This is a copy of a review I originally posted on IGN.com.
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Apparently, no one at Ubisoft Montreal has never heard the term "balance." I'm wondering if every developer at the studio has some kind of ocular disease that causes their gaze to gloss over the word whenever they come across it. Assassin's Creed 2, just as much as the original, accomplishes only a modest degree of cinematic flair--the platforming sections, particularly a few unique ones, manage to be nearly majestic on their face, but the effect is blunted by the realization that they are both linear and shallow--and very little at crafting compelling game mechanics or evocative play.
In fact, "shallow" is the best way to describe Assassin's Creed 2. The platforming, spectacular to look at--for the first hour or so--consists of holding down two buttons to run and pressing the joystick forward. As Yahtzee of The Escapist Magazine puts it, it is a task that can be accomplished "by a piece of electrical tape." This simple input covers everything from wall-running to executing an epic--but again, only in a visual sense--90-degree turn around an aerial corner on a chain to vaulting massive gaps. It makes no material changes from Assassin's Creed, adding only new animations and a mild visual shine, and this absurdly oversimplified mechanic leads mostly to boredom, and often to silly mistakes by no fault of your own.
The combat, too, remains impressive as long as it fools one into thinking that victory requires anything requiring, say, strategy or skill. Ezio, like Altair, is superhuman badass who can slay literally dozens of guards by being made to stand in place and "counter-kill" any old lady who's shopping bags get too close to his recycled character model. Some guards require a little beating before "counter-kills" become actual kills, meaning that Ezio may occasionally catch a blow. However, while he does not regenerate health as his apparent android of a predecessor Altair did, the large pouch of completely restorative medicine breaks whatever's left of the ridiculous excuse for combat. While I do not usually explain specific game mechanics, "counter-kills" shatter the already button-mashing (as in, "press x ten times to kill") combat to pieces and proceed to grind the remains to fine flakes of fundamentals of good game design, be it Assassin's Creed or Monopoly.
There are no stealth mechanics to speak of, and because Ezio can defeat any number of armed guards, stealth and the plethora of weapons--allegedly with different ratings of "damage" and "speed"--become irrelevant. The gameplay, on all levels and in any area, lacks any concept of polish or depth, relying purely on flashy movements and a supposedly good, but in fact impenetrable and silly, story. Neither of these conceal gameplay that is, except for it's animations, (which, incidentally, are made of up at least halfway of those from Assassin's Creed 1), no better than what many computer nerds have accomplished in their basements.
Assassin's Creed 2 lacks anything compelling, and it's ridiculous psuedo-historic plotline bores anyone who's ever bothered to read a decent book. If you think Avatar's visuals make it a great movie, and you probably do (most seem to), then you will like Assassin's Creed 2. Otherwise, avoid this overhyped, unimproved mediocrity.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apparently, no one at Ubisoft Montreal has never heard the term "balance." I'm wondering if every developer at the studio has some kind of ocular disease that causes their gaze to gloss over the word whenever they come across it. Assassin's Creed 2, just as much as the original, accomplishes only a modest degree of cinematic flair--the platforming sections, particularly a few unique ones, manage to be nearly majestic on their face, but the effect is blunted by the realization that they are both linear and shallow--and very little at crafting compelling game mechanics or evocative play.
In fact, "shallow" is the best way to describe Assassin's Creed 2. The platforming, spectacular to look at--for the first hour or so--consists of holding down two buttons to run and pressing the joystick forward. As Yahtzee of The Escapist Magazine puts it, it is a task that can be accomplished "by a piece of electrical tape." This simple input covers everything from wall-running to executing an epic--but again, only in a visual sense--90-degree turn around an aerial corner on a chain to vaulting massive gaps. It makes no material changes from Assassin's Creed, adding only new animations and a mild visual shine, and this absurdly oversimplified mechanic leads mostly to boredom, and often to silly mistakes by no fault of your own.
The combat, too, remains impressive as long as it fools one into thinking that victory requires anything requiring, say, strategy or skill. Ezio, like Altair, is superhuman badass who can slay literally dozens of guards by being made to stand in place and "counter-kill" any old lady who's shopping bags get too close to his recycled character model. Some guards require a little beating before "counter-kills" become actual kills, meaning that Ezio may occasionally catch a blow. However, while he does not regenerate health as his apparent android of a predecessor Altair did, the large pouch of completely restorative medicine breaks whatever's left of the ridiculous excuse for combat. While I do not usually explain specific game mechanics, "counter-kills" shatter the already button-mashing (as in, "press x ten times to kill") combat to pieces and proceed to grind the remains to fine flakes of fundamentals of good game design, be it Assassin's Creed or Monopoly.
There are no stealth mechanics to speak of, and because Ezio can defeat any number of armed guards, stealth and the plethora of weapons--allegedly with different ratings of "damage" and "speed"--become irrelevant. The gameplay, on all levels and in any area, lacks any concept of polish or depth, relying purely on flashy movements and a supposedly good, but in fact impenetrable and silly, story. Neither of these conceal gameplay that is, except for it's animations, (which, incidentally, are made of up at least halfway of those from Assassin's Creed 1), no better than what many computer nerds have accomplished in their basements.
Assassin's Creed 2 lacks anything compelling, and it's ridiculous psuedo-historic plotline bores anyone who's ever bothered to read a decent book. If you think Avatar's visuals make it a great movie, and you probably do (most seem to), then you will like Assassin's Creed 2. Otherwise, avoid this overhyped, unimproved mediocrity.
