Assassin's Creed 2

[Mars]

Blimey, an awful lot of DLC to get stuck into when I eventually finish the main game. Also, you can have the dialogue in Italian

[rumblecat]

Did anyone try the Uplay stuff? I hadnt heard of it before, but you get a couple of free things out of it for completing achievements.

I 'bought' a free tomb with my Uplay points (basically rewards for signing up to Uplay)- nothing mind blowing but it was quite nice as a freebie. Probably worth signing up to, they don't seem to send out many emails (and you could always just use a spare account) and it's something for nothing.

[Don Rosco]

I really, really loved this. There's a lot wrong with it as a game - it's too easy, it's repetitive, the pacing is all wrong and

the ending is just loopy

. Despite all that, the fun to be had with the climbing and free running and killing dudes is non-stop. The characters are really well written, and the cities feel more real than anything outside of a GTA game.

[Jamin]

I've just finished this too, currently trying to find all the feathers. I really enjoyed it also, like you say the fun is all in the climbing and free-running, solid combat and the graphics (horrendous facial character models aside) were really something. Loved the glyphs and puzzles too. One of the most professional and polished games I've played in ages.

Very much looking forward to the third one.

[incapable hulk]

I 'bought' a free tomb with my Uplay points (basically rewards for signing up to Uplay)- nothing mind blowing but it was quite nice as a freebie. Probably worth signing up to, they don't seem to send out many emails (and you could always just use a spare account) and it's something for nothing.

Indeed. I havent had any emails from them, bar the confirmation from signing up. I bought all the AC2 stuff in the uplay section, as you get points for 4 particular achievements - and they are enough for all the bits and bobs

[Don Rosco]

The first DLC for this is worth it for the incredible tirade of abuse that that Sforza broad aims at the soldiers keeping her locked out of Forli. It is fucking hilarious.

[K]

And there’s the bit where the guards shout up that they’ve got her kids hostage, to which she responds by pulling up her skirt, pointing at her fanny, and shouting “Kill them! I can make plenty more with this!”

My kinda woman.

[Mars]

Another massive session on this today and still absolutely loving it. Have still only done 1 tomb but spent a lot of time getting feathers & viewpoints as well as cracking on with the story.

[Vin]

Spent a lazy six hours or so cracking skulls on this today.

Hella satisfying.

[Alan Stock]

Not Very Spoilery but stay away if you haven't played at all

Finished this last night. For the first ten hours or so, I was totally loving it. The movement was unique, there was always something to distract you, like treasure, viewpoints, side missions. You kept learning new moves and the story missions were varied. The mysterious back story was so cool as well.

Sadly, after that, things started to get a bit samey. For me it was shortly after reaching Venice. From that point on, the game started feeling more like a chore. The story missions became more repetitive, the side quests and distractions were just the same stuff you'd seen before and the city was almost too big.

The weird thing is, at it's core it's a brilliant game, but for me they actually made the game too long, big and repetitive. I did do all of the side missions, collected all the treasures and got 60% of the feathers, which was fun when they were small sidetracks from a mission, but as a dedicated task became boring quickly. The treasures became too predictably placed, the feathers too hard to find, and there were so many of each that the initial fun in finding them was diminished. Neither really offered enough of an incentive rather than a chore to find them, because you have usually covered the areas they're in many times.

But there were some good things which didn't get too old, the "real world" story I loved - i.e. the Desmond stuff and slowly uncovering the Truth, that was wicked. I wish more of the game had been set in modern times or there'd be more crossover between the real world invading the virtual world. Conquering viewpoints and epic landmarks never got old either and it was a great mechanic. The Vaults were ace too.

Montenegro was a nice idea but sadly didn't live up to much, especially when money was coming out of your ears.

The movement in this game was almost spot-on, not perfect but one of the most fluid games I've ever come across, whilst still feeling that you are having enough of an input. I wish they'd sped the character up a wee bit - if you return after the game is complete to get 100%, he seems to be a bit faster at climbing which is great. Am I going mad?

The combat was cool to begin with but got too repetitive. I never figured out how to easily defeat certain enemy types (I've learned now from the forum). Towards the end, most battles were just a distraction. I can't say I ever found the game hard, with the exception of a few of the races. You always seemed to have massive health reserves with so much medicine on offer.

The stealth was decent for the most part, though for me most missions consisted of the jumping assassination followed by a brawl. More elaborate attempts would end in being spotted or running out of time. When running from enemies outside of missions it was usually faster to just fight them than actually hide, which was a bit weird.

The environments were fab even though they felt cut-and-paste within cities. The rooftops are wicked.

So, all in all, an amazing game to begin with, leading onto a good but boring game. I reckon if they'd stuck with smaller environments with more variety, cut the length by half and spent their resources on more interesting side quests (like the Vaults) and more interesting story missions, it would have been great all the way through.

Looking forward to seeing what they do for Assassains Creed 3. They've said that Japan or King Arthur times might be on the cards. To be honest I'd love one set in modern times with a smidgen of futuristic stuff, and VR bits and bobs, maybe with just the odd foray into the past to mix things up.

[Mars]

Either of those 2 settings would be AMAZING.

[Tailfly]

Completed this tonight!

Great fun to play on the whole but i agree with some of Alan's sentiments above. Getting to the end felt like too much of a slog, Venice was too big, i would never of found all the feathers without a map. Combat i felt was still not as good as it could be, it felt a bit random, also frustrating at times, what exactly is the technique for fighting the long weapon guys beyond disarming them? A lot of positives to my experience, loved the villa building, over too soon for me though. Loved the subject 16 puzzles(had to google a few of those after a good while of being stumped!) and the whole story that revealed.

Overall a fun experience that has rewarded me with my first platinum. I would definitely pick up the next in the series. Wherever they go with it, i'm sure it'll be an enjoyable ride.

[Vemsie]

Must agree with Alan. I loved it at the start, just the exploring and climbing and free running over the rooftops. It still is brilliant. The tombs with their PoP style platform are fantastic as well, as is the whole atmosphere of the game.

But the lack of a real challenge, the repetition that kicks in and the poor combat hold me back from going back to it again. Still curious to find out what the guys who did the SC: CT multiplayer will do with the multiplayer in Brotherhood though.

[StephenM]

I finished this the other week.

The first little while wasn't great - some instances of, say, seeing somewhere that looks designed for me to pull a guy down off of a ledge, but before I've unlocked the ability. I felt crippled by all the things I couldn't do yet, for a little bit too long.

Then it hits it's stride, and I loved it. Fast moving, frantic, fun. Glyph puzzles were a favourite for me - and obviously the tombs which I think everyone agrees are great!

Unfortunately, by the time you hit Venice, the mechanics are wearing thin. Don't get me wrong, I was still enjoying the game, but the repetition had hit saturation point and Venice isn't a great location. Great for the look, great for the history, not the great rooftop-running level design that Florence had.

Loved it overall, looking forward to the next one, but if it had gone on for another hour I'd have felt very different. Phew!

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

I loved it from start to finish, drawn out the sidequests and DLC just because I couldn't bring myself to completing it.

Great game.

[aitchanden]

I still havent finished this, is it worth it as i hear the ending sucks arse. Personally found it equally as repetitive as the first and just couldn't follow the story.

[mr_rmg]

I thought the ending was great.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

The ending was a bit WTF but not that bad. I pretty much enjoyed the whole game, the opening bits were a bit dull maybe.

[InsideOutBoy]

What happens when you collect all the feathers? I've found about 30 and I'm in Venice. It would have to be something amazing to make me bother hunting the rest.

[Wroth]

You get a hug.

And a cape that keeps your notoriety at its maximum when worn

[NecroMorrius]

I still havent finished this, is it worth it as i hear the ending sucks arse. Personally found it equally as repetitive as the first and just couldn't follow the story.

The ending is fucking amazing. It's the most insane WTF crazy ending I can think of, other than Silent Hill 2's dog ending. Plus

FIST FIGHT WITH THE POPE

. (Endgame spoilers)

[Mr.Crowley]

I really loved this game, but weirdly enough, I'm not interested in the DLC or the forthcoming AC 2,5 at all. Bring on AC3 in a completely new setting, please!

[NecroMorrius]

I really loved this game, but weirdly enough, I'm not interested in the DLC or the forthcoming AC 2,5 at all. Bring on AC3 in a completely new setting, please!

Amen, brother.

[TheSlugFormerlyKnownAsNap]

The DLC is pretty good actually.

[rsbrowndog]

I've been eyeing up the complete edition of this for 360, does anyone know if the DLC is integrated or codes to download?

Cheers,

Ryan

[AlonzoUK]

The complete edition is just under 18 pounds now on Zavvis website - worth getting if you haven't already tried it.

[rsbrowndog]

Aye, but I already have it (i.e. "vanilla" AC2) from subscribing to Empire. Just wondering whether I should be selling it and buying the complete edition or not? I know I can probably get the DLC slightly cheaper but it it's on disc I would prefer it that way!

Anybody know?

Cheers,

Ryan

[boybrown]

The complete edition is just under 18 pounds now on Zavvis website - worth getting if you haven't already tried it.

Thanks for this. I've been waiting for it to drop under £20. For some reason this didn't show up on my Gametracker watchlist.

I got a dispatched email and i only ordered it at 2pm

[DC]

Chaps.

Loved this game but havent touched any of the paid for DLC (I've only just unlocked the free Uplay thing). Is it all worth getting? And also should be getting the 560pt DLC with the secret templar locations or just the bog standard 320 one?

[Snowman]

Some choice quotes from earlier in the thread:

Some of the conversations in the Forli DLC aren't working for me, the characters are talking but there is no voice... FFS UBISOFT!!

I quite enjoyed Forli, but so far Bonfire of the Vanities is a bit shit, plays just like AC1. Whenever you trigger a memory, your notoriety meter is maxed out in a cheap-as-fuck way to make it more difficult. It's also buggy.

edit: Guys, Bonfire of the Vanities is actually quite a bit shit. You know the assassin side-quests you get in the game? The memories in BOTV are just just nine glorified versions of them, with very little in the form of plot or cinematics, which is actually where Battle of Forli excelled.

I just finished playing through the new sequences. On the one hand, it's more Assassin's Creed. The gameplay works as well as ever and the new content fleshes out both the plot and the city of Forli. On the other hand, it feels like Ubisoft fired their QA department and then shoved this out of the door to make a quick buck at our expense. Like Captain LeChuck, I came across plenty of bugs, all involving voice work going awry. Some lines of dialogue would play over the top of each other, a few would echo for no good reason and others would be missing entirely. It was pretty shoddy.

Enjoy your piles of money, Ubisoft.

The DLC is a mixed bag, basically. Regarding your question about the extra Templar locations, it all depends on how much you enjoyed the other secret locations in the game. If you fancy playing more of the same, you might as well pay the extra 240 points.