Released on 20/11/2009

• Interview with Jeffrey Yohalem

  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.

  Published: 18/11/2009

• Assassin's Creed II Review

  Simply inCreedable

  I wasn't a huge fan of the first Assassin's Creed. Like many, I found the progression repetitive, the AI unconvincing, and the lack of proper stealthy bits a bit baffling (you were, after all, an assassin!).

  That was a shame, because the premise of free-running around the Crusades era, slitting throats, then jumping back into the present day to uncover a wider conspiracy, was pretty darn cool, and the tech that held it together was incredibly impressive. You could tell there was a decent - potentially even a classic - stealth-action title in there, waiting to break out from the constraints of its structure.

  Assassin's Creed II is that game - and then some!

  Breaking out

  The story was one of the original game's best aspects, and the great news is that they've continued it in fine fashion for the follow-up. It's probably worth a recap though, so (with a little help from our Gamestation Award for Best Story Game)...

  Desmond Miles, a descendent of the Assassins, has been nabbed by Abstergo Industries, the modern-day incarnation of the fabled Knights Templar, and strapped into a genetic memory recall device called the Animus. Through this, he relives the memories of his ancestor Altair in the Crusades era with a view to locating the Pieces of Eden, which hold the key to some world-conquering power.

  Assassin's Creed II picks up right at the end of the first game, with ol' Dezzy in his cell... and then all hell breaks loose. Controlling Des, you're soon sprinting around Abstergo HQ, beating up guards and eventually escaping to a modern-day Assassin hideout where, as luck would have it, you're soon sat in some sort of Super-Animus and plunged into freshly-surfaced memories belonging to your Great Great Something-Or-Other, Ezio Auditore Da Firenze.

  Even at this point, however, you still don't feel like an Assassin. There's a good two hours of tutorials before Ezio finally dons that famous cloak, by which time you've established his standing as a Renaissance playboy, gotten to grips with Assassin's Creed II's acrobatic platforming, and have a decent understanding of those important in Ezio's life - which makes the big twist at the end of the chapter all the more affecting.

  It's a slow start, but when Assassin's Creed II gets going proper, it shows itself to be a much more diverse, surprising and all-around enjoyable experience than its predecessor.

  Born to run

  Set in glorious renditions of 15th Century Florence, Venice, Rome and the Tuscan countryside, Assassin's Creed II is, like its forebear, a free-roaming technical marvel - but here the environments have been put to much greater use. The platforming is at once silky-smooth and almost entirely organic. These locales are packed with people, the architecture is authentic and downright beautiful, and every handhold, hay cart and rooftop is placed in a way that makes sense as part of the area, and still allows for streamlined free-running movement. Creed II doesn't feel contrived, allowing for a fantastic sense of immersion.

  While that was true of the original, within two hours the repetitive structure had shattered all pretence of a living, breathing world. Creed II maintains some of the basic ideas, but deploys them in a far more attractive way. You still scale viewpoints to open up more of the map, for instance, but from there the number of options falls into two categories where once there was one.

  The first set of missions follow Assassin's Creed II's core storyline. These used to involve visiting the Assassin's Bureau, taking a few side-missions to gather info, then offing your target in one set way. It's now woven into the fabric of the narrative in a few more convincing way, and mixes up the tasks required to keep you on your toes.

  This time it's personal

  Whether you're sneakily tailing a target, stealthing past an entire garrison, listening in on private conversations, or marauding into battle, the assassinations themselves put those in the first game to shame, making for a far more open-ended way to take out your targets. Stealth and action fans will both find an approach they can enjoy, making Assassin's Creed II a much more adaptable, personal experience.

  The second category is side-missions - and there's LOADS of 'em. Coupled with the re-worked gameplay features, they offer enough rewards and neat little touches that they could well double your playtime well into 40+ hours.

  One of the most prominent features is Ezio's notoriety level. Throughout the game you'll find this rise and fall depending on your actions; Steal or brawl in the street and it'll go up. Bribe public speakers or tear down Wanted posters and it'll decrease. Go out of your way to find all 100 hidden feathers, though, and you'll unlock the Auditore cape, which spikes it up to 100, making things distinctly harder and the playing experience significantly different.

  Coming of age

  There are also 330 treasures to collect, catacombs to explore, glyphs to decipher and Codexes which unlock more back-story on the first game's protagonist Altair.

  All of this is underpinned by a distinct RPG-style slant, epitomised by the ability to furnish Ezio's home in the mountains with spoils purchased with the game's new money system. You can purchase armour, weapons and even art to hang in the halls of his cliff top abode - and you're afforded more ways to earn these as you progress, with rowboats, swimming and even a flying machine all viable options for getting around the enormous gameworld - the latter courtesy of Leonardo Da Vinci, who pops up regularly as a sort of 15th Century version of James Bond's Q.

  As you can tell by the sheer length of this review, there's a LOT of Assassin's Creed II to get your teeth into. The most impressive aspect though is the same thing that made Uncharted 2 so fantastic - it feels like its predecessor, but far more accomplished, and with pretty much all of the flaws addressed.

  If the original Assassin's Creed was the birth of a promising franchise, then Assassin's Creed II sees it triumphantly come of age.

  

  Creed
  + Loads more variety than the first game; a really top-notch, all-around action-adventure.
  + Complex, engrossing plot.
  + Truly fantastic presentation.

  Crud
  - The AI could still be a bit smarter.
  - It takes a while to get going.
  - The controls might still feel a bit hand-holdy for hardcore platform fans.

• Assassin's Creed 3 takes shape

  Assassin's Creed 3 takes shape

  We've only just started to scratch the surface of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood here at Gamestation - Ubisoft's latest open-world parkour classic is available for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 - and with multiplayer and the new assassins' guild recruits to manage, the game's going to keep us busy for quite a while. Not so the development team, however, who have announced a sequel will be hitting shelves around the world in 2011 - and a recent survey offers a few insights into what we might be getting.

  According to Eurogamer, the survey, conducted by Global Market Insite, asks gamers what they'd like to see in the next Assassin's Creed game, and some of the options include enhanced Eagle Vision, allowing players to see patrol paths of guards and detect when enemies are lying during interpretations, a new bomb mechanic, allowing players to use smoke bombs and flash-bangs to get out of tricky spots, and a full-blown co-op mode.

  Two questions also dig at whether players fancy a new lead character and time period, or whether they want to stick with Ezio in a game set outside of Italy.

  Exciting stuff! We'll keep you posted on how the development of the Assassin's Creed series shapes up. Meanwhile, back to Brotherhood!

• May reveal for new Assassin's Creed

  In between the talk about numbers, statistics and more numbers in Ubisoft's financial results call, the company's CEO Yves Guillemot revealed some exciting news: that the next Assassin's Creed game will be officially unveiled in just three short months.
  
  "We will have an Assassin's Creed this year," said Guillemot. "We are going to give you more details in May."
  
  By his year', of course, Guillemot is referring to the fiscal period in other words, the game could launch any time between now and 31st March 2012. But it's a fair bet that, given the swift development period of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the next in the series might well turn up around November time.
  
  Talking of Brotherhood, Ubisoft confirmed that the latest game in the stealth-action series had shipped 6.5 million copies since launch, a figure slightly down on predecessor Assassin's Creed II, but still mightily impressive. The publisher's other recent success, Just Dance, looks set to run and run, with Guillemot suggesting "there's a good chance this dance segment can be strong for four or five years like Guitar Hero."
  
  While it may not be the best time to make comparisons to Activision's recently-nixed franchise, Ubisoft revealed that the series and spin-offs including Michael Jackson: The Experience and Dance on Broadway had shifted over 10 million copies. Just Dance 3 in time for Christmas, then? We certainly wouldn't be surprised.
• Do you have what it takes to write the book on Assassin's Creed?

  CVG has spotted a post on Ubisoft UbiWorkshop site that should be pretty interesting for fans of the Assassin Creed series. It a call to arms for any knowledgeable super-players to help with the construction of an Assassin's Creed Encyclopaedia.

  Here what it says: "As the more faithful among you know by now, we are working on an Assassin's Creed encyclopaedia (well my human colleagues are, I mostly make sure they do it right).

  "A huge task by all means," admits the poster. "So, we need somebody to help them advance the project. Make no mistake, this is a job offer, not some petty human crowdsourcing trick."

  The post goes on to explain that applicants should have "excellent English writing skills", and "an accurate knowledge of the Assassin's Creed universe". Also, they don need to have any past experience. Equally, while it would be ideal if the candidate lived near Montreal, they could work from home.

  If youe interested, send an email to volt@ubisoft.com, along with encyclopaedia entries concerning either a main or secondary character from the series, the Animus or a historical event the series has covered. Best of luck!

• Ubisoft eyeing up the movie biz?

  It made some seriously cinematic games over the years, but now the French publisher Ubisoft is taking the plunge and opening up a movie division with the ultimate aim of creating films and TV shows based around its video games.

  That according to the Hollywood newspaper Variety, anyway thanks for the spot, Eurogamer who announced last week that Ubisoft Motion Pictures is being formed, headed by Jean-Julien Baronnet, who already worked with famous directors like Luc Besson, the man behind Leon and The Fifth Element.

  It early days, so wee not sure yet which Ubisoft games will be getting the big screen treatment, but Ubisoft already been sending out questionnaires asking gamers if they want to go to the cinema to see movies based on Ghost Recon or Assassin Creed.

  We reckon that Ezio Auditore renaissance adventures would be particularly well-suited for a life on the silver screen: Assassin Creed has action, adventure, and a weird sci-fi twist that should ensure blockbuster dominance.

  As Eurogamer points out, though, Ubisoft already had a bit of a run-up at Hollywood, in the form of last year Prince of Persia movie, starring Jake Gyllenhaal. What did you make of that one?

• Assassin Creed Revelations announced

  Ubisoft has just won a place in our hearts that it will hold for the rest of time. According to Eurogamer, the French publisher just announced Assassin Creed Revelations, the latest chapter in its brilliant action series, and it sounds like a belter.

  The game heading for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this November, and it will apparently be the final chapter in Ezio story. The star of Assassin Creed II and Assassin Creed: Brotherhood will be heading to a new city, Constantinople, to stab people up in the Ottoman Empire.

  Templars are making trouble again, but there will be new gameplay tweaks, too: youl be able to manipulate memories to decipher mysteries and get a glimpse of the future, and the multiplayer content has apparently been refined and expanded, with the addition of new maps, characters, and modes.

  "Delivering the final chapter of the Ezio trilogy is an important milestone in the Assassin's Creed franchise for us and for our fans," said creative director Alexandre Amancio. "Assassin's Creed Revelations includes lots of new features and some significant surprises. We can't wait to show our fans what we have in store at E3 this year."

• Ubisoft lifts the lid on Assassin Creed: Revelations

  Last week we got to hear about Assassin Creed: Revelations, the latest instalment in Ubisoft brilliant sci-fi action adventure series that will hit the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this November. Now, wee getting some real info on what we can expect from the title.

  According to the latest issue of Game Informer thanks for the spot, Eurogamer Revelations sees you back in the shoes of Ezio Auditore, who now well over 50 years old. Ezio on a quest to locate seals that hold memories of his ancestor Altair, and when the player tracks any of these down, they'll be able to play through some special Altair sequences.

  Elsewhere, Constantinople provides the setting, with four different districts to adventure across. Youl also be heading out into Central Turkey at times. In terms of new gadgets, youl get a hookblade that allows you to zipline around as well as mess up baddies, and there will be over 300 different bomb variations for you to craft. Eagle Vision, meanwhile, has become Eagle Sense, which lets you see the paths patrolling guards will take, so you can work around them.

  Wee already super excited about this one, but it safe to assume we'll hear more at E3. We'll keep you posted.
  

• Ubisoft details Assassin's Creed: Revelations

  Ubisoft details Assassin Creed: Revelations

  You, um, may have noticed that wee very keen on Assassin Creed: Revelations around these parts. The game was only officially announced a few weeks back, but wee already sniffing around for every scrap of new information we can bring you. Now, thanks to a report in Game Informer, wee been hearing about some of the game new characters.

  According to Eurogamer - who have all the details - the shift in setting to the city of Constantinople has called for an expanded cast. Alongside regulars like Desmond, Altair and Ezio, youl be meeting a bunch of new guys, including Manuel Palaeologos, a real-life historical figure. Manuel described as a rich aristocrat with ties to the Templars and the Byzantine rulers. Can you unravel his true loyalties?

  Then there Sofia Sorto, Ezio new love interest. She fresh in town from Italy, and she runs a book shop you might want to check out. She joined by Prince Suleiman, a teenage rich kid who Ezio will offer guidance to, and finally Yusuf Tazim, another master assassin, and the man who will provide Ezio with his new hook blade.

  On top of all these new friends and enemies, four multiplayer characters have been announced: The Vanguard, The Guardian, The Bombardier and The Sentinel. We can wait to get to know them, too.

  Assassin Creed: Revelations should be hitting shelves later this year for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

• Assassin's Creed: Cutting through history

  Assassin's Creed has become such a mainstay of the game charts, and in such a short space of time, that it's easy to forget the mystery and confusion that surrounded the launch of the very first game back in 2007.

  Teasing glimpses of the Middle East in the 12th Century suggested a historical epic, but strange digital glitches hinted at science fiction. It was an open-world game, but nothing like the free-roaming crime capers the genre usually offered. And it was apparently a stealth game, but without a need to hide in boxes or crouch in corners.

  When the game finally arrived, the pieces fell into place. Ubisoft's Montreal studio had conjured up a breathtakingly lifelike recreation of historical cities, and populated them with crowds that flowed and moved in realistic ways. Our hero, Altair, was a member of the Order of Assassins, waging a centuries old war with the rival Templars. Oh, and he was being controlled by a relation from the future, via a machine called the Animus which allowed Desmond Miles to relive the memories of his ancestors.

  Most impressive was the nimble ease with which Altair could scamper around Jerusalem, Acre and Damascus. His fluid free-running made rooftop escapes and daring climbs incredibly intuitive and fun. Few will forget the first time they climbed a tower, admired the view and then dove off into a haystack far below.

  However, the gameplay beneath the technology was fairly raw. Altair had to carry out nine assassinations, which were triggered by performing set tasks. These tasks included such heart-pounding exercises as sitting on a bench and eavesdropping, or walking very slowly behind someone.

  Ubisoft clearly took notice of the criticisms levelled at Assassin's Creed's more repetitive moments, as two years later Assassin's Creed II improved the series hugely with more dynamic missions, a stronger story and a more interesting hero. With a hop forward in time to 15th Century Italy, Ezio Auditore became our lead, bringing with him a rakish charm that marked him out as a Rennaisance James Bond. Accessories and gadgets could now be purchased, from no lesser vendor than Leonardo DaVinci himself, and the game was rightly praised for the way it took the immersive world of the first title and built a deep and rewarding game on top.

  The second game also showcased a series capable of delivering multiple narratives at the same time. As Ezio's story unfolded in the past, Desmond's story followed suit in the present. Hidden in the game, behind mysterious glowing glyphs, was yet another tale. Subject 16, a previous user of the Animus, had buried clues to his fate throughout history. Solving the mind-boggling puzzles, and deciphering the dense conspiracy-laden history lessons within, added yet more layers to the increasingly immersive Assassin's universe.

  With the formula cracked, Ubisoft quickly set about improving, adding and tweaking the game for the best results. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood followed in 2010, just a year after Assassin's Creed II, leaving some fans worried that the game would be a jumped-up expansion pack rather than a true follow-up.

  The worries proved unfounded, as Brotherhood not only continued Ezio's story in thrilling fashion but introduced some remarkable new features to the series. First among these was the brotherhood of the title, a growing team of assassin's that could be recruited, trained and then called upon to assist in your nefarious hits. Brotherhood also introduced multiplayer for the first time, in the shape of a cleverly designed suite of game modes that used the stalk-and-slay gameplay of the main story to weave a paranoid multi-layered game of cat and mouse, with players all hunting one of their peers - while someone else in turn hunted them.

  In just five years, Assassin's Creed has gone from a curious oddity to one of the biggest and most critically acclaimed gaming series of this console generation. This week sees the release of Assassin's Creed Revelations, an ambitious entry that brings original star Altair back into the frame alongside Ezio, while Desmond roams digital limbo trying to return to normality. With Altair and Ezio reaching the end of their adventure this year, and Desmond's story set to wrap up in another sequel in 2012, the future and past for assassins everywhere has never been brighter.

• Ubisoft asks fans to help pick future Assassin's Creed locations

  
  Ubisoft asks fans to help pick future Assassin's Creed locations

  Ubisoft has sent a survey to fans on its Assassin's Creed Uplay mailing list, asking them to vote on possible locations and time periods for future games in the series.

  There are eight options to choose from, all of which could throw up intriguing new gameplay possibilities. Medieval China and feudal Japan both feature on the list, as do the American and Russian revolutions. Ancient Rome and Egypt are also suggested, along with Victorian England and the Spanish Conquistadors.

  The recently released Assassin's Creed Revelations brought the stories of previous heroes Altair and Ezio to a close. Next year's Assassin's Creed 3 will reportedly be the last to feature Desmond Miles, the modern day hero who relives the memories of his ancestors in the games.

  But Ubisoft has admitted they want Assassin's Creed to be an annual event, and there's certainly scope in the idea to take the series to interesting new places in 2013. Where would you like to go?

  Assassin's Creed Revelations is out now for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
  

• Michael Fassbender to star in Assassin's Creed movie

  Assassin's Creed will make the daredevil rooftop leap from games to the big screen in fine style, it seems, with the announcement that Michael Fassbender, one of the most popular actors around, will not only star in the movie version of Ubisoft's hit stealth franchise, but will also co-produce the movie with Ubisoft through his own production company.

  Fassbender is box office gold right now, with critical acclaim for arthouse dramas such as Shame and A Dangerous Method rubbing up against commercial hits such as X-Men: First Class and Prometheus. "Michael Fassbender was our first choice," said Ubisoft Motion Pictures boss Jean-Julien Baronnet. "Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor."

  It's unclear which elements of the Assassin's Creed games will be used for the movie, but Ubisoft is adamant that it will retain creative control. The publisher even scuppered an earlier attempt to finance the movie by refusing to allow Sony's movie division to tamper with the story.

  It'll be a few years before we see the Animus in action on the big screen, but gamers can look forward to the end of an era when Assassin's Creed 3 is released this November 16th. The game, set during the American Revolutionary War, brings the story of time-hopping hero Desmond Miles to a close.
  

• Assassin's Creed II - Review

  
  

  

  Simply inCreedable

  I wasn't a huge fan of the first Assassin's Creed. Like many, I found the progression repetitive, the AI unconvincing, and the lack of proper stealthy bits a bit baffling (you were, after all, an assassin!).

  That was a shame, because the premise of free-running around the Crusades era, slitting throats, then jumping back into the present day to uncover a wider conspiracy, was pretty darn cool, and the tech that held it together was incredibly impressive. You could tell there was a decent - potentially even a classic - stealth-action title in there, waiting to break out from the constraints of its structure.

  Assassin's Creed II is that game - and then some!

  Breaking out

  The story was one of the original game's best aspects, and the great news is that they've continued it in fine fashion for the follow-up. It's probably worth a recap though, so (with a little help from the Gamestation Award for Best Story Game)...

  Desmond Miles, a descendent of the Assassins, has been nabbed by Abstergo Industries, the modern-day incarnation of the fabled Knights Templar, and strapped into a genetic memory recall device called the Animus. Through this, he relives the memories of his ancestor Altair in the Crusades era with a view to locating the Pieces of Eden, which hold the key to some world-conquering power.

  Assassin's Creed II picks up right at the end of the first game, with ol' Dezzy in his cell... and then all hell breaks loose. Controlling Des, you're soon sprinting around Abstergo HQ, beating up guards and eventually escaping to a modern-day Assassin hideout where, as luck would have it, you're soon sat in some sort of Super-Animus and plunged into freshly-surfaced memories belonging to your Great Great Something-Or-Other, Ezio Auditore Da Firenze.

  Even at this point, however, you still don't feel like an Assassin. There's a good two hours of tutorials before Ezio finally dons that famous cloak, by which time you've established his standing as a Renaissance playboy, gotten to grips with Assassin's Creed II's acrobatic platforming, and have a decent understanding of those important in Ezio's life - which makes the big twist at the end of the chapter all the more affecting.

  

  It's a slow start, but when Assassin's Creed II gets going proper, it shows itself to be a much more diverse, surprising and all-around enjoyable experience than its predecessor.

  Born to run

  Set in glorious renditions of 15th Century Florence, Venice, Rome and the Tuscan countryside, Assassin's Creed II is, like its forebear, a free-roaming technical marvel - but here the environments have been put to much greater use. The platforming is at once silky-smooth and almost entirely organic. These locales are packed with people, the architecture is authentic and downright beautiful, and every handhold, hay cart and rooftop is placed in a way that makes sense as part of the area, and still allows for streamlined free-running movement. Creed II doesn't feel contrived, allowing for a fantastic sense of immersion.

  While that was true of the original, within two hours the repetitive structure had shattered all pretence of a living, breathing world. Creed II maintains some of the basic ideas, but deploys them in a far more attractive way. You still scale viewpoints to open up more of the map, for instance, but from there the number of options falls into two categories where once there was one.

  The first set of missions follow Assassin's Creed II's core storyline. These used to involve visiting the Assassin's Bureau, taking a few side-missions to gather info, then offing your target in one set way. It's now woven into the fabric of the narrative in a few more convincing way, and mixes up the tasks required to keep you on your toes.

  This time it's personal

  Whether you're sneakily tailing a target, stealthing past an entire garrison, listening in on private conversations, or marauding into battle, the assassinations themselves put those in the first game to shame, making for a far more open-ended way to take out your targets. Stealth and action fans will both find an approach they can enjoy, making Assassin's Creed II a much more adaptable, personal experience.

  

  The second category is side-missions - and there's LOADS of 'em. Coupled with the re-worked gameplay features, they offer enough rewards and neat little touches that they could well double your playtime well into 40+ hours.

  One of the most prominent features is Ezio's notoriety level. Throughout the game you'll find this rise and fall depending on your actions; Steal or brawl in the street and it'll go up. Bribe public speakers or tear down Wanted posters and it'll decrease. Go out of your way to find all 100 hidden feathers, though, and you'll unlock the Auditore cape, which spikes it up to 100, making things distinctly harder and the playing experience significantly different.

  Coming of age

  There are also 330 treasures to collect, catacombs to explore, glyphs to decipher and Codexes which unlock more back-story on the first game's protagonist Altair.

  All of this is underpinned by a distinct RPG-style slant, epitomised by the ability to furnish Ezio's home in the mountains with spoils purchased with the game's new money system. You can purchase armour, weapons and even art to hang in the halls of his cliff top abode - and you're afforded more ways to earn these as you progress, with rowboats, swimming and even a flying machine all viable options for getting around the enormous gameworld - the latter courtesy of Leonardo Da Vinci, who pops up regularly as a sort of 15th Century version of James Bond's Q.

  As you can tell by the sheer length of this review, there's a LOT of Assassin's Creed II to get your teeth into. The most impressive aspect though is the same thing that made Uncharted 2 so fantastic - it feels like its predecessor, but far more accomplished, and with pretty much all of the flaws addressed.

  If the original Assassin's Creed was the birth of a promising franchise, then Assassin's Creed II sees it triumphantly come of age.

  The Good:

  • Loads more variety than the first game; a really top-notch, all-around action-adventure.
  • Complex, engrossing plot.
  • Truly fantastic presentation.

  The Bad:

  • The AI could still be a bit smarter.
  • It takes a while to get going.
  • The controls might still feel a bit hand-holdy for hardcore platform fans.

  Published: 17/12/2009

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