We catch up with Jeffrey Yohalem, Scriptwriter of Assassin’s Creed II’s Present/Animus setting, to talk Assassin’s Creed 1’s success, and as what to expect from Assassin’s Creed II.
1) The first Assassin’s Creed received mixed reviews – how important was the critical feedback in developing the sequel?
The comments we received from the first game had a huge impact on the conception of the second game. We definitely improved on the pillars of Assassin’s Creed – free running, climbing, assassination, fighting – but we also attempted to fix many of the issues that received negative comments from the first game. We expanded the universe by redefining the mission structure, created a complex storyline with stronger character progression, a more useful crowd and so on. By listening to player feedback, the game now feels much more organic and there are a lot of unpredictable moments.
2) Despite the mixed reception, the original had largely spectacular sales. What does this say to you about the importance of games reviews, and what does it say about the target market for the Assassin’s Creed franchise?
There were many things about the first game -- like the fantasy of being an assassin and the incredible freedom of movement -- that players really loved. Although reviews were mixed, players seemed to be so interested in the world and the unique flow of the game that they bought Assassin’s Creed anyway.
We believe reviews are very important to the development of the medium, but players do not always pay that much attention to them. For example, many might listen to word of mouth.
Regardless, this time around, we wanted to create a game that both the reviewers and players would love.
At Ubisoft, we always challenge ourselves to do something bigger and better than our previous efforts.
3) Were you ever tempted to just say ‘if it aint broke, don’t fix it?’ and make the sequel largely the same?
Never. Patrice Desilets, our creative director, had a vision for Assassin’s Creed 2 (where he wanted to take the franchise) that was very ambitious. Here at Ubisoft, we always challenge ourselves to do something bigger and better than our previous efforts, otherwise we would not be able to achieve excellence.
4) What aspects have actually changed the most for the second Assassin’s Creed?
I can sum it up in two words: variety and depth. There is so much to do in the world of Assassin’s Creed 2 if you just want to explore, while the main storyline is deep and elaborate. The combat system has grown and developed and now we have an economic system. The world of AC2 has really come alive.
5) Assassins Creed 2 allows players to customize Ezio’s appearance and weapons that he carries. Is this purely aesthetic or does this have an impact on the gameplay?
Both have an effect on the gameplay. Upgrading armor raises your health meter and protects you against attacks, while the weapons in the game have different stats and types.
There are several types of weapons and each of them has its own unique style of fighting. A dagger is lighter to wield but is also less powerful and effective against multiple enemies. On the other hand, a halberd can be very effective against multiple enemies and Ezio will be able to swipe through a few enemies with it. Our fight team is working very hard making the fights realistic, brutal and players will really perceive through every kill, Ezio’s harsh past and his thirst for vengeance. When fighting with a halberd against multiple enemies, you might impale an enemy and in the fire of action, you won’t be able to take out your halberd from his chest because it’ll be stuck. You will have to leave your weapon in him and find another one and pick up your sword, dagger or fight with your double hidden blades… This situation might happen to you when fighting with heavier weapons and this shows how we are trying to be more realistic and engaging in our fight system. We want every animation to give the same chill to the player every time they see it and there are a lot of animations! The numbers of animations are far superior in the second title of Assassin’s Creed. Since, we have much more types of weapons; we need to produce all the unique animations for each of them.
The numbers of animations are far superior in the second title of Assassin’s Creed.
6) Having the word ‘Assassin’ in the title suggests this would be a pure stealth game – but it’s really more of a varied experience. Did it start out with stealth as the main gameplay device?
Rather than targeting a particular type of gameplay, we sought to create the overall experience of being an assassin in the Middle Ages, and, now, the Italian Renaissance. Although, stealth elements are part of this, combat, free running, travelling and purchasing goods also make up the life of an assassin. So, stealth was never intended to be the only gameplay.
7) With the success of Assassins Creed and the build up that Assassins Creed 2 is receiving you must be feeling the pressure to exceed the expectations of the fans. Do you think you’ll exceed the expectations?
I believe that fans will be pleasantly surprised by many aspects of this game that they did not anticipate. It is so large and so varied that there is always something new and unexpected to stumble across. We have improved on the original in so many ways, we are confident that AC2 will not disappoint.