Assassin's Creed 2

[Cleaning agent]

It's gonna be set in Renaissance Italy.

Leonardo Da Vinci is in it (One video features a guy saying "Leonardo says the contraption is ready" in reference to a hang-glider. Clearly gimmicky crap in gonna feature heavily  )

Fighting's been "overhauled" to allow you to use enemy weapons, new forms of counter, including disarming and better dodging, you can dual kill and apparently they've made it easier to do stealth kills overall, which I suppose is nice.

Problem is that the actual free running element of the game, which was clearly the best part of it, doesn't seem to have changed much at all. The one gameplay video I can find shows an even more on railsy look than the first game, and the climbing system looks basically identical. I even recognised the sticking out bits of wood and cranes that featured in the first game.

http://www.youtube.com/AssassinsCreedUK - Three videos there:

- An introduction to the setting, featuring historiographically dated ideas of the renaissance and clichéd name dropping.
- A run through of the E3 demo level, with the stupid hang-glider, a combat system which look fundamentally unchanged, and the same "assassination" system, where you do loads of cool acrobatics to get to the target, then stroll up and stab him in the face instead of doing a stealth kill.
- The introduction video. Nice graphics, but hardly interesting.


Opinion: Looks to be basically the same game, in terms of the things you can do, and the ways in which you can do them. Sure, there's a couple of new gimmicks which you'll likely use about twice, like a "gun", grabbing people from under ledges, double stealth kills and disarming opponents, but overall there's a disappointing lack of anything substantial.

On the other hand, they made a good choice with Italy. If there are three or more cities, as realistically crafted as in AC1, that's a good potential for exploration and enjoyment, and I can overlook the minor anachronisms that crop up everywhere (Bricked up entrance to the Holy Sepulchre: The game's set in 1191, the door was sealed in 1192 )

I'm sure the story remains uninspired and irritatingly cryptic. I'm guessing we'll see some kind of Vatican involvement and Templars, since they showed a glimpse of the Templar cross in the introduction video.


Overall: Potential for exploration of, in my opinion, much more interesting locales with possibly improved, more natural free running, but I doubt it's changed much. If you want it for the gameplay, and you thought the first one was disappointing, I doubt this'll be much better. If you want it for the joys of free running and stabbing random people, with the ensuing rooftop chases, it might be worth it.


Personally I'll buy it, but a long time after release when it's cheap. I'm in no hurry, but I like the historical aspect of the games.

 

[Varric]

Well I always did like the awesome scenes of gory counter attacks, kicking people off roofs and kills in general.
The view of Italy certainly is amazing on top of those towers too.

If it's not that expensive when it comes out I'll probably buy it, or wait it out until a seasonal holiday comes up.

 

[Shatari]

If this one has modding support, I'll probably buy it. The first one had some serious potential, but the design flaws were very annoying.

 

[Tuckles]

Problem is that the actual free running element of the game, which was clearly the best part of it, doesn't seem to have changed much at all. The one gameplay video I can find shows an even more on railsy look than the first game, and the climbing system looks basically identical. I even recognised the sticking out bits of wood and cranes that featured in the first game.

In my opinion, they shouldn't try to change something that already works. The parkour aspect (it's a bit different from free running) was fine in the first game.


Opinion: Looks to be basically the same game, in terms of the things you can do, and the ways in which you can do them. Sure, there's a couple of new gimmicks which you'll likely use about twice, like a "gun", grabbing people from under ledges, double stealth kills and disarming opponents, but overall there's a disappointing lack of anything substantial.

Well it's better than the crossbow that appeared in the starting movie of the game, but never appeared in the game itself AFAIK

On the other hand, they made a good choice with Italy. If there are three or more cities, as realistically crafted as in AC1, that's a good potential for exploration and enjoyment, and I can overlook the minor anachronisms that crop up everywhere (Bricked up entrance to the Holy Sepulchre: The game's set in 1191, the door was sealed in 1192 )

Tell them, tell them quickly! Lest Desmond Miles dies countless of times in that area due to a wavy, trippy sign saying "Time Paradox"./i]

I'm sure the story remains uninspired and irritatingly cryptic. I'm guessing we'll see some kind of Vatican involvement and Templars, since they showed a glimpse of the Templar cross in the introduction video.


It follows the Desmond Miles storyline, so the antagonist (Ze Templarz) should still be the same methinks. I personally don't like that storyline, but they did it well in the first game so... "shouldn't change anything that works" I guess.

Overall: Potential for exploration of, in my opinion, much more interesting locales with possibly improved, more natural free running, but I doubt it's changed much. If you want it for the gameplay, and you thought the first one was disappointing, I doubt this'll be much better. If you want it for the joys of free running and stabbing random people, with the ensuing rooftop chases, it might be worth it.

Here, here. I also like the fact that the guards are smarter, they can check your hideyholes even if they didn't spot you going in.

Overall I think it'd be as good as, or better than, the first, which I personally liked a lot.

I just wish that they'd make an Assassin's Creed game that was freeform or sandbox. Sorta like a mix of Mount&Blade and AC.

 

[Cleaning agent]

Exactly. I think they have the perfect box, they just haven't put any sand in it, so to speak 

 

[Tuckles]

Exactly. I think they have the perfect box, they just haven't put any sand in it, so to speak 

Ah God, I missed that. 

Well hopefully if Ubi releases a devkit for it, we can start seeing some freeform type Assassin's Creed mods, but I'm not familiar with Ubisoft, and I don't know any one of their games to have modder support, correct me if I'm wrong (and hopefully I am).

 

[Shatari]

Well, there was Farcry. It was mediocre by itself, but the modders have done some amazing things with it.

 

[Tuckles]

Far Cry was moddable? Hurrah! There's a chance for Assassin's Creed 2! We must flood Ubisoft's inbox with "Make AC2 moddable" emails!

 

[Elenmmare]

Exactly. I think they have the perfect box, they just haven't put any sand in it, so to speak 

Aw, don't make us dream, feller.

 

[italiano]

Exactly. I think they have the perfect box, they just haven't put any sand in it, so to speak 

Well hopefully if Ubi releases a devkit for it, we can start seeing some freeform type Assassin's Creed mods, but I'm not familiar with Ubisoft, and I don't know any one of their games to have modder support, correct me if I'm wrong (and hopefully I am).

That's right CA, a great environment with little to do.

Ubi publishes the Silent Hunter series which has a strong modding community, but that is a pc game. I don't think AC1 was moddable?

 

[Elenmmare]

Aside from a few texture packs, yeh.

 

[jasonxfri13th]

Mods for assassains creed would probably make the game way better. I can't imagine some of the things people would do.

 

[Skyrage]

Hack and Slash Creed 2 huh?

I fail to see where the "assassin" bit in Assassins Creed ever played a part to be honest. Thanks, but any Hitman game, despite the odd issues it may have does it all 50x better. And now they're making a sequel. Being able to mod the game would indeed be way better - cause then someone could actually mod it into a more proper game.

 

[Nahkuri]

Assassin's creed had potential of being an awesome game. The engine and game mechanics were all set, but they forgot to add content. I hope they've fixed that.

 

[Tintin]

It'd be cool if you could do counter attacks in M&B and assassination missions

 

[Anarion]

It'd be cool if you could do counter attacks in M&B and assassination missions

1. No
2. Yes

 

[Tuckles]

Well the shield bash skill is sort of like a counter attack. 

Hack and Slash Creed 2 huh?

I fail to see where the "assassin" bit in Assassins Creed ever played a part to be honest. Thanks, but any Hitman game, despite the odd issues it may have does it all 50x better. And now they're making a sequel. Being able to mod the game would indeed be way better - cause then someone could actually mod it into a more proper game.

It's true that Assassin's Creed doesn't involve stealth, but then you're confusing assassins for ninjas. Ninjas [a specific term] are practitioners of silent assassination, while assassins [a general term] are basically anyone who kills a specific target, no matter the ruckus, and no matter the casualties. You can probably say that the war on Iraq was one huge assassination attempt against Saddam.

 

[Archonsod]

Erm, no. In the first case, there's no evidence for the existence of ninja's outside of Japanese theatre. In the second, most assassinations prior to the invention of the rifle involved poison, usually administered either by someone planted in the entourage of the target or far more frequently someone who stood to benefit from the assassination. People tend to lose anything in the will of the deceased if they're linked to their deaths. You don't generally do it in the open, that's plain old murder (plus it tends to be rather easy to figure out whose responsible).

I fail to see where the "assassin" bit in Assassins Creed ever played a part to be honest. T

It follows the actual assassins rather than the debased use of the word in the modern context, except weed seems to play a lesser part. The actual assassins under the Old Man of the Mountain weren't particularly hitman types, but anti-Turk guerilla's who were rather adept at asymmetrical warfare, in fact a lot like the Mafia except with an Islamic rather than Catholic bent. They'd always kill their targets in the open in order to cultivate their reputation, although it should be noted the assassin was expected to martyr himself rather than attempt to escape once the victim was slain, hence why they used knives.

 

[Selothi]

It looks great and all, but ... It seems that nearly nothing has changed since the first game, except making the Character even more bad-ass and overly powerful, letting guards use their brains for once, and having some very nice scenery.

The combat scene there was pathetically uber, epic and surreal, so as usual, you'll be able to take on 20+ guards that all attack one at a time and all get their asses kicked, and now you can even nick their weapons !

Yeah, it's just far too much like Assassin's Creed 1, almost feels like an add-on pack rather than a new game, in a way. And he has a cheesy voice.

 

[Tuckles]

Erm, no. In the first case, there's no evidence for the existence of ninja's outside of Japanese theatre. In the second, most assassinations prior to the invention of the rifle involved poison, usually administered either by someone planted in the entourage of the target or far more frequently someone who stood to benefit from the assassination. People tend to lose anything in the will of the deceased if they're linked to their deaths. You don't generally do it in the open, that's plain old murder (plus it tends to be rather easy to figure out whose responsible).

By ninja, I meant as portrayed by the media.

I fail to see where the "assassin" bit in Assassins Creed ever played a part to be honest. T

It follows the actual assassins rather than the debased use of the word in the modern context, except weed seems to play a lesser part. The actual assassins under the Old Man of the Mountain weren't particularly hitman types, but anti-Turk guerilla's who were rather adept at asymmetrical warfare, in fact a lot like the Mafia except with an Islamic rather than Catholic bent. They'd always kill their targets in the open in order to cultivate their reputation, although it should be noted the assassin was expected to martyr himself rather than attempt to escape once the victim was slain, hence why they used knives.

Main Entry:
as·sas·si·nate
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˈsa-sə-ˌnāt\
Function:
transitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
as·sas·si·nat·ed; as·sas·si·nat·ing
Date:
1607
1 : to injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously
2 : to murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

It's sudden or secret. Not necessarily secret, but a sudden attack could mean jumping out and bum-rushing the guy and stabbing. It's still called assassination. You don't have to go all ninja-like (and please don't use that ninja in the japanese theatre stuff, ninjas are main-stream enough that my meaning should be apparent).

edit: Just to add, the bum-rushing is what you do in Assassin's Creed.