April 15, 2009 - This month's issue of Game Informer sports a rather dramatic pose by the new leading man of Assassin's Creed II, Ezio Auditore de Firenze, but it's what's inside that's truly interesting. Having listened to the cries of needless repetition besmirching what was an otherwise rather impressive debut for a new IP (it's apparently the fastest-growing new gaming franchise in history), Ubisoft is adding quite a bit more depth to the Renaissance Italy-based sequel.
The ample amount of historical documentation about the smattering of city-states, infighting merchant families and the corrupt religious figures of the time make for plenty of ties to real-life events, but perhaps none are as promising as the inclusion of Leonardo da Vinci and all his wonderful toys (Game Informer likens him to Bond's gadget buddy Q). Among many of da Vinci's inventions that will feature in the game is his legendary flying machine, which is perhaps more of a glider than anything else, as he'll be kept aloft with warm air currents rising off Ezio's allies during a particular mission.
With Venice's network of aquatic channels (yep, there's swimming now) and densely-packed buildings, Ezio's ability to ditch enemies has naturally been magnified, and to help balance that out, Ubisoft has bumped up the types of enemy units, which will grow more aggressive and skilled as the game goes on, including being able to tail you with the same now-infamous parkour moves from the first game. Other enemies will be advanced melee attackers or will poke into hiding spots (which have likewise increased in variety).
Watch our in-depth analysis of the Assassin's Creed 2 teaser trailer.
With all the changes to the scenery and main character (Ezio is a far more affluent and cultured protagonist than Altair was in the first game), it's not really terribly surprising that Ubisoft Montreal also amped up the combat. Weapons can now be ripped from an enemy and used against them, but Ezio doesn't carry a sword with him at all times, meaning improvisation and getting the drop on enemies is more important this time around. To assist in this, he can fight bare-handed if need be, stripping enemies of their weapons or simply opting to whittle down their numbers and make a break for it.
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All this fighting will lead to Ezio becoming rather notorious in whatever city he's causing a ruckus, and though he can make a break for it (with white sheets indicating key routes of traversal), it's smarter to just undertake missions to lower his notoriety, which will drive down the presence of suspicious guards (though Ezio can now blend in with any crowd rather than just monks if the situation calls for it). Tearing down posters, taking out witnesses or paying them off were all mentioned as viable ways to keep the heat off you .
The full feature is on stands now, and is rather loaded with new tidbitsApril 16, 2009 - Though we've already seen the teaser, which is as good an announcement as any, Ubisoft today made the officially official announcement of Assassin's Creed II. While we already knew it was coming, one interesting bit of info is included within the text - a holiday 2009 release window on all current-generation systems, which reads to us like it's hitting the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii (and probably the PC as well). Note that the first title never hit Nintendo's latest console.
More in IGN's Daily Fix Here! (HD available).
- From the scans, Jade Raymond is not, repeat NOT, involved with Assassins Creed 2.
- However, Patrice Desil�ts, who worked on the first one with Raymond, is involved as Creative Director.
- Over 240 people working on the game from Ubisoft Montreal.
- The info from this? All true.
- The more intelligent enemies in the game will check places where you think they wont catch you, that includes barn stacks.
- "Altair was only in the middle of this long timeline" according to Desil�ts which means there could be prequels, should the option arise.
- Know that hidden blade Altair had in the first game? You automaticlly use it for assassinations but only if your target is unaware.
- The main characters name is Ezio Auditore de Firenze
- You do indeed play as a new ancestor of Altair / Desmond
- You CAN swim
- There is now a night and day sequence in the game.
- Game will feature a new notoriety system that governs how enemy soldiers and people will treat you.
- Da Vincis workshop is in the game
- No more eaves dropping or pick pocketing missions.
- You'll have a ton of new weapons to choose from including an axe, a hammer, a mace, a spear, 2 different sword types, a spear axe, and 2 smaller blades
- Locations include Saint Marks Basilica, The Grand Canal, The Little Canal, and the Rialto bridge.
- The game opens in 1476, Altair is from 1191
- You will see the countryside of Tuscany
- The "Auditore" family is mentioned
- [Ezio] is a nobleman of Florence
- Big characters are in the game including Machiavelli, Caterina Sofrza, and Lorenzo de Medici
- YOU DO INDEED GLIDE on Da Vincis flying machine.
- You can disarm enemies and use their own weapons against them this time.
- Each weapon has a special move.
- 16 unique mission types.
- If you get beat up to much you will need to see a street side doctor to regain full strength.
- Hidden objects (like flags in the first one) are there to uncover but this time if you track them down you will get in-game bonuses that make it worth your time.
- New enemy types with unique attitudes and weaknesses are present in the game. Archers are mentioned, as well as elite enemies, dagger wielders, "Brutish" armored troops with heavy armor and 2 handed swords and axes, and an intelligent halberd enemy will probe hiding places with their weapons if they think you're near by.
- While hiding in a hay bail you can assassinate people this time, but it may expose your position.
- You can still climb towers and ride horses
- The Lorendo de Medici assassination attempt is in the game.
- 240 people are working on this title.
June 1, 2009 - During what was perhaps the longest gaming press conference of all-time, Ubisoft snuck in a release date for their much-anticipated Assassin's Creed II.
ACII will be out for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC this fall on November 17, 2009.
E3 2009 isn't even a day old and already Fall's gaming lineup is looking pretty stuffed.
June 2, 2009 - A few years back, Ubisoft wowed many with the debut of Assassin's Creed. A large, fully scalable world with the promise of dynamic assassination missions was too good to be true. And as it turned out, the first Assassin's Creed didn't live up to expectations. Two years later, Ubisoft Montreal has learned from its mistakes and is ready to provide a better and more complete experience.
Assassin's Creed 2 has you once again playing as Desmond, a modern-age descendant of some of history's greatest killers. But Altair, the ancestor Desmond inhabited, is not a part of the sequel. Instead, Desmond has a new ancestor's history to play through. Ezio is not an assassin at the start of AC2. And he might never have done anything notable in his life, but when his family becomes entangled in a conspiracy, Ezio is called to action.
The E3 demo takes place in Venice, in 1486. It's nighttime and there's a festival. People are dancing in the town square, laughing, enjoying the bright evening. Even though Ezio is among the crowd for a few seconds, it's clear that the people are more interactive with one another and that they have more to do than just walk around mindlessly. There are no monks just chilling out waiting for you to slip into their group. But don't worry, it's going to be a little easier to hide amongst the crowd. So long as there are at least eight people in a group, you can blend in and hide in plain sight.
While old Jerusalem was a fascinating place to explore in the original Assassin's Creed, it had a drab color palette. Obviously, this is due to the setting. In Venice, there's color everywhere. The skies are alight with fireworks and the people are dressed in festive garb.
Ezio's mission is to assassinate Carlo Grimalde, one of the most powerful men in Venice. In the original AC, you'd need to gather three sets of intel in order to unlock the ability to take out Grimalde. These tasks were somewhat menial and were a common complaint among critics. Ubisoft Montreal obviously agreed with the criticisms, because they threw that entire system out the window. That's right, you won't go to a handler to get a mission, then perform repetitive tasks to gain information that doesn't really assist you, kill the target and then have to return to that same handler. The mission's are a little more structured this time and any intel you need is going to be gathered as you progress towards the assassination.
Watch the debut trailer in HD.
As before, you have both high and low profile kills. So you can climb up a chimney, leap off and slam your blade down into a guard's back or take a stealthier, less flashy approach. Still, some of the stealth kills are pretty flashy in their own right. That's because Ezio has two hidden blades. You can sneak up behind two enemies and stab both in the back. Or casually walk between two guards and you can knife them both in the throat. Ubisoft is putting a lot of focus on the enemy AI this time around, but the short demo didn't really get to showcase much of this. What was shown fully was the device Ezio uncovered on the rooftops.
Leonardo created a flying machine, a winged glider for Ezio. You get to test it out. Ezio flies over the rooftops and canals of Venice, swooping down low over some areas on fire in order to catch a draft and continue his flight. All the while, archers are firing flaming arrows at you. There doesn't seem to be a way to dodge these. Or at least in the demo it didn't seem pressing. After a quick and thrilling flight over Venice, Ezio crashes atop the roof.
Getting to Grimalde won't be easy. Ezio didn't come in quietly and the guards are aware of his presence. Even leaping into a bail of hay won't help, because now there are seekers who are smart enough to check these types of hiding spots -- sometimes with a jab of the sword. Fortunately, you can kill from your hiding spots.
The basics of combat are the same, but there are different enemy types. You have seekers, the regular guard and even some brutes. Each requires a slightly different tactic to take down, which should make combat a little more challenging since you'll be fighting a mixture of different types of enemies throughout Assassin's Creed 2.
The big change to combat, though, is the ability to take weapons from enemies. See a halberd you want? ****** it from your foe, then use it again him.
Eventually, the guards all fall and Grimalde is all that's left. Kill him and you get a similar death bed conversation as in AC 1.
With the assassination complete, it's time to escape. Ezio can't survive a battle with a dozen guards. Fortunately, he has smoke bombs, which act as a distraction. The demo ends with Ezio running towards the docks and then leaping into the water. Yup, you can swim and use boats in Assassin's Creed 2. Epic gondola chases have not been confirmed.
Assassin's Creed 2 comes to PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 November 17.
All eyes were on Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed II unveiling at E3 earlier this month - and with good reason. Not only was the original Assassin's a divisive game ââ?¬â?? some players loved it completely, others saw it as a rough draft ââ?¬â?? it also held a heck of a lot of potential, irrespective of polarised opinions.
After an extended session with the game at E3, we're convinced that Ubi Montreal are going to floor some jaws with Assassin's Creed II. From the story to the new weapons and inventions, here's why we think Ezio is destined for great things.
Flying Machines for Fun and Profit
The year is 1486. You are Ezio, the eagle of Venice. You live in a time of invention; the birth of new forms of art, writing and fine culture. And the beauty of a game like Assassin's Creed II is that you can twist all of this history and culture into an incredible setting for a game. To that end, the integration of the marvellous inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci is a stoke of game design genius.
We all know Da Vinci drafted prints of incredible machines of war ââ?¬â?? as well as flying machines and creations to enable human flight. Who's to say that Ubisoft can't integrate those designs straight into Assassin's Creed II? Ezio can now find Da Vinci's wings scattered around rooftops in Venice, allowing speedy ââ?¬â?? and very conspicuous ââ?¬â?? travel over long distances, using the hot air from bonfires to keep it aloft. Genius at work.
Freedom, Willy, Freedom
One of the most warranted criticisms of the original Assassin's Creed was its lack of variety. At all times it felt like you were playing in a lush world, full of breathtaking vistas and opportunities to explore ââ?¬â?? only to be hemmed in and forced to do only a handful of different tasks. These followed a pattern too, making the rigid structure all the more noticeable.
Ubisoft Montreal has addressed these concerns head on and completely revamped almost every element associated with the day-to-day assassination routine. To begin with, missions are now freeform. Some may see you escorting and protecting; others might have you stalking from a distance or pursuing your victim on-foot.
More random events will occur, too; where once you could pickpocket just about anyone in the first game, this time you yourself can fall victim to nimble fingers. If you're feeling vengeful, you can even give chase and reclaim your goods. The overall impact on the player is key, though ââ?¬â?? and Ubi is clearly working hard to make sure you're never bored or feeling restrained.
The beauty of Venice... without the smell. Bonus!
It's That Time Again
Time of day plays a big part of the daily routine in real life, so why shouldn't it be the same in the game world? Following in the footsteps of many other great open-world titles, Assassin's Creed II introduces a full day/night cycle to proceedings.
Once again, the emphasis is on variety ââ?¬â?? and this time around, some missions will only be available at night. There will also be unique events occurring at different times of day in different parts of the city, which should prove pretty interesting in terms of mission design. If nothing else, it'll give you more reason to experiment and explore the city at different times of day.
It's Kind of Stupidly Pretty
The original Assassin's Creed was a gorgeous game. It featured a vast draw distance, great animations, distinct districts and cities, and the climbing mechanic has been aped but never matched, let alone surpassed.
This time around, we're seeing what a few years of research and refinement can do to an already spectacular engine. The detail level remains just as high ââ?¬â?? but it's the smaller details that really blew us away. For one, the use of water effects ââ?¬â?? stunning simulated waterways of Venice ââ?¬â?? is something new for the series, given the previous desert setting. More impressively, the city is full of vibrant colours. Fireworks explode overhead, casting a wash of warm light over the city's dwellings.
The animations and Ezio's context sensitive movements have also been refined. Watching him shimmy up a tower and then pull a guard over the railing is just as convincing as before, but when he suddenly takes flight with Da Vinci's wings, sweeps down and kicks another guard off a bridge and into a river ââ?¬â?? before bailing out to a perfect landing, you know it's going to make for cinematic gameplay.
Pulling it All Together
Perhaps the most impressive part of Assassin's Creed II is simply how it all comes together ââ?¬â?? the sense of place, purpose and deadly efficiency. What Altair lacked in gadgets and purpose, Ezio has addressed completely.
Ezio has all sorts of new abilities at his disposal ââ?¬â?? not the least of these is the ability to perform context-sensitive double executions. He can use two-handed weapons, hammers, swords and spears in addition to his spring-loaded wrist blades, too ââ?¬â?? and the smoke bomb looks like a handy inclusion.
With more freedom ââ?¬â?? a true sandbox assassination experience, better structure and more personality, we're utterly beside ourselves with anticipation for this one ââ?¬â?? and we think you'll agree it's completely warranted.
Click here to check out Part 1 of IGN's Assassin's Creed II Live Demo from E3.
NewWell look at this, a game that is actually going to be released in 2009. What a happy thought. Though the story will still concern the main character Desmond for the first game, in Assassin's Creed 2, the time-hopping assassin from the past is named Ezio. He looks similar to Altair, but his drama unfolds in a different age, Renaissance Italy. If you've been following our Assassin's Creed 2 coverage so far you'd know that already, but you might not know some of the details Ubisoft let loose during our time watching a new demo of the game at Gamescom 2009.
Gone is the do X number of side-quests to open up main assassination missions from the first game. Though you do still climb up to high perches to unveil bits of your map in the sequel, you'll no longer be forced into tasks in the same manner. It seems the main missions will flow more naturally. You also won't be wandering around in any hub world Kingdom trying to dart from metropolis to metropolis. Instead, each city will have a unique countryside where you can ride around a horse before heading into town. Eventually you'll also get the ability to quickly travel between major locales, which we were told include Florence, Venice, Tuscany and more.
Like in the first game, all architecture within cities can be climbed across. You'll still be diving off high towers and landing in wagons of hay to break your fall, and creeping around lines of wandering pedestrians. This time around, you'll be able to blend into cover with any NPCs you so desire. No more waiting around for groups of monks to walk by. As soon as you enter cover with NPCs, they'll be colored white and grey, the ground beneath your feet will jitter with Animus-electricity, and no guards will be able to spot you unless you do something that draws attention.
What might draw attention? Well, how about pickpocketing all the NPCs who are unwittingly providing cover. As you pickpocket you naturally gain funds that can be spent on items and health at merchant shops sprinkled around the metropolis. Some of these items, like vials of poison, can be used in interesting ways. In one instance, Ezio tracked down a pigeon coop using an indicator on the mini-map as a guide to accept an assassination side quests. The mini-map then lit up with the probable location of the target, and upon nearing him Ezio flipped into eagle eye mode to identify exactly who it was. The target was highlighted in gold and a bodyguard in red, and to help keep track it's possible to leave on eagle eye mode while moving around, though that means the HUD won't be onscreen anymore. Incidentally, if you're the type of player that doesn't like the HUD in Assassin's Creed, you can turn it off entirely.
Instead of mounting a direct assault, it's possible to open Ezio's radial weapons menu and poison your hidden dagger. By sneaking up to the bodyguard and lightly nicking him in the neck, he's sent into a drunken stupor, lashing out at those around him with his axe. To further create chaos, Ezio can sprinkle coins on the ground, sending the peasants into a money hungry frenzy as they scramble to scoop up anything shiny.
Instead of trying to be clever and sneaky with your tools, it's also possible to take action more direct. Gangs of mercenaries roaming city streets can be hired on the spot and sent after targets, letting you slip through. Ezio can perform double kills with two hidden blades as he charges forward, making quick work of any guards flanking doors. In combat, which will still feature a heavy focus on picking the right time to hit and countering enemy swipes, you can select Ezio's small gun. While inaccurate, it's possible to enter into an aiming mode where four lines converge the longer the mode is active, which should mean the shot hits closer to its intended mark when fired. Smoke bombs can be smashed against the ground if you're in trouble for an easy escape, and if you're tired of waiting around for opponents to hit you, a taunt can be initiated to get them to swing.
About five to six hours of the game won't take place in the marvelously detailed cityscapes that sparkle under the game's dynamic day night cycle. Instead, they'll take place underground in sequences that strongly resemble Prince of Persia. As Ezio ventures into dusty crypts painted with worn religious imagery and filled with rotted wooden and broken stones, he'll face numerous platforming challenges that, in theory, require some skill to conquer. The one we saw was early on so not all that difficult, and basically required Ezio to hop and swing through a number of precarious positions in order to listen in on a secret Templar meeting. Then, at the end of each section like this, you get access to a large treasure, which Ubisoft didn't want to give too much away about. More of these types of challenges are in the game and some will be optional, meaning you'll need to explore if you want to unlock everything hidden.
The game's still got a few months to go before its November release date, and it's looking quite impressive. Hearing about the changes from the first game is certainly exciting, since this does sound like it could be a much better product, and as expected the visuals and animations are looking great. Here's hoping it turns out to be a polished and thoroughly entertaining experience.
Edited by Slidell, 26 August 2009 - 08:17 AM.
