to slowly work your way around the rafters, clinging onto outcrops and swinging from a conveniently placed lanterns. From there, you've got ancient traps and mechanisms to overcome, including a floor of flame, before winding your way to a huge underground amphitheatre.

We could go on but you probably get the idea. The important thing is that Ubisoft has stepped up its game this time and this early Secret Location is easily on par with its predecessor's exemplary later levels. There's none of the early hand-holding from the last game either and, if the Baths of Nero are a taste of what's to come, we can't wait to play more. Sure, it's but a small part of the overall Brotherhood experience but if these Secret Locations are any indication of the effort that's gone into this follow-up then Ubisoft should finally be able to lay concerns of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood being an quick-and-dirty cash-in to rest.
here's some new images:

OH...MY...GOD....................I Cannot wait

Same here, But am more excited for SVR 11