Assassin's Creed III Gameplay Trailer Released

Ubisoft's blockbuster running, jumping and stabbing franchise Assassin's Creed has been stuck in Renaissance-era Italy for the last three games, but it's making a big change with its next installment. Assassin”s Creed III shifts the stage to the American Revolution, and in doing so has reignited excitement among sneaky gamers. The latest trailer shows off the first gameplay as protagonist Connor Kenway literally hunts down his targets.

In shifting to colonial America, Assassin's Creed has some major hurdles to pass to keep its core gameplay intact. Instead of the vibrant cityscapes of the Mediterranean, players must traverse a harsh and unforgiving wooded landscape where towns are few and small. Ubisoft has adapted the rooftop-heavy freerunning of previous games to focus on silently traversing through the trees, sneaking up on British troops to make the kill. Players won't be the only dangerous things in the woods, as the local wildlife will be drawn by kills.

The more fanciful weaponry of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Revelations seems to have been toned down. Connor uses a hatchet, small knives, a bow and arrow and a flintlock rifle with a bayonet instead of the sneaky hidden dagger featured in all four previous games.  Connor's own history makes him somewhat conflicted in the fight: he's half Caucasian and half Native American, and is somehow wrapped up in the fictional and centuries-long history of the brotherhood of assassins.

Assassin's Creed III is expected to debut in late October for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Versions for the PC, Mac and Wii U are also confirmed.