So just finished Assassin's Creed 2 after playing straight through both games this week.  I'm pretty interested now in possibly picking up Brotherhood but I'd like to know if it's continuing the story in the single player first.   There's also surprisingly few trophies left to get for the game after playing the game through once, which I actually appreciate, and although one of them is to hunt down those damn feathers (and therefore get the Auditore Cape for that one as well) it's less painful than I'm looking at for other game on my list.  The Sandman and Sweeper trophies look like it'll require a beating but I can get those done, the Air Assassination trophy just looks like I need to find the right time and place, and the kill 10 consecutive enemies might just require me locking in a ton of smoke bombs and going nuts on everyone.  Oh, and I didn't spend 5000 florins on courtesans, which surprises me because they were USEFUL every time I did hire them.   
 
Taking a break right now.  Wondering where to go from here.  Maybe some God of War?  Maybe some GTA4?  Give Fallout 3 another chance?   Or I could just go with inFamous and play another open world adventure game.

Brotherhood picks up right after AC2 ends. Both with Desmond and Ezio.

AC Brotherhood builds on most mechanics in 2. The fighting is improved, but I still think fairly weak. It does build on the overall plot development. 
Sandman, Sweeper and Air Assassination of a poisoned target are all really easy to get too.

Also if your planning  on getting all the feathers I suggest using this guide. By far one of the best. You can click on each X and it will show you a video of the feather. Also you can uncheck the ones you already found.

I just got the Platinum trophy for 2. 
My first one too. 
I did the same thing as you.

" Go to the big palace place in Venice for the Sweeper and Sandman, as you can attract a load of guards there by simply hanging around the restricted area. If you haven't done the 10-kills no damage one, there's a mission in the Bonfire of the Vanities expansion (which you can replay from the DNA menu) where you have to kill 10 brutes in a short period of time. Smoke bombs are your friend. "

" Brotherhood picks up right after AC2 ends. Both with Desmond and Ezio. "

" Also if your planning  on getting all the feathers I suggest using this guide. By far one of the best. You can click on each X and it will show you a video of the feather. Also you can uncheck the ones you already found. "

I plan on doing the same thing once I finish up Enslaved. I'm setting lofty goals for my winter break.  
 
P.S. How long did it take you hour-wise, roughly speaking? 

i don't get how you guys play so much games. take a fucking break.

" I plan on doing the same thing once I finish up Enslaved. I'm setting lofty goals for my winter break.   P.S. How long did it take you hour-wise, roughly speaking?  "