Bringing the Ezio trilogy to a perfect close, *AC Revelations* stands out because its plot isn't about revenge, but rather Ezio's quest for knowledge. The story is excellent; playing as Altaïr again is sublime, and gaining insight into his history is wonderful. Then, of course, there is the expansion of Desmond's story through DLC and the "Animus Island" sequences. I admit the DLC is a bit of a chore for trophy hunting and the like, but it’s worth it for the narrative expansion. Collectibles are a downside. Ishak Pasha’s pages are fine—there are only ten, and completing the associated parkour challenge unlocks a set of armor—but the Animus Data Fragments are terrible, especially when playing on modern consoles. Back in the day, you needed to collect a certain number to unlock Desmond's Island sequences, but that’s no longer the case, making it a tedious grind to collect 100 fragments with no real reward. Ubisoft also went overboard with the "Tax Templar" achievement, given the randomness of the tax collector NPC's appearance (he only showed up for me after 40 hours of gameplay). The trophy for buying every book is also extremely time-consuming, given the high cost of books in Cappadocia. The lack of a horse is glaring at times, as the tunnel network isn't as well-optimized as it was in *Brotherhood*; you often end up far from your objective and still have a long run ahead of you. On the positive side, the parkour has been improved—it’s incredibly smooth and satisfying—and the addition of the Hook Blade boosts movement speed. Combat has also been refined and feels more engaging. The game's greatest strength, however, is its recreation of Turkish culture; you learn a great deal about the Ottomans, Byzantines, sultans, Janissaries, and more—topics that are often unfamiliar to those of us in the West.
