Assassin's Creed 2 first impressions (Review coming... eventually)

CroutonsofDeath{RD}

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I loved Assassin's Creed 1. Yeah, it had problems, but it was fun and as a total history nut I drank the setting in and it was a unique story. I don't really celebrate Christmas, but because I got my brother a Christmas present he decided to get me one and he knew that I was poor and was looking forward to ACII. Despite the fact that I played the first one on the 360, he grabbed the PS3 version for my shiny new PS3 that I won last year since I only have one other game for it (The only other game I has for it right now is God of War collection since my PS2 borked before #2 came out so I missed it when it first came out and I didn't finish the first one, and it was on sale for 20$ at my local gamestop). I've been playing around with it a bit and so far it's pretty cool!

I know some people didn't like the choice of setting, but I for one LOVE it. For some people French is the language of love, but for me it is Italian. Seriously, I hear Italian and a pretty voice speaking it and I go nuts.. I probably would even if it was coming from an evil soul sucking witch that was cast even out of Hades for being too despicably evil. I've been to Italy and loved it, and my wife who happens to speak it is teaching me. So combing my love for History and my love for Italy with the gameplay of Assassin's Creed is an award winning combination in my book.

Once again you play as Miles Desmond and yet another ancestor (Who thankfully has a proper accent this time around so when he speaks he doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.) named Ezio. The story picks up literally seconds after the obscure ending from the first game, with a recap so that even if you haven't played the first one you can get the gist of what happened, and Lucy grabs Desmond and they hike out of Abstergo and Lucy introduces Desmond to the other modern day assassins. They too have an animus, and are using it this time not to find another mysterious object, but to truly train Desmond for the on going fight against the Templars. When playing as Ezio, you actually don't start off as an assassin and the game gives you more time to grow attached to the character and while I kinda feel that Ezio's reason for becoming an assassin is somewhat cliched its all told well enough that you can really get into Ezio's shoes and have a more intimate look at the path to becoming an assassin.

The gameplay is a bit faster paced this time around, there's no more of that standing in a crowd walking at 1 inch per hour just to fool the guards and you can hide in water as well. You can still use the crowd and special characters to hide yourself, although I honestly don't understand how Ezio blends in with prostitutes... you'd think that a gaggle of prostitutes hiding a suspicious looking man would be even more suspicious. At least in AC1 the scholars had similar robes. You can still have fun jumping around buildings and the controls are still simplistic and fluent and it makes leaping and free running a joy.

The graphics are awesome. Although I have run into some MAJOUR texture/shadow/object fading and pop-up (I've heard the 360 version is better, but I wouldn't know and it doesn't really hurt the gameplay so I don't really care) the game is a joy to look at and has beautiful animations and details. The settings and characters are all distinct and pleasing to look at. The graphics are beautiful, only really annoying me when you get the pop-up issues.

I'm gunna be busy plus my wife & I have been invited down under to visit a friend in January so I'm probably not going to be able to finish it in time for the review to pop up as soon as it usually would. If I can beat the game before Jan. 1st I'll post the review soon, but I doubt I will be able to. If not I'll have the review out by Feb. So far the game is pretty good. I doubt it will turn anyone who didn't like the first one, but it does improve on many of the slower paced aspects and it looks good, sounds good, and plays good and as long as it keeps up I'll have positive things to say about it.
 
I agree pretty much, got it today for christmas, only difference is I got 1 for ps3 and 2 for 360...
 
I also got 2 today for Christmas. After the family holiday celebration I sat down and put a great chunk of time into the game.

My first impression is great. They've expanded on the first one in some great ways and I'm digging everything going on in this sequel. The setting, the characters, the gameplay, the customization, and the surprises.

Sorry to be so vague, but I don't want to spoil anything beyond what was already said.
 
I really want to get Assassins creed 2 looks so good and they rated it 5/5 and 10/10.
 
The only thing that was bad about the first one was how repetitive it was with the same three missions over and over and over. Pickpocket listening in and kill a person just over and over it got so boring I lost interest and read and watched what happens on wikipedia and youtube.
 
The only thing that was bad about the first one was how repetitive it was with the same three missions over and over and over. Pickpocket listening in and kill a person just over and over it got so boring I lost interest and read and watched what happens on wikipedia and youtube.

Of course I am biased because I didn't mind that at all about the first one, but so far I think the game has been improved on in that regard.
 
Just beat it today, gives you a lot to think about in terms for the next one, can't wait because if it is an improvement over this it will be incredible.
 
They are talking about maybe a female assassin ancestor this time and maybe being in Feudal Japan!!
 
in netherland this game comes in May or something. That sucks hard. I wanna play it too!
 
I love it i got it for x-mas on the xbox and it looks amazing and the game play in even better :D
I give it 9/10
 
Getting it for the PC the very nanosecond it comes out.
Going to visit my cousin tomorrow, just heard he got AC2 for christmas so I will be spending a few days there..
Yes, I love the series. Love.
 
They are talking about maybe a female assassin ancestor this time and maybe being in Feudal Japan!!

Nah, not much evidence pointing towards Feudal Japan, my guess is that 3's animus visit will be to mesoamerica during Cortez's invasion, plenty of distinct factions, unique architecture, and there were a ton on hints pointing towards it during the game.
 
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