We talk about jaded gamers abstractly. Here's a living example? I don't know if ACO is good, yet. He says it is, while nitpicking it apart. Interesting review. Thanks for posting it. I do agree that the overarching story, set in the present, was handled poorly and then abandoned, basically. That was one of the strongest aspects of the AC premise. It even made the game feel more plausible. You don't die when you fail. (You're in a simulation/dream/memory.) You desync, and then you can try again. Combat was pretty piss poor in the early games, so having it change for the better, even if it becomes more generic, is probably a good thing. I thought combat was quite good in the last three real entries in the series. Maybe I'll get a chance to see how it compares in Origins.
The one thing he didn't cover is how "recurring player investments" (or is it "recurrent consumer spending"?) affect(s) the overall journey. That is an absolutely essential part of any competent review of a "triple-A" game, going forward from here.