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Assassin's Creed II | 
| From: UBI Soft
Category: Video Games
List Price: $39.99
Buy Used: $18.98
as of 9/2/2010 10:07 CDT details
You Save: $21.01 (53%)
New (36) Used (79) Collectible (4) from $18.98
Seller: mistermoney-hq
Rating:  563 reviews
Sales Rank: 175
Format: CD
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: fighting-action-game-genre
ESRB: Mature
Media: Video Game
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Operating System: Xbox 360
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 008888525349
Model: 008888525349
UPC: 008888220220
EAN: 0008888220060
ASIN: B00269DXCK
Publication Date: October 31, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio | | • | Roam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renaissance-era Italy | | • | Do whatever it takes to complete your missions in the game's all-new open world and mission structure | | • | Thrive in an environment rich with power, revenge and conspiracy | | • | Practice your assassin's art with all-new weapons and instruments created by Leonardo da Vinci |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
No description available for this title.
Item Type: Video Games
Item Rating:
Street Date: 11/17/09
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
Language: ENGLISH
Foreign Film: noSubtitles: no
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: no
Re-Release: no
Packaging: Sleeve
Amazon.com Product Description
The world of the assassin is one cloaked in shadow and steeped in danger. Ensnared in a web of revenge and conspiracy, the assassin embraces power at its most elemental, acting as the dividing line between life and death. As an assassin confronted by perilous new challenges and difficult choices, what path will you choose?
Stunning Graphics
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Roam Freely
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All New Weapons
View larger. |  | Synopsis
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. Key Game Features: - Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio
- Roam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renaissance-era Italy
- Do whatever it takes to complete your missions in the game's all-new open world and mission structure
- Thrive in an environment rich with power, revenge and conspiracy
- Practice your assassin's art with all-new weapons and instruments created by Leonardo da Vinci
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 563
 Your own personal Time Machine! November 18, 2009
Michael Corona (New York City)
132 out of 144 found this review helpful
Assassins Creed 2 - Circa 2009
GOOD:
- A good story mixes elements of historical fiction and a Sci-Fi epic.
- Really impressive graphics and first-rate animations, that looks just as good as games like Uncharted 2 on PS3 and Gears of War 2 on 360.
- The game world is even bigger then the last one (it really rivals games like Fallout 3) also IF taking a horse across the land still takes too long some times don't worry there are warp points now as well.
- In the first Assassin's Creed there was about 5 different mission types (chase someone, pickpocket someone, save someone from getting beat up, spy on targets, and then stealth kill, ect) in Assassin's Creed 2 there is like 15 different mission types now from all out battles, trailing a targets, beating up unfaithful husbands and lots of different types of stealth killing also all the old types in Assassins Creed 1 are here as well.
- You have a better opportunity to be a more cunning assassin now due to newer weapons, techniques, and skills.
- You can now swim, no more letting water be your foe heck you can even drive gondolas if you wanted.
- like the first title this one has great sound track too that mixes music of the era during the clam points of the game and more modern type of music during the chase points of the game.
BAD:
- Some small problems from the first are still there - although they are a lot more minor now like some times roof top running (parkour) can be a tad sloppy in a tense situations and you'll get killed (small camera problems). (I didn't really see this in my play through but some people have told me it happens so I am letting you know here)
- Losing that cool sword: you have the ability to disarm enemies and kill them with their own weapons now (this never gets old) - BUT - you also drop you own original sword in the process making you having to dig among the bodies to find it again and hope it's not lost. ::UPDATE:: I put this wrong it seems, you never lose your weapons when doing a disarm attack (it yes it never gets old); you only seem to lose your weapon when a stronger enemy (usually a knight in a suit of armor) knocks it outta your hand, and this is still a bit rare. Then you would have to find your weapon though or pick up a new one later.
- Too much Money? When you first start the game money is a bit hard to come by and weapons/armor are pretty expensive, while this can be a bit frustrating at first it builds gameplay and gives you goals outside of the missions to work towards. Now after you play for few hours and missions give you better pay and you fully upgrade your villa/town (this will automatically give you tons of free money; sorta like owning property in Fable 2 or GTA: Vice City) money becomes a non issue. Then getting paid at the end of missions seems pointless as well as doing Templar Secret location missions, which while fun, the entire point is to find a treasure room for yet more now pointless money. Anyways a few hours into the game and the in-game economy is broken to the point were you feel they should have done like Assassins Creed 1 and never had in-game money and just give you all your weapons/items based on mission progress.
IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
- A Stealth/action game set during the late 15th century and early 16th Italian Renaissance. You play as a man who becomes an Assassin in order to carry out revenge of his family.
- You spend more time in the Animus and less time as Desmond over all.
- The control is broken down mainly into two areas of gameplay there is a passive action and an aggressive action to almost everything you can do in the game. For example you can lightly tap people to move out of your way while walking down crowed the street (hold the B button to do this) or shove people as you run down that same street (hold the R button and the B button to do this). This duality applies to all your actions and it becomes necessary because during the game you must be able to move freely between these two states (passive and aggressive) to run and then hide from people the out to get you as well as to sneak up on and kill your victims.
- You can now hire help like as body guards to protect with you might or street-walkers to use their bodies to distract armed guards.
- Lot of what you will be doing is climbing and jumping from buildings this plays similar to the Prince of Persia games also made by ubisoft (the sands of time series). Although in this game the controls are more streamlined and user friendly as you can climb way more effectively as well as more realistically (even more then the first game).
- In the first game most of the gameplay is not so much assassinating people but gathering Intel on your targets. This game retains some of that but expands on the concept so much you'll never think you're doing busy work (like the first) and you have a lot more big kill targets as well.
- Combat has been refined by adding things like hammers, clubs, smoke bombs, and the hidden (now dual) assassin blades of course, plus you can steal enemies' weapons and use it against them too. The combat has a bit more over all intelligent flow from the first game, although it builds on that idea.
- Mix up you clothing colors by buy buying dyes for you outfit (in colors like red, green, and black) as well as unlocking new capes for your character. Also buy things like health potions, poisons, new weapons, new armor, and even treasure maps and famous paintings for your villa.
- You even get a villa (which is basically works like a small personal town) which you can upgrade by renting out space to local store owners and then getting goods (the main house seems to be the only place you can swap weapons and armor apparently).
GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
- Assassins Creed (360/PS3/PC)
- Grand Theft Auto 4 (360/PS3)
- HitMan: Blood Money (360)
- Prince of Persia (Xbox/PS2)
- Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3)
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Ezio the star of Assassins Creed 2 is related to Altaïr of the first game and Desmond is related to both of them
- Assassin's Creed: Lineage, a small set of mini movies (with real actors and CG effects) telling the story leading up to Assassins Creed 2 about Ezio's father (who was also an Assassin). These movies are made by Ubisoft and are found on the internet for free - so go see them.
- Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines (starting Altaïr of the first game) is a PSP game with Connectivity with the PS3 version of this game that can unlock six exclusive and unique weapons in Assassins Creed 2.
- The game skips chapters 12 and 13 - These chapters come in as two downloads for this game. One called The Battle of Forlì and the other called Bonfire of the Vanities. There is also a version of the download Bonfire of the Vanities which comes with the three bonus missions (more Templar Secret locations) previously only found on the limited edition version of Assassins Creed 2.
- At the start screen of Assassin Creed 2 (and also in Splinter Cell: Conviction) you'll see an option of something called Uplay. Uplay is a systems set up by Ubisoft to give players who unlock achievements/trophies in this game bounces for playing Assassins Creed 2. Some things you can unlock in Assassins Creed 2 are a theme for your Xbox 360 or PS3, more throwing knifes for your character, or even unlocking Altaïr's assassins robes from Assassins Creed 1 (which is really cool), and even a new secret assassins tomb under your villa/town.
A worthy sequel November 19, 2009
M. Squires (Texas)
65 out of 76 found this review helpful
I haven't finished this game yet, but I guess I better make my review before too many 1 star idiots show up and destroy the reputation of a brilliant game.
If you enjoyed the first game for the great story line and graphics, but found the game play to be a little repetitive and glitchy, you should definitely like this game. Ubisoft really managed to keep everything that was brilliant from the first game while fixing most of the issues and annoyances.
The scenery is still brilliant and the characters in the cut scenes look so realistic that sometimes it felt like I was watching a movie. The voice acting is also brilliantly done; both of these aspects really help suck you into the excellent story that this game gives.
The combat system is much improved from the first game; as soon as you get DaVinci to repair your "wrist blade" contraption, you can start stabing unsuspecting guards in the neck....even more fun than it sounds.
The game starts out a little slow; you'll be beating people up a lot, but you don't get any weapons for a little while. This is all part of building a great story though, so don't give up on it too early (the blood will come).
If you didn't play the first game, you might want to rent it or at least read an story overview online. The game presents a few back story cutscenes, but if you didn't play AC1, you might feel that the story is lacking a little. It is after all a continuation from the first game.
Game ratings:
Graphics: 10/10
Audio: 10/10
voice acting: 10/10
Combat System: 10/10
Controls: 9/10 (Sometimes I jump up on something when it's not what I intended; however, this is what allows you to scale building and run around so fast and easily, so it's an acceptable consequence. Once you get a good handle on the controls, this shouldn't be a big issue)
All in all, I think that this was the sequel I was hoping for and I'm eager to finish it and see where the story goes.
Don't usually review games this early in play, but I hate seeing 1 star reviews already bashing it and bringing down the rating. It's a shame to see such a great game with an overall 3.5 star rating.
14Dec2009
Update:
I've since finished playing this game and I have to say, "Wow"! It was just great all the way through, and kept me wanting more. My only gripe would be a little bit of a rehash for the repetitive game play people loathed in the first game. If you don't collect all of those codec's, it will make you before you can finish the game. Don't worry though; they'll give you a map that tells you where they are at least. I'm still a little disappointed that I have to collect them at all though; it's all too familiar with what I hated about the first game.
Despite the few repetitive monotonous game play tasks that surface, the game is most excellent. The story gets pretty crazy, but in a good way. Some things are explained, but many mysteries surface. Overall though, much better ending that the first game that didn't leave me feeling as confused and empty. It definitely should leave you wanting more; too bad I have to wait two years to finish the story...at least Mass Effect 2 will be coming out, and of course there's still COD.
One question though: In this game it's explained that you'll learn to become an assassin in real life from the simulation you go through. How is it that you didn't learn squat the in the first game? Apart from eagle vision that is. I thought it was a cool aspect to incorperate into the game, but it's never really explained how you didn't learn to fight from playing as Altier. Just wondering.
The way a sequel should be November 19, 2009
Allen Woods (Manteca, CA USA)
31 out of 39 found this review helpful
The first AC was a great game that suffered from overambition on the part of the developer. Even AC 1's most diehard fans will admit that there were some pretty deep flaws in the game. With AC 2, the developers have actually justified that ambition. AC 2 is exactly what a sequel should be: more things to do, an even deeper story, and more weapons and equipment. There are a lot of great additions to the game that give it a pseudo-rpg feel: you can buy weapons and armor, and also upgrade them, as well as visit doctors and buy medicine. The developers hit it spot on by choosing the Italian Renaissance. Theres no other game that will let you run pretty much freely through famous Italian cities at the height of their glory, much less meet Leonardo da Vinci. But hey, its just a game. Another thing is that the graphics are absolutely fantastic, and this is from someone who almost exclusively plays pc games. With all the great improvements in AC 2, I will have to put a word of warning: even with all the new additions, It plays pretty much exactly like the first game, and I have to say that if you didn't enjoy the first game, then there isnt much that can change your mind about this one. However, for fans of the series, this game really couldnt be any better.
High quality entertainment November 18, 2009
Mr. Hui Cheng (Oakland, CA United States)
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
ACII should be summarized as great story telling mixed together with fun, realistic game play.
The story really flows from the beginning and draws the players into the history and the intrigue. The amount of detail and effort put into the game environment is amazing. And the open world reminds me of the play in GTA4 where you can jump onto basically anything, swim in the water, run around the rooftops and hide in all sorts of places.
In addition to the main game story and missions, there are a ton of side quests!
If you are into action/adventure games, ACII is definitely worth getting!
Hugely Satisfying and Entertaining... April 21, 2010
Arun Thuraiarasan (Minneapolis, MN)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
First off, I haven't played AC I and a newbie to open world themed games. But reading all the positive reviews of AC II prompted me to try it and I have to say I hugely enjoyed this game. I really enjoyed this game broadly for its story, pacing, attention to detail of the environments, character development, voice acting, rich color pallet and varied missions. But what really stands out are Renaissance era Italian cities. They are literally living, breathing characters in this game. I have to commend the developers at UBI Soft for painstakingly recreating these cities and their architectural marvels in gorgeous detail and staggering scale. In my past life I had dabbled in Architecture and been fascinated with Italian, Greek and Egyptian architecture. Just being able to run around these cities, scale all historic buildings and take in the magnificent cityscapes from top of view points as the camera revolves around you, was the next best thing to actually being there in person. The experience is quite visceral and astounding. If you scaled the Florence Duomo Cathedral, you know what I'm talking about.
Apart from that, the missions are quite varied and don't seem repetitive at all which was a big complaint against AC I. The voice acting with Italian accents and dialogue for most characters are spot on and added more authenticity to the game. Character development for lead character Ezio Auditore and other important characters are quite well done and the actor giving voice to Ezio seems to have really put some effort into it and it shows. Other than that, the population of the cities have colorful PCs and NPCs from thieves, brigands, mercenaries, prostitutes, nuns, annoying minstrels, merchants, announcers, messengers and normal citizenry. The navigation and combat controls are not that difficult to get used to and navigating the cities and climbing felt natural. Navigating using the map took some time to get used to in the open world but once down pat, felt quite comfortable. You will get lost in the cities unless you use the map! The AI system seems better than most other games and not that forgiving that you feel unchallenged.
Pros:
1. Gorgeous and detailed environments.
2. Lengthy game and huge cities to explore.
3. Excellent voice acting and character development.
4. Interesting storyline - Integration of real life historical figures and incidents into the storyline is nice.
5. Monetary system - Earning money and spending on upgrades added an interesting aspect to this game. But midway/three-fourths through the game you will have money to burn and nothing to do with it afer all the upgrades.
6. Apart from main story line there are non-essential side missions like assassination contracts, races, message delivery, beat ups, finding feathers, unlocking futuristic conspiracies etc. which adds a ton of replay value.
7. The developers have achieved a lot of breath in game elements variety and little less in depth.
8. Decent AI.
Cons:
All accolades aside, there are some blemishes in this well-made game.
1. A lot of characters look blocky in close-ups and dating back to PS2 standards of rendering while the environments themselves are gorgeously rendered making this a glaring anomaly. In doing the inevitable comparison to Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 in terms of overall graphics, AC II going to come off as second best.
2. Combat leaves much to be desired. The choice of weapons and how you earn them is interesting. Its not for lack of variety in combat moves and weapons but its just that combat could have been more fluid. I guess I'm less forgiving in this aspect as the bar for combat has been set very high after playing the God of War series. (I know, I know I should not be comparing a hack and slash with a third-person action adventure :))
3. Much as I try to get into it, the Animus concept just doesn't fly.
4. The final boss fight felt a bit tame and the ending abrupt.
I'm at a stage in life where family and professional obligations don't allow for playing at a stretch where day turns to night and then back again. I found Assassins Creed II to fit the bill perfectly and I played this on and off for a couple of months till I finished it at my own pace.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 563
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