Assassin's Creed II

Released in 2009 and developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed II is a unique and compelling adventure through renaissance Italy, placing the protagonist at the front lines of history in a way that no game has ever done prior. It expands on the foundation laid down by its predecessor, improving on many different mechanics while remaining faithful to the formula. In this way, Assassin’s Creed II signifies what makes a true sequel, and does it exceptionally well. It certainly has a few loose wires in its system, but nothing that keeps it from being a wonderful experience that should not be missed.

The story of Assassin’s Creed II continues along the same threads sown in the previous game, with Desmond Miles being held hostage by the mega-corporation known as Abstergo Industries (A.K.A. The Templars) and forced into a machine called the Animus to relive the memories of a particular ancestor. Only now, he is rescued and taken to an Assassin safe-house in modern-day Italy.

Thus, into another Animus he goes, this time reliving the memories of Ezio Auditore, a young and charismatic Italian ladies man with a hint of arrogance. Ezio has a knack for getting into trouble, and it is clear that he still has a lot of maturing to do. This lighthearted persona makes him a very likable protagonist, and in turn, leads to certain meaningful narrative moments. Ezios life is turned on its head after a deadly betrayal by the Templars leaves most of his family dead, and the rest on the run. Ezio dons the hood, and wields the blade, and goes on a quest across Italy seeking revenge on those Templars responsible for the death of his family, and discovers a conspiracy that will change his life forever.

The narrative of Assassin’s Creed II is captivating, and keeps an excellent pace throughout, never moving too hastily or too leisurely. And it is lengthy, easily clocking in at 30+ hours worth of gameplay. Keeping that narrative moving along is a large cast of diverse characters, from master thieves to brute warriors, from politicians to corrupt officials, there is plenty of personality.

Then, of course, there are the Templars. These cunning conspirators aim to control all of Italy through political rule…. and they will achieve this by force it they must. Clearly, Ezio has his hands full plotting assassinations, some of which are diverse enough to stay entertaining.

Some. Not all. While Assassin’s Creed II finds strength in its many assassinations, this is also where one of its most significant weaknesses lies. It can sometimes feel like there are TOO many Templars, which leads to an unpleasant sense of repetition that is reminiscent of the first game. A little more focus on just a few Templars would have been more effective.

Luckily though, the game saves itself from being as repetitious as its predecessor by having a far more diverse mission design. Rather than following a linear and predictable path, it instead takes a more direct narrative-driven approach, with each mission being unique, with its own objectives and conditions.

The actual gameplay is more fluid, especially in the parkour. Ezio is quite agile, and the act of climbing and jumping around along the rooftops is gratifying. The combat is basically the same as in the first game, remaining very counter-based and generally quite simple. It is somewhat more fluid, but not much different than that. Ezios arsenal consists of familiar weaponry such as hidden wrist-blades, a sword and dagger, and new weapons such as poison, smoke bombs and a hidden pistol.

There is also a wealth of optional missions to delve into, the most rewarding of which are Assassin Tombs. There are six of these platforming missions, and the completion of each one rewards you with a key, and upon finding all six keys, Ezio unlocks the armor and sword of Altair. There are also Assassination Contracts, where you are assigned a target to eliminate. These two optional mission types are very fun and satisfying to complete. Viewpoints also return, but they are not as necessary to progress as they were in the first game. There are also collectible items scattered across the cities.

Additionally, there are some oddly misplaced side-activities, such as Beat-Up events (which require you to beat up an unfaithful husband), Courier Assignments, and Races. These latter three could have been much better, but unfortunately, most of them are poorly designed and mundane, which detracts a bit from the side-content.

Using the new economy system, Ezio can go to shops to buy new weapons, armors and miscellaneous supplies. Additionally, different colors are available to purchase for your assassin robes. Money can be gained by completing missions, finding treasure chests, and by gaining income from Ezios villa. By renovating buildings in the villa, income is received over time, and it certainly adds up.

The cities of Assassin’s Creed II are simply magnificent, with art direction and atmosphere that even trumps that of the first game. There are a few different locations, such as the cities of Florence and Venice, and the towns and countrysides of San Gimignano and Forli. These locations are incredibly distinct from one another, with the majestic architecture of Venice, the vineyards of the countryside, and the soiled streets of Forli, the rendition of Italy in Assassin’s Creed II is truly gorgeous. The detail that goes into these environments makes the parkour even more enjoyable.

Just like it’s predecessor, Assassin’s Creed II achieves excellent atmosphere through its soundtrack, with what I believe is one of the best ever composed. The harmonic, serene tones and smooth, Italian-inspired vocal delivery are a pleasure to hear, and act as a crucial part of setting some of the best atmospheric ambiance I have ever experienced.

The Verdict

Assassin’s Creed II is an inspiring success as a sequel, improving and expanding on nearly every aspect and mechanic of the first game, and adding plenty of new and meaningful features into a wonderful mix. It does this with an excellent story with plenty of characters, a good economic system, improved gameplay, a good amount of worthy optional-missions, fantastic cities and atmosphere, and a superb soundtrack. It does have some snags, such as slightly repetitious assassinations, some poorly designed side-activities, and combat that has remained clunky. But fortunately, the experience is not overwhelmingly hindered by those blights. Assassin’s Creed II is one of the most inspiring game experiences of its time, and Ezios quest for vengeance is one that you will not regret taking part in.

The Positive

+ Splendid story with plenty of characters

+ Various new and useful features and improvements

+ Most of the side missions are gratifying

+ Ambient cities and atmosphere

+ Superb soundtrack

The Negative

- Frequently repetitious assassinations

- Some side-activities are poorly designed