Assassin’s Creed II
Playstation 3, Xbox 360; $89 9/10
THE original Assassin’s Creed was a game that screamed out for a decent sequel.
It was good, not great and sported a long list of annoying problems that needed correcting, including repetition, jarring plot points and a feeling that the game lacked that elusive x-factor.
Thankfully, Ubisoft has delivered a much healthier and heavily tweaked follow-up.
Put simply, Assassin’s Creed II is the most improved sequel of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 generation.
You again play as Ezio Auditore da Firenze and this time roam the streets, and rooftops, of Renaissance Florence, Venice and other beautifully rendered Italian towns.
Environment interaction has improved out of sight and provides some of the game’s memorable moments.
The streets really do feel alive and chatter among the locals provides a dynamic backdrop to your travels.
Crowds watch and point when Ezio ascends walls and groups gather around a fist-fight but then scatter when blades are drawn.
The story of Assassin’s Creed II feels much more complete.
Rather than a non-linear approach to assassinations, gamers will this time complete missions one-by-one.
The result is a fully-fleshed out action-assassination story and one that will have you hooked to the final moments.
Ubisoft definitely went back to the drawing board for this game, and the results are impressive.
Gameplay is strong from start to finish with 100 story-related missions and another 100 on the side.
If you get tired of missions, just go exploring, every building in the game is climbable – right to the very top.
And remember we’re in 1400s Italy, so the massive basilicas are hard to climb, and the sense of achievement when you look down from the top at the bustling city below is satisfying.
The bread and butter of this game is killing, running and jumping, if two of those three don’t appeal to you, look elsewhere.
Assassin’s Creed II is an exhilarating adventure with genre-leading graphics, interactive environments and a thrilling story.
If the first game intrigued you, the second is a must buy.
This is a sequel far better than its original, and that’s not a line you’ll often read.
