November 28th, 2009 | 
Author: 
- Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio
- Roam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renaissance-era Italy
- Do whatever it takes to complete your missions in the game’s all-new open world and mission structure
- Thrive in an environment rich with power, revenge and conspiracy
- Practice your assassin’s art with all-new weapons and instruments created by Leonardo da Vinci
Product Description
The world of the assassin is one cloaked in shadow and steeped in danger. Ensnared in a web of revenge and conspiracy, the assassin embraces power at its most elemental, acting as the dividing line between life and death. As an assassin confronted by perilous new challenges and difficult choices, what path will you choose?FeaturesExplore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin EzioRoam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renais… More >>
Posted in xbox game | 
Tags: Acting, Assassin, Assassins, Challenges, Choices, Conspiracy, Creed, Dangerous World, Dividing Line, Ensnared, Game, Italy, Leonardo Da Vinci, Life And Death, Missions, Product Description, Renaissance, Revenge, Weapons
Just so you know, I really liked Assassin’s Creed. The first game was a joy just to run around in; especially exploring the various cities and countryside. That’s why this game was such a dissappointment; exploration is a tedious, frustrating experience and, because of the new monetary system, MANDATORY.
Firstly, story. I don’t know what game the other review sites are playing, but it’s not the one I’m playing. This story is a ridiculous stereotype of bad buddy cop and action movies with a healthy dollop of tired conspiracy thriller; EVERYONE is betraying everyone else; there, I just spoiled it for you. The characters are just as stereotypical: Ezio is basically a drunken, whoring moron who is too stupid to understand anything beyond drinking and violence but we’re supposed to excuse that because he’s handsome and physically able; the writing is just full of terrible garbage in a similar vein. All villains are either fat or old. Everything is a just a huge neon sign blaring WE CAN’T WRITE. I just cannot get across how really, really poor the whole thing is.
The health system has been re-worked so, rather then just regenerating health if you find a quiet spot, you actually have to break off from the mission you’re currently on and seek out street doctors to heal you. This would be fine if it wasn’t for the horribly oversensitive, paranoid guards in the game which pretty much attack you on sight now. Instead, it just ends up being a immersion breaking task similar to an annoying fetch quest. Happily you can buy some medicine vials to use on the fly though which aleviates the annoyance; of course, you still need to hunt up money to buy them.
The guards bring up my other big problem; I can’t explore anymore. They’re so senstive that even running by them will trigger a huge chase and they’re so numerous that you can’t get anywhere without having to deal with them. They make the whole game seem terribly claustrophobic and not free roaming and non-linear at all. The messy combat system is back simply with additional options making it even messier; lacking even a basic tutorial unmtil well into the game (other then control pop-ups hints which, if you stop to read, you’ll end up dead because they don’t appear until you’re IN a fight) fights end up being sloppy, button mashing dissappointments. Even with all the bizzare, rock-paper-scissor weapon match ups they’ve added, the only effective way to kill EVERYONE is still simply the same move as the first game; Counter Kill with Hidden Blades, which makes all the weapon buying in the game nothing more then decorations for your villa.
The free running system in this version is touted as improved; in reality it’s totally broken. You’ll find Ezio constantly veering over 45 degrees off your course to make jumps he doesn’t even need to do; he overcompensates ridiculously when jumping so you’ll repeatedly find yourself plummeting to the streets below, usually triggering yet another guard chase or need to find ANOTHER doctor, and Ezio’s feet are apparently magentically attracted to posts, probably so he can do that lame “crouch on a high place” pose as often as possible. I actually had Ezio TURN COMPLETELY AROUND at one point to hop onto a pole he had just passed rather then simply leap across a small alley to the platform on the other side. He’ll also frequently get hung up on regular six inch steps; the whole character will freeze and refuse to move at all as if he was on the edge of a steep precipice.
That’s not to say the game is devoid of improvements; the new Blending system is neat (and necessary since the guards are complete turds), buying new dyes, armour and weapons is fun and the graphics are as good as they were in the previous game; albeit very similar. There’s really no telling you’re in different cities then any from the first games at most points; Venis is beautiful tho.
When you do manage to explore, the game is as fun as the first with TONS of things to find but they’re hard as anything to find; most are sourrounded with a white glow that almost perfectly matches the sky and roof shingles; if what you’re looking for is on the roofs, either wait until night or you’ll only find it if you trip over it.
So, if you liked Assassin’s Creed for the exploring, this game pretty much kills it and the story is reason alone to never even look at the game case on the shelf. Yes, there’s lots of new things added to the game but it’s like a spaghetti sauce that started out good but then had way too many ingrediants dumped into it to try to make it better.
Rating: 3 / 5
Overall 7/10 (The story was the most important to me)
Gameplay 9/10
Story 5/10
Graphics 8/10 (On a big tv you can see the seams)
Character Depth 9.5/10 (leaves you hanging on some part)
Let me start by saying the first assassins creed was and still is my favorite gme.This game however is pretty fun gameplay wise but is sericely lacking in the story department untill about halfway through the game.
The free runing is really good although it does have some problems where Ezio will jump somwhere other then where you planned and you will probably end up with half your health gone. The climbing works well and is improved over the original. But none of the free runing or climbing requires much thought. There is almost always a clear cut path or you just have to go around the corner. Inside the tombs there is an obvious criss cross patern or it shows you the path you need to take.
There are more types of quests but only a few types are enjoyable, (The beat up quests, the races, and some of the assassinations)unlike in the original where i wanted to do every single side quest. The beat up quests and the races are extremely enjoyable and you will want to do all of them that you find. on the other hand you have things like the courier quests which are just a complete pain. All of the main quest assassinations are enjoyable but only some of the side assassinations are fun while the rest are just tedious. Another pain is when you have to follow someone to a certain point withou being detected before killing them, if you bump into one person with a box you will most likely be starting over. Also I thought I had heard something about quests where you carried women home after they had been at the market all day but I guess Ubisoft just scrapped that.
The new weapons are pretty cool but you rbarely ever going to use any of the but your hidden blades, your sword, and your fists. You can only aqquire weapons when the game makers are ready for you to have them because you have to wait untill later memory blocks for most weapons to be available.
The villa is definitely the best part of the game It is fun to upgrade and get the money every 20 minutes and it is a nice safe place to hang around.I love how they took real paintings and told you the histories of them. But there just arent enough upgrades and paintings to keep you entertained.
Now I’m going to tell you about the story. The story is pretty pathetic. for the first half of the game its pretty much EZIO MAD EZIO KILL and the other half is crap about weird creators who want to save us or something. I’m not going to tell you the ending but (at least in my opinion) it was just stupid and worse then the first. The codex pages leave you wondering what happened after altair looked into the apple the last time or if he even did. But even though it isn’t a great story i still half to say I am definitley going to get the third to find ou what happens.
Also I have had a few glitches like when i got my head stuck in a gondola and it said it acted like i was walking even though the rest of me was underwater and i couldn’t get out. ANother time there was an archer with half his body in a building.
The biggest problem of all is that YOU CAN’T REPLAY MEMORIES.
Now that I’m done with the review part i’m going to tell you what ubisoft should release as downloadable content to fix at least some of these problems: More indoor maps, More side quest types as well as just more side quests, More addons for the stronghold including ones that increase its size and more paintings for it, more weapons and armour, and most of all a patch (thats free) That lets you replay specific memories. Anything else they can think of also.
Rating: 3 / 5
I haven’t finished it all the way yet, but so far this game is everything that the first game wasn’t!
It is quite a bit harder than the first, and if you didn’t play the first one you’re going to have a little bit of a learning curve on the story and controls, but it’s not too bad.
Anyway, maybe this type of game doesn’t appeal to everyone, but it’s a blast for those of us who like a good single player game that has depth and a good plot!
Rating: 5 / 5
the Good: this game is Exactly like 1. the cities and buildings are basically the same Structure as the cities from 1…but with a few different colors and textures (Venice is Beautiful)…and like in 1, its easy to just Immerse yourself and get Lost in the cities and all the gorgeous colors…and have Fun scaling rooftops and climbing everything. as far as Exploration goes, it doesnt really get any better than This. Unfortunately, thats all this game really has to Offer you as a player.
the Bad: all the cities look ALIKE..but like said, with different colors and textures. the Storyline is interesting…but consists of you running around for HOURS, maybe even more so than part 1. i was about 6 hours In and all i had done was run here and run there, it gets Mentally Tiring. you have a small village now that you can Modify…but the options for modification are VERY few..and can only be done Once…so the novelty of it kind of Dies the moment you do it. and theres nothing Else that really Happens with the city…which is Puzzling because it LOOKS like they were going to add a feature where other armies could ATTACK your city randomly and you would have to defend it…and maybe spend money on guards, fixing the city again and so on…but no such luck. your city is basically there to Look Pretty and Thats All. you can now blend in with Prostitutes, Thieves and Mercenaries and have them Fight with you…which is pretty cool…but after you slay a GROUP of guards only to have Another Group respawn in their Place…it gets kind of Old :l i found myself Running from them simply because i got Tired of killing them..
Overall: this game is as Beautiful and Fresh as the first..and has that Fable/Zelda RPG feel that we all Love…but still suffers from Lack of True Replay Value. after bashing Countless guards in the Head with a Maul…sneaking behind them and killing them with 2 hidden blades (which is fun)…and getting all the weapons, feathers and so on…this game will get Boring…and then its on to the next game. but if all you want is a good Storyline or something to occupy you for the Weekend, give this one a Rent, you wont be sorry…
iLL .
Rating: 3 / 5
I bought this for our son who is 27 and he’s going nuts about it. LOL..he loved the first one in this series and is wonderfully pleased about this one as well. I recomment this to all the gamers out there. Great graphics and precise and exact places where the game takes place as well! Actual places for that time period. GREAT GAMES!
Rating: 5 / 5