I hate to say it - but how much do people want to change Assassin's Creed? How far until it isn't the series anymore? I've said it before and I'll say it again, a 'bad' AC game is still generally a pretty good game, it just doesn't live up to the predecessors. And what is this game? It's taking the core concept and adding requested:
-Improved exploration including full underwater navigation, sailing, and multiple cities
-Location
-New Combat
-Thorough RPG style leveling system
All the series really needs is something like Shadow of Mordor's nemesis system.
And it's all made by the team that made what is considered the second if not the best AC game, Black Flag. How different do people expect AC to be 10 years later and over 10 games later? Almost every series loses it's oomph at this point. You come to play this type of game at this point - people come to play Mortal Kombat XYZ at this point. They come to play the 15th Final Fantasy at this point. People copy these games sorts of games at this point. Perhaps I'm not innovative enough, but I don't know -what- they could do to overhaul the game and still make it AC, you know?