Review:
Assassin's Creed II - The Italian Stallion
Assassin’s Creed II is a breathe of fresh air in video games in that it’s a sequel that has improved on the original. These days most games just add +1 to the number and repackage; Left 4 Dead 2, Resident Evil 5 and the like are improvements in the way Stalin was an improvement over Mussolini – he might have been more efficient but he was still a prick.
Leading straight on from Assassin’s Creed, the game throws you in as lethargic and utterly boring Desmond Miles, a man caught in the middle of a century’s old war between Templar’s and Assassin’s. Not content to leave you behind, plucky Lucy breaks you out and leads you to safety via a brief trip to the Animus; the device that unlocks genetic memory and leads you to your first encounter with Ezio, and the surprisingly enjoyable Glyph Puzzles later on.
The graphics in ACII haven’t changed much [over the original], but the presentation his improved, in particular the cut scenes. To be honest AC was so unbearable at times Ubisoft could have just of stuck Altair in a loop and I wouldn’t have noticed. Still, as good as the scenes turn out later in the game the irritating quick time events feel entirely unnecessary – is it really that important to control the arms and legs of a newborn-Italian-future-assassin? Is it really? Really, is it? No.
Contrary to popular belief, the attention span of gamers isn’t so small that every tiny dramatic development needs player interaction. ACII isn’t Heavy Rain.
Anyway, escape successful, Des tries out the Animus 2.0, controlled by Plucky Nobody #2 and Shaun, who’s been bracketed as the moody boring one: British then - and seemingly voiced by Commodore Norrington.
Welcome to 1476, Italy, home of the cliché three-piece drum kit, the bass drum played by the Super Mario brothers’ accent.
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I loved the vertigo-inducing 'leaps of faith' from tall buildings/towers, that are littered throughout this game and the ability to disarm your opponents in fights and hit them with their own weapons. I can't say I was glad to have a gun in the game, which you unlock much later, mainly because the way you use it, aim it and eventually fire it, feels unnatural in any combat situation. I was happier using both wristblades to stab two unsuspecting guards in the face, but I suspect this weapon was put into the game, so that you could use it in the next sequel, which looks that it could have a more futuristic setting. The characters that strap you into the Animus for most of the game, are keen to see if any 'residual skills' remain after long exposure to the device and they are tested towards the later stages of the game.
Oh and one last thing, Shaun Hastings from this game, is played by the journalist/author/comedian Danny Wallace, of "How to start your own country" fame.