Assassins Creed 2 Revealed
The First Details from Game Informer's Expose on Ubisoft's Hitman
Assassins Creed, despite receiving a lukewarm reception upon release, has reportedly sold over eight million copies since 2007, so it was inevitable that a follow-up would eventually be announced.
A cryptic teaser trailer alluding to Leonardo Da Vinci and a version of the Vitruvian Man wielding wrist-blades was followed by a ten-page reveal in the most recent issue of Game Informer, and some charitable G.I. subscribers have decided to scan and copy all of the relevant information.
Assassins Creed 2 Set in Italy, 1476
The original Assassins Creed had players assume the role of Altair, a skilled assassin who was later revealed to be merely a virtual re-creation of a genetic memory. These memories were plucked from the head of Desmond Miles, a bartender abducted by a clandestine organisation due to his distant ancestry to the cloaked assassin. But with Altair's story already told, who will players be controlling in the sequel?
- Assassins Creed 2 is set two hundred years after the original, in Italy, 1476, with locations ranging from The Grand and Little Canal to Saint Marks Basilica and the Tuscany countryside
- Altair, being long dead, is replaced by another of Desmond’s ancestors, a young nobleman, Ezio Auditore de Firenze. It’s not clear what compels Ezio to eschew a life of luxury but rumour has it a family feud is the focus of the AC2’s plot
Leonardo Da Vinci Plays a Role in Assassins Creed 2
While the exact details of the plot are unclear, what is certain is that Ezio's tasks will be elusive and dangerous. To aid him in his quest, Ezio will call upon one of history's greatest artists and inventers to aid him in his death-dealing: Leonardo Da Vinci.
- One of Ezio’s close friends and allies is Leonardo Da Vinci, whose role in the game is equivalent to Q’s in the James Bond films. Da Vinci will supply Ezio with devices and contraptions, including a glider that allows Ezio to fly
Assassins Creed 2 Promises Improvements
It may have sold millions, but Assassins Creed was far from a critical success. It was a divisive experience, some praising the atmosphere and design, and others condemning the uninspired progression and lack of varied depth. It seems Ubisoft are aware of these complaints, and are promising a much better sequel that builds upon the original and strengthens its flaws.
- The previous Assassins Creed became rather monotonous after a few hours. AC2 looks to fix these shortcomings, with sixteen unique missions and the removal of the unpopular Pick Pocket and Eavesdrop types
- The weapon set has also been bolstered, with the inclusion of not only swords and wrist-blades, but pikes, halberds, spears and dual daggers
- The new enemy types, which range from specialized archers to heavily armoured brutes, have learnt a thing or two since Altair’s age, as hay-stacks and cloth-walled huts will no longer hide the intrepid assassin
- However, Ezio can now assassinate enemies whilst hiding, and he’ll also no longer need to equip his wrist-blade as, if he’s close and safe enough, he’ll automatically dispatch his foe with said weapon
- Considering the Venetian environments, Ezio can now take to the water, regardless of his heavy cloak and hood
- Riding horses and climbing buildings is still an integral part of AC2’s gameplay, although there is now a day and night cycle to consider
- The collectable flags from the previous game feature in the sequel, and are joined by golden coins and other such objects
More Historical Figues Will Feature in Assassins Creed 2
It seems Ubisoft are striving for an authentic settings in Assassins Creed 2, looking to create a digital pastiche of the 1400s in Italy. In order to achieve this, they've included a few familiar historical faces to collide with Ezio's journey:
- As the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci are present, more notable historic personalities will be recreated in AC2, including Machiavelli, Catrina Sofrza, Lorenzo de Medici, and the ‘Auditore’ family are mentioned
Assassins Creed 2 Looks Amazing
It's easy to be impressed by a magazine reveal, where the developers have carefully chosen what to showcase and what to keep under wraps, but it is undeniable that the features and fixes promised in Assassins Creed 2 are enough to get even the most skeptical of gamers interested.
Assassins Creed 2 will presumably be revealed to the public at E3 09. Hopefully, all that has been promised is true, and gamers can expect to get their hands on the medieval hitman later this year.
Assassins Creed's New Hero: Ezio de Firenze
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