One of the greatest accomplishments for any sequel isn’t so much improving on the previous game, but making sure that the sequel is accessible to new comers as it is to returning players. That isn’t always easy, and some games don’t even bother with such an efforts (such as the upcoming Mass Effect 2). Assassin’s Creed 2 is one of those rare games that not only exceeds the accomplishments of the first, but also makes the game very accessible to gamers who may have skipped the first game; such as myself. That’s right. I didn’t actually play the first Assassin’s Creed. I read about it, I checked the reviews, I read strategy guides to find out if it was more than just a Prince of Persia rip-off, and I had some friends who played it who told me all about it. So I know a lot about the first Assassin’s Creed, but I never played it. However, I have played Assassin’s Creed 2 and despite my lack of experience with the first game, I am a huge fan of the sequel.
Before you get to the meat of the game, Assassin’s Creed 2 does offer a quick recap of what happened in the first game. It’s a succinct summary that touches on the major items of interest gamers need to know without going into too much detail. This summary is followed by a quick escape sequence and then a little more exposition as to what you’re trying to accomplish this time around in the ongoing conflict between the Assassin’s and the Templars (something to do with the pieces of Eden). After that, it’s off to the Renaissance and the land of Italy as you begin exploring the genetic memories of Ezio; the assassin with whom you’ll be spending most of your time in this game. All in all, it’s a solid introduction that helped a player like me who didn’t go through the first game to get an idea of what’s taken place and how my current activities fit with the previous plot and the continuing plot of the Assassin’s Creed story. Although that was all very interesting, I must admit that I was much more anxious just to jump into the action and start doing some assassinations (after all, it’s in the title). While the exposition is interesting and never really boring, and while the game does do a better job this time around giving you some motivation for your actions as you’re given a bit more of a detailed back story for your character, when you do finally get to the action it’s where this game really shines. It isn’t perfect, mind you, but it is a thrilling, fun adventure.
When you finally don your assassins robes and begin fulfilling your destiny, the game really opens up. Unlike the first game, this time around things are much less linear. In order to complete an assassination, you don’t need to go through the tedious routine of gathering intel, sitting on benches, pick pocketing and so forth. Those elements are still in the game, and they’re improved, but you don’t have to use them every time. You decide the best way to go about carrying out an assassination, and it’s this freedom of choice that makes the game so fun. Follow the story or follow up on some side quests. Or if you prefer, run some errands, do some races, deliver letters or just run around town and cause some mischief. Or if you prefer, find a tomb and engage in some Prince of Persia-eque tomb raiding to help you get the ultimate assassin’s armor. There’s such a rich variety of things to do that you’ll probably be overwhelmed.
When you do decide to follow up on a mission, you may find yourself faced with several choices. You can go the stealth route and try not to be seen. You can take the direct route and fight everyone off with the challenging but fun combat. You can hire people to distract guards, use smoke bombs or other diversions, and the list goes on. Plus, not all assassinations are simple kill jobs. Sometimes you may have to lead an army on an assault of a stronghold, sometimes you may have to follow someone to a location and gather intel before carrying out the deed. The variety keeps things interesting and fresh and keeps you coming back for more.
However, not everything is flawless. The free running, while greatly improved, can still prove to be tricky. You may find yourself jumping off building that you didn’t mean to leap off of and switching directions quickly while in the free running mode is sometimes pretty tricky and frustrating. Still, it’s a much improved system that while not quite on the level of Mirror’s Edge, it’s pretty good. It’s especially fun in the tomb sections. These Prince of Persia inspired levels have you traversing the environment like puzzle, trying to figure out where to go and how to get there. Sometimes you have to evade (or fight enemies) as well. These are definitely one the highlights of the game, and hopefully we’ll get a chance to enjoy more of them in the next sequel.
Combat is still a timing based affair and still very much a love it or hate it system. If you can get into the rhythm and flow of things, it can be very rewarding. If you’re more impatient, it’ll prove frustrating and extremely difficult. While it doesn’t quite have the fluidity or speed of Batman: Arkham Asylum’s free flow combat, this is a step more in that direction and I found it pretty satisfying when I just settled down and kept a close eye on what my opponents were doing. The wheel menu gives you quick access to your different weapons so you can switch things up on the fly if you need, and while I thought the controls could be a bit more responsive, you rarely have the controls to blame if you take a beating.
While the characters and the story this time around are more rounded and interesting, there is one aspect of this story that I find wearisome. Call it the “Da Vinci Code” factor, but the whole idea of the church hiding a big conspiracy behind the constructed idea of God and a savior and so on and so forth is just plain silly. I’m sure conspiracy buffs find it fun, but the facts of the Bible are so easily corroborated that such “historical” material is really ridiculous.
Then there’s the idea that we’d be better off without the yoke of the greedy, institutionalized church that merely creates its religious fables in order to hold onto power. The very fact that the “hero” in this game is an assassin who kills people (just cause or no) suggests that people are better off without church and left to what they see fit in this world. Now I’ll grant you that the world may indeed be better off without power hungry institutionalized religion, but that’s never been what Christianity has been about. The Bible doesn’t reveal a way for people to seize and maintain power, but rather a story of how people were powerless to save themselves from the malady of sin. It reveals that left to our devices and to do as we see fit we choose death and destruction. The Bible also reveals a God who loves us and wanted to save us from sin and even from ourselves. This God sent his son to die on a cross and rise from the dead to cover the penalty for sin and to make a way for us to have new life. The Bible isn’t about an institution, it’s about a relationship, it’s about life and how it was meant to be lived. I’ll grant you that people and the church haven’t always demonstrated that very well, but that doesn’t change the message of the Bible. The church may make for a convenient villain in 15th century Italy, but the real enemy is sin and the Bible reveals the only way that enemy is overcome.
The vast variety, wide open feel, and sheer spectacle of Assassin’s Creed 2 is very impressive. It improves in almost every conceivable way on the first game while expanding its scope. It’s almost a living and breathing world that you get to experience vicariously through modern technology (weird, that’s practically a description of the game itself). Even if you didn’t bother with the first game, Assassin’s Creed 2 is a game you don’t want to miss. It’s really what the first game should have been, and it truly sets itself apart from being just a Prince of Persia clone. Is it one of the best games of the year? There’s some stiff competition this year from Batman and Modern Warfare, but this game does so much so well it certainly deserves to be considered among the very best of 2009.
Score out of 7:
Graphics: 6 - A beautiful game to behold. Sitting high atop a tower one can drink in the amazing detail, the incredible draw distance, beautiful lighting, and how the world seems to hum along all on its own. The characters are nicely animate and do a good job of showing emotion. Truly one of the best looking games out there.
Sound: 6 - Excellent voice acting compliments the game’s good looks. Music is never intrusive but helps set the tone of a scene from drama to action to danger and so on. Sitting in a city square there’s a lot of ambiance to drink from random conversation to the sounds of daily life. Again, very impressive.
Controls: 5 - The free running controls are good, but a little flighty at times and the may have you making jumps when you don’t intend to. Combat controls have a pretty steep learning curve, but once you get the hang of it they give you a lot of options for how to defeat foes. The circle menu gives you good, quick access to weapons and items. All in all, the controls are solid with a few spotty problems.
Gameplay: 6 - So much to do, so little time. This is a wide open world that you can peruse at your leisure or you can race through the story without ever trying anything else. The tomb sequences are really fun edition with great environmental puzzles to navigate. The variety and scope of things to do in this game make it easy to get lost in, but it’s a lot of fun.
Story: 5 - Assassin’s Creed 2 has meatier story that fleshes out its characters much better than the first game. While the ending once again leaves much to be desired, most of the game in intriguing if at times confusing as you try to keep track of everyone and who you can trust, who’s betraying who, and who’s the next to die and why.
Content: 3 - The game is bloody, but not excessively so. Combat often as some squishy sounds to it. There is plenty of suggestive content, and a mild love seen. Some of the rougher material can be found in journals about various characters. Historical or no, I don’t really need to no details about aberrant desires of these characters. This is an M rated game, so don’t take that too lightly.
Final: 6 - Assassin’s Creed 2 surprised me with just how much fun it is. Like Mass Effect, it’s a game that immerses you into its world and makes you feel like you’re apart of it. This is the game Assassin’s Creed wanted to be but didn’t quite achieve. However, the content is pretty rough in areas and the story overall is fairly dark and not very complimentary of the church or anything having to do with Christianity or religion. It’s a superb game, but one that should be played only after careful deliberation.
