The middle-eastern setting for Assassin’s Creed is one of the most beautiful videogame environments ever, but the lack of variety in its gameplay means it’s little more than a pretty face.

The action revolves around a disgraced Assassin trying to work his way back through the ranks of his order by carrying out a series of murders for his superiors. Navigation around the world is handled by one of the best platforming systems in any game to date, which sees your character freerunning effortlessly through the crowded streets and over the bright rooftops of 14th Century Jerusalem.

Assassin’s Creed has all the makings of an instant classic, and the first four hours of play will likely blow most gamers away. However, it quickly becomes tired as the missions all follow a set pattern and there’s only so many times you can run away from soldiers and still enjoy it, no matter how stylish it looks.

It’s a shame that Assassin’s Creed fails to deliver enough variety, especially given the incredible potential on show here. A decent enough game, but for those who don’t mind waiting, the inevitable sequel is bound to be loads better.