Just read a newspaper article on a sneak peak of Assassin's Creed II, and it seems that Ubisoft Montreal has really tried to top the first one. Based on the reviewer, they just might have succeeded. The new story takes you to 15th century Florence, Venice and Tuscany. 'Players step into the boots of young Italian nobleman Ezio Auditore di Firenze, whose story of betrayal begins in 1476 and is woven into the series' overarching plot of a centuries- spanning power struggle between the Order of Assassins and the mysterious Knights Templar.' Ubisoft has stated that they have addressed the main issue of overly repetitive quests that plagued the first installement, adding a greater variety of freedom and things to do in Assassin's Creed II, and also more weapons, more fighting moves and more surprises... This is along with the usual but totally unforgetable stunning visuals. I cant wait for this one. I think it's right up there with Bioshock 2.;)

Because it's done by the same dev team, I'm looking forward to this one more than Bioshock 2. I consider Bioshock 2 my second favorite game on the 360 to date, but a different dev team and some of the rumors I've been hearing about the new installment have me a bit worried I won't like it nearly as much as the first game.

I loved Assassins Creed, repitition or no repitition.

Let me just look into my crystal ball...

... nope, showing nothing. Guess we just have to wait and see.

Well the first one was the most disappointing game I've played in years so unless its got Master Chief in it I won't be that interested.

I'm not sure what you could have expected out of the first one, but I had a ton of fun playing through it recently and can't wait for the sequel.

Well the first one was the most disappointing game I've played in years so unless its got Master Chief in it I won't be that interested.

i agree with you that assassin's creed was extremely disappointing, but this statment is a little over the top even for me. Beside the MC will not be in Halo3: recon.

Well the first one was the most disappointing game I've played in years so unless its got Master Chief in it I won't be that interested.

I agree with you completely, the groundwork for the first game was great but someone was asleep at the wheel. I want to have high hopes for the sequel, but Ubi Montreal has disappointed several times this gen so far.

it's funny, I never played Halo until Halo3, and i'm still wondering what all the fuss is about. The game isn't fun, it's challenging, but not fun. I played Assassin's Creed and had a blast killing innocents and stalking from the roof tops...it was just fun!!!!

I'm really looking forward to climbing the 348 towers of the medici. Also, finding and killing about 50 identical dudes will be fun too. Yawn.

Just read a newspaper article on a sneak peak of Assassin's Creed II, and it seems that Ubisoft Montreal has really tried to top the first one.

That's not saying much. Based on the Game Informer preview I read, they're set to make all the same mistakes again. Huge focus on pseudohistorical realism, with pics of actual and digital landmarks (who is impressed by this any more?). And a photo of a huge production team (I think it was 12,000 people) that looked like a campus mob before they get good and angry. (Because we all know that in order for a project to get better, you just add more people :rolleyes:). A huge conspiratorial plotline with DaVinci Code-esque intrigue, blecch. And no real concrete examples of how they'll give the game a purposeful plot and fix all the problems from the first one.

Play the game like this (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8725331&postcount=5050). Some would argue that is the way it was meant to be played before they dumbed it down for general release...

Seriously, if you were bored as hell by the repetition of missions (I was) give this a shot. Whole new game.

Play the game like this (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8725331&postcount=5050). Some would argue that is the way it was meant to be played before they dumbed it down for general release...

Seriously, if you were bored as hell by the repetition of missions (I was) give this a shot. Whole new game.

As someone who passed on AC because of all the talk of repetition, that post actually makes me want to play it. And now that it's cheap, maybe I'll pick it up.

That's how I played AC from the begining. No HUD, no GPS, no nothing. The game never felt repetitive to me, at least not enough to get bored of playing it. I think a lot of(but not all) games should be played like that, with no HUD. It makes it more interesting. The game was give a good rating from such sites as Gamespot etc... So I wouldn't bother about the few people on here griping that the game sucked. Play it for yourself and be the judge. I dont think you will be disapointed.

The first time through that game became very repetitive. Get an objective, run to the marker on your map. Get a new objective, run to a new marker. Rinse and repeat.

The information gathering part became...pointless. It was an endless game of tag.

Without the HUD--niiiiice. I'm looking forward to playing 2 from the beginning without a HUD etc. Currently playing Far Cry 2 and its lack of radar makes things pretty stressful at times. It seems snipers can spot me at the edge of the games draw-distance! I'm always scanning buildings and rock formations for likely sniper spots. I love it.

Glad I could point some more people toward that article. It should be made an Assassin's Creed sticky on these boards! :D

I just recently jumped on the Assassin's Creed game. http://www.**********************/track/img/3358/m09d0317xktz/2.gif I'm still working on the first one but look forward to the second Assassin's Creed. :D

it's funny, I never played Halo until Halo3, and i'm still wondering what all the fuss is about. The game isn't fun, it's challenging, but not fun. I played Assassin's Creed and had a blast killing innocents and stalking from the roof tops...it was just fun!!!!

Play Halo 1. It was the game that brought me back into gaming after about a 6 year hiatus. Halo 1 is GREAT.

The first Assassins Creed is a fairly repetative game but the atmosphere is enough to keep me engaged and I can't wait to see what they do with the sequel.

Play Halo 1. It was the game that brought me back into gaming after about a 6 year hiatus. Halo 1 is GREAT.

Halo 1 is not great.

Halo is simply awesome.
Halo2 has its moments.
Halo3 is pretty good.

I just view the three of them as a single game.

I really tried with AC but it just felt pointless.

If it helps I feel GOW was vastly over-rated too. Although we are veering crazily off topic.

I hated Halo, but had been playing PC FPS's for awhile and only played Halo after it came out on PC. I think it was the crappy level design that did me in. You know....that parts where it's the same room over and over and over again for 45 minutes.

And then of course the part where you have to ride the elevator up one level, than go all the way around the floor to another elevator which you ride up another level, then repeat. Seriously, could you imagine if they built buildings like that? Where you have to take the elevator up one level, get off, go for a 1/2 mile walk to the next elevator to take up another level, and then go for another 1/2 mile walk to the next elevator? It would suck to work on even the second floor, let alone the 10th or the 80th.

[dons flame suit]

I did like the first few levels though, particularly looking up at the "Halo" that made a big loop. That was pretty cool.

I never played Halo 2, but have Halo 3 on order (got it for free from a conference I attended, but it's going to be 6-8 weeks before I get it)

I never finished Halo 1 or 2 but I thought Halo 3 was awesome. Beat it on the Heroic difficulty.

And no real concrete examples of how they'll give the game a purposeful plot and fix all the problems from the first one.

What is a purposeful plot? And the article I read talked about how they were giving the game more tools, more useful NPCs, more variety in missions, etc. - all stuff that people considered problems from the first one.

I actually just finished AC last night. Bought it on release date. The game has potential to be fantastic, but damn if it isn't the most repetative game i've ever owned.

Graphics are still top notch, the swordplay and climbing are badass, but the rest of the game is pretty horrible. I finish every game I own and usually rather quickly. For it to have taken me like 2 years to finish this says alot. The repetition really kept me from being able to play it for any length of time. Also doesnt help that the game is so damn long. If they kept it to around 10 hours, maybe the repition would have stood out so much.

I will say that the end of the game kicked ass when they threw out any stealth element and threw hordes of enemies at you. The sword combat really is fun to watch.

The sequal has the potential to be special if they learn from the first.

it's funny, I never played Halo until Halo3, and i'm still wondering what all the fuss is about. The game isn't fun, it's challenging, but not fun. I played Assassin's Creed and had a blast killing innocents and stalking from the roof tops...it was just fun!!!!

Not that this is really a Halo thread but, as others have said/implied, you really need to play all 3 to make the third one worth anything. How does Halo 3 make any sense at all if you haven't played the others?

That's not saying much. Based on the Game Informer preview I read, they're set to make all the same mistakes again. Huge focus on pseudohistorical realism, with pics of actual and digital landmarks (who is impressed by this any more?). And a photo of a huge production team (I think it was 12,000 people) that looked like a campus mob before they get good and angry. (Because we all know that in order for a project to get better, you just add more people :rolleyes:).

Did you even read that Game Informer article? The number of people working on the game is 240 according to the caption below the picture you're referring to. I don't think that's too far off from other big titles from major studios, but I could be wrong.

A huge conspiratorial plotline with DaVinci Code-esque intrigue, blecch. And no real concrete examples of how they'll give the game a purposeful plot and fix all the problems from the first one.

Also, the article addresses how they're supposedly changing a ton of elements to make the game better. Such as:

The ability to swim
No more empty "Kingdom" area - seamless integration from cities to rural villages
A variety of weapons and the ability to disarm guards for their weapons
Ability to blend in any crowd, not just with monks
A notoriety gauge for each city
Added hand to hand combat
More mission types (now at 16 different types)
More intelligent/adaptive AI in enemies

That isn't everything but it should give those of you that haven't read the article (including WJonathon apparently) a decent idea of what they're aiming at. We'll see if they actually accomplish it, but I think it looks like they're trying to fix the issues some people had with the first one. Personally, I can see where some people got sick of the repetition, but I never got bored of it. For me the setting and the swordplay was enough to keep it interesting.

I enjoyed AC pretty much. Yeah it's kinda repetitive but the atmosphere is really good. You feel like you are living in those times. Graphics were top notch for that time. And I still love flying down from the top of a building.

AC2 seems to be going in the right direction.

I love how folks cry about how repetitive AC is and then go on about (insert shooter name here) is the greatest game ever. It is funny how they can just shoot them over and over and not get how repetitive that is. I do agree that they really need to make those information gathering missions a bit more varied on how to accomplish them but they didn't come off as repetitive to me. What did and made me want to blow my brains out was the lack of voice acting for the other side missions. Each one had one or two lines they would say over and over. I could have done without the flag hunting. I find those pointless in any game. That is the only thing holding me back from my perfect gamerscore in that game. One of these days I may get around to getting them but I doubt it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you turn off the HUD in Assassins Creed it's a whole different game.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you turn off the HUD in Assassins Creed it's a whole different game.

I agree 100%. That's how it should be played from the get go.

turning off the hud isn't going to change the fact that there were maybe 3 different mission types, and they were the EXACT SAME WAY every time. Even the people you saved over and over again said the EXACT SAME THING everytime. And every battle you had with crowds could be won the EXACT SAME way everytime. I finished the game, it had the grounds for something wonderful, and the last level was pretty cool, but otherwise...yeah, what that other guy said, someone fell asleep at the wheel as far as gameplay is concerned.

I really liked part 1 so I plan to give this one a look. :)

i upset myself with the first game. i just hyped myself up thinking he was going to be able to tear into enemies and chop them into pieces. lol

I never finished the first one so hopefully, this one keeps me interested long enough.

Play the game like this (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8725331&postcount=5050). Some would argue that is the way it was meant to be played before they dumbed it down for general release...

Seriously, if you were bored as hell by the repetition of missions (I was) give this a shot. Whole new game.
Absolutely right! Playing AC without the HUD really made the game amazing! Can't wait for AC2!!!!

8gtBOAVglPg

I tried to play AC without the HUD and just didn't get it. I am cool with the idea but the problem was that there were so few hints in and around the gameworld about where you should go. Not like maps or arrows but people to talk to, etc. You know, the type of stuff you'd do in a real investigation.

I tried to play AC without the HUD and just didn't get it. I am cool with the idea but the problem was that there were so few hints in and around the gameworld about where you should go. Not like maps or arrows but people to talk to, etc. You know, the type of stuff you'd do in a real investigation.The clues are all there. The only thing that is a problem is that you have to know what the Assassins' hideout looks like in the cities from far away (green domed roof). Other than that, it's all about visual and audio clues as per the guide linked above.

I was so gratified when I came across an interview with Patrice Desilets recently where he outright says that the real way to play is without the HUD. Our suspicions were right. He really didn't sound happy about the fact that the HUD was added. I'm hoping that the new game has something like a "hard" mode or "investigator" mode that disables map icons and the HUD.

after reading that forum post on NEOGaf, i really want to give the game another shot.... sadly i have too many games and too little time.

Assassin's Creed II is totally badass, if anyone was wondering. I really enjoyed the first on a technical level but had some of the same hang ups everyone is well aware of. So far, ACII is blowing me away. So many mechanics and elements have been added. From owning a villa to having a blacksmith make your weapons. I kinda liked Altair but Ezio is making for a much better character. His story is more interesting and you watch him grow as the game follows him through decades.

I'm still early in the game but the story that's being foretold is already making me excited for the sequel.

If you play without the HUD, does it get rid of all the Matrix-type crap? Flickering backgrounds, assassination conversations, etc? Even better, just drop the whole DNA memory BS.

that part's not going away. The 3rd game has always been rumored to feature Desmond as a full on assassin himself in the "current" storyline.

If you play without the HUD, does it get rid of all the Matrix-type crap? Flickering backgrounds, assassination conversations, etc? Even better, just drop the whole DNA memory BS.

Yeah, its called Ninja Gaiden.

If you play without the HUD, does it get rid of all the Matrix-type crap? Flickering backgrounds, assassination conversations, etc? Even better, just drop the whole DNA memory BS.
All the in game effects make sense given the story. I don't think you'd be able to turn it off but I'll check when I play tonight. What is your problem with the "You're Desmond in an Animus experiencing an ancestor's life" backdrop?

Why can't I just be the ancestor, why the need for a proxy in Desmond? It just smacks of weak storytelling and the need to create shortcuts. Plus, the DNA memory thing is so silly. It would actually be less silly for Desmond to have used a time machine and be the assassin in those time periods. You have a big weakness in your writing when time travel would be a more plausible scenerio.

I enjoyed a lot of the mechanics in the first one, it was just the Desmond story (and Animus effects) that was so awful and completely drew me out of the game.

I actually like the Desmond story parts. And it might just be because I started reading Chuck Klosterman's new book, but no time travel is not plausible.

Why can't I just be the ancestor, why the need for a proxy in Desmond? It just smacks of weak storytelling and the need to create shortcuts. Plus, the DNA memory thing is so silly. It would actually be less silly for Desmond to have used a time machine and be the assassin in those time periods. You have a big weakness in your writing when time travel would be a more plausible scenerio.

I enjoyed a lot of the mechanics in the first one, it was just the Desmond story (and Animus effects) that was so awful and completely drew me out of the game.

Good science fiction usually involves ideas that would be widely be considered to be ridiculous concepts. Science fiction from the early 1900s about man one day going to the moon or other planets were silly at the time. Now the fact that we've been to the moon and will eventually go to other planets is practically considered a given. I'm not saying the DNA memory idea is possible, all I'm saying is all science fiction is fictional. Otherwise it would be science fact.

Best science fiction out there imho is Dune, which take enormous liberties about the eventual forced evolution of man. I for one enjoy a story based on scientific improbabilities.

I think the Animus is an innovative way of explaining the necessities of gaming. Besides amnesia, time travel is the most trite mechanic in contemporary storytelling.

Clearly, I have none of the hang ups with the Desmond meta plot as others. But I'd still recommend ACII to everyone that liked anything about the first. I think Patrice Desilets has responded to feedback and produced a much more cohesive and enjoyable experience.

but no time travel is not plausible.


exactly

After reading through this thread, I think I'm going to pick this one up. I really enjoyed the first one, repetitive missions and all.

Does Kristen Bell still do the voice work for the hot girl in the lab? Is that character even in the sequel?

Does Kristen Bell still do the voice work for the hot girl in the lab? Is that character even in the sequel?
Lucy is back, still voiced by Kristen Bell and, without trying to be too spoilerly, plays an important part in the story.

She's back and Kristen Bell is the voice. At least it sounds like her, I've never seen her credited though.

This is on my list of games to get.

Amazon delivered this to me yesterday. Last night when I got home from work around 11:30pm, I popped this baby into the 360. I sat down on the couch and proceeded to install it on the hard drive. The next thing I know it is 7:30 am and my alarm clock is going off in my bedroom.

Damn you comfy couch!!! LOL

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you turn off the HUD in Assassins Creed it's a whole different game.

Not to pick on you or anything, not my intention, but I am so sick and tired of hearing this. I finished AC, it was the most repetitve so called AAA pos this generation. Turning the hud off is not going to change the fact that you did the same 3 or 4 missions over and over. Heck even the voice acting in each mission was the same person and most times same dialogue. It's like they made this amazing world, unique story, crazy animation/graphics, and then realised they were out of time and copy pasted the same missions too many $#%^% times over and over in each city.

I won't be going by reviews this time. Only friends I know and trust cause I ain't going through that same crap again this time.

This is a wait and see, and then maybe rent game for me this time. Fool my once...

It's like they made this amazing world, unique story, crazy animation/graphics, and then realised they were out of time and copy pasted the same missions too many $#%^% times over and over in each city.

That's actually exactly what happened. Most of the time spent on the first game was on the engine and such. In any case, isn't it long past time to stop complaining about this?

I loved the first and I'm loving the second one even more.

That's actually exactly what happened. Most of the time spent on the first game was on the engine and such. In any case, isn't it long past time to stop complaining about this?I don't think so. Judging by interviews with Patrice Desilets, the original gameplay ideas (which were centered around what we're now calling "HUD-less play") were scrapped by higher ups and through late-development play testing. The main culprit for the so-called "repetitive gameplay" was the addition of the GPS late in the cycle, which essentially just turned the game into a pretty-looking connect-the-dots.

I've said this a millions times already--but I'll say it again just because I think this game is so incredible--those information gathering sections weren't supposed to be a big part of the game. The bigger focus was originally meant to be exploration and detective work. Those two things got eliminated when the GPS and map icons got added. The original design was deemed too difficult for most players, so the devs tacked that stuff on late in development--effectively killing the most important features in the game.

I've yet to play the new one, but once I do I'll write up another HUD-less guide (unless someone beats me to the punch).

I didn't like the game without the GPS. I honestly think the problem was that the game just wasn't very good. I enjoyed it, but if the options were "repetitive information gather with the GPS" or "obtuse detective work without the GPS", I think it failed on several levels.

But again, I just don't see why this is still an issue.

so this is out already eh? cool...

::goes back to playing CoD MW2

I haven't tried the game HUD less. But I liked the first with the hud anyway. Even the repetitive crap.

The new one does not require you to do anything before you go killing a target. You start a mission, find the guy and kill him, on with the story. There's a bunch of side missions if you want those. I want to complete everything in one go, so playing without the HUD seems to me like it would make that unnecessarily hard and time consuming. I just don't see how that makes the game fun to some people.

I haven't figured out if there's a way to leave the animus in this one. I can't find any way to leave it, which is a disappointment because I liked the "current" story and talking to the npcs and snooping around.

I don't think so. Judging by interviews with Patrice Desilets, the original gameplay ideas (which were centered around what we're now calling "HUD-less play") were scrapped by higher ups and through late-development play testing. The main culprit for the so-called "repetitive gameplay" was the addition of the GPS late in the cycle, which essentially just turned the game into a pretty-looking connect-the-dots.

I've said this a millions times already--but I'll say it again just because I think this game is so incredible--those information gathering sections weren't supposed to be a big part of the game. The bigger focus was originally meant to be exploration and detective work. Those two things got eliminated when the GPS and map icons got added. The original design was deemed too difficult for most players, so the devs tacked that stuff on late in development--effectively killing the most important features in the game.

I've yet to play the new one, but once I do I'll write up another HUD-less guide (unless someone beats me to the punch).

While the first game could be played without the HUD, it did make the difficulty a couple of orders of magnitude higher because the target pictures were so small and of low detail. In this one, at least initially, it looks like you couldn't even play that way, as the target pictures provide much less background info and in a couple of cases I've seen show the scene in a way it appears after something has changed when you get there (like a window opening up, for example). About all you can do is go to viewpoints and look around for the animus type effect that indicates a mission (it even shows up on characters who give you the side missions).

They have come up with a very good system of allowing people who want to do a deep dive and those who don't to play it in a way that suits them. For example, the treasures strewn all over the place always have an animus type effect that can be seen from relatively far away, but for a very small amount of money you can buy a treasure map that adds all the locations for your local area to your map. There are some other HUD features in the same vein.

Overall, though, this game is vastly better than the first. The story is much more compelling and cohesive, and there is much more plot-driven action. I'm not entirely certain, but I think they've also tweaked the combat and added a significant number of animations that make things seem more responsive.

While the first game could be played without the HUD, it did make the difficulty a couple of orders of magnitude higher because the target pictures were so small and of low detail. In this one, at least initially, it looks like you couldn't even play that way, as the target pictures provide much less background info and in a couple of cases I've seen show the scene in a way it appears after something has changed when you get there (like a window opening up, for example). About all you can do is go to viewpoints and look around for the animus type effect that indicates a mission (it even shows up on characters who give you the side missions).

They have come up with a very good system of allowing people who want to do a deep dive and those who don't to play it in a way that suits them. For example, the treasures strewn all over the place always have an animus type effect that can be seen from relatively far away, but for a very small amount of money you can buy a treasure map that adds all the locations for your local area to your map. There are some other HUD features in the same vein.

Overall, though, this game is vastly better than the first. The story is much more compelling and cohesive, and there is much more plot-driven action. I'm not entirely certain, but I think they've also tweaked the combat and added a significant number of animations that make things seem more responsive.

This is a good sign. As well as the great reviews it has received. I played the first one for a couple of hours to refresh myself with the game, and although I remember the repetitive nature of it, I was still amazed at the graphics and the engine of the game. With the new story, and all previous shortcomings fixed, it looks like a real winner to me. Possible game of the year...anyone??

Anybody else getting a lot of popping/crackling in the audio?

Anybody else getting a lot of popping/crackling in the audio?
Now that you mention it, yeah. I remember hearing some strange sound artifacts. I wouldn't say "a lot" but I'll let you know if I hear more.

Anybody else getting a lot of popping/crackling in the audio?

I'm also having slight audio dropouts every so often. No crackling or popping, though. I installed this to my hard drive when I first popped it in. I'm running optical from the 360 directly to my receiver.

Yeah, it's enough to be annoying. I have it installed, maybe I'll try playing off the disc and see if it goes away.

Yea, I'm getting occasional pops in the audio also...glad it ain't just me. I'm lovin this game....so much to do.

Anybody else getting a lot of popping/crackling in the audio?

Yes. Not brutally annoying, but annoying. (hasn't slowed me from playing this game 2 hours past my bedtime since Tuesday though :rolleyes: ) I'm playing off the HD with optical to my receiver.

What would cause this, and can they fix it?

I've played about 5 and a half hours and haven't noticed any audio issues yet. I run from the disc and have optical to my receiver. I play this game at a fairly loud volume and haven't noticed any distortion like crackling or popping or any audio dropouts.

For the GOTY comment above, I definitely get that feeling from it. I don't have a PS3 so I haven't been able to play Uncharted 2, but this game is very polished and very good.

In case anyone was wondering, unlike the first game, you can't play this without the use of the HUD and map. :(

You can turn off HUD elements in the options menu, but unlike the first, there are no environmental cues to make up the difference.

In case anyone was wondering, unlike the first game, you can't play this without the use of the HUD and map. :(

You can turn off HUD elements in the options menu, but unlike the first, there are no environmental cues to make up the difference.

I think you actually can, because the shimmering effect on the mission areas seems to be visible from a very long distance away. You can pretty easily scout things from the viewpoints. There are also a ton more very distinctive landmarks in this game, and they constantly remind you when you get near them, so if you've got a really good memory you can use those for reference.

I think you actually can, because the shimmering effect on the mission areas seems to be visible from a very long distance away. You can pretty easily scout things from the viewpoints. There are also a ton more very distinctive landmarks in this game, and they constantly remind you when you get near them, so if you've got a really good memory you can use those for reference.Not really. Most of the people you need to find are on the street level, so you can't see them until you're right on top of them. Also, you can't use the viewpoints the way you could in the last game. Every time you try to enter Eagle Vision from a viewpoint, it does that panorama thing instead. So many ways they foiled a map-less playthrough. They also don't use the buildings nearly enough as a reference. Another great solution would be if the mission goal mentioned which building/area/landmark your destination was at. So many lost opportunities for further greatness.

EDIT: but you've given me some good ideas. I'll give some of them a shot tonight and see what works. It might take combining viewpoints, building names, audio clues, and some other stuff. I'll mess with it some more. All may not be lost.

Having played the first one thoroughly, I'm finding this game to be far better in every way. I've sunk near 15 hours into it already and the item collection/Villa management is just plain addicting. The combat is much more fleshed out although the timing of the instant kill combos seems to be tighter and harder to pull off for me. AC2 flat out pulled me away from MW2, which I wasn't expecting it would do. I honestly haven't touched the new COD disc since I got AC2. I too think this game has a GOTY feeling to it but I'm probably only 75% through so we'll see how the ending goes. Great game, now bring on Splinter Cell Conviction!

Not really. Most of the people you need to find are on the street level, so you can't see them until you're right on top of them. Also, you can't use the viewpoints the way you could in the last game. Every time you try to enter Eagle Vision from a viewpoint, it does that panorama thing instead. So many ways they foiled a map-less playthrough. They also don't use the buildings nearly enough as a reference. Another great solution would be if the mission goal mentioned which building/area/landmark your destination was at. So many lost opportunities for further greatness.

EDIT: but you've given me some good ideas. I'll give some of them a shot tonight and see what works. It might take combining viewpoints, building names, audio clues, and some other stuff. I'll mess with it some more. All may not be lost.

I don't know. I've found that the bright, white, shimmery lines that bleed off the top of mission characters is pretty easy to spot from a distance.

I have noticed the how every time you hit the Y button on a viewpoint it does the pan around Ezio, and the eagles that roost on them don't ever leave. I thought after you had discovered a viewpoint in the first one they left, which made it much easier to find viewpoints you haven't yet been to from afar. Not very feasible in this one.

I have noticed the how every time you hit the Y button on a viewpoint it does the pan around Ezio, and the eagles that roost on them don't ever leave. I thought after you had discovered a viewpoint in the first one they left, which made it much easier to find viewpoints you haven't yet been to from afar. Not very feasible in this one.Yeah. It's weird. It's like they took ideas from the first one without knowing what they were originally there for. :confused:

Yeah. It's weird. It's like they took ideas from the first one without knowing what they were originally there for. :confused:

What's extra goofy about this one is that one of the loading screen tips (or a tip somewhere, at least) mentions how you can find view points by looking for the eagles that roost there.

I like the eagle vision a lot more in this one. Wasn't it first person and stationary only in the first one? I was using it last night to find the statues around the villa, and it made it relatively easy (although I'm still missing one). One trick you can use with the view points is to take a step off of them (not sure if just dropping down works) and then activate eagle vision. It works pretty well for finding things.

Just finished the game last night. Game is epic and my pick for GOTY on the 360. I still have plenty to do. Going back for extras. It feels like another game in itself just doing that. Such a massive improvement over the first title it is ridiculous.

Just finished the game last night. Game is epic and my pick for GOTY on the 360. I still have plenty to do. Going back for extras. It feels like another game in itself just doing that. Such a massive improvement over the first title it is ridiculous.

Just finished the game last night. Game is epic and my pick for GOTY on the 360. I still have plenty to do. Going back for extras. It feels like another game in itself just doing that. Such a massive improvement over the first title it is ridiculous.

Well, that's torn it.:) I am going to have to go out and get myself a copy now. I knew this would happen.;):D:D

Nice. You will love it and not want to put it down. :D It took me over 20+ hours to beat it. That was just casually going through it and just doing very few side missions. I would not even count them in exactly that is how few I done.

Well, that's torn it.:) I am going to have to go out and get myself a copy now. I knew this would happen.;):D:D

This game is very addictive, way better then the first. It's been a hard balance between mw2, ac2, nba2k10, and gay tony.

I enjoyed the first game, despite the repetitive nature of the gameplay. I thought it had some innovative elements, great graphics, an intriguing historical setting (with actual historical figures in it), and an interesting plot.

AC2 smokes AC1 in every way. Obviously, the graphics and core of the gameplay are back, but they've fixed the broken mission structure, and made Ezio a better character than Altair. Everything you do in the main story of the game serves to advance the plot. Combat is challenging - the same tactic doesn't work for all foes (I just encountered my first foe armed with a polearm, and he was eating me alive when I tried to parry and counter-kill with my sword. I had to switch to fists in order to disarm him). IMO, this game is brilliant. I've actually got no interest in popping MW2 back in until I finish this game, and I love MW2.

Now, I'm not sure how far along I am - last night (er, this morning) I finally arrived in Venice. I want to make sure I can perform all of the non-story missions, and ideally make sure I pick off the "extras", like the feathers.

My only complaint, and it's very minor, is that for me Renaissance Italy is a less intriguing and interesting backdrop for the story than the Third Crusade in the Holy Land. The story is top-notch, but I liked some of the intrigue of laying the "Assassin v Templar" story on top of the Christian v Muslim setting of the Third Crusade, and IMO blurred lines that (recently) have been very sharply drawn in the West. Challenging preconceptions is a good thing, IMO. AC2 lacks some of that punch, but in virtually every other way is superior to AC1. Enough so that I'm trying to sort out what's going on in Desmond's storyline, and I'm sniffing out a big plot twist or event coming up in this game to set up AC3. IMO, in AC1 we popped back to Desmond too frequently, and with little happening of interest (other than at the very end). Now, it seems like things are more unified, and when you do pop back to Desmond, it's more meaningful.

;):D

How many of you did not collect the 30 codex pages needed to pass the game? I had to go back and collect 14 more. I bet people will be pissed when they find out they cannot beat the game with out them. I did not mind since the game was awesome.

My only complaint, and it's very minor, is that for me Renaissance Italy is a less intriguing and interesting backdrop for the story than the Third Crusade in the Holy Land. The story is top-notch, but I liked some of the intrigue of laying the "Assassin v Templar" story on top of the Christian v Muslim setting of the Third Crusade, and IMO blurred lines that (recently) have been very sharply drawn in the West. Challenging preconceptions is a good thing, IMO. AC2 lacks some of that punch, but in virtually every other way is superior to AC1. Enough so that I'm trying to sort out what's going on in Desmond's storyline, and I'm sniffing out a big plot twist or event coming up in this game to set up AC3. IMO, in AC1 we popped back to Desmond too frequently, and with little happening of interest (other than at the very end). Now, it seems like things are more unified, and when you do pop back to Desmond, it's more meaningful.I totally agree.

But I also think that this is overall a much lighter-hearted game than AC1. I think that's a big reason why so many people found it boring. It was a much heavier, slower, more ponderous game than AC2. This time around it's all action all the time.

But I do find the historical backdrop of AC2 fascinating. I'm really into the history of banking (yes, it's true) and I've read quite a bit about it well before playing this game. There's a reason why money, coins, shops, estate management, etc are a big part of this game. So I've been in dork heaven getting the chance to play through an important part of that history.

Besides, if you want to talk about contemporary parallels, you don't have to look far to see how the culture of banking that was established in 15th c. Italy is still rearing its ugly head in our daily lives. These exact sorts of "conspiracies" and political intrigues abound more today than they ever did back then. But AC2 nails the origin of that culture. So cool.

There's an achievement listed that says you have to stun guards by throwing sand in their face.....Anyone know how to throw sand?

I've just finished the game and I'm trying to fill out my achievements. Also, I have a place on my weapon rack with the maces and I can't find any vendor that sells a weapon I don't own. They all sell the same stuff anyway. My rack shows hammer, empty, mace, mace, if that's any hint of what is missing.

$49.98 Amazon Black Friday Lighting Deal right now...about 10% sold out as of this post (began at 3pm EST).

There's an achievement listed that says you have to stun guards by throwing sand in their face.....Anyone know how to throw sand?Did you ever talk to the trainer at your villa? The sand throwing technique is one of the very first moves you learn. There are a bunch of extra combat moves you missed if you didn't talk to him. I hope you didn't just stick to the counter move the whole time. :(

I stuck to the counter move......until I got my butt kicked near the end of the game, so I went back to training and found a bunch of extra moves that helped a ton. I was addicted to the game. Took me a solid 3 days to beat it. The hardest things to me were the assassins tombs.

Did you ever talk to the trainer at your villa? The sand throwing technique is one of the very first moves you learn. There are a bunch of extra combat moves you missed if you didn't talk to him. I hope you didn't just stick to the counter move the whole time. :(

No I didn't, because when you walk by him it only tells you, practice fighting. It doesn't say learn new stuff.

I had counter, disarm, strafe and dodge, that worked fine. Plus all the other crap like bombs and gun and poison. It's not like I wasn't equipped to kill everyone.

What else besides sand is there?

No I didn't, because when you walk by him it only tells you, practice fighting. It doesn't say learn new stuff.

I had counter, disarm, strafe and dodge, that worked fine. Plus all the other crap like bombs and gun and poison. It's not like I wasn't equipped to kill everyone.

What else besides sand is there?...and this is one of the reasons why I loved the first game. ;)

Just like the first game, you have to be willing to experiment with exploration and combat. If you just do what's most expedient (going from point A to point B), you miss all the great details.

Going for expediency in the first game led people to accuse the game of being "boring" and "repetitious." Going for expediency in AC2 means missing cool details like finding other ways to fight or finding hidden little nooks and crannies in the city maps.

On a related note, as much as I initially was disappointed to find that HUD-less play no longer works, I've changed my mind completely. They've done an excellent job of including the same sort of play-style into the new setup. For example, telling you a target is in a general area rather than telling you exactly where he is. Or telling you a building has a marker on it without telling you where it is. That's the kind of detail that made the first one so great. Glad to see they worked it back in!

...and this is one of the reasons why I loved the first game. ;)

Just like the first game, you have to be willing to experiment with exploration and combat. If you just do what's most expedient (going from point A to point B), you miss all the great details.

Going for expediency in the first game led people to accuse the game of being "boring" and "repetitious." Going for expediency in AC2 means missing cool details like finding other ways to fight or finding hidden little nooks and crannies in the city maps.

On a related note, as much as I initially was disappointed to find that HUD-less play no longer works, I've changed my mind completely. They've done an excellent job of including the same sort of play-style into the new setup. For example, telling you a target is in a general area rather than telling you exactly where he is. Or telling you a building has a marker on it without telling you where it is. That's the kind of detail that made the first one so great. Glad to see they worked it back in!


This is the one facet of the game that I skipped because they never said (or I just missed it) that you could learn new things from it, I had no reason to PRACTICE the fights because I knew it all. Your uncle taught you things and I thought that was it, you also learn from others later on. The first game had the same thing, a pit area where you can practice all the moves. But I think they forced you go to the guy to learn them first.

I didn't play this game like an ADD kid. I did every side mission in every city, got every viewpoint (where was the achievement for this, I expected one for that), got every treasure, got every secret symbol, before I finished the story.

Sorry. Didn't mean to sound like an ass.

Just saying the AC games reward slowing down, retracing your steps, and... checking in with the trainer from time to time. ;)

If you pay extra money, you learn even more moves. He's basically a shop for combat skills.

For those of you that have finished the game, how long did it take?

Finished it today. Took about 9 days, some of those with a significant amount of play time. I couldn't give you an hour count, but it was a lot longer than most FPS games. Oh, and I got 100% completion, so I did everything.

Also, I loved it. Superior to AC1 in every way. First game I've ever played to 100%; I've finished the single player on a lot of games, but this is the first that I've done absolutely everything, and gotten all of the achievements.

I don't mean to just bash this game, I can see it appeals to many of you, but I feel like I'm playing an entirely different game than you or something. I was at a friend's and played a few hours of it (I did a few more missions after getting the sword before quitting). To me, this feels like the worst game I've played in a long time; I just really do not get any of the hype.

I didn't play the first, so can't speak of any improvement over that. I did read a little bit of summary of the first to figure out what was going on at first. But, the plot is just absolutely ridiculous. Unlocking 'genetic memories' just is a really dumb concept, as far as I'm concerned.

Ignoring that however... the game reeks of me that something that's trying to be mature, and in the process ends up being for adolescent boys, from the 'database' that mentions how someone working really meant he was "dicking around all the time", to the early sex scene (complete with Quick Time Events!) and jokes about only needing a few minutes for it.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against cursing or even sex scenes in games, but there's a line where it in makes sense in a game vs where it's just doing it to 'be cool'. As an example, the girl's exclamation when she's trying to break you out of the lab and discovers her keycode isn't working, that works. The example I gave above doesn't. (And the only sex scene I've seen in a game so far that really made sense / had real impact was in "Mafia" years ago).

However, I would be able to ignore all of that above if the gameplay was good. But I just don't feel like I'm in control of the character at all. It's basically just hold the direction, A, and RT and hope what I want / expect to happen is what happens on screen. I just never get the feeling that I'm actually controlling him when "Free-Running". Sometimes he'll jump on the building I want, other times he'll jump off of the building somehow. And while this last part is just me I'm sure and I'd probably get used to it after more play, I still couldn't figure out after a few hours when I was going to land in a bale of hay vs when I was going to land short, lose almost all my life (if I was lucky), and have to use the medicine again. I just really felt like I was fighting with the game much more than I was playing it.

And the first fight in the tutorial was driving me a little crazy as well (the gang fight where you're surrounded by bystanders). It's telling me to lock on... except locking on kept putting the camera on the bystanders, not the guys who were repeatedly punching me... no matter how much I tried to swing it around and look at them. Luckily, once I got past that part, the camera and locking on behave much better in actual gameplay.

I didn't see the comments about turning the HUD off and exploring a little more slowly until now, that does sound a little more interesting.

But really, if I had bought this based on all the hype and good reviews, it seems I'd have been very, very disappointed. Luckily it was my friend who bought it, and not me.

I don't mean to just bash this game, I can see it appeals to many of you, but I feel like I'm playing an entirely different game than you or something. I was at a friend's and played a few hours of it (I did a few more missions after getting the sword before quitting). To me, this feels like the worst game I've played in a long time; I just really do not get any of the hype.

I didn't play the first, so can't speak of any improvement over that. I did read a little bit of summary of the first to figure out what was going on at first. But, the plot is just absolutely ridiculous. Unlocking 'genetic memories' just is a really dumb concept, as far as I'm concerned.

Ignoring that however... the game reeks of me that something that's trying to be mature, and in the process ends up being for adolescent boys, from the 'database' that mentions how someone working really meant he was "dicking around all the time", to the early sex scene (complete with Quick Time Events!) and jokes about only needing a few minutes for it.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against cursing or even sex scenes in games, but there's a line where it in makes sense in a game vs where it's just doing it to 'be cool'. As an example, the girl's exclamation when she's trying to break you out of the lab and discovers her keycode isn't working, that works. The example I gave above doesn't. (And the only sex scene I've seen in a game so far that really made sense / had real impact was in "Mafia" years ago).

However, I would be able to ignore all of that above if the gameplay was good. But I just don't feel like I'm in control of the character at all. It's basically just hold the direction, A, and RT and hope what I want / expect to happen is what happens on screen. I just never get the feeling that I'm actually controlling him when "Free-Running". Sometimes he'll jump on the building I want, other times he'll jump off of the building somehow. And while this last part is just me I'm sure and I'd probably get used to it after more play, I still couldn't figure out after a few hours when I was going to land in a bale of hay vs when I was going to land short, lose almost all my life (if I was lucky), and have to use the medicine again. I just really felt like I was fighting with the game much more than I was playing it.

And the first fight in the tutorial was driving me a little crazy as well (the gang fight where you're surrounded by bystanders). It's telling me to lock on... except locking on kept putting the camera on the bystanders, not the guys who were repeatedly punching me... no matter how much I tried to swing it around and look at them. Luckily, once I got past that part, the camera and locking on behave much better in actual gameplay.

I didn't see the comments about turning the HUD off and exploring a little more slowly until now, that does sound a little more interesting.

But really, if I had bought this based on all the hype and good reviews, it seems I'd have been very, very disappointed. Luckily it was my friend who bought it, and not me.

What did you mean to do then?

I'm not entirely sure, I just mean really that I had every intention of giving this game a fair chance, even after I didn't like the story, even after I didn't like the 'maturity', etc.

But as I said, I see that lots of people like it a lot, maybe is there something I'm missing? Are the controls something you get used to? Really, I don't even know though, I guess I'm just trying to offer up an opinion different from the majority. It sounds a little harsher than I intended it to, but the game itself just feels average at best, and at worst really bad, to me.

I'm not entirely sure, I just mean really that I had every intention of giving this game a fair chance, even after I didn't like the story, even after I didn't like the 'maturity', etc.

But as I said, I see that lots of people like it a lot, maybe is there something I'm missing? Are the controls something you get used to? Really, I don't even know though, I guess I'm just trying to offer up an opinion different from the majority. It sounds a little harsher than I intended it to, but the game itself just feels average at best, and at worst really bad, to me.

I may try it once I can get it for 20$

I don't mean to just bash this game, I can see it appeals to many of you, but I feel like I'm playing an entirely different game than you or something. I was at a friend's and played a few hours of it (I did a few more missions after getting the sword before quitting). To me, this feels like the worst game I've played in a long time; I just really do not get any of the hype.

I didn't play the first, so can't speak of any improvement over that. I did read a little bit of summary of the first to figure out what was going on at first. But, the plot is just absolutely ridiculous. Unlocking 'genetic memories' just is a really dumb concept, as far as I'm concerned.

Ignoring that however... the game reeks of me that something that's trying to be mature, and in the process ends up being for adolescent boys, from the 'database' that mentions how someone working really meant he was "dicking around all the time", to the early sex scene (complete with Quick Time Events!) and jokes about only needing a few minutes for it.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against cursing or even sex scenes in games, but there's a line where it in makes sense in a game vs where it's just doing it to 'be cool'. As an example, the girl's exclamation when she's trying to break you out of the lab and discovers her keycode isn't working, that works. The example I gave above doesn't. (And the only sex scene I've seen in a game so far that really made sense / had real impact was in "Mafia" years ago).

However, I would be able to ignore all of that above if the gameplay was good. But I just don't feel like I'm in control of the character at all. It's basically just hold the direction, A, and RT and hope what I want / expect to happen is what happens on screen. I just never get the feeling that I'm actually controlling him when "Free-Running". Sometimes he'll jump on the building I want, other times he'll jump off of the building somehow. And while this last part is just me I'm sure and I'd probably get used to it after more play, I still couldn't figure out after a few hours when I was going to land in a bale of hay vs when I was going to land short, lose almost all my life (if I was lucky), and have to use the medicine again. I just really felt like I was fighting with the game much more than I was playing it.

And the first fight in the tutorial was driving me a little crazy as well (the gang fight where you're surrounded by bystanders). It's telling me to lock on... except locking on kept putting the camera on the bystanders, not the guys who were repeatedly punching me... no matter how much I tried to swing it around and look at them. Luckily, once I got past that part, the camera and locking on behave much better in actual gameplay.

I didn't see the comments about turning the HUD off and exploring a little more slowly until now, that does sound a little more interesting.

But really, if I had bought this based on all the hype and good reviews, it seems I'd have been very, very disappointed. Luckily it was my friend who bought it, and not me.


I didn't even remember the sex scene in the game until you said something and I tried very hard to remember what the hell you're talking about. It really has almost nothing to do with the rest of the game other than explaining that your character is a stud.

There's two story lines in this game, the "real" world and the memories. You haven't even hit the meat of the story yet which is a shame because I really liked it. Even though most of the game is spent in the memories, it's a sci-fi story at the heart.

As for the gameplay, the hay thing is you. There are areas on the roofs that have pigeons sitting at the edge and what I'm guessing is their droppings, you'll notice these areas throughout every city. If you run and jump off this, you'll hit the hay cart. Also the perch points where the eagles sit are always going to have a hay cart under them. From what you've said, I think you're just randomly jumping off any roof when you see a hay cart and hoping you land in it. Sometimes you may get lucky if you aimed your jump perfectly, but mostly you're going to fall.

You obviously need some help explaining how the mechanics of the game work, but I can bet you still won't like it even if you did know how to control the guy well.

But my favorite part of this game is the combat and watching this guy work, most of the best stuff comes from a counter move.

Yeah, you're right about the hay carts, I had no idea the pigeons had anything to do with it. (And I even said in the first post that that part was probably me).

But even still, when I'm running from building to building, it seems like only 50% of the time what I want to happen would actually happen. For example, a few times I'd try to start climbing up a wall by running towards it holding RT and A, and instead he'd jump off of it, falling all the way to ground level. Same for trying to climb up things. Sometimes when doing so I'd press sideways to scoot to the side to grab a different foothold, and it'd work mostly, but sometimes he'd jump sideways and fall. Like I said, it really just felt like it was fighting with the controls most of the time, because everything was done using the same buttons.

At least in Mirror's Edge (I know, it's been compared to that ad nauseum, but still), while it was harder to do all the sequences of moves (possibly too hard), each button press I was doing felt like it was doing something, and I felt like I had real control over the character. Like I said, in this it just felt like holding down buttons and hoping for the best.

But I definitely will admit that it's fully possible that I was doing something wrong, similar to the hay bales. I didn't read the manual, and it wasn't my game so I don't have the patience to force through it to see if it's something I'd get more used to as time went on or anything. (If I'd bought it, I'd probably feel obligated to go a little further before selling it back, with how expensive games are these days). That being said, I'm glad others are getting enjoyment out of it, but it seems that it's not for me. Ah well, there's the new Splinter Cell to look forward to from Ubi at least.

I'm not entirely sure, I just mean really that I had every intention of giving this game a fair chance, even after I didn't like the story, even after I didn't like the 'maturity', etc.

But as I said, I see that lots of people like it a lot, maybe is there something I'm missing? Are the controls something you get used to? Really, I don't even know though, I guess I'm just trying to offer up an opinion different from the majority. It sounds a little harsher than I intended it to, but the game itself just feels average at best, and at worst really bad, to me.

Usually I'm the one giving an opposing view, so I'm not trying to jump down your throat by any means. But, overall, the game is waaay better than average. The combat, graphics, and gameplay mechanics are top-notch.

Where it fails for me is perhaps having too much to do, and being a bit too complex of a story. The first game was more gritty, and simpler, just like another another game that polished itself off and lost some edge (Gears 2). Both AC games have great graphics though, but this one is more....fluffy.

And while this game added alot more mission variation and side missions for lots of replay, the addidtions themselves are mostly boring, IMO. The exploring, the stealth, the RPG elements, the platforming. I like the quiet and deadly Altair over the loud playboy Ezio. He comes off as cheesy. The story is a bit more outrageous than most, and sort of dragging. And having the great free-flowing running/climbing ability kind of contradicts itself by having guards everywhere. I think there should only be guards on the ground, and let the rooftops belong to the assassins. Kind of like Gears 2 having the Roadie Run, but also having sticky nades to slow down and avoid (MP).

I can play this game, only in very short spurts though. It's just not the fast-paced, action-packed sequel I hoped it would be. But, there's alot to do, and a long story, so I can't hate on the devs for giving us our 60$ worth.

I think my single-player attention span is somewhat fading, too. Could just be the hold MW2 has over me. Mass Effect 2 and Bioshock 2 will tell me where I stand with single-player games.

Oh wait, Bioshock 2 has MP. Doh! :)

But even still, when I'm running from building to building, it seems like only 50% of the time what I want to happen would actually happen.You're doing it wrong. The controls have their issues, but not those issues. Mostly, the general complaints have been about how "sticky" Ezio can be. Otherwise, the controls are very cooperative, and like you said about Mirror's Edge, each button press does something. The biggest problem is that if you haven't played the first game, the controls can be a little overwhelming. Everything's contextual and there are tons of button press combinations. IMO the core controls are more suited to a slower-paced game (like the first one) than to a faster-paced game (like AC2).

Also, your earlier complaints about the story have more to do with the character's age at that point in the game than with the game as a whole. Those things happen because he's a teenager at the time. He's supposed to be acting like a boy. Things change very quickly, and it definitely becomes very "adult" very quickly. In fact, most people I've talked to didn't even pick up on one of the game's more "adult" moments because it was so subtly implied: Your mother is raped by the Pazzis and deeply traumatized for the rest of the game.The story falls apart in the middle, but starts coming together again towards the end. It's worth sticking it out a bit longer than you have already.

Where it fails for me is perhaps having too much to do, and being a bit too complex of a story. The first game was more gritty, and simpler, just like another another game that polished itself off and lost some edge (Gears 2).So, so true (on both counts).

I like the quiet and deadly Altair over the loud playboy Ezio. He comes off as cheesy. The story is a bit more outrageous than most, and sort of dragging.With you all the way, brother. The further I get into this game, the less interested I am in the story. The first game kept things fairly simple and tight, both in the story and in the mission structure. This is all too convoluted, and the writers/designers never seem to get a good handle on how they wanted to tell this story. By the time I finally got to Venice, all I was thinking was: "You're kidding. I have to do this all again?!"

I never felt bored by the first game, and I got the full 1000 achievements. AC2, though, is starting to bore me a little. The missions are getting repetitive, and there's no real sense of plot or pacing whatsoever. It all just kind of plods along at the same pace the whole time. Can't say I'm "disappointed." I'm just not "wowed" the way I was by the first game.

The biggest problem is that if you haven't played the first game, the controls can be a little overwhelming. Everything's contextual and there are tons of button press combinations.

That sounds like it'd be it then. I generally have no problem being thrown into a game and figuring out what's what, but the tutorial makes it seem like all you do is just hold the buttons to do whatever needs to be done on whatever ledge. I'd probably have explored more with the buttons if there was no tutorial at all, too. Just one of those things where since it's telling you how to play, you'd think that if there was a little bit more subtlety than holding two buttons down the whole time and pressing the joystick in the direction that they'd have given some hint of that.

Also, something that I thought was weird, was when you are breaking out in the very opening of the game, you get into a fist fight. It seems to me like it's probably one of those fights you can't lose, but still, it doesn't tell you anything about how to fight back at that point... only about 30 minutes later when you're the ancestor does it finally teach you how to throw a punch. Not too big a deal but one of those little things that you wonder how they didn't notice it, if they're going to bother with the later tutorial.

But anyway, it wasn't just the sex scene that seemed like the fake 'maturity' that I was referring to, but a few things, including the language (again, like the listing in the database that I mentioned above) and attitude of characters in both the present and in the past. It just reminded me of the type of 'mature games' that people say are on the system and then you get online and play and realize it's mostly 13-year old boys that it appealed to :D. I did only get a couple hours in, as mentioned, so any maturing by characters in either section of the game wouldn't have happened yet. If I am wrong, I'm definitely happy to be.

But anyway, I don't want to keep being negative, especially when at least a few things seem to have been misconceptions based on my limited playing time, so I'll probably stop posting on the subject, but even with the things I had wrong, there was nothing compelling enough in what I played for me to want to rent / buy the game myself and revisit (not like I have a working 360 at the moment anyway :D) with how many games I'm backed up now. I'm sure I didn't get to a lot of the good stuff yet, but I guess I just wasn't sucked in enough to bother. Oh well, different games for different tastes, there's a lot of the popular stuff that I'm not into as much as others.

Maybe if I do try it at some point, I'll have to start with the first game. It had been my impression that I wouldn't miss out on much not having played the first (especially since different main character in the past), but it seems I was mistaken on that, both story-wise and gameplay-wise. With regards to the story, I hadn't even any idea that there was a present component so I was very confused until reading a summary. :D

That sounds like it'd be it then. I generally have no problem being thrown into a game and figuring out what's what, but the tutorial makes it seem like all you do is just hold the buttons to do whatever needs to be done on whatever ledge. I'd probably have explored more with the buttons if there was no tutorial at all, too. Just one of those things where since it's telling you how to play, you'd think that if there was a little bit more subtlety than holding two buttons down the whole time and pressing the joystick in the direction that they'd have given some hint of that.
Lemme guess - RT and A? There's your problem! You need to be a little more selective in when you elect to depress those buttons, and you'll find Ezio much more controllable.

With regards to the story, I hadn't even any idea that there was a present component so I was very confused until reading a summary.
You'd think the fact that you start the game in the modern time (with actual plot elements, like escaping from your holding cell!) before entering a machine that transports you back to Renaissance Italy might have been a clue. ;)

Personally, while I liked AC1, I think this game is it's superior in every respect. You're missing some backstory not having played it, and the entire Assassin/Templar conflict probably makes no sense.

(Also, the business with the Ezio sex scene is a very minor point in the story; it's just setting up Ezio's character as a carefree teen. Setting the stage for the (unwanted) transformation that is to come. It stands in pretty stark contrast to an older, much more serious Ezio.)

As for the "genetic memory" device, it's not any more ridiculous than just about any other sci-fi device. This is, after all, a science fiction game, and it's hardly the most "out there" thing in the game. If you manage to locate and decode all of the glyphs, you'll know what I mean.

By the time I finally got to Venice, all I was thinking was: "You're kidding. I have to do this all again?!"

I never felt bored by the first game, and I got the full 1000 achievements. AC2, though, is starting to bore me a little. The missions are getting repetitive, and there's no real sense of plot or pacing whatsoever. It all just kind of plods along at the same pace the whole time. Can't say I'm "disappointed." I'm just not "wowed" the way I was by the first game.
It's long; I spent a lot more time in Venice than I thought I would. The onion of the Pazzi Conspiracy had a LOT more layers than I expected. For me, the main storyline never felt repetitive, and each assassination (and how you got to it) felt pretty unique. Actually, some of the side mission assassinations really challenge you (IMO) to be clever. You can't just brute-force it with the hidden blade.

Personally, I found the setting of the 3rd Crusade more interesting than the setting of Renaissance Italy, at least going in. I knew almost nothing about the time period, the Medicis, Pazzis, or Rodrigo Borgia when I started the game. I found it interesting enough to do a little background reading since.

It seems to me like it's probably one of those fights you can't lose, but still, it doesn't tell you anything about how to fight back at that point... only about 30 minutes later when you're the ancestor does it finally teach you how to throw a punch.Yeah, that would be weird for someone unused to the combat mechanics. That first fight was pretty rough, though, since it didn't allow you to do any of the more advanced techniques. It really was just blocking and punching. From there on, though, you're pretty much able to do anything you were in the first game from the get go. No "unlocking" those earlier techniques. For newcomers, you wouldn't really know all the ins and outs of combat until you get to the trainer at the villa (and that's a good ways into the game).

But anyway, it wasn't just the sex scene that seemed like the fake 'maturity' that I was referring to, but a few things, including the language (again, like the listing in the database that I mentioned above)You realize that those database entries are written by that obnoxious British guy, right? That's part of the gimmick. You're not supposed to like him, and his personality comes through in those entries. He's a total tool.

You'd think the fact that you start the game in the modern time (with actual plot elements, like escaping from your holding cell!) before entering a machine that transports you back to Renaissance Italy might have been a clue. ;)


I had a feeling someone was going to comment on this. I meant before playing. :D

But anyway, I don't want to keep being negative, especially when at least a few things seem to have been misconceptions based on my limited playing time, so I'll probably stop posting on the subject, but even with the things I had wrong, there was nothing compelling enough in what I played for me to want to rent / buy the game myself and revisit (not like I have a working 360 at the moment anyway :D) with how many games I'm backed up now. I'm sure I didn't get to a lot of the good stuff yet, but I guess I just wasn't sucked in enough to bother. Oh well, different games for different tastes, there's a lot of the popular stuff that I'm not into as much as others.

I wouldn't bother trying...it's clear you just don't like the game and it's mechanics. I highly doubt you're going to have some epiphany where the game 'clicks' for you. I personally think you both missed some data points where it described some of the gameplay elements, but honestly I don't think it would have made a difference. It's clear that the game's approach doesn't appeal to you and if you didn't find anything compelling in several hours play, you're really not going to.

I do find it kind of funny that you found Ezio's story to be 'faking maturity' but thought Lucy's dialog in the present wasn't. I thought the exact opposite. Lucy's casual dropping of the F-bomb every other word seemed ridiculous to me, while Ezio's behavior was spot-on for a young Italian noble of the time. I thought the 'seducing the girl' was more a throw-away gag than anything else. It wasn't on the level of God of War's 'mini-games' to be sure.

I might have found a game breaking bug. I am in the church/tomb in Florence and I found a shortcut up to the tomb before I went to to the top of the door like it said and I also got all the treasures, even the secret ones, but when I get the seal, the window opens but it won't let me go through. I jumped off the ledge and died. Then I did it the right way, going to the top of the door, and then going to the top, so that the green icon would change, but the same thing happens. The window opens but there's no way to get out. I didn't try to abort memory, so I will try that tonight.

jhoff, i dont think you're alone with your opinion. I too had a hard time trying to get into the game. BUt like others have said, I think missing the first one probably had a lot to do with it.

However I am hooked on the DS version. It doesnt have much fluff and gets to the point. I feel that on each mission, the point is to concentrate on stealthiness and execution strategy. A game more like Thief than Mirror's Edge.

Yep its a great game! Get it!

Yep its a great game! Get it!

Am hoping to pick it up in a possible Boxing Day(or Week as they now call it:D) sale.

This game is $40 right now on Amazon in the Gold Box for the 360 and PS3.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=xs_gb_ALR28TFCJUGSY?ie=UTF8&docId=1000208101&pf_rd_p=441937901&pf_rd_s=right-1&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1WYEEZ72ENGSHT0WE429

I'm enjoying the game so far and I think I've come to terms with what it was that soured me on the first game. It was the marketing - expecting a deeper game as an assassin in the crusades, when you put the disc in you find out you're playing as someone in the near-future thrust into some millenia-old conspiracy and you have to play the past storyline in The Matrix to learn some of what's going on. With the sequel you know that going in, so it doesn't bother me with the new game.

Anyway, so far it's a little nicer looking, larger crowds, slight improvements overall. I like how getting lost in the crowds works, hiring followers is a little nicer than just wandering into a group of four monks like in the original. There seem to be more cutscenes in-game other than the assassinations and "current day" events. If feels like it's creating a deeper story and meaning behind the Enzio character. Adding swimming is nice, though it seems like you hit a solid layer before actually falling into the water. I like the little puzzle segments for "The Truth." Only have two so far, but it's an interesting, engaging little twist.

Dislikes: Combat seems clunkier. Didn't like how going to a new area made all the computer renderings of the buildings and terrain. Felt like opening a pop-up book, whereas in the original it was an almost breathtaking moment when you rode a horse to a new area and saw a city rising up out of the horizon. Also, meeting your uncle and having the "It's-a me, Mario!" moment. Ugh, a little chuckle but also a big eyeroll. Overall though, not much to complain about.

Completed "The Truth" last night, very cool little clip there. I could almost see myself finishing this game 100%, except for tracking down the 80 or so feathers I'll missing when I finish the story. Is there a little Easter Egg from Maria or something else when you complete it? I'm assuming there'll at least be a scene where she'll start talking again.

I want to try this game so bad, but tired of wasting $60 on games I dont play much after buying.

Is there a demo?

I want to try this game so bad, but tired of wasting $60 on games I dont play much after buying.

Is there a demo?

Its awesome. I'm about half way through.

I want to try this game so bad, but tired of wasting $60 on games I dont play much after buying.

Is there a demo?

I don't believe there is a demo for this one. If you are tired of wasting $60, why don't you join Goozex? (www.goozex.com). It's awesome. I typically get 2-3 games per year for birthdays and holidays and such and then I just trade them away, get the points, and acquire other games that way. The point values hold pretty steady, so if you trade away 900 points to get a great game like Batman, if you finish it within 4-6 weeks, by the time you trade it away, you typically get 800-850 points back, so it's a great way to play a bunch of different titles without actually dropping the coin for any of them.

So I recalibrated my thoughts on the game and wrote up a little something on where I thought AC2 struck gold and where it failed.

Here is a snipet:

"Though the game now has an economy, I feel that it's unfortunately broken. I'm not pretentious enough to consider myself to be any more skilled than your average hardcore gamer so I don't think I was doing anything unusual here. I was buying just about everything I wanted and whenever pleased! Whenever I entered a newly discovered city I was able to buy 90% of the items (paintings, weapons, armor) as soon as they became available. Other things were acquired, generally, within an hours time. This is probably due to the massive amounts of side-missions that are available with huge monetary rewards.

But I ask, shouldn’t those rewards have been considerated when items were being priced? I love the fact that all these items are available, but the rewards in particular were too great and too soon (or these powerful items were too cheap--you pick.) It made me realize how much I missed a well paced a game. Pacing that creates a feeling of anticipation for more powerful items. World of Warcraft does the “Carrot-on-a-stick” thing perfectly."

I would love to discuss these topics with you guys. More here (http://eat-games.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-assassins-creed-2.html) if you're interested.

You're right about the economy system, warcrow, and about the pacing overall. Even though my most immediate gripe with AC2 is the all-but-absent Ezio story for most of the game, I'd characterize pretty much all of my complaints about the sequel as a problem of pacing.

The first game was perfectly paced (say what you will about the actual gameplay). The structure of the Altair story, the structure of the assassinations, the overall layout of the game. Top to bottom, it was a--perhaps too--well paced experienced.

Beyond Ezio's storyline, the general lack of structure and organization to the missions screws with the sense of progression. The ready availability of vast amounts of money screws with the sense of progression. Even the overpowered abilities of Ezio early on screws with the sense of progression. Ubi Montreal was so worried about pissing people off again that they made a game that you could never complain was "tedious" or "frustrating." A well paced game should have obstacles that you overcome, but AC2 hands you its goods on a golden platter with almost no frustration.

I'm not expecting a super challenging grind-fest of a game, just a well paced one. Great game. But by appealing to the lowest common denominator, they've lost what made the first game so special and unique (despite its shortcomings).

EDIT: Just read your full blog post. A couple quick comments in response:

First, I've seen many folks complaining about the controls. I'm curious what's happening there. I didn't have a problem at all and find them incredibly fluid and intuitive. My only issue is when chasing someone. The controls and movement animations weren't designed to turn on a dime like that. It's like taking a bus on a go-cart track.

Second, almost everyone seems to respond to the villa stuff the same way. We all want more! But the danger is that it would move too far into Fable 2 territory and wouldn't really reflect the game's strengths (movement). The economic system was a great idea, but it's almost better as a thematic and historical idea (the game is all about the origins of the modern banking system after all) than as an actual game mechanic.

Completed "The Truth" last night, very cool little clip there. I could almost see myself finishing this game 100%, except for tracking down the 80 or so feathers I'll missing when I finish the story. Is there a little Easter Egg from Maria or something else when you complete it? I'm assuming there'll at least be a scene where she'll start talking again.Not sure if you want an answer. But it's a simple one: Yes. Whether you find that rewarding or not depends on how much you emotionally invested in that relationship. For me, the beginning and ending of the Ezio story are the strongest parts of the main game, so collecting the feathers was worth that small payoff. I found it incredibly moving. The psychological trauma that your mother experiences is tremendous after she is raped and loses her family. I bought her as a character (perhaps more than I bought Ezio as a character).

I am having a blast with this game right now. I have not touched MW2 in a few days now because I am having such a good time. You can get side tracked looking for the money but to me that is OK because I find myself exploring more than in the first game.

James

I am having a blast with this game right now. I have not touched MW2 in a few days now because I am having such a good time. You can get side tracked looking for the money but to me that is OK because I find myself exploring more than in the first game.

James

Ditto for me. I understand what they are saying about pacing. I am on Sequece 6 and already have my Villa maxed out, plus so much more money. I've bought nearly every weapon they sell.

I'm still having a blast though

Yeah my village is maxed out and I am starting to roll in the dough. Throwing some around on the ground, buying the girls, weapons and cloths:D Not bad at all.

James

...roll in the dough. Throwing some around on the ground, buying the girls...


If you don't mind tossing some florins around, I like to pick a crowded street, then poison a brute (or any soldier) and then start tossing money at him. It's crazy what people will put up with for some free coins.

Other "fun" activities:

Place dead bodies in compromising positions with each other.

Play pachinko (sp?) with dead guards from the rooftops.

My wife came up with the idea of tossing bodies at courtesans. I'm not sure why, but it is strangely satisfying.

I'm sure you guys have some we haven't thought of. :D

That is to damn funny.

Completed "The Truth" last night, very cool little clip there. I could almost see myself finishing this game 100%, except for tracking down the 80 or so feathers I'll missing when I finish the story. Is there a little Easter Egg from Maria or something else when you complete it? I'm assuming there'll at least be a scene where she'll start talking again.

Collecting the feathers eventually helps you get the "Show Your Colors" achievement, as well as the final weapon... Loved this game, now just need to wait around for ACIII.

You're right about the economy system, warcrow, and about the pacing overall.

This just might be the most similar our perspectives have been on a game confidenceman--good times!


Just read your full blog post. A couple quick comments in response:

Thanks for taking the time to read all of my babbling over there. :) Though I've been fortunate enough to freelance a few times for Ars Technica, I still think I have a long way to go in regards to transfering my thoughts on a gaming expereince to an (mostly) unique, entertaining, informative piece.


First, I've seen many folks complaining about the controls. I'm curious what's happening there. I didn't have a problem at all and find them incredibly fluid and intuitive. My only issue is when chasing someone. The controls and movement animations weren't designed to turn on a dime like that. It's like taking a bus on a go-cart track.

Yup. I dont know what my or the game's issue is. I just know that there were times I was pointing Ezio in one direction and he would jump in another, and there were times he would just stop climb up a building while there (seemingly) was a ledge very much in front of him. It got frustrating at times. Mind if I repost a slice from my blog?

"Yes, "driving" Ezio around the beautiful Italian cities is, at times, as relaxing as my favorite Sunday drive with my lovely wife. Up the California coast we go admiring the gorgeous landscapes, soaking up the sunset in my RX-7...but in this game it's with wobbly tires."


Second, almost everyone seems to respond to the villa stuff the same way. We all want more! But the danger is that it would move too far into Fable 2 territory and wouldn't really reflect the game's strengths (movement). The economic system was a great idea, but it's almost better as a thematic and historical idea (the game is all about the origins of the modern banking system after all) than as an actual game mechanic.



I wanted it to do more or just go away completely. I felt like a shell of a city to me. I rarely visited it, even for the discounted items, because it was more convenient to just stop off at a local vender.

Overall its fine because the game is really great and worth the $60--but I think there are flaws that are worth discussing. Again, I love AC2! I dont want people to think I'm hating on the game just to hate. :)

I have no problem with the villa, other than the chore of going to collect more money. The game isn't supposed to be about simulating an economy or turn into a world-building game, like Tropico. The villa's real purpose is just to serve as a money generator so you can buy all the items required for achievements and to be able to afford the most expensive armor and weapons. Anything deeper in the villa would be cutting too much into what the game is supposed to be about.

As for free-running movement - yes, sometimes it doesn't quite realize the angle you want and instead goes a little off. Sometimes you're just not quite close enough to a handhold, and going around a building corner your hands aren't registered in the exact right spot to get around. That last one threw me for a loop on a tall Venice tower - looked up a video to make sure I was supposed to go around using that handhold, then hand to move back and forth a few times until Ezio gripped it properly and I was able to move around the corner and continue upwards.

Completed "The Truth" last night, very cool little clip there. I could almost see myself finishing this game 100%, except for tracking down the 80 or so feathers I'll missing when I finish the story. Is there a little Easter Egg from Maria or something else when you complete it? I'm assuming there'll at least be a scene where she'll start talking again.

When you collect 50 feathers, Uncle Mario rewards you with a heavy weapon that's probably the best in the game, short of Altair's Sword. When you collect 100 feathers, your have a very short vignette with your mother and then you are given the Auditore Cape. When you wear the cape, it makes you notorious wherever you are. If you wear the cape (however briefly) in each of the cities (Florence, Forli, Venice, Monterrigionni, San Gamignano) then you'll get an achievement.

I've gotten every achievement in the game except for the 10-in-a-row, which I need to just sit down and do.

This just might be the most similar our perspectives have been on a game confidenceman--good times!I'm a contrarian by nature, so you're not the only one! ;)

Like you, I also wish the villa were either more or less of what it is. I really liked having a "home base," which is something that was missing from the cities (the first game had the Assassin hideouts in each city). I also like the idea that your villa "grew" over time and was restored gradually. I also really liked that you could collect things for display (paintings, weapons, etc). I actually read and enjoyed each of the captions for the paintings, but I'm a dork like that.

But the whole paying for improvements thing was a waste and unnecessary. Also, having your sister keep your records and city statistics was too much unnecessary detail. There was no reason for there to be such exacting detail on something that was really not very complicated. But, like I said, I see what Patrice and co. were going for thematically. They wanted to put a greater emphasis on economic infrastructure and investment since the game's all about the advent of modern banking (so is AC1 if you dig deeply enough).

ALSO: Ubisoft's investor conference call yesterday made mention of a full-blown AC title due this fiscal year (meaning before April 2011) with multiplayer. Sounds like a terrible idea if true. If anything, AC2 was too rushed as it is. I can't imagine how crappy a game in the AC universe will be if it's rushed out a year after the previous title.

Collecting the feathers eventually helps you get the "Show Your Colors" achievement, as well as the final weapon... Loved this game, now just need to wait around for ACIII.

Or get the expansion...

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/13/new-assassins-creed-due-by-april-2011/

Finished it last night, pretty good ending. Final fight was a bit too easy though. I don't think I'll go back and get the rest of the feathers- I might if there was an easy way to see how many you had left in a given city, but I don't want to be following some guide step-by-step to find all of them.

I don't think I'll go back and get the rest of the feathers- I might if there was an easy way to see how many you had left in a given city, but I don't want to be following some guide step-by-step to find all of them.

If you go to the DNA section in the START menu and scroll to the right, you will see feathers listed, then the cities, and then it breaks it down to the district level. (it helped me out a lot during my search!)

sirjonsnow,

Finding the feathers is not really to bad. Once I finished the game I had about 76 to find. I printed out a little map of each town and had them all in around two hours.

James

Or get the DLC, which drops this month and next month, if one is so inclined.

Any idea as to what'll be included in the upcoming DLC packs and any word if it's headed to PC?

Any idea as to what'll be included in the upcoming DLC packs and any word if it's headed to PC?

I think one is the missing Chapter 12 and the other is 13. Not sure what will be in those, but I reas somewhere they are only gonna be like 3.99 or something.

Here you go
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/assassins-creed-2-dlc-detailed-fills-in-missing-chapters-adds/

6 and 10 new memories respectively

I think one is the missing Chapter 12 and the other is 13. Not sure what will be in those, but I reas somewhere they are only gonna be like 3.99 or something.

Here you go
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/16/assassins-creed-2-dlc-detailed-fills-in-missing-chapters-adds/

6 and 10 new memories respectively

So we'll meet up with Caterina once more. Should be interesting.
DLC goes online Jan 28th (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/22/assassins-creed-2-dlc-battle-of-forli-available-january-28/).

I am on memory 10 in the game and I just purchased the Battle of Forli, which is memory 12. Does anyone know if I can integrate it into my game or will I have to stop playing when I finish memory 11 to boot it up? I guess I can find out when I go home.

Just a few comments:

I have really been enjoying the game. It is challenging enough to keep you interested, but not so much so that it slows the game down. Some might consider it easy, but for me it progresses smoothly, which is important. I hate spending an hour trying to defeat some boss...trying over and over.

I have come to like to controls, but there are times where Ezio definitely does something you did not intend. For the most part, it works. Roof chases or running on the rooftops is where the controls get me in trouble (jumping off, etc)

I have spent a lot of time collecting things such as Codex pages, glyphs, going to viewpoints, assassins tombs (which are like their own mission). I have only come across about 26 feathers. They seem to be more well hidden so I suppose I need to find a map somewhere. Anyone have a recommended site with an easy to use, detailed map?

So overall, I would highly recommend the game. I have put a lot of time in and still have plenty left to do.

I never played ACI. Would I be disappointed going backward or is it worth picking up.

Just a few comments:

I have really been enjoying the game. It is challenging enough to keep you interested, but not so much so that it slows the game down. Some might consider it easy, but for me it progresses smoothly, which is important. I hate spending an hour trying to defeat some boss...trying over and over.

I have come to like to controls, but there are times where Ezio definitely does something you did not intend. For the most part, it works. Roof chases or running on the rooftops is where the controls get me in trouble (jumping off, etc)

I have spent a lot of time collecting things such as Codex pages, glyphs, going to viewpoints, assassins tombs (which are like their own mission). I have only come across about 26 feathers. They seem to be more well hidden so I suppose I need to find a map somewhere. Anyone have a recommended site with an easy to use, detailed map?

So overall, I would highly recommend the game. I have put a lot of time in and still have plenty left to do.

I never played ACI. Would I be disappointed going backward or is it worth picking up.

I just started AC2 so I don't know how well it compares to AC1, but I can say that AC2 is a completely realized WORLD. I've barely assassinated anyone, spending more of my time doing investing, upgrading armor, finding viewpoints, exploring etc. AC1 was boiled down to a few things: find viewpoints, do 3-6 (repetitive) side missions to unlock the next assassination, assassinate guy. Rinse and repeat. If you like the climbing and assassinations, it's worth a rundown if you really liked that in AC2. But it has nothing of the depth that AC2 does. No weapon buying, upgrading, managing assets, etc., that make AC2 a living, breathing world.

Just a few comments:

I have really been enjoying the game. It is challenging enough to keep you interested, but not so much so that it slows the game down. Some might consider it easy, but for me it progresses smoothly, which is important. I hate spending an hour trying to defeat some boss...trying over and over.

I have come to like to controls, but there are times where Ezio definitely does something you did not intend. For the most part, it works. Roof chases or running on the rooftops is where the controls get me in trouble (jumping off, etc)

I have spent a lot of time collecting things such as Codex pages, glyphs, going to viewpoints, assassins tombs (which are like their own mission). I have only come across about 26 feathers. They seem to be more well hidden so I suppose I need to find a map somewhere. Anyone have a recommended site with an easy to use, detailed map?

So overall, I would highly recommend the game. I have put a lot of time in and still have plenty left to do.

I never played ACI. Would I be disappointed going backward or is it worth picking up.

I just finished it, 1000/1000 points, my first 1000 ever!

I got the game guide for xmas, so it had all the maps and everything in it, plus the glyph codes cause some of those are a pain in the ass! Very informative book.

I actually bought AC1 based on AC2 even though I've read/heard all the criticism. I just want the complete story, plus I very much enjoyed the story, gameplay of 2.

I will probably wait a bit to start, a little AC'd out. Probably put in 30+ hours in AC2, just a guess.

I just finished it, 1000/1000 points, my first 1000 ever!

I got the game guide for xmas, so it had all the maps and everything in it, plus the glyph codes cause some of those are a pain in the ass! Very informative book.

I actually bought AC1 based on AC2 even though I've read/heard all the criticism. I just want the complete story, plus I very much enjoyed the story, gameplay of 2.

I will probably wait a bit to start, a little AC'd out. Probably put in 30+ hours in AC2, just a guess.

From what people are saying AC2 is a huge step forward from AC1. I have played only the first. I am definitely getting No.2 but right now I just have too many games on the go(Halo3, Batman AA, Dead Space Lego Indy 2 just to name a few), so am going to have to wait on this one.:rolleyes::)

The game isn't completely bad, but doesn't it feel like an urban freestyle version of Tony Hawk ProSkater? With Romeo and Juliet thrown in for good measure.

Just my $0.02... AC-I is worth it for the back story, finding out why everyone's after the "Piece of Eden", and as I think someone mentioned earlier, riding your horse over the crest of a hill and seeing the huge historic cities below was something I missed in AC-II's "computer refreshing" method of introducing a new place.

The game mechanics felt pretty similar to me, minus a couple moves they added in II. And yeah, the assassination-locating missions could get a little repetitive, but it's still fun to follow some guy in a crowd, do your thing, then just walk away, mission accomplished. Now that you can find it as a Platinum Hit, there's no reason not to play the first one...

doesn't it feel like an urban freestyle version of Tony Hawk ProSkater? With Romeo and Juliet thrown in for good measure.
No.

Just my $0.02... AC-I is worth it for the back story, finding out why everyone's after the "Piece of Eden", and as I think someone mentioned earlier, riding your horse over the crest of a hill and seeing the huge historic cities below was something I missed in AC-II's "computer refreshing" method of introducing a new place.
Agreed completely. The story and that "wow" factor you got from your first view of each new city was what I loved most from the first game. ACII is a much better game from a "gameplay" perspective, but Forli was about the only place that gave you a great overview POV of a city from outside the walls.

Cresting the hill on the road to Jerusalem and seeing the Dome of the Rock glittering in the sun was a totally awesome moment.

And I think I said it before, but for those of you struggling with precision control of Ezio, my #1 hint for helping with that is "don't mindlessly mash down A and RT". Ezio will be much better at doing what you want if you know when to not press A and RT. Take the time to slow down just a bit when footing gets tricky, get the precision movement you want, and then get back on the gas. It's like the old saying: "slow is smooth, smooth is fast". Races and the like become a lot easier if you slow down and smoothly traverse the tricky bits.

Thirded. I remember the first time I saw some of the cities...and it was impressive. Sure, the technology has come a long ways since it's release, but there is something amazing about knowing you can ride from several miles off to reach the city and it never hits a load screen.

AC I has less variety and is more mechanical...but Altair's story is still worth learning. AC II fixed a lot of AC I's shortcoming, but it has some things that are worth doing. The major assassinations were DAMNED fun.

The major assassinations were DAMNED fun.This is the big oversight of AC2. No assassinations stand out as "major."

Well, I answered my own question. If you have the DLC and play the game through, it will show up in the main quest in its originally intended order. In fact, from the opening cutscene, I can't imagine how it wasn't in the main game to begin with. Disappointed at no new achievements.

Well, I answered my own question. If you have the DLC and play the game through, it will show up in the main quest in its originally intended order. In fact, from the opening cutscene, I can't imagine how it wasn't in the main game to begin with. Disappointed at no new achievements.Thanks for the heads up. I'll wait until the next piece comes out before I play this game. Plenty of other games to keep me busy in the meantime. :D

Thanks for the heads up. I'll wait until the next piece comes out before I play this game. Plenty of other games to keep me busy in the meantime. :D

Yeah same here. I am waiting and getting both DLC at the same time.

February 25 is the big date for Memory 13. Apparently the special edition missions (3 of them) will come with it as well.

Hmm, so I'm on memory 9 or 10, and was going to get the first DLC before I get to it, but now I maybe want to wait until the 25th to get the next DLC, Memory 13. I don't know if I can wait that long. I suppose I could busy myself with collecting the random stuff. Any pointers on the feathers or "The Truth" scans?

I finished the game last week just before the DLC dropped, which I purchased. I did not play it yet but did start a mission which "reminds" you that certain things have not happened yet when you start it. I enjoyed the game a lot, so I was not going to wait for the new memories to drop before finishing. Working on the feathers now. Don't know why because it seems like a waste of time, but I'm doing it. I remember the same obsession with the hidden packages in Grand Theft Auto 3 on playstation 2.

Hmm, so I'm on memory 9 or 10, and was going to get the first DLC before I get to it, but now I maybe want to wait until the 25th to get the next DLC, Memory 13. I don't know if I can wait that long. I suppose I could busy myself with collecting the random stuff. Any pointers on the feathers or "The Truth" scans?

What kind of pointers? I'm at memory 8 right now and I have found 12 of the 16 Truth gliphs and have uncoded all but one of them. There's no secret. Once you get to the location, you can tell it's a gliph location because the red eye pops up. I, invariably, just stop what I am doing and immediately look for it because I know if I don't, coming back to it will be a super pain in the ass.

As for the feathers, I cannot help you there. I never found all the flags either in AC1. I usually dig looking for that stuff, but I always find that I miss a few along the way. I never found all the agility orbs in Crackdown either.

What kind of pointers? I'm at memory 8 right now and I have found 12 of the 16 Truth gliphs and have uncoded all but one of them. There's no secret. Once you get to the location, you can tell it's a gliph location because the red eye pops up. I, invariably, just stop what I am doing and immediately look for it because I know if I don't, coming back to it will be a super pain in the ass.

As for the feathers, I cannot help you there. I never found all the flags either in AC1. I usually dig looking for that stuff, but I always find that I miss a few along the way. I never found all the agility orbs in Crackdown either.

What red eye are you talking about? Maybe I missed that. I know that if I press select to read info on an area when it pops up, it will say there is a glyph nearby. I guess I haven't been that vigilant about finding them when that happens. I've only found about 5 so far but have decoded all of them. I don't really want to google them, because I don't want to spoil the meaning of them, and I've had fun decoding all of them myself.


EDIT: Couldn't help myself. I just googled it and found a website that has the maps and everything separate. Might use it to find them.

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/assassins-creed-ii-glyphs-and-statuettes-guide/a-20091120161944695091

What red eye are you talking about? Maybe I missed that. I know that if I press select to read info on an area when it pops up, it will say there is a glyph nearby. I guess I haven't been that vigilant about finding them when that happens. I've only found about 5 so far but have decoded all of them. I don't really want to google them, because I don't want to spoil the meaning of them, and I've had fun decoding all of them myself.


EDIT: Couldn't help myself. I just googled it and found a website that has the maps and everything separate. Might use it to find them.

http://www.gamesradar.com/f/assassins-creed-ii-glyphs-and-statuettes-guide/a-20091120161944695091


Go into your database and bring up "locations". The area's with truth gliphs will have a small red eye in the upper left hand corner. Find that building, search it, and you will find the gliph eventually.

Anyone else think this game is too LONG? I'm 23 hours into it and just finished memory #8. I have searched for a lot of treasures, but not a comprehensive amount. Also, I have only 30 of 100 feathers. I have found and solved all the assassin's tombs however.

I like the game. Some of the additions are pretty damn cool and clever. However, I hate to say it, but I had more "fun" with the first one. I'm at the point now where I just can't wait to get the game over with, and that's never a good feeling in gaming.

Go into your database and bring up "locations". The area's with truth gliphs will have a small red eye in the upper left hand corner. Find that building, search it, and you will find the gliph eventually.

Anyone else think this game is too LONG? I'm 23 hours into it and just finished memory #8. I have searched for a lot of treasures, but not a comprehensive amount. Also, I have only 30 of 100 feathers. I have found and solved all the assassin's tombs however.

I like the game. Some of the additions are pretty damn cool and clever. However, I hate to say it, but I had more "fun" with the first one. I'm at the point now where I just can't wait to get the game over with, and that's never a good feeling in gaming.

Hmm, well this game has SO MUCH more content than the first one, that if you are comparing the two, it might feel a tad long, especially if you try to find everything and do all the side missions. I can say that I don't mind the extra stuff because of how it is implemented. If you just want to do the main missions this game shouldn't take more than 20 hours (what my buddy did). But if you are doing all the side missions, collections, treasures, etc, there is a lot of content. I am enjoying AC2 more because it is a more fully realized WORLD, where AC1 was just a few missions set in a cool city with nothing to do in it.

Go into your database and bring up "locations". The area's with truth gliphs will have a small red eye in the upper left hand corner. Find that building, search it, and you will find the gliph eventually.

Anyone else think this game is too LONG? I'm 23 hours into it and just finished memory #8. I have searched for a lot of treasures, but not a comprehensive amount. Also, I have only 30 of 100 feathers. I have found and solved all the assassin's tombs however.

I like the game. Some of the additions are pretty damn cool and clever. However, I hate to say it, but I had more "fun" with the first one. I'm at the point now where I just can't wait to get the game over with, and that's never a good feeling in gaming.

I wish I would have skipped looking for all the treasures. By the time you upgrade the villa 100%, you have so much money, you don't need to waste time looking for treasure. I would recommend saving all the feathers till you are done. After I beat it, it took my maybe 1.5 hours to go get the 50 or so I needed. Just print a map off the internet, then go looking.

I wish I would have skipped looking for all the treasures. By the time you upgrade the villa 100%, you have so much money, you don't need to waste time looking for treasure. I would recommend saving all the feathers till you are done. After I beat it, it took my maybe 1.5 hours to go get the 50 or so I needed. Just print a map off the internet, then go looking.


I did the same thing. I worked on upgrading early in the game and the treasure hunting was unnecessary. Some of the feathers are pretty well disguised, so I printed a map to help. Did not take too long.

As far as the game being too long, I think it is all the side quests that take up the time. The main part of the story can be done quickly. I spent a lot of time doing the more important parts (Codex pages, Glyphs, Assassin tombs etc). First game I ever got 1000 achievement points. I liked it so much I got the first one. I started playing and like AC2 better (probably because I am used to it) but will give the first one a chance. This was one of my favorite games to date. I bought AC2 just to try it out and really enjoyed it.

DLC #2 = Memory sequence #13 "Bonfire of the Vanities" (available Feb. 18th for 320 MS points)

DLC #3 = Memory sequence #13 plus the 3 Templar maps from the "black edition" of the game for 560 MS points.

Yay for the DLC getting pushed up a week! I hope the black edition DLC comes out on Thursday as well. If not, then I probably won't get it.

DLC #2 = Memory sequence #13 "Bonfire of the Vanities" (available Feb. 18th for 320 MS points)

DLC #3 = Memory sequence #13 plus the 3 Templar maps from the "black edition" of the game for 560 MS points.

Could someone enlighten me on the Templar maps and "black edition". I haven't heard of these until now. Thanks.

I just noticed that AC2 is on sale at Amazon for $40. The question is--which console do I buy it for? :confused:

The one templar map that I could play from the Gamestop edition of the game was basically a new icon that appeared over Medici's house in Florence after he stopped being an active part of the storyline. The templars had kidnapped him and you have to go through his house, which had all new interiors and platforming, and save him. Like the DLC, it seemed like it was a natural part of the storyline and should have been included in the first place.

Also, it seems that all of the DLC is indeed coming out tomorrow.

I am looking forward to this, but hope it is better than the Battle of Forli.

Anyone know if this new DLC has any achievements?

I just noticed that AC2 is on sale at Amazon for $40. The question is--which console do I buy it for? :confused:

I believe it's on sale at Target too for the same price - for those that need instant gratification. I've been holding out - still not sure if it's my type of game as I was bored with the 1st.

I believe it's on sale at Target too for the same price - for those that need instant gratification. I've been holding out - still not sure if it's my type of game as I was bored with the 1st.

It's much better than the first. It has a more coherent story and the main quests are more action-packed. The "big" assassinations are not nearly as involved or unique as the first, though. Also there is a ridiculous amount of side quests available, but you don't really need to do these to enjoy the game. I'd say wait for it to get even cheaper. It's single player only, so surely by this Christmas it'll be in the $20 range.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll wait, especially since it doesn't have much replay value.

I think I'm going to pick up Borderlands to tie me over until BFBC2 comes out.

Might want to wait until an Amazon deal of the day at $20-30, which might not be too long - it's been $40 off and on at BB and Amazon since before Christmas.

Here are the links to the XBox Marketplace.

Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0002-0000-4000-8000-00005553083b?cid=SLink) 320 MS points

Sequence 13 : Bonfire of the Vanities & Secret Locations (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0003-0000-4000-8000-00005553083b?cid=SLink) 560 MS points

Here are the links to the XBox Marketplace.

Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0002-0000-4000-8000-00005553083b?cid=SLink) 320 MS points

Sequence 13 : Bonfire of the Vanities & Secret Locations (http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0003-0000-4000-8000-00005553083b?cid=SLink) 560 MS points

Just bought and downloaded the Seq 13, 560 MS Point Version over lunch, should have time to play it tonight or this weekend hopefully. I also just beat the main storyline last week, so this is pretty good timing.

did anyone else find that "the truth" section of the game was maybe the most interesting part of the plotline? i dont know why but as soon as I found the first one I could not wait to work through that part of the plot. I really feel like it added such a new and interesting twist to the storyline. it challenges you to think differently about events that you never questioned before in your life.

probably helps that I love a good interesting conspiracy theory, even if i dont believe any of them, i just love hearing about them.

the main storyline was interesting for sure, dont get me wrong, but the whole subject 16 and 'the truth' glyphs (puzzle solving was awesome!) and the video you get as a reward at the end really captured my attention and I want to see where it goes with the third one.

they really set up the third one to be great plot-wise if they handle it correctly.

Does anyone have any tips for beating the assassination on the boat in memory 13 where you can't be detected? I've managed to kill the two guards roaming the fan side of the ship, one of the two roaming the right side (the one that walks to the back) and the two guards near the steering wheel. When I try to kill the guard that roams the right side front to middle, I am detected. When I try to sneak and kill the target at this point, I am detected.

Has anyone played the "secret locations" yet? For some reason I bought the cheaper DLC cause I couldn't find the better DLC on Xbox live. Is it worth paying another 560pts to play the new locations?

I played the one of the secret locations (not sure how many there are) where you rescue Lorenzo in his residence. It was not bad, like a mini Assassin's Tomb. I really liked the game, so it was worth it to me. Not sure if there are other secret locations other than this one, but I got through it in about 20 minutes or less.

Does anyone have any tips for beating the assassination on the boat in memory 13 where you can't be detected?

SPOILER ALERT!!

Here's how I did it. First some sailing lingo for reference. Port=Left side of ship (facing forward) Starboard=Right side of ship. Bow=Front of ship and Stern=rear of ship.

Ok, I jumped onto the stern and worked my way to the port side and took out the guard going back and forth on the lowest level of the ship. I then moved to the stern and took out the guard on the starboard side. Next, while still on the stern, took out the guard on the port side. Now I'm after the 2 guards by the steering wheel. I wait for the moving guard on the starboard lower level to start walking toward the bow, I then jump over the back and fast-walk to the guards and perform a double-stab and then quickly run back to the stern and hide over the back. I then wait for the guard on the starboard lower level to start walking toward the bow again, I then quickly jumped up on the rail where a double murder just took place and lock in on the target and pounce! Requiescat in pace.

SPOILER ALERT!!

Here's how I did it. First some sailing lingo for reference. Port=Left side of ship (facing forward) Starboard=Left side of ship. Bow=Front of ship and Stern=rear of ship.

Ok, I jumped onto the stern and worked my way to the port side and took out the guard going back and forth on the lowest level of the ship. I then moved to the stern and took out the guard on the starboard side. Next, while still on the stern, took out the guard on the port side. Now I'm after the 2 guards by the steering wheel. I wait for the moving guard on the starboard lower level to start walking toward the bow, I then jump over the back and fast-walk to the guards and perform a double-stab and then quickly run back to the stern and hide over the back. I then wait for the guard on the starboard lower level to start walking toward the bow again, I then quickly jumped up on the rail where a double murder just took place and lock in on the target and pounce! Requiescat in pace.
That was going to be my next strategy but while I was killing the guard on the dock, the guard walking up and down the front of the boat saw me and tried to jump on the dock, but he missed and fell into the water. I beat the mission on pure luck because everyone else was easy to kill after that.

I found both downloads (and the Templar lairs) to be well worth the money. There was a cutscene that played in Memory 12 without any audio, but that was the only bug I encountered. Memory 13 on the other hand was buggy as hell. There were lots of strange audio problems, two cutscenes played without audio, and two of the assassination targets killed themselves when I was nowhere near them. I feel kind of cheated on them because I can't replay the mission. Memory 13 had so much other content that I still think it was worth it.

Since I was playing the game in order, I went on to beat it and 100% the game, getting 1000/1000 achievement points in the process. Can't wait for AssCreed3 but I hope they add a harder difficulty.

That was going to be my next strategy but while I was killing the guard on the dock, the guard walking up and down the front of the boat saw me and tried to jump on the dock, but he missed and fell into the water. I beat the mission on pure luck because everyone else was easy to kill after that.

Classic!

I found both downloads (and the Templar lairs) to be well worth the money. There was a cutscene that played in Memory 12 without any audio, but that was the only bug I encountered. Memory 13 on the other hand was buggy as hell. There were lots of strange audio problems, two cutscenes played without audio, and two of the assassination targets killed themselves when I was nowhere near them. I feel kind of cheated on them because I can't replay the mission. Memory 13 had so much other content that I still think it was worth it.

I found a couple of buggy elements but not anywhere near that many. Some weird stuff like an ax suspended in mid-air after I killed a brute with it, some characters stuck inside the roof but still able to hit me, and I think the last cutscene of 13 lost about half the audio. I guess we know why they didn't make it into the final game. All in all, I agree, it was worth it.

Since I was playing the game in order, I went on to beat it and 100% the game, getting 1000/1000 achievement points in the process. Can't wait for AssCreed3 but I hope they add a harder difficulty.

Nice job on the 1000! I wonder if there will be any promo material released using AssCreed3 as the shorthand? :D

I noticed a bug doing the Templar lair locations (shipyard). After I got to the very end and killed the guards, I could not open the door to the treasure room. I spend about 20 minutes looking around, backtracking looking for a way to open the door. Finally, I reloaded and was able to access the room.

I agree that the assassination on the ship was a pain. I did the following:
I jumped off the roof and double assassinated the two guards at the top of the steps that lead down to the docks. I then dove into the water towards the back of the ship and clung to the side of the pier. When the guard that roams the pier got close, I did the "low profile" assassination and pulled him into the water.
I then jumped onto the side of the ship and climbed up the back and hung off. I then did the same silent assassination on the two guards that roam (back to middle). Then went around on the open water side, hung below the opening and got the other roaming guard (front to middle)
I noticed that if you try the same thing on the other side (pier side), the Brute sees you so I left that one and went to the back of the ship again. I then climbed up and stood on the rail on the very back. That same guard spots you and comes up to investigate. When he came to the back, I got him.
I was having problems getting the two at the steering wheel together, so I walked up behind one and poisoned him, and jumped over the back. At that point, a couple guards tried to jump of the ship to the docks and missed. Both of the Brutes then jumped off the boat and were standing on the pier, leaving the ship empty. (My goal here was to get rid of the two at the steering wheel and then jump down on the target, which I would be able to do without being seen. All the guards coming off the ship was a surprise.

I am really late getting into this. Truth is that while I finished the first one, it was really way too repetitive and was one of my biggest disappointments of the year. The game just wasn't a game, it was engine demo at best, pretty, but nothing to do

But the second one, holy crap this thing is leaps beyond anything the first one was. So much more to do, much more interesting missions, I haven't tried to do the quick missions like races, letters and what not and I'm at least 20 hours in. Great value, excellent engine that really shines this time around.

Completed the game. I don't recall the first one frustrating me as much as this one. However once I decided to ignore the races completly that helped a lot. I did complete all assassinations, beatups an mail deliveries. Came up 11 short of all the feathers (without any guide). I loved "The Truth" portion of the game and even the ending. Though at first I kind of wondered why no one was screaming at the ending...

It kinda had the Halo 2 "to be continued" type feel, but the little bit after the credits started rolling made it better. Though I wonder how many people got further away from their controller than I did when the credits started.

For some reason all the button pressing things that happened in any of the cutscenes always took me by suprise, I dont think they implemented that as well as other games have. It did get me paying attention to the cutscenes though. And how they did the ending got me paying attention to the all of he credits too (not just the end of the credits like I normally do).

Overall I would give it a B. Since I am happy the game has come to an end I probably would be less inclinde to get DLC for this then for Mass Effect 2 or Dragon Age.

Now I have to decide if I am going to get FF or MLB or finish Halo ODST or just dig into Forza 3.

I'm also late into the AC world, and delighted with what I've found. While AC1 was far more limited than AC2, I still liked it despite the repetitive nature of the play. I always got sucked into extending a killing spree when some fool guard opened his big mouth and ticked me off. In one session, the game kept sending more guards to insult me, resulting in a body count of over 100. Yep. I actually counted the corpses.

The Lineage videos (assassinscreedlineage.us.ubi.com) provide a great intro into AC2. Very professional. If you haven't seen them, do it now.

The AC2 hardcover guide is a work of art. Structured well to avoid spoiling the game, and providing help when stuck. Best guide I have seen yet for any game.

Finally, the Xbox Achievements that are not inevitable as a result of the story line are worth going after. No-hitter and Sweeper come to mind. And The Doctor of course

Oops, spoke too soon. The delight has soured. An Xbox hang occurred and when I restarted, the AC2 save file had disappeared.

Now I'm kicking myself for not making a copy to my memory card.

I'd completed DNA Sequence 9, so it will be a lot of rework to get back to where I was.

This time, I will save religiously after every game session

The Lineage videos (assassinscreedlineage.us.ubi.com) provide a great intro into AC2. Very professional. If you haven't seen them, do it now.

awesome, thanks for the link. hadn't seen those before

You can get them in HD through the marketplace.

Just started playing, just met my mom and sister. I never played AC1 before.

I don't understand the story. Is Desmond a descendant of Ezio? Are those computer people trying to change history by having Desmond going back in time and acting out Ezio? Who are the Asbestos (I think that's how it's spelled)?

Also, the scenes in Florence are magnificent. It reminds me of my travels there, and I do encourage AC2 fans to go there in person someday.

How do you save in this game? The manual and in-game tutorial make no mention of save points.

I don't understand the story. Is Desmond a descendant of Ezio? Are those computer people trying to change history by having Desmond going back in time and acting out Ezio? Who are the Asbestos (I think that's how it's spelled)?
In order: Yes. No. Abstergo - they are modern-day Templars (the villains in the game, both time periods).

The necessary backstory you are missing is that Desmond had been held against his will in an Abstergo facility (the game started exactly where AC1 ended). They were making him explore the "genetic memory" of one of his ancestors (an Assassin) to gain information about an artifact. Lucy works with modern-day Assassins (the rest of her little crew) and are asking Desmond to continue exploring his "genetic memory" to learn what Abstergo were trying to learn to get to whatever they are after first.

That should be enough to make things a little more clear without spoiling plot.

How do you save in this game? The manual and in-game tutorial make no mention of save points.
Saves are automatic.

Thank you for the information.

I'm very impressed in this title, which despite being more publicized than the first title, is extremely underrated. So far, Florence is absolutely stunning in its detail, rich with historical detail, and the developers spent quite a bit of time in making sure it's historically accurate. Renaissance Italy is amazing in its depth in its richness of culture and intrigue, but strangely has been little used as a backdrop for an adventure game. It's a simple fact that from a business point of view, world war or sci-fi resonates more with young males today.

I'm still very early in this game; the Desmond/Animus plot twist lends it an interesting sci-fi flavor. The Lineage videos posted earlier also provided good background information and looks extremely well done and has high production values for what appears to be a promotional film only; they could have made it a theatrical release if they tripled its length.

I've set the audio to Italian with subtitles for translation, for that extra bit of historic flavor.

Just started playing, just met my mom and sister. I never played AC1 before.

I don't understand the story. Is Desmond a descendant of Ezio? Are those computer people trying to change history by having Desmond going back in time and acting out Ezio? Who are the Asbestos (I think that's how it's spelled)?

Also, the scenes in Florence are magnificent. It reminds me of my travels there, and I do encourage AC2 fans to go there in person someday.

How do you save in this game? The manual and in-game tutorial make no mention of save points.

Here's the wiki for AC1. I didn't play it either but reading about the first one helped me understand what was going on in the second.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassin%27s_Creed

I played the first AC a few months after it came out. While I enjoyed it, I did find it rather repetitive and short-lived. However, I finally (!) started playing AC2 yesterday and absolutely love it :) Much, much improved experience over the first game. Fantastic storyline with excellent character development, more variety to the missions, more visually appealing locations, side quests, and a top-notch musical score. I'm only 5 hours in but plan to earn all of the achievement points on this one for sure. I'm going to hold off on the feathers and treasures until the end, unless I come across them naturally during the storyline. Looks like my MW2 time has ended (after 70 hours) :)

i did this entire game without doing any races, deliveries or option assasinations. Ok, I did one of each. There's so much more to do then to waste time on the same repetitive mini mission crap that was basically all of what AC1 consisted of. They didn't need these missions at all imho because there's plenty of game there without them.

Really enjoyed it from begining to end - Well done.

i did this entire game without doing any races, deliveries or option assasinations. Ok, I did one of each. There's so much more to do then to waste time on the same repetitive mini mission crap that was basically all of what AC1 consisted of. They didn't need these missions at all imho because there's plenty of game there without them.
It's funny you say that, because IMO these side missions were extremely well executed. Just to pick the optional assassination missions, there was some individuality to each of them. Some required stealth, others speed; to me they each felt unique and forced me to use different approaches than I might normally use.

It's funny you say that, because IMO these side missions were extremely well executed. Just to pick the optional assassination missions, there was some individuality to each of them. Some required stealth, others speed; to me they each felt unique and forced me to use different approaches than I might normally use.Yes. The side mission assassinations were 10x better than the story mission ones (which were very disappointing IMO).

It's funny you say that, because IMO these side missions were extremely well executed. Just to pick the optional assassination missions, there was some individuality to each of them. Some required stealth, others speed; to me they each felt unique and forced me to use different approaches than I might normally use.

And some got you a roll in the hay. Literally, IIRC. :D

There's quite a bit of depth I'm discovering. Codex pages, glyphs, secret locations, feathers, seals...lots of collectibles to find on your travels.

How do you find landmarks on a map? I discover a new location, for example the Palazzo Vecchio, and its database entry says there's a glyph. I keep going to continue my mission. Later, I want to go back to it to find the glyph. But I forgot where it is; how do I find it on the map?

Also, how do I re-practice assassination techniques, like air assassination and assassination from a ledge? I went back to Leonardo's yard, where I first learned these, but the dummies are gone. Mario at the Villa does not have these entries to practice.

There's quite a bit of depth I'm discovering. Codex pages, glyphs, secret locations, feathers, seals...lots of collectibles to find on your travels.

How do you find landmarks on a map? I discover a new location, for example the Palazzo Vecchio, and its database entry says there's a glyph. I keep going to continue my mission. Later, I want to go back to it to find the glyph. But I forgot where it is; how do I find it on the map?
Youtube

Also, how do I re-practice assassination techniques, like air assassination and assassination from a ledge? I went back to Leonardo's yard, where I first learned these, but the dummies are gone. Mario at the Villa does not have these entries to practice.
That is what random guards and civilians are for. I think you could also reload the memory and redo the entire sequence.

There's quite a bit of depth I'm discovering. Codex pages, glyphs, secret locations, feathers, seals...lots of collectibles to find on your travels.

How do you find landmarks on a map? I discover a new location, for example the Palazzo Vecchio, and its database entry says there's a glyph. I keep going to continue my mission. Later, I want to go back to it to find the glyph. But I forgot where it is; how do I find it on the map?

Also, how do I re-practice assassination techniques, like air assassination and assassination from a ledge? I went back to Leonardo's yard, where I first learned these, but the dummies are gone. Mario at the Villa does not have these entries to practice.

Glyphs were mentioned in an earlier post - You cannot find the glyph on the map. Press START and go to documents, then locations (I think that is the order) then as you scroll through all the locations, IF you see any with a RED EYE in the upper left corner, that indicates there is still a glyph you have not found in that location. Probably best to just look for it when you encounter the location. But you do not have to.

Press START and go to documents, then locations (I think that is the order) then as you scroll through all the locations, IF you see any with a RED EYE in the upper left corner, that indicates there is still a glyph you have not found in that location. Probably best to just look for it when you encounter the location. But you do not have to.

My question was, how do you know where on the map these red-eye labeled locations are? Seems I'd have to wander randomly to find them.

I really enjoy the recreation of all the buildings, especially the Florence Duomo. The assassin's tomb mission in it was pretty amazing. How can I re-enter the building after I finish the tomb mission in it?

Also, I've noticed random people running around that I have to chase; I think they are as follows:

1) Pickpocket
2) Corrupt official
3) Borgia courier

Some pickpockets show up as a red icon on the map, while others do not show up on the map at all. The corrupt official is a white icon when you have some notoriety. How do I find a Borgia courier?

My question was, how do you know where on the map these red-eye labeled locations are? Seems I'd have to wander randomly to find them.

I really enjoy the recreation of all the buildings, especially the Florence Duomo. The assassin's tomb mission in it was pretty amazing. How can I re-enter the building after I finish the tomb mission in it?

Also, I've noticed random people running around that I have to chase; I think they are as follows:

1) Pickpocket
2) Corrupt official
3) Borgia courier

Some pickpockets show up as a red icon on the map, while others do not show up on the map at all. The corrupt official is a white icon when you have some notoriety. How do I find a Borgia courier?

When you wander into an area, you will be informed there is a glyph in the vicinity. Also, when you check the locations in your menu, it will show a picture of the building and there will be a red eye in the upper left hand corner. Finding the glyphs can be difficult and you need to use Eagle Vision. When you solve the glyph, the menu will show the eye in the upper left, but it will no longer be red. The menu system has a lot of info that is useful, such as how many feathers are in each area of the city and how many you have obtained.

Once you successfully complete an assassin's tomb, you can't go back in.

As far as the others, I found that if you have your back turned as the pickpocket approaches, he will get close to you. At the last second, turn and tackle him. If you turn too soon, he will run up to the roof tops and it is tough to catch him

The corrupt official usually stands out and will walk quickly away from you when close. Just kill him to reduce notoriety. I think he only appears when you have a lot of notoriety.

I can't remember the Borgia courier, but I know I had a couple rooftop chases and they are fast. You need to be good with your rooftop moves. I seem to think the pickpocket and the Borgia courier had the same appearance, but I might be wrong. When you are on the rooftops, you will see guards chasing him. You only need to catch him once to get the achievement.

FYI--Anyone who is interested in picking up AC2, it's on sale at Amazon for $39.99.

If you have trouble finding where on the building a glyph is, or where in a city the building itself is, as I said before try Youtube; they're all on there.

Finished this game last night - best game I've played in a long time and far better than the first (which was good in its own right). Great ending, too. I did about 1/4 of the glyphs but don't think I'm going to go back and finish them (or get the feather). Too many other great games to play to finish up those things. On to the new Riddick game and Fallout 3 (finally!).

If you have trouble finding where on the building a glyph is, or where in a city the building itself is, as I said before try Youtube; they're all on there.

Hell, just check the map of the town you're in. The Glyphs are only ever on major landmarks (which are pretty easy to spot) and you'll get notified when you're near one.

And if you've found one and not investigated it yet, it'll show up in the database with the Red Eye, telling you so. You can even check how many of each remains in each city through the memory section.

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I did see the Youtube video with glyph locations.

Finished this last night. Without getting into spoilers, I found the ending to be strange, unique and did a good job of a segue to AC3. I seriously hope they continue on with the Indiana Jones-meets-Jason Bourne mix of religion and intrigue. I really do not want to get into gunpowder weapons, though. Hand to hand combat is the heart of this series. My best guess is 1500s Rome, London, and Paris.

I enjoyed the glyph puzzles, and am considering holding off on starting Mass Effect 2 (I'm a little behind) to find and unlock the rest of them. The conspiracy aspect of the story seems to suggest that every major event in recent human history is influenced by the Templars. A bit over the top, but I give credit to the developers for going all out and weaving a good story.

I may be part of the 0.01% of AC2 players that have been to Florence and Venice, and I really enjoyed its content. Perhaps some AC2 fans will be influenced to visit someday, although be advised the streets are now packed with tourists instead of packs of courtesans and mercenaries.

They've already announced that AC3 this year will continue Ezio's adventures in Rome. This game did have gunpowder weapons, sort of.

My wife also visited many of the locations in the game and thought they looked cool. My only visits took place while watching the Discovery Channel :) I actually loved the gunpowder weapons in this game but I only used it for one assassination. This is easily one of my top games :)

They've already announced that AC3 this year will continue Ezio's adventures in Rome. This game did have gunpowder weapons, sort of.

I was kind of hoping AC3 would feature more of Desmond and far less of the past. Guess we'll see. Sticking with Ezio isn't a bad thing.

I went back and got all the glyphs, although some of them are ridiculously hard to decode, particularly the last puzzle ring as well as the neuron-themed keycode.


Afterwards, when I turned off my bedroom light, I saw glyphs on my walls. Maybe staying hooked up to the 360 too long at once is having side effects...



They've already announced that AC3 this year will continue Ezio's adventures in Rome. This game did have gunpowder weapons, sort of.

What you're describing sounds like AC2: Episodes. Since it's not actually called AC3, it's more of a non-sequel sequel, much like Modern Warfare 2 isn't COD6, all the way back to the original non-sequel sequel, SF2: Champion Edition.

I disagree with having more Desmond. It would make the game lean too much toward sci-fi, toward Bioshock and Halo. AC is unique in its historical setting and should stay that way. I would prefer something like classical Athens or Rome during the period of Alexander or Caesar--I enjoy interacting with historical figures, and Leonardo da Vinci in AC2 was definitely a nice kick. Would have loved Michelangelo as well; their rivalry could have been quite a story addition.