This is basically just AC2 part 2, like it continues right where it left off and is fully an extension of its gameplay, plot, visual design, and structure. Rome is an incredibly well-realised setting, full of varied terrain and architecture that finally makes the horses not suck, and the brotherhood of assassins mechanic is awesome. Seeing Ezio grow into his own as a leader is really well done, and the story of his conflict with the Borgia is well told. The present day stuff is good here too, and exploring Ezio's villa in the modern day was neat, even if you barely need to do it. Desmond and company continue to be fun to hang out with. The mission design has more variety and there's less repetitive busywork, BUT the failure conditions are incredibly overbearing in a lot of the missions so its easy to accidentally fail and be forced to restart. This holds it back from real greatness and kinda drags the whole game down a peg, when it could have otherwise been the best game in the trilogy.