Reviews Xbox 360 Reviews Assassin's Creed 2
 

Assassin's Creed 2

Editor rating
 
 4.5
User rating
 
 0.0 (0)
Avatar Written by alienstout     November 23, 2009     Favorites 0 Add to favorites
 
Assassin's Creed 2

Game Reviews

Publisher Ubisoft
Studio Ubisoft
Genre Action/Adventure
ESRB Mature (17+)
Co-op No
Multiplayer No
Game Type Reviewed Single Player

Get ready to plunge into the lush and deadly world of the Italian Renaissance, an era of arts, riches and murderous conspiracy. Assassin's Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your assassin's art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel.

Key Game Features:

  • Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio
  • Roam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renaissance-era Italy
  • Do whatever it takes to complete your missions in the game's all-new open world and mission structure
  • Thrive in an environment rich with power, revenge and conspiracy
  • Practice your assassin's art with all-new weapons and instruments created by Leonardo da Vinci

You can buy Assassins Creed II at Amazon by following this link.

Editor review

Assassin's Creed 2 is Twice as Good as the Origina

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Game Reviews

Leet-sauce Intriguing story line, more weapons, you can swim, Desmond is back, Ezio is a compelling character, more to do in Italy
4-noobs Sensitive controls, cut scene graphics meh, Ezio doesn't have a grappling hook
Review Assassin's Creed 2 Review

Assassin's Creed 2 is the first games more mature older brother. This is cognac to the first game's beer. Everything is more distilled, smooth and potent. There is more intrigue, more action, more weapons, more characters, more events - just more of everything. Ubisoft has put together a compelling single player game that is part adventure and part historical lesson - all without making either boring. There is an incredible amount of information there if you want to know more but they've wisely made most of it optional, allowing you to play the game as you see fit.

While the game starts off with a few bumps, it settles into a nice rhythm that will keep you glued to your chair for hours. Because this is an single player game, the campaign can take up to 24 hours to complete depending on how many side-missions and challenges you do. This is longer than Uncharted 2 which clocked in at around 13 hours or so for most normal humans. For people that say single player games are a dying breed, I'll point to this game (and Uncharted 2) and tell them to get their heads out of there asses.


What I like:

  • Great story - Assassin's Creed 2 has a more developed and mature story than the original. There are actual locations, historical characters and a bevy of information in the database about all of it. You'll get to see and live why Ezio has taken on the role of an assassin. This isn't little kids stuff, serious life-altering events are happening. The death of his family members is handled well and with enough emotion to pull you in. Also a plus is the fact that unlike in the Assassin's 1, the people you kill really do deserve it in this game so you won't have the lamentful reveal when you embrace them as they die.


  • More toys - The addition of Leonaro DaVinci was an excellent decision by Ubisoft. The character not only adds a bit of historical realism to the game, but it also adds a James Bond-like Q. You'll get more gadgets to play with from Leonardo that include duel assassin's blades and a flying glider. Add these to the ability to pick up weapons from your enemies and you'll have no shortage of carnage-inducing devices to play with.


  • A world full of people - One of my common gripes with other open-world games is the lack of people. Look at GTA, sure there are a couple of people but it's supposed to take place in a city of millions. The original Assassin's had it right and the sequel follows through with more of the same. While the level of interaction isn't deep, you do have some. They also notice what you are doing and will call attention to you if you're getting a little too crazy.


  • You can swim - It was always annoying in Assassin's 1 that Altair could not swim; in fact, if you fell in the water you would usually wind up dead. Not very realistic, even for a video game. Fortunately Ezio can swim and this simple change will make all you happier.


  • Continuation of Desmond's story - I was worried that we would not be seeing Desmond or the Animus in this game but that was fortunately unfounded. This is Desmond's story and not Altair's and it gives the game some continuity even though the bulk of it takes place hundreds of years after the first.


  • Ezio - Ubisoft did a great job character developing job with Ezio. You get a sense of who he is as a person before you embark on the adventure and it builds from their with his family and interactions with other people. Unlike Altair, Ezio is more than an assassin and it helps you jump into the characters shoes a little easier.


  • Teases of future Assassin's Creed games - There are glimpses of different assassin's in the game via their tombs (you find all five and you unlock some special armor.) Asian, Central American, African - a nice mix that provides food for thought. I'd love to see an Aztec assassin's creed in the next sequel. The promise of more intrigue and a new location add some spice to the game because you wonder where you'll wind up next.


  • More challenges - Assassin's Creed 2 builds on the basic challenges of the first game. You still can fight, steal or deliver messages but there are also time-trials and hidden locations to access that will have you jumping and climbing for what seems like hours. A good mix is available providing plenty of replay value or in-between adventure fun if you're not looking to burn through the campaign.



What I don't like:


  • Lack of grappling hook - Ezio is a great climber, Olympic-class actually, but occasionally he falls or just camp jump a little bit higher. Assassin's Creed 2 is an open-worlder where you can't go into every building and can't climb up things without using your hands. Seem limiting for an open-worlder doesn't it? Leanardo could surely come up with a Batman-style grappling hook for Ezio that would go a long way to improving the game.


  • Sensitive controls - The general control scheme in the game is good, the problem is it's too easy to jump off of things. Sometimes you can just use your stick to move, other times you need to climb and drop, other times you need to free-run and jump. Quite a number of the jumping actions will have you climb over a ledge and perch on a beam. You need to be careful not to jump and over-shoot your target or you'll have to start over from scratch. One saving grace is if this happens to you when you are really high you'll die and be taken to a point relatively close to before you died.


  • Cut scene graphics - It's really striking how much worse the cut scene graphics are than the actual gameplay. The game engine is beautiful with rich textures and colors and everything feeling and looking grounded. Unfortunately, the cut scene graphics are a magnitude worse. Characters are not all rendered well and you'll get hands running through things that they shouldn't be (swords, jail bars). It looks like they are still rendering from the original Assassin's Creed engine and it's a little disappointing given the overall quality look of the game.


    • Assassin's Creed 2 is a strong game overall and the few negatives I found with the game did little to detract from the enjoyment I had playing it. The depth of the historical archive and how the story works in real-world locations and characters is impressive. Playing Ezio is more fun than being Altair because you get a sense of who he is as a person. You get a vast conspiracy with many twists and turns combined with top-notch action. Really could you ask for more?
Overall rating: 
 
 4.5
Gameplay:
 
 4.0
Graphics/Sound:
 
 4.0
Story:
 
 5.0
Addiction:
 
 5.0
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Avatar Reviewed by alienstout
November 23, 2009
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Last updated: November 23, 2009
 

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Comments (1)add comment

aspower said:

aspower
 ...
Good to see a solid single player entry in this world of multiplayer Halo-alikes. This is sounding like a must have title for someone that missed out on the first AC.
 
December 07, 2009
Votes: +0

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