Memory Block 2: The
Kingdom
The Assassin’s Headquarters you are in now is where all of your
missions are assigned. It is, in essence, Crackdown's Agency Tower, it
is the security room in Dead Rising, the Imperial City in Oblivion, CJs
house in San Andreas and the Castle in Shadow of the Colossus. It is
interesting that all these sandbox games have a central point from
which all missions are assigned. The building that is chosen in
Assassin’s Creed (as well as in Oblivion, Shadow of the Colossus, and
Crackdown) is so imposing and vertically prominent. Its as if these
games need a solid anchor to center all the free-roaming craziness that
can leave you wandering around the sandbox aimlessly.
Anyway, from the central hub of Masyaf head down the hill to the
stables steel a horse. You control Altair on his ride through the
Syrian countryside before reaching Damascus. Open your map by pressing
select button and head for Damascus’ cross icon. You can stop and
ascend any of the guard towers (identified by the eagle icons) to
reveal addition map details, however it is not at all necessary.
Scattered among the various bushes, barrels, stone walls,
and guard towers are a rabble of flags (this game’s collectable whats-it.) You
can’t redeem them for additional outfits for Altair and they definitely do not
unlock big head mode. Other than the XBOX 360 achievement points, there is no
reason to collect them. In fact, the game’s creative director Patrice Desilets
“suggested he could have done without them but said others on his team thought
players would enjoy gathering them.” So, because the game’s director didn’t
have the balls to tell someone “no,” you are stuck wasting hours collecting the
flags.
Whether you collect the flags or not, you should spend a
little time exploring the off-the-path wilderness of this over-world. The
landscape is pretty well-kept
considering this is a war ravaged nation. It is amazing how little
details like an extra cypress tree here or there can make the world feel so
much more real. I haven’t tried it yet but I bet ridding through Shadow of
the Colossus’s over-world again will seem sterile and unnatural.
When you finally do get to the
Damascus’ city gates, they are
blocked by guards. Climbing a nearby tower unveils a citizen who is under
attack. When you kill the attackers and free the citizen, a cluster of white
clad scholars/monks appear. Use them for cover and slink into the city.
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Assassin's Creed 
