It's less than a few days away from launch, but there are still questions remaining about what kind of game Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will be. While the developers have shown fans what kind of story the game will tell, and the impact that players will have on the future of Rome, we have yet to know just how the game will feel. Hopefully some of those questions will be answered now that video of the first 30 minutes of the campaign has made its way online.

It goes without saying that if you plan to avoid spoilers, it would be best to wait and see the opening of the game on launch day.

But for those who can't wait any longer, or who simply care more about killing templars than having plot twists revealed, the video gives a good glimpse of the similarities Brotherhood shares with Assassin's Creed 2.

The developers at Ubisoft had already stated that the new game would begin where AC2 left off, and they mean exactly that. After the climactic battle against Rodrigo Borgia in the Vatican at the end of AC2, the game's protagonist Ezio sat idly by as the goddess Minerva communicated directly to Desmond, Ezio's real-world counterpart.

It is at this point that we return to Ezio, and the story of Brotherhood begins:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0wvUp-5Yqg

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP8rw81iFG4

So there you have it, any doubts that the new title would share the same look, feel, and sense of humor that Assassin's Creed has become known for have now been put to rest. It was already clear from the mission walkthrough video that the game wouldn't be setting new standards where visuals or traversal were concerned, and the game seems to confirm it. The series has received praise for its visual scope and style since the first game launched, so the team at Ubisoft obviously aren't interested in reinventing the wheel.

The glimpse doesn't give much more insight into any of the game's major plot points than the launch trailer, but the full game is a matter of hours, not minutes. What isn't on display in the video are the numerous additions that have been made, from Animus training missions to teach players more advanced tactics, or the extensive territory and recruitment systems.

The major criticism that will likely be aimed at Brotherhood is that the game is merely more of the same, not really a true sequel. The fact of the matter is that Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2 received Metacritic scores of 80 and 91 respectively, as well as more  'Game of The Year' awards than can be counted. So while it might be nice to see Ubisoft break new ground with Brotherhood, it's really an unnecessary risk for them.

They are instead sticking to what they do best, and have also developed a larger story and some completely new elements of gameplay with upgrading cities, and recruiting assassins into your own guild. While the game may look the same, the multiplayer is just one aspect which seems to add a great deal of depth.

The story is what kept me playing through Assassin's Creed 2 to the very end, since I had put down the original AC only a few hours after starting. It really seems like Ubisoft is taking this game as an opportunity to show their storytelling talents, and that fans will be reaping the rewards.

To see whether the new title will eclipse the success of its predecessors, you'll have to pick up your own copy. Pick it up on launch day and you'll even earn some extra content.

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood will be released this Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.