The original Assassin's Creed was one of the best games to come out for the new systems when it arrived. It was a huge game that allowed for some very impressive gymnastics, ala Prince of Persia. Assassin's Creed II (AC2) continues the fantastic gameplay and fascinating story in this bigger, badder, better sequel.
In the new game, we pick up right where we left off. Desmond escapes Abstergo with Lucy and the two arrive at a warehouse where a second Animus machine awaits Desmond. This time, Desmond peers into the life of Ezio Auditore de Firenze, another of his Assassin ancestors living in Renaissance era Italy. Ezio, yet to become an assassin sets out on a quest to avenge his family, and in so doing, as you would expect, uncovers a grand conspiracy and secrets bigger than himself.
AC2 uses the "don't fix what isn't broken" adage to great use. All the best elements from the original game make their way here, with some fantastic new additions. Most notably absent, and definitely for the better, is the linearity of the original game. You're no longer required to repeat the pattern of receive mission, assassinate, get new equipment, repeat. The game unfolds with it's story and characters. Ezio is a much better developed character whom you watch grow into an assassin, as opposed to Altair, whom was already a mastered assassin. And Ezio is a likable character, with a great deal of charm that makes him the kind of character you want to play as in a game of this sort. As Ezio grows and the story unfolds, you travel from place to place, completing your mission and uncovering the conspiracy, which also grows and grows.
In addition, combat and AI have been expanded. There are now several varieties of enemies, which keeps things interesting and varied. Ezio is also equipped with new moves, including new assassination techniques to help you make more stealthy kills. Another welcome addition is the ability to swim, which was sorely absent from the first game.
Adding to the new move set is a novel idea for the game: an economy. You now have a Villa which you can put money into for repairs. The more money put into the Villa, the more money you get from it in the form of taxation. This money can then be used to purchase items, such as equipment, art, and medicine. Collecting these various items not only allows for a bit more customizabililty, but it also gives the game a bit more replayability. And the more you collect, the greater value your Villa attains, and this in turn means yet more money.
Other aspects return to the game like the view points and side missions, of which there are over 200. Perfectionists demanding a complete game will have their hands full with everything there is to do here, including collecting hundreds of treasure chests throughout all the lands visited. All in all, there is plenty to do and never a dull moment.
Everything else is top quality. The art is fantastic and the architecture and feel of the time period is as good as you could hope it to be. Visiting the various famous structures around Italy and actually climbing them is a joy. One can only admire the painstaking detail of these environments. Likewise, the voice acting is fantastic and perfectly suited. The dialects sound great and there is even some Italian thrown in for good measure, often adding some humor to the game. Turning the subtitles on for those who don't understand will allow you an insight as to what is being said.
AC2 is a definite must have. It's huge, open ended, and has a wonderful story that is a welcome chapter in this ongoing epic. So dive into the mystery and prepare yourself to take on an amazing adventure with Assassin's Creed II.
In the new game, we pick up right where we left off. Desmond escapes Abstergo with Lucy and the two arrive at a warehouse where a second Animus machine awaits Desmond. This time, Desmond peers into the life of Ezio Auditore de Firenze, another of his Assassin ancestors living in Renaissance era Italy. Ezio, yet to become an assassin sets out on a quest to avenge his family, and in so doing, as you would expect, uncovers a grand conspiracy and secrets bigger than himself.
AC2 uses the "don't fix what isn't broken" adage to great use. All the best elements from the original game make their way here, with some fantastic new additions. Most notably absent, and definitely for the better, is the linearity of the original game. You're no longer required to repeat the pattern of receive mission, assassinate, get new equipment, repeat. The game unfolds with it's story and characters. Ezio is a much better developed character whom you watch grow into an assassin, as opposed to Altair, whom was already a mastered assassin. And Ezio is a likable character, with a great deal of charm that makes him the kind of character you want to play as in a game of this sort. As Ezio grows and the story unfolds, you travel from place to place, completing your mission and uncovering the conspiracy, which also grows and grows.
In addition, combat and AI have been expanded. There are now several varieties of enemies, which keeps things interesting and varied. Ezio is also equipped with new moves, including new assassination techniques to help you make more stealthy kills. Another welcome addition is the ability to swim, which was sorely absent from the first game.
Adding to the new move set is a novel idea for the game: an economy. You now have a Villa which you can put money into for repairs. The more money put into the Villa, the more money you get from it in the form of taxation. This money can then be used to purchase items, such as equipment, art, and medicine. Collecting these various items not only allows for a bit more customizabililty, but it also gives the game a bit more replayability. And the more you collect, the greater value your Villa attains, and this in turn means yet more money.
Other aspects return to the game like the view points and side missions, of which there are over 200. Perfectionists demanding a complete game will have their hands full with everything there is to do here, including collecting hundreds of treasure chests throughout all the lands visited. All in all, there is plenty to do and never a dull moment.
Everything else is top quality. The art is fantastic and the architecture and feel of the time period is as good as you could hope it to be. Visiting the various famous structures around Italy and actually climbing them is a joy. One can only admire the painstaking detail of these environments. Likewise, the voice acting is fantastic and perfectly suited. The dialects sound great and there is even some Italian thrown in for good measure, often adding some humor to the game. Turning the subtitles on for those who don't understand will allow you an insight as to what is being said.
AC2 is a definite must have. It's huge, open ended, and has a wonderful story that is a welcome chapter in this ongoing epic. So dive into the mystery and prepare yourself to take on an amazing adventure with Assassin's Creed II.