Assassin's Creed II

[gibbz]

Who is going to get Assassin's Creed II (http://assassinscreed.uk.ubi.com/assassins-creed-2/#/menu/)? I pre-ordered mine last week for only $31 on Amazon!! (used a $20 coupon that came when getting CoD MW2)

The additions and storyline (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/preview-hd-assassins-creed/58153) look pretty awesome. It looks like this one may be a little less repetitive than the original. I can't wait until Tuesday.

[peskaa]

I've got it preordered in a bundle with a 250GB PS3 Slim (second PS3, I have an original 60GB launch model with a 320GB HDD in).

I'm hoping ACII will be a step up over AC, as the original looked pretty but got repetitive quite fast. However, I've heard only good things so far.

[spyker3292]

I've got the same $31 order, I'll be playing it tomorrow. Ordered the PS3 version because I also plan on getting the PSP one.

[count chocula]

I just preordered it earlier today, planning on picking it up at midnight. I'm excited!

[Unspoken Demise]

Im not pre-ordering it. I wasnt that blown away by 1st one.

[MacRumorUser]

I hoped it would be dynamically different to the first and much improved. From the video footage and preview missions I have seen, it is not. Therefore I don't need another AC game to get bored 20% into the story.

[2nyRiggz]

I hoped it would be dynamically different to the first and much improved. From the video footage and preview missions I have seen, it is not. Therefore I don't need another AC game to get bored 20% into the story.

Exactly...It was the same for me but I was only 5% in and got totally bored with the thing and never touched it again. I'm really hoping it MUCH better because I plan on giving it another chance.



Bless

[count chocula]

I'm a couple hours in, and it's pretty sweet so far.

[gibbz]

I'm a couple hours in, and it's pretty sweet so far.

Good to hear. Mine is out for delivery. Can't wait.

[spyker3292]

Installing :D

[Nuck81]

It's worth a rent for me, I didn't like the first one enough to buy...

[takao]

in austria the first day release got the extra bonus map "arsenal shipyard" included in the "standard edition"
and to top it off a retailer had a special deal where you would get the 2 other extra maps "palazzo medici" "santa maria die frari" with the game as well

which means i got the 3 bonus maps of the limited black edition for the price of the normal edition

installing now...

[MacRumorUser]

^ Some decent weekend/first day offers in Ireland too.

I managed to pick up the Limited Edition with the Belt & Enzio statue, plus the bonus maps for €39.99 - €5 store discount = €34.99 (normal price games are €54.99) :)

Wasn't in a rush to get the game, but when I saw the deal I had to go for it. I bought the 360 version, installing it to the HDD now :)

[Dagless]

I'm surprised theres still a difference (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/19/digitalfoundry-compares-assassins-creed-ii-on-xbox-360-ps3/) between big mofo AAA releases.

Bought this (and L4D1, both on Xbox) for my brother for christmas. So come Jan I'll finally get a go. I liked the original but not enough to really want to play another, similar game.

[StruckANerve]

I liked the first one a lot but I will wait for a price drop on this one.

[dejo]

I have the Master Assassin's Edition that I pre-ordered thru GameStop. It includes two exclusive in-game maps (Palazzo Medici, Santa Maria Dei Frari) and a 8.5" tall Ezio Statuette, among other things.

[whooleytoo]

I absolutely love this game. :) Best I've played in a loong time.

Looks beautiful.. a lot more variety in the gameplay and missions. Seems to balance the storyline & free-roaming play well. You neither feel you're stuck on rails, nor wandering around for no purpose.

(But then I liked AC 1 too, in spite of the repetitiveness of the missions, so feel free to take with a pinch of salt..)

[spyker3292]

It's really surprising how much AC2 goes away from the basic mission structure in AC1, and actually has missions that relate more to a story.

[michaelltd]

I'd love to get this game, but things are a tad tight right now and I already have my recent game purchase with Modern Warfare 2, so I'm gonna have to wait for this one. :(

Hopefully more money will be in my immediate future. I'm at that phase at DigiPen where I start submitting resumés and have interviews. As of late I've been trying my hand at Microsoft, Gas-Powered Games, Neversoft, Zynga, Disney Interactive, and LucasArts.

[creator2456]

Just finished the main story line (at least I think so?) and it is a surprise. No spoilers out of me. Beat it yourself :D

Time to go find all the feathers and treasure.

[Sobek]

I've was interested in ACI but never got around to getting it, but ACII has really got me interested - mainly due to the settings as I know Florence & Venice well.

But - do I need to have played ACI for backstory? It's cheap enough to pick up these days, about £10 on ebay rather than the easier but more expensive option of a direct download from XBL (£20!!). Should I get it first?

[creator2456]

You would be able to follow the story to a point and still enjoy it. I would suggest at least watching these (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DED047D5E3F54343&search_query=assassins+creed) if you don't want to spend the time playing AC. It did get tedious and repetitive.

[whooleytoo]

It's really surprising how much AC2 goes away from the basic mission structure in AC1, and actually has missions that relate more to a story.

I actually really liked AC (must have a very high boredom threshold) but ACII certainly has a stronger, more varied story to it, and without forcing the gamer along a linear path.

What I really like too is how, very unlike AC, the game changes as you progress through it. In AC, after a couple of hours, you knew exactly what you'll be doing all the way to the end, but in ACII there are new gameplay elements added, new collectables as you progress. And most of the collectables aren't just ("You have 239 of 300 Wotsits"), but lead to useful money/info/weapons/techniques/backstory.

I've was interested in ACI but never got around to getting it, but ACII has really got me interested - mainly due to the settings as I know Florence & Venice well.

But - do I need to have played ACI for backstory? It's cheap enough to pick up these days, about £10 on ebay rather than the easier but more expensive option of a direct download from XBL (£20!!). Should I get it first?

You don't need to, no. They do try and quickly fill in the backstory at the start of ACII, so you should be ok. The one thing which you might not realise if you've not played AC, is (and I don't think this is a spoiler of either game) that "Altair" who is often mentioned in the second game, is the character you play in the first.

[ManhattanPrjct]

You would be able to follow the story to a point...

Is it easier to jump into the sequel than any of the MGS games? :D

[whooleytoo]

Is it easier to jump into the sequel than any of the MGS games? :D

Probably much more so; considering you play a new character in this game (kind of..) so it's new to everyone. It's only the 'scenario' which requires some explaining, and you could do that in a couple of sentences.

[takao]

i didn't play the first either and i get along fine ... but i like mysteries unfolding.. i would even say that sometimes the game is a little to generous in putting forward clues

and the setting of renaissance italy is put forward brilliantly IMHO ... when it was presented i was sceptical if it would work but now when playing i' can easily accept that i was wrong ... especially having visited the very places presented in the game... alls those used historic places/persons and all the nods to history of arts, conspiracies, etc.

also i never really got the feeling of "doing something again" halfway into the game after the slower paced start


i would say this game is a textbook example of how to do a proper sequel sequel... take a list of alle the criticised and bad points about the first once ... go through it one by one and then improve everything else

my only point which could use improvment is the facial expressions in cut scenes... which i glady accept for the fact that Ubisoft actually decided to include an option for switch spoken language and not fix it to the console setting (like so many other do)

[Sobek]

You would be able to follow the story to a point and still enjoy it. I would suggest at least watching these (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=DED047D5E3F54343&search_query=assassins+creed) if you don't want to spend the time playing AC. It did get tedious and repetitive.

You don't need to, no. They do try and quickly fill in the backstory at the start of ACII, so you should be ok. The one thing which you might not realise if you've not played AC, is (and I don't think this is a spoiler of either game) that "Altair" who is often mentioned in the second game, is the character you play in the first.

Excellent - thanks for the advice whooleytoo, and for that link creator. I'll order ACII today seeing as MC2 single player didn't take too long to finish and despite hammering the multiplayer it's nice to have a single player on the go :)

[whooleytoo]

i would say this game is a textbook example of how to do a proper sequel sequel... take a list of alle the criticised and bad points about the first once ... go through it one by one and then improve everything else

I agree. Thinking of the criticisms of the original:

- Repetitive missions, even in the main 'quest'. Fixed. Although assassination is still the name of the game, the missions are a lot more varied, and tied together into a cohesive storyline.

- Repetitive landscape. Fixed. Although beautiful, the AC world was quite repetitive in having 3 cities divided into 3 'neighbourhoods', which you tackle one at a time. In AC2, the cities/towns vary more in size and layout.

- Altair dies when he hits water. Fixed. For many things, swimming is now essential.

- Tiresome having to return to the assassins' stronghold. Fixed. Although there is still a stronghold, there's a lot more to do there. You don't have to return there as often, and when you do it doesn't take long - you even have the option of fast travel if you're really impatient.

- Swordplay is a bit simple and repetitive. AC2 introduces different types of opponents, which need to be fought differently; and several new weapons and allies.

Did I mention I love this game? :)

[2nyRiggz]

I still haven't taken this game out of the shrink wrap as yet but I'm hearing really good things about it and as long as they fix the repetitiveness of the first one then its all good.



Bless

[whooleytoo]

Ok, after playing for almost a week, I suppose I should list negatives too:

- The combat is still quite easy. They have introduced a range of new guards, some are faster so you can't just outrun them. Some search all the hiding spots, so you can't just hide each time. And they've added armoured opponents who can't be countered and do a LOT of damage when they hit.

But you can carry a lot of healthy potions which can easily be used - I've not died once in any fight. Hence, most of the new allies/weapons are only used for variety, not necessity. It would also add something new if you could have primary and secondary weapons (i.e in the middle of a sword fight, throw a knife, without having to deselect the sword and select the knife)

- It would be great to have some missions/quests which don't rely on following markers around the mini-map. Pretty much everything you need to find is marked on the map - apart from the Borgia messengers and the two models (which I managed to find without ever noticing!). Having to follow directions/landmarks rather than a blip on a map would be a plus.

- The level-of-detail reduction is a little annoying. It's not as bad as - say - Oblivion, but the way the buildings change as you run towards them looks a little odd. You often also see people/boats suddenly pop out of nowhere on several occasions.

- The control system. Still makes it very easy to put together lots of running/jumping/swinging sequences; but there are some actions that are quite difficult/impossible to do; such as dropping down off a low object without leaping off into the distance.

p.s. just discovered some of the images in the hidden-symbol puzzles also contain hidden encrypted (well, simple character substitution) messages. With my innate OCD tendency, now I have to back and look through all of them to see if I missed anything interesting! :)

[creator2456]

p.s. just discovered some of the images in the hidden-symbol puzzles also contain hidden encrypted (well, simple character substitution) messages. With my innate OCD tendency, now I have to back and look through all of them to see if I missed anything interesting! :)

I noticed some of them on my first play through and solved them out, but I wanted to get to the end so I didn't do them all. When I am break in 2 weeks I will play through again and take the time to look at them.

Some are simple letter-shift cyphers, others are morse code, and so on.

[whooleytoo]

I noticed some of them on my first play through and solved them out, but I wanted to get to the end so I didn't do them all. When I am break in 2 weeks I will play through again and take the time to look at them.

Some are simple letter-shift cyphers, others are morse code, and so on.

I was going to stop and take the time to find a Morse code chart and decode it, but didn't want to spend the time only to realise someone just thought a few dots and dashes might make a nice border.. :)

I'm almost finished the game now, along with most collectables (apart from 3 hidden symbols and lots of feathers), think I might play through again and see if there's anything I missed, hidden in the puzzles. I also want to play through again in Italian, seems appropriate.

Have you unlocked the Auditore family crypt (via Uplay)? Great to get some 'free' added content, but it's a pity you only get to play through it once.

[spyker3292]

I'm close to the end. I'm not going to bother to find all of the feathers and buy all the paintings, but I did finish up the codecs and the seals today (I accidentally forgot to do one of the seals, so I finally went back and did it...).

[Huntn]

Incredibly late to this thread, but just started playing this game and it's a lot of fun, intriguing, high quality, and the open world concept is outstanding. I never played the first one so I'm going to read up on the concept, is it time travel, matrix like, or something else? I just read you are reliving memories. I should just stop there and not start picking. ;)

[Mackilroy]

It's not time travel – the Animus uses what's referred to ingame as genetic memory. Essentially, our ancestors' memories are stored in our genes, and the Animus allows people to access those.