Review: Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3)

Despite getting some good reviews many gamers found Assassin's Creed to be the Emperor's new clothes. I have to agree. Away from the flashy technology (on the Xbox version at least - the PS3 one ran like a lame dog) and interesting premise the game was hampered by very little to actually do - and what there was to do was rather repetitive.

Ubisoft took the criticism on the chin and it's clear that this sequel sets out to right many of these perceived wrongs. The cities in Assassin's Creed 2 are more than just pretty locations for cookie-cutter missions, with many side missions now that are tied into the main story rather than being afterthoughts.

Some of the tonal problems with the first game have been fixed too. There's no hero with an American accent here fighting filthy foreigners. Instead everyone has a really terrible Italian accent, equality in action.

A new beginning

So once again there's the continuation of that rubbish sci-fi plot. Oh how I wish a publisher just had the balls to set a game in Renaissance Italy rather than having some hokey reason. Playing a character who is playing a videogame is not really as compelling as being closer to the action.

But away from the silly sci-fi subplot there's much to enjoy in the tale of Ezio, the downfall of his family and how he takes revenge. The script is mostly pretty good - telling a tale that has enough of a believable frame that some of the sillier moments work well.

I wish the same could be said for the voice acting though. Many of performances are pretty flat. When a girl's father dies one expects to get more emotion that the rather muted performance seen in this game. Some of the acting is the weak link in Assassin's Creed 2 - letting down the storyline and adventure itself. Though there are a few good performances in there and thankfully our lead works well.

Lots to see and do

Once again the focus of the game is leaping around on rooftops and killing the occasional villain. The free running feels more convincing this time around and there seem to have been some subtle changes to the controls and feedback that mean it didn't feel as uninvolving as the first game.

Those tasks that worked in the first game have been brought back - such as scaling the highest points to scan the map. These are the moments when it's clear how detailed and gorgeous these cities are. Florence is a wonderful start but that's only the beginning. Kudos to the art team for really bringing this beautiful period to life - and the historic vignettes in the database are equally welcome. In an age of dumber games being given a potted history of the churches of Renaissance Florence is quite something.

While there are numerous side missions such as races across rooftops and delivery of packages some of the new features actually tie into the main game. Collecting hidden feathers from around the map has a consequence for a character in Ezio's family, collecting codex pieces furthers one's understanding of the bigger picture. These all help the game feel connected and less like a tech demo.

Worthy Sequel

While the city graphics are impressive the facial animation is less so, but on the whole the game looks very good indeed. If you've both consoles though I'd urge you to get the game on Xbox 360 rather than PlayStation 3 - there's way more screen tearing on the Sony console and more texture blurring. However both games do look pretty good - unlike the original Assassin's Creed where the PS3 game was pretty awful.

Sound effects are very good - I can't be the only one whose favourite effect is the little ceramic chink as you run across roof tiles? And apart from the acting, the rest of the soundscape is very good - the score is very stirring and subdued at the right points.

Forgetting the silly sci-fi story and instead focussing on the good stuff what we have here in Assassin's Creed 2 is a thrilling action adventure, with plenty of varied tasks, more variable combat, engaging characters and it all taking place in some of the most beautiful locations ever recreated in a videogame. What's not to like.

Now Ubisoft, before the the story inevitably finishes with a modern setting Grand Theft Auto rip-off how about we have an episode set in Georgian London?