9. Multiple Actor Motion Capture
Thanks to improved technology made possible with AnvilNext - the completely new game engine redesigned and rebuilt for AC III - it was possible to employ some new motion capture techniques, the largest of which was the ability to mo-cap multiple actors at the same time. Meaning that, effectively, each cutscene was shot much like an actual movie would be, with the actors actually having to play the scene out live and perform their dialogue to other living people. As a result, AC III's cutscenes are astonishingly cinematic, more so in fact than anything I've seen in previous titles. Often, I found myself completely immersed in these scenes thanks to some genuinely impressive acting (particularly from
Adrian Hough who played Haytham Kenway superbly). Now I'm not saying that previous AC games featured terrible motion capture, or terrible performances either for that matter, I'm simply arguing that, thanks to improvements brought on by the rebuilt engine, AC III boast easily the most cinematic story presentation the franchise has to offer.