Yesterday, I re-bought the original Assassin’s Creed to give myself a refresher course.
I soon realized that the game’s repetitive mission structure does not lend itself well to a replay. While I’m not about to renounce the love I have for the game, I’ll admit that I was fairly bored with the first few hours of Assassin’s Creed. The magic was gone, and in its place was a middling action game with aspirations of greatness, but not a whole lot more. And I found myself thinking, “man, I really hope Assassin’s Creed II lives up to its promises.”
Twelve hours in, I can assure you that it does. Assassin’s Creed II takes the bare-boned frame of a game that was Assassin’s Creed and transforms it into a fully realized open-world action experience.
ALL THAT IS GOOD:
-Improved Plot Development:
While playing the original Assassin’s Creed, did you ever really give a shit about the tough-as-nails protagonist, Altair? Because I sure didn’t. Altair was never characterized as anything more than a loose-cannon assassin on the edge who, apparently, hated everyone. The fact that he had the game’s weakest voice actor didn’t help either.
Well never fear, because Assassin’s Creed II’s protagonist Ezio is a major improvement. Early parts of the game show us Ezio before he dons the Assassin’s robes, interacting with his family and friends. Because of this, you’ll find that you actually care about him, and the tragedies that soon befall his family.
It’s not just the character development that’s been improved, but plot development in general. Rather than being completely out-of-the-loop for 90% of the game, Assassin’s Creed II will instantly draw you in with its convoluted story of political struggle and intrigue between the various factions of renaissance-era Italy. Again, Ubisoft has their historical details down pat, which makes the story that much more credible.
-Repetitive Missions = Dead and Gone
As promised, mission structure in Assassin’s Creed II is far more varied than the original was. And, best of all, none of the side missions are actually required. Sure, you can still run around scaling viewpoints and performing random acts of charity for citizens, but you don’t have to do it in order to progress.
However, if you do choose to dabble in the surplus of side missions, you’ll actually be rewarded for your efforts this time around. Scaling viewpoints allows you to locate items such as codex pages hidden throughout the city. Collecting codex pages allows you to upgrade your health bar and weaponry. Mini-dungeons known as Assassin’s Tombs are scattered throughout the game’s cities. Completing these dungeons not only lets you take part in some awesome Prince of Persia-style platforming, but nets you some cash and an Assassin’s Seal. Collect all six Assassin’s Seals, and you’ll get something awesome, but I won’t spoil it for you now. And that’s just a few examples; there’s plenty of things I’ve yet to even try.
The actual assassinations are still the best parts of the game, and in fact, they’re even better now. Assassinations are actually fully-realized missions now, rather than a stabbing bookended by cutscenes. For example, an assassination might entail a large-scale assault on a noble’s castle.
-Improved Combat
I actually didn’t mind the combat in the original Assassin’s Creed, but for those who did, know that it has indeed been improved. The core mechanics remain the same, but you can now wield many different weapons, which adds a nice bit of variety. Additionally, Ezio has the ability to disarm opponents, as well as grapple and execute them. I’m not positive that it will hold up the entire game, but after 12 hours, I still enjoy the combat system.
-Free Running
It’s even better than it was in the first game. The mechanics are identical, but Ezio is noticeably quicker than Altair was, which is a welcome change. If you’re like me, you’ll often find yourself just free running around the game’s gigantic cities for the hell of it, with no particular goal in mind.
THAT WHICH SUCKS:
-Going to a Doctor to Heal
In the original Assassin’s Creed, your health would regenerate. In Assassin’s Creed II, you have to go pay a doctor to regain health. There are doctors everywhere, and it’s cheap, but it’s also annoying, and entirely senseless.
-Gah, So Many Falls
The ironic thing is that you’ll lose MOST of your health by stupidly falling off buildings. Why? Well, the camera doesn’t always position itself where it should during fast-paced platforming sequences, and it costs you occasionally.
But both of these complaints are minor. Assassin’s Creed II is a big, beautiful game, and a definite candidate for game of the year. I’ve only scratched the surface in this article. Look for a full review soon.
Tags: Assassin's Creed II, Impressions
Fighting still doesn’t sound fun, and having to go to a doctor sounds like a pain in the arse … but then it wouldn’t be an Ubisoft game without a few unintuitive warts …
I just can’t stop seeing Ezio as FemCole now …
Combat is improved for sure, and the game doesn’t force it on you as often as the original did. Counterattack is available from the start, which is a welcome change. And the disarm tactic makes short work of most enemies, so combat moves at a much faster pace.
The doctor thing really can be a pain, though I should have mentioned that you can purchase and carry medicines as well.
And Ezio is far more badass than Cole could ever be.
(I never really did like that guy, though.)
-Ah, medicines do make it better!
-The combat sounds like is stayed the same, but just added more weapons and a few other functions. The thing I didn’t like about the first game, was that It felt like I spent half the time blocking …
I didn’t even hate the combat in the first one.
I don’t know, I don’t even feel like there SHOULD be combat in Assassin’s Creed. I don’t know, I just don’t think it’s a series for me, no matter how good it gets.
Lovely impressions though, cookiepants.