Assassin's Creed II

Not that long ago, I reviewed Assassin's Creed, a game that, from the premise at least, seemed like it would be pretty damn enjoyable. Well, I gave it a 5 out of 10, because while the underlying mechanics were promising, the actual game design was extremely redundant and pretty tough to sit through. Now comes Assassin's Creed II, and its everything the first game wasn't, which is to say, actually a good game. I'd like to take some credit for that, as a critic, by that would only actually apply if I didn't review a game three years after release.

This time around, the game is set in renaissance Italy, which already makes it a much more colorful and visually appealing setting than the drab war torn holy land of the previous game. Your new assassin is Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who hungers for vengeance after his father and brothers where killed as part of a cover-up by a network of many powerful men, the web of which you spend much of the game unraveling. You learn from surviving family that you come from a long line of assassins, and armed with this knowledge, your father's hidden blade, and the help of various notable characters and willing factions,  you set out to uncover the identity, and foil the plans, of the man known only as the Spaniard.

Hmm, The Spaniard. There's got to be a Princess Bride reference in there.

 There are new weapons, as well as new assassination options that make the game feel much more natural. For example, you can now get a pistol integrated into one of your hidden blades. I say one, because you unlock a second blade early in the game, which opens up a whole 'nother world of cool ways to kill people. Other weapons, like a poison blade, provide you with new approaches to kill enemies without being detected. Those new assassination options I mentioned really make you realize how much was missing in the previous game, and you'll wonder how you made it without the ability to stealth kill someone from inside a hay cart or while hanging on a ledge below someone.

However, while the assassin's tools of the trade have evolved, so have the types of enemies you encounter.  You can no longer just sit in a corner and counterattack your way to victory, as more often than not you'll encounter larger enemies that wield maces or pole arms, which can only be disarmed. Other times you'll have to deal with light enemies, who make fleeing more difficult as they are pretty much equally light of foot. At some points you'll have to chase down an enemy messenger or a pickpocket, for a little bonus. All of these serve to liven up the combat from what the original had to offer.

Speaking of being cliche - the bigger they are...

 The game has taken on some RPG elements as well, and it makes for an interesting addition. There are various weapons in each weapon class, such as plenty of swords, or mauls, or whatever suits your mood for a primary weapon, each with different stats. The same applies to the different sets of armor. Additionally, this game has a currency system, which is good, because armor becomes damaged and needs to be repaired, or you need to visit a doctor to be healed.

That currency can be used in other ways to help you on your mission as well. Scattering some on the ground serves as a great distraction to guards and citizens alike. Or you could hire one of three groups - courtesans, mercenaries, and thieves - to do things for you like provide cover so you can blend in, distract guards, or attack for you - whatever the situation calls for.

Sorry kiddies, no GTA options here.

I really am amazed at how they turned this series around. Rather than the main game being nothing more than a checklist of activities before killing one target, with a good story when you're not in the past, they've practically ditched the out of animus portion and made the main game a very open, very enjoyable experience. Now there are plenty of side missions, which really serve no purpose beyond increasing your available finances, and those kind of become a little more repetitive, but since they've been moved out of the main story, that's perfectly fine.

The heart of the game, the story behind it, the interesting period characters you interact with, such as Leonardo da Vinci, make this a really solid game. There is plenty of extra stuff in there, if you feel like taking time to collect art, build a city, or hunt down over 300 treasure chests, but that's all just bonus. I picked this up for under $7 back during the summer of 2011, but I could easily see myself paying $10-$15 for it now, knowing how good it is, and realizing that I spent over 36 hours of my life on this experience. Overall, a very solid, good game, that I give a 7 out of 10.

So, the final breakdown:

Score: 7/10

Suggested Price: $15