A fantastic sequel that improves on almost everything from the first game. The present day sections with Desmond are still dull, but the new Renaissance Italy setting and main character, Florentine playboy Ezio Auditore, are a huge leap forward from Altair's grim face and the bleak landscape of the 12th century Holy Land. Ezio's story is much more engaging than Altair's, a multi-year tale of revenge as he tracks down the Templar conspirators that murdered his father. The open world has far more stuff to do than the first game as well, with a smattering of side-content to do, although none of it is more fleshed out than races or the odd assassination contract. The combat is also still sluggish, although it's at least more forgiving than the first time around. Still, huge leaps forward in terms of writing, characterization, and world-creation!