First Assassin's Creed: Lineage episode is surprisingly great

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 27th 2009 at 10:27AM }

We weren't surprised when the first of three episodes in the Assassin's Creed: Lineage miniseries, created by Hybride Studios, exceeded our expectations. These folks did the effects for 300 and Sin City -- so of course we knew it would look great. Our surprise simply came from the fact that Lineage is a promotional, game-based short film; and nearly all of the words in that phrase seem contrary to high quality. Share in our surprise by watching the first Lineage installment after the jump.

If you'd like a bit of behind-the-scenes info into how the film was created, check out this GamesIndustry.biz interview with Ubisoft UK marketing director Murray Pannel. He does a good job of clearly explaining the game and movie industry synergy -- you know, what James Cameron alluded to during his fateful, four-week-long E3 2009 speech.

Tags: assassins-creed, assassins-creed-2, assassins-creed-lineage, film, hybride-studios, marketing, movie, short-film, ubisoft

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Darth Bradwart, Dark Lord of the Sith @ Oct 27th 2009 10:30AM

Eh, the Halo short films done by Weta weren't bad, but I see your point. Perhaps there is hope for the future.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 27th 2009 10:34AM

I love the way when he's got the little superhero esque equipment check, and one of the shots is him folding down his lapel.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 27th 2009 10:51AM

also was anyone else completely confused by the end? I had no idea who was who and who was working for who.

Sidebuster @ Oct 27th 2009 12:01PM

I know I was. I kind of figured it out in the end. The funny thing was though, that I thought the game was about the main guy in this movie (Geovani) but then when he said his sons name I had a OHHHHHhhhh moment.

Alex M @ Oct 27th 2009 12:56PM

I was going to try to explain, but it's probably best if you just see it again. Here's a small attempt.

Assassin is Giovanni, he has a wife and two kids (at least), they are the ones in the second to last scene, playing chess.

He works for Medici. And the rich guy who dies (some Duke, apparently) was one of Medici's allies. The fat guy with Medici also works for him, obviously.

The Moor looked like the Duke's bodyguard.

Everybody else is a bad guy of some sort or an innocent by-stander.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 27th 2009 1:20PM

The Moor was probably what confused me the most, it looked to me like he was working with the guy who killed the duke, not for the Duke, and then he kills that guy.

Derick @ Oct 27th 2009 3:19PM

Who was working for whom. Also, it all seemed pretty straight forward. The duke came for his day and a group of people came to assassinate him. Ezio's father is on the side of the Medici family and the duke was one of their allies. So you have the Medici team and those opposed.

AlpahGeeeK @ Oct 27th 2009 10:55AM

Pretty cool for a game's promo.

antilight @ Oct 27th 2009 10:57AM

That was actually quite good! Wire work was a bit.... meh (somewhat obvious), but the rest was pretty cool.

Bluemanrule @ Oct 27th 2009 10:59AM

Briliant. I'm really feeling AC2 now. I will treat it like the first and pick it up at a discount down the line. Still, a must play though.

MrXile @ Oct 27th 2009 11:08AM

Nice touch from Ubisoft having this ; makes the game seem cool :D

Alex M @ Oct 27th 2009 1:00PM

It *was* a little weird that they spoke English with a fake Italian accent, and then said things like "avanti!" or "amore!" ...

The vocal coaching was probably outside of the budget. Or they just didn't care.

But it was pretty good, and I commend Ubisoft and Hybride for their work. I'll be looking forward for the next two episodes!

Dekox @ Oct 27th 2009 11:18AM

Too bad it's not in italian with subtitles, though. I'm not sure there were many firenze noblemen who spoke english back then.

Alex M @ Oct 27th 2009 1:01PM

Curses. My reply to you went to MrXile ...

Meh @ Oct 27th 2009 2:51PM

Don't you know? Animus is translating it in real-time. Of course, when it comes to widely-known words (like "avanti", or some Arabic in the first game), Animus doesn't bother - it's that smart.

Doctor John Smith @ Oct 27th 2009 3:01PM

Given that the series itself takes place in the brain of an english speaking guy, it's possible that the memories are just processed in a way where he can interpret them.

I haven't played the original though, so someone correct me please if they do actually explain the speaking thing in-game.

Meh @ Oct 27th 2009 4:31PM

"Given that the series itself takes place in the brain of an english speaking guy, it's possible that the memories are just processed in a way where he can interpret them."

This is actually how memories work, and I was shocked after hearing the game's half-assed explanation.

Mazrael @ Oct 27th 2009 11:22AM

Has anyone seen the game running yet? My mate seen it some where, (HMV, Gametrailers).. and it had really bad screen tear.. hopefully it's just old code

fffunfarm06 @ Oct 27th 2009 11:47AM

thats how all GT vids are. most 2 year old computers cant process flash fast enough and that they lower the bit rate.

I enjoyed it. I was like either watching a high production soap opera, or a low budget, perhaps a pilot episode of some evening drama show

andyface @ Oct 27th 2009 1:33PM

I saw the game at MCM Expo in London last weekend (feel like i've been talking about that loads recently), and it looked pretty sweet. Annoyingly it was hands-off (which is a bit surprising seeing it releases in a month) so had to watch the ubisoft guys play it (one of whom was pretty crap) so didn't get a great feel for the gameplay, but was told that things like the mission system was improved over the last and some of the fight counters looked really nice, seems like the use of hands could actually be a viable combat method with some enemies, allowing you to dodge sword strikes and grab their arm so you can disarm them and use their own weapon against them. Didn't notice anything major with regard to graphic glitches or anything so I'm definitely looking forward to getting hands on with it when it releases.

BacteriaEP @ Oct 27th 2009 11:26AM

Can I just get a full blown movie now? It passed the test... I want more...

BacteriaEP @ Oct 27th 2009 11:27AM

I think that was the point... build up intrigue for the game and all that.

Traceur_Ryuk [All Digital until December] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Oct 27th 2009 11:29AM

It was alright, the acting wasn't very good. But overall better than expected.

Vadrix @ Oct 27th 2009 11:32AM

When are we going to be getting any good games turned into actually hollywood blockbusters. After seeing this imagine how good of a movie could be made on a full budget.

Widmer @ Oct 27th 2009 12:20PM

C'mon, you know Hollywood would screw it up. Just like every other game to movie adaptation.

pearl @ Oct 27th 2009 11:42AM

I suprisingly enjoyed that.

Still, it seems that no matter what you do you cant get hoods to work in real life the same way they do in games. YOU FOIL US AGAIN FABRIC!

Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 27th 2009 11:44AM

I don't like Ezio's outfit. It looks too, "costume-y". Not "assassin-y" enough like it does in the game.

fffunfarm06 @ Oct 27th 2009 11:50AM

thats enzios dads suit. im sure its supposed to look throwback. when enzio steps into his friend davinci's hoodie, I bet its gonna rock

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 27th 2009 1:21PM

no, that's pretty much exactly what it'll look like in the game, at least before you go all willy nilly with upgrades and dyes. Also, what the hell are you talking about? It's not da vinci's suit, it's his dad's.

Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 27th 2009 1:32PM

I know it looks like the outfit from the game, but like the comment above mine, fabric never translates well from game to live action. It just looks so sexy in the game, the way the fabric moves. Like it has weight to it and has more texture. The live action feels more like a cosplay or Halloween costume more than anything.

james @ Oct 27th 2009 2:01PM

i know what you mean. i think the hood especially looks kinda bleh.

Tim @ Oct 27th 2009 12:00PM

We weren't surprised when it exceeded our expectations? That doesn't make any sense. :oP

Derick @ Oct 27th 2009 3:25PM

Expectations of general game-related promos exceeded unsurprisingly by the studio that tends to do great work.

I think it makes sense if you *really* want it to. Still, you're right, it's not very clear.

J.D.M @ Oct 27th 2009 12:05PM

Dang, the production design is on par with some multimillion dollar movies these days. How can they do this? Where will this be shown? (i.e. probably not on television as a commercial, so who's gonna watch a short film, besides gamers)
Well done none the less.

Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Oct 27th 2009 1:53PM

That's because Ubisoft owns Hybride Technologies, the company that is responsible for the visual effects in movies such as 300 and Avatar.

MannyCalvo @ Oct 27th 2009 12:30PM

Now this is how you promote a game.. Wow wish Sony would do promotions like this for Big Titles in their lineup... Bravo Ubisoft.

SuperGayParade @ Oct 27th 2009 12:51PM

"We weren't surprised when the first of three episodes in the Assassin's Creed: Lineage miniseries, created by Hybride Studios, exceeded our expectations."

WTH joystiq? Weren't surprised, exceeded expectations. If it exceeded your expectations, you are surprised because you didn't expect it...

MOT @ Oct 27th 2009 1:18PM

I think this article oversells it. It was good as far as it actually looked well produced for a game promo, but other than that it was boring. Not enough dialog by the assassin, just a swordfight with no assassination with the hidden blade. By the way, isn't the blade too big?

How can I get into the character of the assassin when all he does are intense stares? I'm intrigued to see the next one, and this is a well produced game promo, but it's nothing to be too exited over.

Dragod @ Oct 27th 2009 5:20PM

When was the last time you had an extended conversation with an Assassin?

That's what I thought.

warrenEBB @ Oct 27th 2009 1:34PM

more like "to be COINtinued" am i rite?

gib @ Oct 27th 2009 1:57PM

know, you are knot...

The_Punisher @ Oct 27th 2009 2:10PM

No.

Lloyd @ Oct 27th 2009 2:14PM

this is impressive. now i'm very curious about the rest of the story, and thus likely to buy the game. nice job ubisoft, more please.

pearl @ Oct 27th 2009 2:33PM

could not have said it better captain planet.

the fabric looks like it has weight in the game, this looks like a cosplay

Derick @ Oct 27th 2009 3:29PM

But really good cosplay. It's not exactly the right costuming for the time, but they make his 'costume' look like it would fit in with the common citizen's.

Phil @ Oct 27th 2009 3:47PM

I watched the video and I liked it. Eagerly awaiting the other parts.

On a side not tho am I the only one creeped out by the screengrab that joystiq got for his article? It makes him look... I dunno.... alien or something.

freaparn @ Oct 27th 2009 7:41PM

Hah, I thought the same thing when I scrolled down to the article, sort of "...what the hell is that melty-face creature?" Just an odd combination of angle, clothing, and hair I suppose, but it makes him look like Gollum's cousin at first glance.

Robert @ Oct 27th 2009 5:13PM

so I guess I'm the only person who thought the episode sucked.

Awesome production, but if we peel away the AC2 title, I thought it was a bland start to a series at best. Super cliche, talked a lot, said nothing. If this was just a regular show on TV, I wouldn't bother watching it, but since this is AC, I'll give it another try.