Gabe @ Penny Arcade says the reason it got poor reviews from some sites is that they didn't take the time to actually play it. Can anyone echo any sentiments on this?

Well to be fair, repitition isn't always a big deal to some people. 

I mean how many people play MMORPGS... which are nothing but repeititve grindfests, broken up for the occasional getting together a party for a repetitive grindfest.

Oh I realize, but a lack of game variety was one of the primary concerns in reviews (after bad AI that is)

Matters, every time ive assassinated someone and moved on to the new chapter ive aquired something new (weapon, moves)

Im not far in only 2 people assassinated, but ive put a good 10 hours into it

If you do all the side quests, i bet its a 30+hour game easily, and thats not including finding all the hidden climbing flags

I can see where the combat could get boring, but im still having fun with it, for what little they put they did it very well.

And this is where i think the score should be lowered.

Its the same thing every town, you gather info, save some citizens, go to view points, its all the same. This is where the game is dissapointing, though assassinating targets is fun.

In terms of AI, its really not as bad as the reviewers put it. Everything works quite well, you run into people they get pissed as hell, and ive had a few people punch me for it. People are always watching you, always commenting on what you are doing, and in fights, ive had way to many times where ive had all the guards go for me at once. Ive had multiple times where if i brutally kill a guard, the other one will start screaming and running, and you chase him down and have your way with him ;)

Some really stupid AI are

-Guards chasing you for freaking miles unless you take cover (when your exploring the country, not the towns)

-Assassinating a guard, while the other guard is watching, only for him to walk over and go "who did this!"

- Some of the citizens are just plain stupid

-Overall your ability to get away with things is to easy. In some spots its alright though

-Guards on rooftops feel threatened at some points and point an arrow at you, you pull a sword and they do nothing until you kill them or provoke them. (sometimes they do just get angered for no reason)

-Riding a horse in a fast manner, angers guards, and for some reason going slow doesnt.....

-pretty much just little things.

epsilon72 said: Lost tears of Kain said: -Assassinating a guard, while the other guard is watching, only for him to walk over and go "who did this!" That reminds me of Oblivion.  Although they aren't quite as dumb as in that example....You kill a guard just for the heck of it, and another who was in plain site runs up and touches the dead one and exclaims "the body is still warm...THERE'S A KILLER ON THE LOOSE!"  Most of the time (unless you were sneaking) they realize it was you and start chasing you.  I don't know why, but it cracks me up every time.

Yep, thankfully, if they are directing staring at you, and your in the red or so, then they will get angered by it and draw sword on you.

But, if they are not directly looking your free to do what you want, unless you assassinate in non stealth, then if they are in the area then they will be angered.

But seriously, if i wanted to, i could kill everything asassinating and never get caught, would take patients and know what im doing, but it can be that easy, but whats the fun in that, that and sometimes there are expections...

Yep, sadly Ive taken AC off my list of must haves for this year and relegated it to "when its $30 used at Gamestop I'll buy it". The reviews are unanimous on too many things that bother me, like the disappointing combat, repetitiveness and unpolished feel. I still want it but not for $60.

Instead I'll be getting COD4, which didnt interest me too much at first but I keep hearing really good things..... 

Yes i would put COD 4 above AC, but if you had the 60 bucks its well worth it.
I have yet to regret it, or stop enjoying the game yet.

I strongly recommend people rent it, because the experience of freely exploring the towns is one that shouldn't be missed. My friend and I gave the game a good 5-6 hours today. However, it is another game that I don't think I would pay full price for. The best part was screwing around. The actual assassination's weren't all that great, and it doesn't take long for you to run out of ways to screw around.