Assassin’s Creed II picks up where the first left off, with Desmond Miles a prisoner of Abstergo. After his liberation by the Assassins he is put back into an Animus to discover the mystery of the location of another Piece of Eden found by his Renaissance ancestor, Ezio Auditore, a minor nobleman from Florence who is thrust into the life an assassin after a personal tragedy. Spanning from 1476, when Ezio was only 17 and continuing to 1499 it covers Ezio’s quest for revenge and justice throughout Renaissance Italy. For a history buff this game is a dream come true. So many events are touched on and woven into the AC narrative that it becomes believable history. As Ezio removes the conspirators against him it is important to remember that he removing very real people on the very real day and time of their deaths – most of them under mysterious consequences.
The historical advance only becomes jarring when Ezio finds the final goal of his quest and actually acting on it. Standing in a villa in Italy he discovers he needs to go to Rome. This takes place in 1487. He arrives in Rome in 1499. 12 years? I find it hard to swallow.
There is so much more ground to cover in AC II. Literally. This game is HUGE. Ezio visits Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Forli, and Rome. He meets a small army of allies including notable figures such as the Medici family, DaVinci, Machiavelli, and several others. Again: This is a history buff’s wet dream. And at the end of the story, at the risk of offering a spoiler, Ezio confronts none other than Rodrigo Borgia (google it if you don’t know) in a confrontation worthy of any modern comic-book movie.
The free-run race quests are a little annoying but easily forgivable.
AC II also added the mini game experience. In this one you’re responsible for upgrading the town in which Ezio’s family villa is located bringing in tourists and income. You can use that income to supplement your own. Upgrades include opening shops, restoring buildings, and turning the Auditore villa into a gallery of art, weapons, and armor.
The graphics for AC II were very good an on par for 2009. The only thing that takes away from it is that nobody ages. Beyond Ezio in 1476 being 17 and then in 1481 looking a little more like an adult he never ages. His mother never ages. His sister never ages. Leo never ages.
The voice acting is superior this go-around. Much to my relief the hero this time actually HAS an Italian accent. And one of the neater things about the voice in the game is they’ll often say phrases in Italian with the English translation in subtitle. My vocabulary of Italian insults tripled playing AC II! Music is consistent with mood and the environment. Lute music, flutes, violins etc… It is mood setting music and mood adapting music.
The controls are standard for an Assasin’s Creed game, but what was new was the combat system. The combat system in AC II and the remaining “Ezio” games was by far the best combat system of the entire series. I would have liked a separate button for the special tools such as smoke bombs, but it was easily the most useful combat system in any of the series. Far better than the nightmare of combat that comes in AC III (later on that). The jumping puzzles aren’t too “jumpy” and the climbing and running is a lot smoother than the first outing. Damn near perfect.
Summing Up:
Story: 4/5: A revenge/justice chase across the Italian Renaissance mixed with a pretty good history lesson. I’m ticking one point off only for the jarring passage of time. The ending, though, is worth the price of admission alone; both for Ezio and the meta ending with Desmond.
Graphics: 4/5: I’ve seen the animated movies based off the AC II graphics and there are times when it hits the uncanny valley. That carries into the game and into the cut scenes. The only off is that the characters, though progressing 23 years, never age.
Sound: 5/5: Absolutely what you want in a game.
Control: 5/5: I wish the newer games had kept this control set. I really, really do.
Playability: 4/5: Assassin’s Creed II is one of the most enjoyable of the series (likely my second favorite – even as the games become more technologically advanced. Ezio is a charming and relatable protagonist and his quest speaks to every human in some way, shape or form.
