Gamertell

Tuesday was certainly an eventful day for DS owners. Two very intriguing titles came out on the same day. These are instant classics. Games which will remain in your system for at least two weeks straight.

Of course I’m talking about Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles and Zoo Tycoon 2.

This kind of event leaves everyone in a tizzy! You have to decide which one to buy, play and love forever. Plus, when there are such quality titles like these, you can’t just rush in. You have to weigh the two sides evenly against each other and determine the pros and cons before making a life changing decision. So we’re going to match up and examine the two titles, side by side, in some very pertinent categories and see which one stands out.

Story
Assassin’s Creed has one. Zoo Tycoon 2 doesn’t really have one.

I know it will seem unfair, but I want to judge the two games as equal on this front. Mainly because Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles has such a flimsy story. Go get the chalice. Big deal. Zoo Tycoon 2 is the same way, but at least it has an excuse. The whole point of that game is to build and run a zoo. You’re not expecting a thrilling adventure. In Assassin’s Creed you are, or were if you’ve already purchased and played it.

Graphics
Assassin’s Creed looks passable and decent, in a rudimentary sort of way, provided you squint. Zoo Tycoon 2 has little walking pegs and assorted blobs.

Zoo Tycoon 2 fails here. Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles looks bad, but it doesn’t look that bad.

Sound
Assassin’s Creed has boring, monotonous music which doesn’t add anything to the playing experience. Zoo Tycoon 2 has boring, monotonous music which doesn’t add anything to the playing experience.

I have an idea for a fun experiment! Let’s swap the music on these two games. Have the Assassin’s Creed muzak playing while you create animal enclosures and Zoo Tycoon’s going on while you attack and decimate Templar forces. Maybe it would work. Maybe it wouldn’t. Its worth a try, since the original soundtracks for each game aren’t adding anything.

Animals
Assassin’s Creed has horses in the cut-scenes and stuff. Zoo Tycoon 2 has dinosaurs and unicorns.

Dinosaurs and unicorns trump horses any day. Its like asking kids if they’d rather watch Jurassic Park, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (There was a unicorn in it. It was dead, but it was there!) or Flicka. Same principle applies here.

Assassins
Assassin’s Creed has them. Zoo Tycoon 2 doesn’t.

Assassins are pretty cool. They’re kind of like ninjas, only not Japanese. The idea that a game has them in there makes it instantly cool. Zoo Tycoon 2 doesn’t have assassins. Unless you count cheetahs, because cheetahs are nature’s assassins. Of course the cheetahs in Zoo Tycoon don’t go attacking people.

Loading times
Assassin’s Creed has them. Zoo Tycoon 2 doesn’t.

Frankly the loading times in Assassin’s Creed just boggle my mind. I can’t seem to see any reason for it. The graphics aren’t that good. There isn’t that much going on. The environments aren’t huge or open-ended. I could understand loading before a cinematic movie, but there aren’t that many! There isn’t even voice acting! Final Fantasy III on the DS didn’t have noticeable load times between cut-scenes. Final Fantasy IV for the DS had voice acting and cut-scenes and it had imperceptible load times. So why is there a nearly 1 minute load time between stages in Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles? Perhaps its like the Tootsie Pop thing - the world will never know.

Street cred
Assassin’s Creed might make you sound cool. Zoo Tycoon 2 doesn’t.

This part could be debatable. If you just say, “I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed,” you’ll sound awesome. People will love you. If you add that it was Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles, that reaction could completely change. There could be laughter, and quite possibly mocking. It all comes down to those two extra words and your judgment as to whether to include or exclude them. Zoo Tycoon really doesn’t have any sort of pride associated with it, it really is just kind of there. Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles just barely comes out on top here.

And the winner is…

Sorry Altair, but Zoo Tycoon 2 wins this round. Don’t worry though, you’ll both be forgotten in a matter of days once Professor Layton and the Curious Village is available.

Product Page [Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles] Product Page [Zoo Tycoon 2]