Assassin’s Creed II

10 Review to this product

• 

  Mr. Hui Cheng
  November 18th, 2009 on 8:39 am

  Rating

  ACII should be summarized as great story telling mixed together with fun, realistic game play.

  The story really flows from the beginning and draws the players into the history and the intrigue. The amount of detail and effort put into the game environment is amazing. And the open world reminds me of the play in GTA4 where you can jump onto basically anything, swim in the water, run around the rooftops and hide in all sorts of places.

  In addition to the main game story and missions, there are a ton of side quests!

  If you are into action/adventure games, ACII is definitely worth getting!
• 

  Jason Bean
  November 21st, 2009 on 9:11 pm

  Rating

  I’ll say I was not a HUGE fan of the original Assassin’s Creed. It had beautiful graphics, a great open-world environment and a fun gameplay engine, but was hampered by level repetition and a horrid use of a dual story. Thankfully this sequel not only fixes these issues but surpasses expectations as a game itself.

  Like the original, AC2 begins in the future with an escape from the first game’s institution. Thankfully this segment is acton-packed…and short. Within minutes you’re back in the “game” world in late 1400′s Italy. This (like the first game) is where AC2 mostly takes place. If you’re like me and absolutely HATED the bits in the future of AC1, don’t worry. You spend maybe 10 minutes a piece split up into three segments (though the middle one seemed a bit longer) in the future world. I still hate that you have to leave the game world proper at all but at least it’s only for 30-40 minutes in an otherwise 30+ hour game. Yes the game’s THAT LONG!

  Your hero in this game is Ezio. He’s an Italian noble and has alot more personality and is alot more fun than Altair from Assasin’s Creed 1. He’s sort of cross between Nathan Drake, Casanova, and Batman. The story (ignoring the future bits) is a great revenge-conspiracy plot set through 30 years of Ezio’s life. While I won’t pretend all the character’s are memorable, they’re all played with personality and wit and the voice actors never strike a false note (you can even switch to playing the gamein Italian with english subtitles!).

  The gameplay is also MUCH more fun and more varied than AC1. They leave out all the investigation bits of an assasination but add more story-based, action-packed missions for you to work through up to your assassinations. These again are VERY fun and each mission you go on feels completely unique to the one before it. Even the optional assassinations have more rules an complexities as you work through them.

  Speaking of varied, aside from the basic story missions which will see you fighting, flying, riding horses, piloting boats and escorting/protecting characters there’s also a villa you can upgrade to get discounts on weapons/armor/clothing/medicine etc. I’ve never played a game that gives you so much to do in so many different ways. While none of the custimization and mission structure is new to games I don’t think all of these elements have been brought together so seemlessly before which is the big reason I like it so much!

  Also, if this isn’t the best game of the year it has one of the best soundtracks. The music is not only original and cool it changes perfectly to match the action in the game (chase scenes, flying, hiding etc). The developers really went out of their way with this one.

  Aside from a slow first few (story based) hours Assassin’s Creed 2 will hook you and never let go. I still think the Animus is an intersting but failed idea, but it doesn’t even remotly take away from the awesome things you can do in this game. There’s still time before the end of the year but I can’t think of too many games that will be able to top this one.
• 

  Peter Marreck
  November 26th, 2009 on 4:29 pm

  Rating

  Incredibly captivating adventure/fighting/3D-platformer game with tons of real Renaissance history, artwork and architecture. Batman:AA didn’t hook me, and I haven’t finished Uncharted 2 yet, and I never even finished Assassin’s Grind 1 =) , but everything is going to wait until I finish Assassin’s Creed 2. This game is certainly worth your gaming time! I won’t restate what everyone else who gave this game a good review has mentioned, so I will focus on…

  A COUPLE OF DINGS NOBODY HAS MENTIONED!

  1) Savegames are COPY-PROTECTED. I am visiting my family for Thanksgiving and I wanted to bring this game to show my nephew while making a little progress on my latest savegame, only to discover that I cannot copy them to a USB stick! Ubisoft failed here. What if my PS3 hard drive dies? I’ve been able to back up EVERY SINGLE OTHER game’s files but this one’s. That’s pretty sorry!

  2) A few times now my character has, in the middle of running across a floor portion of a map, acted as if he’s at a roof edge, and “looked over the fake edge”… right at the floor 6 feet away. And come to a complete stop! I would have to wiggle around to get unstuck. Unfortunately this seems to crop up when least desired such as timed courier/race missions!

  3) Some of the timed race missions are extremely hard with very little margin for error (at least for me). Combined with the ease with which you can screw up a jump or accidentally climb a wall you merely wanted to run past, 1 error and you pretty much have to Abort Memory.

  4) Big battle axe and pike, which you can disarm from an enemy, seems unobtainable in-game. (The disarm ability is cool as hell, though! Try the pike, watch what happens when it breaks!)

  5) In-game mace weapons suck. A sword was almost always available that was better. What if I prefer to bludgeon instead of gut enemies? I think each weapon type should excel at 1 stat… Maces for damage, daggers for speed, and swords for parrying, but that wasn’t really the case.

  That said, my favorite parts are certainly the map details (Venice is amazing!), the fighting variety, the historical footnotes, the Renaissance art, having a “home” you can upgrade for more income, and basically being made to feel like a total badass while within an unfolding story. Love the “suddenly there missions” like catching thieves, offing messengers and whatnot. Some people like the extra information-gathering stuff (codex pages etc.) but I’m more into the action and attention to detail. Scaling a wall using any handhold available and leaping from rooftop to rooftop doesn’t get old!

  As far as they went with the fighting, I can tell it can get even more interesting with well-timed combos and whatnot, I hope they push the next game in that direction more!
• 

  cybergel78
  December 4th, 2009 on 11:49 am

  Rating

  This is what an action/stealth/role-playing game should be. In fact, as I was playing this game, my thoughts harkened back to the days of Ultima. This game should have been what Ultima 9 was. A pity that EA had to bury that franchise.

  After completing this game, I felt an immense epiphany; it is as if I have just finished viewing an epic onscreen. The story itself is epic. Following the grand tradition of movie sequels, this one picks up right after the first game. As Desmond Miles, you find yourself captive in a research facility run by modern day Templars. This time round, one finds himself transported back to the Renaissance era in 15th century Italy.

  The sandbox world itself requires many moments of just gazing at its beauty. The various synchronisation points offer the gamer a kaleidoscopic view of the various Italian cities. The views are simply breathtaking and spectacular. Venice deserves special mention. The scope of the city is really immense.

  Ezio Auditore, the protagonist, is a likeable rouge. More so than Altair. He starts off as somewhat a rich playboy but progressed into a master assassin through extraordinary circumstances. I like the fact that historical characters and even architecture features figures largely in the game. It’s a joy interacting with Leonardo Da Vinci, Il Magnifico, Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander IV), even the dastardly Machiavelli makes a cameo appearance!

  This review is in regards to the PS3 version. I must say that I’m a bit disappointed with the quality. As [...] pointed out, there were a few visual glitches. Throughout the course of my gameplay, the game crashed thrice. Twice at the same spot, with me performing the same action – double assassination 4 guards in succession. I really do hope Ubisoft addressed the buggy issue and fix them in the near future.

  UPDATE (24/1/2010): Ubisoft did a slight upgrade patch and there are no crashes so far. Kudos to Ubisoft for quick response time! I can’t wait for the DLC to hit!
• 

  Kenneth Lambert
  December 5th, 2009 on 7:56 am

  Rating

  I’ll start out by saying that this game is an improvement in every way over Assassin’s Creed. I started playing it right after Uncharted 2 so the graphics at first seemed a little rough at first, but considering how much more massive the game is compared to Uncharted 2, it is barely fair to compare. It didn’t take long to adjust when the game sucks you in so quick. But don’t get me wrong the game is beautiful, and the detail that has gone into each building and city is amazing. It is great to look from a view point and decide where you are headed next, knowing you can reach all of it.

  So first off the gameplay is a lot of fun, if you hadn’t played AC or just hadn’t played in a long time it will take some adjusting again to get used to the control set up. But they do ease you into the controls starting out with the most important aspect, free running. This is the only part of the game I found a flaw in. Ezio has a tendency to jump of things and grab onto things you don’t really want him to, you can let go of X to avoid this, takes practice to time it right. It also doesn’t help that the buildings have slanted roofs so you can’t tell how far a jump is. This isn’t Ubisoft’s fault, but the mini map does help to see if it is a jump you can make. Other then that, the controls are great and a lot of fun to use.

  Now the story has improved greatly. It is slow at first, but toward the end things really start to pick up. I don’t want to give anything away, but unlocking “The Truth” is worth the trouble. After unlocking the video I actually had to take a step back and remember that it was just a game and it was actual footage. I can’t wait for ACIII to see what happens next.
• 

  Bobby
  December 6th, 2009 on 10:39 pm

  Rating

  well I have to say I am 46 year old (yes I have played games since I was 10, yes video games are that old, actually older, the original is from 1958 and I wasn’t even born, I started with PONG) and my experience is different from younger people, having had played a lot of games, I mean I actually spent all my allowance in arcades when they were actually busy and that was more like $100 bucks a week in quarters!!!
  
  I look at this differently being in all the cities that this game shows and the reason I bought the game was that I wondered how great it would be if I could climb on top of each and how interesting it would be to see the whole of the city… well in this game I get to do that while playing assassin.

  I bought about 14 new games I bought since October with the new PS3 250GB and that includes Uncharted 2, Batman Asylum, Bionic, Tekken 6, resistance 2, infamous, Modern Warfare 2, Mirrors Edge, Hawx etc…. And I can tell you they have done and amazing job of reality in this game and it looks and feel real when you play it and it’s a great experience to enjoy when you play and not JUST A GAME, and that was done on purpose it seems and it intends on showing you more than just a video game to play and put away, I mean I finished and it was great but I think it’s the first game I am actually going to play again. It’s Batman, Drake and Laura put together.
  
  I started playing on WED Night and mostly played 3-5 hours a night but if time permitted I would have loved to keep going but about 2 AM I really have to go to sleep since I wake up at 6 usually so this game does make you hooked and it’s enjoyable at every turn and there is so much to do and so much fun included in that you do get to spend a good 3 days of play to go through it all.

  The graphics are amazing and I love seeing the same buildings I went to in Venice and Rome and Florence (Its one place you got to visit) and they practically look the same and Venice with the masks and the ball is all so much like the actual parties that happen there, I just loved climbing all the buildings and now when I go back I am going to look for a way to do it in real life, BUT there is no way I can climb that good or would chance it. The game is so real it scares my wife and she doesn’t look at it when I do the jumps and etc! that’s how real it looks. For those who have not traveled to Italy and haven’t seen it, It’s a great way of getting to see it and experience it, I rode more gondolas than I did in real life and went everywhere I didn’t get to, it is missing the water taxis that are in now and some stuff that are new and the bridge is more built up today, but when you go to Venice you do get to see some pictures on shop walls from ages ago and this looks more real than the actual pictures do.

  It also has puzzles that intrigues your mind and is somewhat educational which I think the goal of the makers of this game was, there is so much to enjoy but if you want it just as a game to shoot and kill and etc it works out too, It’s the best video game I have played as its enjoyable at every turn. I have about 80 games that I kept and as I said have played them over 30 years and can tell you I never thought we could come this far with the games as we have, I mean who remembers games on Commodore 64? Yes 64 now they are gigabits of info per second. The graphics are more artistic than real as MW2 and Batman seem to have somewhat Different graphics but that does not take away anything from the game, those are more for the story lines that don’t look 100% real but no complaints from me.

  To make it short (or is that late?): The Ultimate video game experience of my life (so far, as I assume they have to remove the remote from my dead cold hands!)
  
  I want to keep this game to pass it on to my kids when I get one! Or do I have to buy a digital one of those?

  OH one complaint, there is not as much interaction with the women, but don’t tell my wife I said that.
• 

  Stephen Schultz
  December 21st, 2009 on 8:20 pm

  Rating

  Assassin’s Creed II makes massive improvments over the original. The main improvment is it’s NOT repetitive. There are many more mission types. Ezio can do so much more than Altiair like swim and fly. The cities are so much bigger and more vibrant. There is an economy where you can earn money and spend it on upgrades. The people are more interesting and real, including Ezio himself. The sounds of battle and cities are as real as they can be.

  OK, let’s start off with the big man Ezio Auditore Da Firenze. He is the son of a father with two sisters and another brother. At first, you start off running errands for your father like delivering a message or letter. To make a VERY LONG story short, your father and brother are killed and you vow to extract vengence on those who were involved. This includes anyone from a poor theif to an extravagant noble. The voices and actions of the people are very realistic. They sound like they’re right in the room. As you walk through the town, citizens cough, sneeze, fight, sing, talk, and rob. Pickpockets will steal from you. If you catch them, you can get your money back along with more. Sometimes some guys will come up to you and start singing. They are really annoying because they stand right in your way and won’t move, so usually I grab them and hurl them across the street.

  What’s there to do? Plenty. Of course you have your main mission types were you tail someone, beat them up, pickpocket them, or assassinate them. The side missions have really changed from the first. Courier is one where you deliver a letter ASAP. Beat up events are where you beat unfaithful husbands to persuade them to focus their attention back to their wives. Assassination contracts enable you to do a quick job and wipe out from one to ten targets. Races allow you to show your skill in roof hopping. All of these main and side missions give you money. More money for harder missions. That’s right. There’s an economy. You earn money for missions, pickpocketing citizens, and finding chests. There are shops scattered around too. The blacksmith repairs your armor after its been damaged in a fight and sells you new weapons and ammo. What ammo? Throwing knives, smoke bombs, and bullets for your wrist gun (Ya it’s cool). The taylor sells bigger pouches for your health, poison, and knives. He can also dye your clothes if you want to look extra fly. Artists sell you paintings to increase your uncle’s villa’s value and sell treasure maps to show you where hidden chests are. Doctors either heal you on the spot or sell you potions for later. These can help when you’re in the middle of a battle and need health. Doctors also sell poison for your poison knife (ironic isn’t it?). There are also cortesans, theives, and soldiers that are around the city for your to hire. They either distract or fight guards with you.

  There are also 6 assassin tombs in all the cities. Complete these and at the end of each one there is an assassin seal. Bring these back to your uncle’s villa to unlock Altiair’s special armor (that’s right they still dragged him into this). It is twice as strong as anything else and can’t be damaged. Your uncle’s villa gains value and earns you money. Buy paintings or renovate buildings there to make it make more money for you.

  The weapons are excellent. Ezio has two hidden blades and can use both at once. He also can carry a sword, dagger, knives, health etc… The enemy AI isn’t bad for a typical game. If you don’t keep your guard up, they will take advantage of the opportunitity and strike. But they’re not too hard to defeat especially if you have hired help.

  Assassin’s Creed II is a must play for every action gamer. Everything looks and feels real. There is much more to do and see. The ending is much more suprising than the original too. You might even learn a little italian too.
• 

  Arun Thuraiarasan
  April 21st, 2010 on 8:40 am

  Rating

  First off, I haven’t played AC I and a newbie to open world themed games. But reading all the positive reviews of AC II prompted me to try it and I have to say I hugely enjoyed this game. I really enjoyed this game broadly for its story, pacing, attention to detail of the environments, character development, voice acting, rich color pallet and varied missions. But what really stands out are Renaissance era Italian cities. They are literally living, breathing characters in this game. I have to commend the developers at UBI Soft for painstakingly recreating these cities and their architectural marvels in gorgeous detail and staggering scale. In my past life I had dabbled in Architecture and been fascinated with Italian, Greek and Egyptian architecture. Just being able to run around these cities, scale all historic buildings and take in the magnificent cityscapes from top of view points as the camera revolves around you, was the next best thing to actually being there in person. The experience is quite visceral and astounding. If you scaled the Florence Duomo Cathedral, you know what I’m talking about.

  Apart from that, the missions are quite varied and don’t seem repetitive at all which was a big complaint against AC I. The voice acting with Italian accents and dialogue for most characters are spot on and added more authenticity to the game. Character development for lead character Ezio Auditore and other important characters are quite well done and the actor giving voice to Ezio seems to have really put some effort into it and it shows. Other than that, the population of the cities have colorful PCs and NPCs from thieves, brigands, mercenaries, prostitutes, nuns, annoying minstrels, merchants, announcers, messengers and normal citizenry. The navigation and combat controls are not that difficult to get used to and navigating the cities and climbing felt natural. Navigating using the map took some time to get used to in the open world but once down pat, felt quite comfortable. You will get lost in the cities unless you use the map! The AI system seems better than most other games and not that forgiving that you feel unchallenged.

  Pros:

  1. Gorgeous and detailed environments.
  
  2. Lengthy game and huge cities to explore.
  
  3. Excellent voice acting and character development.
  
  4. Interesting storyline – Integration of real life historical figures and incidents into the storyline is nice.
  
  5. Monetary system – Earning money and spending on upgrades added an interesting aspect to this game. But midway/three-fourths through the game you will have money to burn and nothing to do with it afer all the upgrades.
  
  6. Apart from main story line there are non-essential side missions like assassination contracts, races, message delivery, beat ups, finding feathers, unlocking futuristic conspiracies etc. which adds a ton of replay value.
  
  7. The developers have achieved a lot of breath in game elements variety and little less in depth.
  
  8. Decent AI.

  Cons:

  All accolades aside, there are some blemishes in this well-made game.

  1. A lot of characters look blocky in close-ups and dating back to PS2 standards of rendering while the environments themselves are gorgeously rendered making this a glaring anomaly. In doing the inevitable comparison to Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 in terms of overall graphics, AC II going to come off as second best.
  
  2. Combat leaves much to be desired. The choice of weapons and how you earn them is interesting. Its not for lack of variety in combat moves and weapons but its just that combat could have been more fluid. I guess I’m less forgiving in this aspect as the bar for combat has been set very high after playing the God of War series. (I know, I know I should not be comparing a hack and slash with a third-person action adventure )
  
  3. Much as I try to get into it, the Animus concept just doesn’t fly.
  
  4. The final boss fight felt a bit tame and the ending abrupt.

  I’m at a stage in life where family and professional obligations don’t allow for playing at a stretch where day turns to night and then back again. I found Assassins Creed II to fit the bill perfectly and I played this on and off for a couple of months till I finished it at my own pace.
• 

  PabloMF24
  April 28th, 2010 on 10:52 am

  Rating

  This game without a doubt, is one of the greatest sequels in history, if you know history you’re gonna love this game, the gameplay is amazing as the story, and the game improve in all aspects.
  
  Buy this game!!!!
• 

  JOHN HONG
  April 29th, 2010 on 8:19 pm

  Rating

  This is one of the BEST GAME on PS3. period. Just buy it and enjoy it. I have never beaten a game this quick. This is not a short game by far. I spent about 70+ hours in just 2 weeks. It is very addicting.

  It made me want to go buy Assassin’s Creed 1.