Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

Assassin's Creed 2 is that rare breed I always look for. In truth, I nearly gave up on the series because of the first game, but a co-worker of mine told me to try the second. I can truly say that I'm happy I did.

Rather than continue Altair's story, we jump 300 years into the future, specifically the Renaissance in the late 1400's. Here we take control of Ezio, son to a banker and assassin. Ezio is a much different character. Rather than being an established assassin, you begin the game as a hooligan and all-around troublemaker.

This low brow beginning actually lends itself to the game because your motivation comes from one of revenge as several members of your family are wrongly executed. Seeking revenge on the people that did this to your family, Ezio sets off on a quest that spans 20 years attempting to bring down the conspiracy that killed part of his family.

From this, the gameplay improves dramatically. Since you don't know anything, learning the powers and skills feels much more natural than the first game. You're gradually given them as time goes on and the need arises in each mission.

Indeed, Ezio is a much more equipped character than Altair. In addition to all of the things you learned in the first, Ezio obtains many more. Some of them include an early prototype hand cannon, poisons, and smoke bombs. You're also capable of hiding from enemies by diving into water or blending in with any crowd as opposed to just monks. You also have the ability to obtain different sets of armor and weapons.

The mission structure has been greatly improved as well. It no longer feels repetitive and blends more smoothly with the narrative of the game. The missions are also much more varied. Instead of the usual scout and kill, you have side missions like beating up cheating husbands, racing thieves, and off-story assassinations.

When you're not pressing ahead with the story, you'll be doing side missions, collecting feathers, searching out hidden codex pages, invading assassin tombs, and many other great diversions. Indeed, Assassin's Creed 2 feels more like Grand Theft Auto thanks to its more open nature than the first game.

I like to give special mention to the villa that you obtain early on in the game. Initially, the villa is rundown, but through investments in the city's businesses, it improves. These improvements give you things like discounts on purchases and the ability to purchase the most powerful weapon in the game. There's a lot more that can done and seen in the game, but there's so much to mention I don't think I can fit it all in depth. It's been that much improved.

The graphics have seen a fairly pleasant overhaul as well. Characters are even more lifelike than the first and more attention is given to closer views of their faces. The landscape is a much more elegant and beautiful thanks to the change to European architecture. No longer are their straw roofed huts, but giant churches with spires on them. Each of the Italian cities you visit is filled with historical buildings that the game discreetly points out to you that makes you want to look at them.

The sound design is great too. The dialog is a joy to listen to. Ezio's womanizing ways are funny and his kill scene dialog sounds very convincing rather than cheesy. The music is relatively the same from the first game in terms of how it functions. This isn't bad at all. On the contrary, it's just as good if not better than the first.

The value to this game is immense. You're going to spend at least 20 or more hours with the main story and then many more attempting to complete the side missions and build up the villa. Even better is the reward for infiltrating the assassin tombs which will make you want to do these side missions. I will note that the DLC for the game adds two memories, but lack appropriate trophies and don't add much more than some closure for story elements.

Assassin's Creed 2 is everything you can hope for in a game. It takes everything that was good about the first and adds to it without bringing along the bad. Ezio is a great character and in my opinion, easier to enjoy than the arrogant Altair. As a part of the Greatest Hits collection, this game is definitely worth the purchase.

The Good: Immensely improve mission structure, Ezio is a much more dynamic character in both narrative and controls, excellent graphics and sound, tons of value, great story.

The Bad: Occasional finicky controls, a visual glitch here and there, DLC memories don't add much to the overall game.