Assasin's Creed 2 - Bellisimo!

[MiracleOfSound]

I have been playing this game for the last 7 hours and I am very pleasantly surprised.

I found the first game a repetitive, boring grind, but the sequel has improved in so many ways:

Characterisation and story:

Ezzio is a far more likeable, sympathetic protagonist than the ever-dull Altair. The voice acting is top notch, with a surprising sense of humour running through the story.

He is witty, charming and emotionally fragile. Just how I like my protagonists.

Ezzio's mother has some seriously laugh out loud one liners, watch out for one regarding 'outlets of expression' just before Ezzio meets a famous artist for the first time.

All the characters are well written, well animated and well acted.


Open World:

I judge an open world game by how it feels to exist in it, how many times it makes you stop and just look around, soaking up the sights and sounds.

AC2's atmosphere is amazing. This game is STUNNING. By far the best, most drop dead gorgeous visuals I have seen in an open world game. It makes GTA4 look like Pong.

Florence is a little samey and brown during the intro, but when you reach Toscana, and see its pale turquoise shades by night as the haunting soundtrack soothes your ears, you will see what I mean.

Absolutley beautiful.


Gameplay:

Combat is still not entirely to my taste, as it punishes being too aggressive, but it is still a huge step up from the first game with a lot more variety and weapon choice. Throwing guards off roofs is still hilarious.

Free running and climbing buildings is still a blast too.

I cannot wait to get further into this game, and I highly reccomend it to anyone considering buying it, even if you weren't crazy about AC1.

What are other peoples' thoughts so far?

 

[AkJay]

PC? Xbox? or PS3?

 

[MiracleOfSound]

PC? Xbox? or PS3?

360

 

[El Poncho]

I'm planning to get it after me prelims

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'm planning to get it after me prelims

Do, it's awesome.

 

[Sonicron]

Just had my first actual confrontation with the main antagonist at the Roman amphitheatre.

I liked the first game, but the sequel is a VAST improvement and right now I'm not entirely sure Batman: AA is going to hold up as my personal GOTY when pitted against AC2.

What I especially enjoy is the fact that there's an economic factor now, and it's finely implemented.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Just had my first actual confrontation with the main antagonist at the Roman amphitheatre.

I liked the first game, but the sequel is a VAST improvement and right now I'm not entirely sure Batman: AA is going to hold up as my personal GOTY when pitted against AC2.

What I especially enjoy is the fact that there's an economic factor now, and it's finely implemented.

Me too. And it makes it even more surprising seeing how much I disliked the first game,and everything else Ubisoft have done in the last two years.

Well done Ubisoft, you have finally returned to making great games.

Now fix Prince of Perisa next? Pretty please?

 

[auronvi]

It's on my Gamefly list for PS3... I hope they send me it!

 

[Andalusa]

I got paid yesterday, which means I could buy it but I've been told to not buy it. Also most of my money is already commited elsewhere.

I will get it, I will play it, and it will be awesome.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Shit, I still have to finish Jak and Daxter TLF, play DA:O, and this is on my list after that. Looks fantastic

 

[Ocelot GT]

"Who are you?"

"Don't you recognise me? It's a me, Mario!"


I just about peed myself laughing when this happened in the game.

 

[Captain Pancake]

My friend got it yesterday. I expect him to lose the ability to walk in about 20 hours of sitting down in one place.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I might check it out. I was really put off by the first game. It oozed class and style but it was just so boring.

I've been hearing this one made great bounds to fix that.

 

[metza]

As soon as I have money, I'm getting this. I need this.

 

[Zing]

Just had my first actual confrontation with the main antagonist at the Roman amphitheatre.

I liked the first game, but the sequel is a VAST improvement and right now I'm not entirely sure Batman: AA is going to hold up as my personal GOTY when pitted against AC2.

What I especially enjoy is the fact that there's an economic factor now, and it's finely implemented.

Me too. And it makes it even more surprising seeing how much I disliked the first game,and everything else Ubisoft have done in the last two years.

Well done Ubisoft, you have finally returned to making great games.

Now fix Prince of Perisa next? Pretty please?

Shhh Conviction has to be awesome next

"Who are you?"

"Don't you recognise me? It's a me, Mario!"


I just about peed myself laughing when this happened in the game.

There's lots of those great parodies and nods. Later on Ezio is sitting down thinking and Rosa comes up to him and goes "Why so serious?"

 

[Sev72]

I will be picking up this game as soon as my TV isn't broken. *grumble* It would break a week and a half before launch too *grumble*

 

[Legend99]

Excellent game exactly what the first should have been and more,love the collectibles and the art and music,the whole atmosphere of the game is stunning ,definitely a Game of The Year for me

 

[Sonicron]

Me too. And it makes it even more surprising seeing how much I disliked the first game,and everything else Ubisoft have done in the last two years.

Well done Ubisoft, you have finally returned to making great games.

Now fix Prince of Perisa next? Pretty please?

Heh. Well, I suppose my tolerance for Ubisoft's last few titles is a lot bigger there, seeing how I enjoyed both AC1 and 2008's PoP... especially in the latter, the art style and the design were enough for me to forgive the horrible combat mechanics, and made the game very enjoyable for me.
Still, I agree with you, there were issues with PoP, and they should be fixed. And maybe that's a bit of an optimistic view, but I think the chances of Ubisoft improving gameplay in the next PoP title are high, because even though their games sell really well they're still all ears when it comes to complaints and nitpicks... that's pretty much how they did it with Assassin's Creed, so I see no reason why they wouldn't apply the same treatment to Prince of Persia.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

Me too. And it makes it even more surprising seeing how much I disliked the first game,and everything else Ubisoft have done in the last two years.

Well done Ubisoft, you have finally returned to making great games.

Now fix Prince of Perisa next? Pretty please?

Heh. Well, I suppose my tolerance for Ubisoft's last few titles is a lot bigger there, seeing how I enjoyed both AC1 and 2008's PoP... especially in the latter, the art style and the design were enough for me to forgive the horrible combat mechanics, and made the game very enjoyable for me.
Still, I agree with you, there were issues with PoP, and they should be fixed. And maybe that's a bit of an optimistic view, but I think the chances of Ubisoft improving gameplay in the next PoP title are high, because even though their games sell really well they're still all ears when it comes to complaints and nitpicks... that's pretty much how they did it with Assassin's Creed, so I see no reason why they wouldn't apply the same treatment to Prince of Persia.

Agree 100%, the design was lovely in POP (though I did prefer the Sands of Time aesthetic) and AC1. Both were let down by the gameplay.

Not to mention Far Cry 2... man, if they address the big issues people had with that one for FC3, we could just have the best open world shooter ever made.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

I'll plan on getting this one...
Is it less repetetive than the first?

Absolutely. The mission structure is completely different, a lot more varied. It's more along the lines of a GTA structure, introducing you to the mechanics through cutscenes and missions.

I haven't played two similar feeling missions yet and I'm 7 or 8 hours in.

One bad point with this game though:

Unskippable cutscenes before boss fights

Unacceptable!