By Paul Everitt

Assassins Creed 2 delivers on promises of the original and then some

Assassins Creed erupted onto the gaming market to both hype and disappointment. Gamers were split down the middle, like Marmite you either loved it or hated it. One of the most original elements of the original game the free running was received very enthusiastically; the story was also developed well although it left many answers to questions, unanswered. The combat could also be a little messy, with other controls at times feeling a little weak. Now we have the sequel with a new setting, new ancestor to follow, but has Ubisoft managed to work their magic and turn Marmite into chocolate? Read on …

The game opens up where the last one ended; once again you take control of Desmond who is still trying to work out an escape plan. His knight in shining armour turns up quite quickly though in the form of Lucy, who if you did play the original till the end, disappeared after revealing she was in fact a member of the Assassins guild. Once the two of you have escaped Lucy asks for your help in fighting the Templars once more. Of course you agree and you get taken back to her headquarters meet a few of her colleagues and re-enter the animus. This time however you find yourself in the memories of another one of Desmond's ancestors, Ezio.

Along with the original theme from the first game and the continuation of the story, free roaming is back although instead of Jerusalem you find yourself traversing Italy in the 1400's. Cities such as Florence, Venice and Tuscany are magnificently recreated as you once again enter the world of the Assassin.

The story this time is a lot more thoroughly fleshed out, you even see the birth of Ezio. Some of the earlier missions are based around the time before Ezio becomes an Assassin, allowing you to get to know Ezio a lot more than you ever did Altair. This is a brilliant move as you get more of an emotional link with the main character, his actions become clear as do the motives behind them, helping push the story along further than before. The developers have really put their hearts into the story which can be seen right from the get go. The side missions which became quite boring in the first game have been developed nicely, giving more varied missions from beating up cheating husbands to delivering messages.

To immerse you even more into the world, you now earn money from various missions, this money can be spent on your families homes and land. You can then earn money from the shops in the district and grow the families fortunes, a really nice touch which adds even more to the game. As well as earning money through the side missions you will also find treasure chests hidden, which you can loot and you can also steal from passers by.

Graphics have also been overhauled from the original. Florence is breathtaking the detail put into this new world is astounding. The graphics are sharper, interaction with other characters a joy not a chore. The long cut screens that plagued the first are now a joy to watch and helps envelop you more into Ezio's world and conflict.

The music score is enchanting and fits the atmosphere just nicely.

The controls have been tweaked and feel a lot more fluid than before, combat moves nicely and the free running runs a lot smoother than the last game. The controls feel a lot more refined this time around. On some occasions the combat still feels a little slow and sometimes unresponsive but for the majority of the time it works very well.

Weapons are a lot more available in this game, with weapons upgrades being available for purchase, new designs to be found. You can also steal opponents weapons to use during the game which makes combat a lot more varied and enjoyable in the whole. The actual assassination missions require a little more skill than before, with new ways of taking out your opponent including the poison blade.

There's even a mission where you get to use Leonardo Da Vinci's flying machine to fly over a crowd, once you see your target you take him out and then fly off into the distance. Yes you read right Leonardo Da Vinci appears throughout the game offering you upgrades to your weapons and other inventions to help you on your way.

Ubisoft has managed to do something unique with this game, they've managed to turn Marmite into chocolate. They have taken everything that was good about the last one, listened to the criticisms, tweaked and worked on the basics to deliver an original captivating game. Definitely an improvement all around with better characters, graphics, controls and an engrossing story which makes you want to carry on playing till the early hours of the morning.

Assassins Creed 2 has delivered on all the promises of the original and then added extra ingredients to make this an instant classic.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Assassin's Creed II for Xbox 360 "Plunge into the lush and deadly world of the Italian Renaissance, an era of arts, riches, and murderous conspiracies. Carry on the deadly lineage of your forebearers-the Assassins. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your ancient but deadly art. Explore a savage world set in the Italian Renaissance; Play as Ezio, member of the elite order of Assassins.

The Old Man's Top 5

	# 1: ★★★★★ Red Dead Redemption is an open-world, third-person, action-adventure game set at the tail end of the American West West era. Action takes place in the first few years of the twentieth century and revolves around the choices that the protagonist, former outlaw John Marston, is forced to make due to his blemished past.
	# 2: ★★★★★ Follow-up game to 2007's critically acclaimed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the PlayStation 3 exclusive Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a continuation of the adventures of Nathan Drake, a fortune-hunter with a shady reputation and an even shadier past. Chock full of all the action, adventure, cinematic story elements and beautiful graphics that set the first game apart, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves adds deep online multiplayer options, including co-op and competitive campaigns, and a whole new supporting cast of characters.
	# 3: ★★★★★ Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person tactical shooter and the sixth entry in the popular Call of Duty series. True to its name and following the lead of its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it places players in modern combat settings, as opposed to the WWII environments of the earlier Call of Duty games. This modern approach brings with it new weapons, action and options. Coupled with a variety of gameplay modes including single player, multiplayer and the co-op Special Ops Mode, it is destined to be one of the most popular games of 2009 and a worthy addition to the Call of Duty series.
	# 4: ★★★★★ Get ready to plunge into the lush and deadly world of the Italian Renaissance, an era of arts, riches and murderous conspiracy. Assassin's Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your assassin's art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel.
	# 5: ★★★★★ The third game in the Fallout series, Fallout 3 is a singleplayer action role-playing game (RPG) set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC. Combining the horrific insanity of the Cold War era theory of mutually assured destruction gone terribly wrong, with the kitschy naivety of American 1950s nuclear propaganda, Fallout 3 will satisfy both players familiar with the popular first two games in its series as well as those coming to the franchise for the first time.

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