Assassin’s Creed 2 lives up to historical potential

The “Assassin’s Creed” series may seem like it’s going in 15 different directions when most games are happy to just hand you a gun and some enemies to blast.

Does the tangled web of conspiracies, historical figures, and the parallel story of protagonist Desmond Miles and his distant ancestors really enhance the game experience for players?

The answer in the case of the first game was “maybe,” as the great potential of open world free running and assassinations the player can carry out is just clear enough to make the actual implementation feel exhilarating yet disappointing.

Fortunately, Ubisoft has managed to not only weave a much more diverse and tightly crafted experience in the sequel, but one that finally lives up to the great potential of the series’ historical setting.

Desmond’s first step after escaping the Knights Templar is to assume the role of another of his ancestors— this time Ezio Auditore de la Firenze, a young Renaissance-era Italian noble who is seeking revenge for the execution of his family members.

The basic gameplay is almost identical to the first title; however, a greatly expanded repertoire of assassination techniques and combat maneuvers make Ezio feel like an artist with a sword and hidden blade for his brush.

There are also more varied diversions to pursue, including randomized assassination missions, several tiers of equipment to purchase, and a family villa to restore and fill with the great artworks of Renaissance Italy.

The run of the mill flags of the first game have been replaced with more meaningful collectibles including seals hidden deep within challenging platforming crypts and pages of the Assassin’s Codex, both of which lead to measurable upgrades.

The first game’s disconnected structure, which regularly jolted players from the Crusades back to modern day in order to give more exposition, has been wisely tweaked to focus more heavily on the beautiful and engaging rendering of historical Italy.

It also succeeds in fleshing out Ezio as a character, making his transition from impetuous noble womanizer to determined and dignified killer interesting.

The conspiracy aspect of the game is also explored through optional segments which reveal hair raising manipulations and mysteries throughout history reaching all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

The first “Assassin’s Creed” was a polarizing title in the gaming world, dividing those who loved the game’s fluid combat and free running and those who despised its maddening repetition. This well-conceived sequel just might be able to unite them.

4.5/5 stars