Story

The game is set in 2012, with player-controlled protagonist Desmond Miles escaping from Abstergo Industries with an employee, Lucy Stillman, after being forced to relive the genetic memories of ancestral assassin Altaïr ibn La-Ahad through a machine known as the "Animus." After escaping from Abstergo, Desmond enters a device identical to the Animus and relives the genetic memories of ancestral nobleman Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who lived during the Renaissance period of the late fifteenth century in Italy. The player controls Ezio, who becomes an Assassin after his father and brothers are murdered by a traitor to the Auditore family. While controlling Ezio, the player can explore game renditions of Italian cities, regions and landmarks in open world gameplay. The gameplay is a mixture of action, stealth and platforming.

Review

The first thing that becomes apparent when you see Assassins Creed 2 on your television for the first time is just what a great improvement it is over the first game. If you’re not hooked after the first hour then something is seriously wrong with you. Well, at least if you enjoyed the first game and maybe even if you didn’t. I myself really couldn’t get into the first Assassins Creed the story was far too complicated and convoluted. This time it is not the case.

The story is bounds and leaps ahead of its predecessor in just about every way. The games story not only is understandable but also very well told, and thus it actually makes you want to play just an hour more every time you sit down just to see where the story will take you next. The story picks up directly where the first game ends, and this time you actually feel like there is this huge underlying war going on between the Templar and the Assassins that was seriously lacking in the first game.

The musical score for the game is sweeping sometimes moving and all around a masterpiece it sets the tone, and helps the player to feel like you are a badass Assassin in the Renaissance. The voice work is a master improvement over its prequel, and this time around you genuinely care about the characters and what happens to them, especially Ezio.

If you’ve played the first game then you can expect the same kind of game play, but in all honesty the first game had such a unique and compelling game play formula that hardly any of it needed to be changed. The addition of on rails sequences like escorting Leonardo Da Vinci to Venice is a nice change up every once in awhile, and helps to keep the player engaged. Although Ezio can move a little faster than Altair you’ll likely die just as much by diving off a roof. In fact through the whole game that was the only way I died.

The graphics are splendid to behold and it amazes even further when compared to the original. Note that this is a PS3 review of the game, and from what I hear the 360 version runs smoother, but screen tearing does become an issue, and the draw distance is nowhere near as far as the original. When you’re synchronizing atop a tower it looks as if the world is somehow covered with a fog so you don’t see very far. Still the colors and attention to detail far surpasses any sand box game I’ve played. Again, you actually feel like you’ve been taken back in time to a place long forgotten. Also the developers really did their homework to make sure that landmark buildings and structures were recreated exactly how they would have looked in the 1400’s. Amazing, to say the least.

With at least 19 hours of story based missions and a staggering amount of optional missions it’s no stretch to say you may spend anywhere from 50 to 60 hours on your first play through, so your definitely getting your money’s worth and a lot more. One thing I absolutely loved that I must mention in the review is the addition of UPLAY. UPLAY gives you points for achieving certain things in the story and allows you to spend those points on themes, in game bonuses, maps, and much more. It really makes you feel like you are achieving much more than just trophies and achievements, and gives you more incentive to keep playing until you gain your UPLAY points.

This is by far the game to get this holiday season, and has a higher fun factor than anything I’ve played this year including Uncharted 2. Assassins Creed 2 is a great surprise that I was not expecting especially after I didn’t really enjoy the first game. Don’t let games like Modern Warfare 2 overshadow this gem. This isn’t just a sequel it feels more like a reboot. It’s a game that reminds you that you don’t need explosions and gunfire to have fun; all you need is a dagger and a badass Assassin, and a splattering of blood here and there.

10/10

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