Ah, Assassin’s Creed 2. The first gaming experience that deeply resonated with me as a kid, even if I could only appreciate only half of it at first. This game was already special to me 15 years ago, but replaying it after getting older and having a better understanding of gaming as a medium, made me realize how much care and love had been put into it and how deep it actually is in some aspects.

This game is just one of these games that makes me “feel” things. You know, how a game can move you, evoke deep emotions within yourself just by sheer presentation alone. Running across Venice’s rooftops, with Jesper’s Kyd’s fabulous soundtrack playing in the background and the sound of the bustling streets below; none of the Assassin’s Creed games have been able to replicate this feeling for me, even if some handle gameplay and story elements better.

This game is our first introduction to one of gaming’s most iconic protagonists, Ezio, who is undoubtedly AC’s most loved protagonist for many reasons: one being that he is just very likable, but also because he got the most room to grow as a character thanks to having three games dedicated to him. Though not being the best part of his story, AC2 is a strong starting point that offers compelling characters and some of the most iconic scenes in the series, as well as a rich narrative that delves into subjects such as the price of revenge, or the struggle to find meaning in a conflict you were thrust into without your approval.

It also introduced many of the mysteries that made the AC franchise and its modern-day story so compelling in the first place: what happened to Altair after he defeated Al Mualim, and why did he write the codex pages? Who was Subject 16, and what did he discover while in the Animus? And who are the precursors that created the apple of eden, and what are they trying to warn us about?

Even outside the story, the game communicates through its visuals and gameplay. How each city has its unique personality, with distinct color palettes and level design, pushing you to adapt, and making the parkour rewarding and engaging. Or for instance, how you can see the color grading of Monteriggioni slowly change and the street becoming busier as you renovate the villa, reflecting its financial state. These are small details, but they matter and show the thought and care that was put into this game and now feel absent in current Ubisoft titles. It just enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion, coupled with the ambient sounds of the city and Jesper Kyd’s mysterious yet elegant soundtrack.

From a gameplay standpoint, AC2 pretty much improves and refines everything its predecessor did. More ways to assassinate your enemies with new techniques and weapons, more ways to interact with the world around you for social stealth. The combat, although simple, is stylish and you’ll find enjoyment in trying to look as cool as possible. The game structure has been made less repetitive and offer more interesting side activities to tackle, such as the iconic assassin’s tombs that are intricate parkour challenges in mesmerizing locations. Though I surely miss the more open aspect of AC1 assassinations that gave much more player agency on how to plan them out.

I will never get tired of this game, even if it's a painful reminder of what Assassin’s Creed used to be. It can be hard to believe that Ubisoft used to make games like these when we look at their current catalog. But even so, this will always be one of my favorite games and a clear example of why I love video games.

Finished the ezio trilogy again recently (for nostalgia purpose and to give a proper review) and to my surprise,i enjoyed the games more this time around.

Gameplay still holds up fine and i found the story to be even better than what i remembered.Part of it is because i emphasize more on story/narrative nowadays and they really did a great job on those categories.Best in the franchise imo.Also,my dumbass completely forgot how good a plot twist Assassin's Creed 2 had at the end.Good ol' me not paying much attention on the cutscenes as a kid :P

All things considered,i do think ac2 holds the no.1 spot for me (tied with black flag ofc <3)

Damn...

So, I bought the second one just because of the story, cause I'm in love with Assassin's Creed universe... I do not regret it!

They improved a lot of things, mainly the gameplay. We still have a good story and it's awesome how they mixed it with the collectibles. I hate 100% ubisoft games, cause it's always the same "there are 985345 collectibles through the map, good luck <3". BUT in AC2, we have codex pages that explains a lot of things Altair did in the meantime, we have feathers that have a meaning (you get to see some cutscenes) and It's cool to see the town improving.

I adored the fact they built this game mixed with reality, with "the truth" and historical facts. The OST is a banger, it is one of the reasons I wanted to play, cause I had it on my spotify even before I started.

The gameplay was hugely improved, parkour is faster, we have more diversity of weapons, stealth options, not having to do the same mission on and on, etc. I'm not saying It's perfect, but it's okay now.

"did you have problems with it?"

It's ubisoft, what do you think? The only ubisoft game that didn't crash on my pc was rayman origins, and it's a 2d one. BUT, this was the one that crashed the least.

Is it worth it? Yes.

"Requiescat in pace"

I do not remember when I exactly started to play Assassin's Creed II but I certainly remember that I did not had any fun when I entered Venice until the end.

Assassin's Creed II seems like a great sequel that improves upon everything, until you find out that you are stuck in a combat system that is far worse than the original, stuck with cities that feel the same despite looking much better than the cities in the first game. Overall you are stuck with a game that tries to rob every minute of your time with overly long playtime, that does not support the amount of content this game has.

The best part of Assassin's Creed II is the writing, that is improved upon massively, and Ezio as the protagonist feels so much better than Altair. I really liked all the characters, most of them are insanely friendly and quirky, especially Leonardo da Vinci, who is the true gem of this game.

I did the tombs, most side missions and the main story, but I did not care at all about the feathers and I lost interest in renovating as well.

What can I say? I enjoyed the first one better than this one.. 3,9 is CRAZY high for this game. It should be around 3,3 or 3,5. Nostalgia is something else...