November 2009 finally saw the release of the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed II. The original Assassin’s Creed received critical acclaim for its mechanics and visuals, but is rightly regarded as not being everything it could have been. Having been a fan of the rough diamond that was Assassin’s Creed, I am delighted to report that the developers seem to have listened to the fans and corrected the various issues that sullied an otherwise luxurious game-playing experience.
In ACII, you play the part of Ezio, a wealthy nobleman’s son who is thrust from a comfortable, hedonistic lifestyle into a bloody tale of treachery and revenge. Nothing incredibly original it has to be said, but the game world is so immersive and the characters so well developed (for a computer game) that you really do feel part of an epic saga. At times, it can be difficult to keep up with the sheer scope of the game and its multitudes of allies and villains, all with their own background stories and motivations.
The mechanics of the game are similar to Assassin’s Creed – very similar in fact, which for me is no bad thing, as it meant I could just jump straight into the game without too much of a learning curve. Although Altair (the previous assassin from the first AC) is mentioned and revered somewhat by the cast in ACII, Ezio has a number of skills that Altair lacked. He took the time to learn to swim, for one thing, so contact with water no longer means instant death. He is also a considerably more accomplished thief, and you can while away many an hour simply walking around the cities, picking pockets and making yourself very wealthy (as if he wasn’t already). Combat is significantly more complex with a host of new moves. You can disarm opponents, throw sand and employ a number of other sneaky tactics to ensure that you emerge the victor. There are also more options available to complete your missions – there are different factions you can hire for various means, from distracting guards to fighting for you, and generally you feel more free to take different courses to attain your goals than in the previous game.
There are some completely new elements to the game. One is a monetary system, which by and large works very well. A minor gripe is that money is, I think, a little too easy to come by, but then you are a nobleman’s son during a time of incredible wealth. There are also catacombs under the various cities, which must be explored in order to locate key artefacts. I use the term explore very loosely, because it’s really just a linear puzzle a la ‘Prince of Persia’ or ‘Tomb Raider,’ and to me is the weakest aspect of the game. You can purchase new weapons and armour and shop at various types of business. You even become something of a patron for a small town which has become dilapidated, and repairs you pay for slowly regenerate the area, earning you extra income as well. It is one of the many gameplay elements that will distract you from the key missions and plot line, but it’s so much fun that you’ll happily wander off running errands, searching for treasure and engaging in any number of other side-quests until you remember that, yes, you have a brutally slain family that you swore to avenge.
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