There are a lot of games out there that try to push things forward, taking gaming to the next level, and letting the player experience something they never have before. Sometimes, great ideas can have side effects, as the gameplay surrounding them falls under. That was the case with the first Assassin’s Creed

                Then there are the games that do nothing original, but everything they do is tight and wrapped up in an amazing experience, best exemplified by Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Here’s a game that does nothing new, but almost everything well.

                Enter Assassin’s Creed 2, a game that could fall into both categories.  It’s a sequel to a game that did everything new, but because it’s a follow-up, it doesn’t change much from its predecessor’s successes. However, like its predecessor, there is still nothing else like it.

                The original Assassin’s Creed had a lot of problems and the developers have promised that they have fixed all the issues since the last game. The question is, does that hold true? If it is, does it have enough new stuff to make it more than what the original was supposed to be? Can it convince the haters of the original to give the Animus one last chance? Maybe.

                The story this time around is much, much better than the first one’s sometimes boring plot. For starters, the main character, Ezio, is a much more relatable guy than his cold, faceless ancestor Altair. Ezio has a more true motivation, with the murder of his father and brothers driving him through his quest of revenge and bringing the Templars to justice. The story can wear on you, as each time one problem is solved another emerges. It’s an over used story structure, but it doesn’t ruin the plot to the point where you lose interest. 

                The presentation of the story is good, too. There are a lot of interesting characters, whose dialogue makes theme believable and cool. Of course, like the last game, authenticity has never been so impressive, and cameos from character’s like Leonardo Da Vinci add some familiarity that was missing from the original. Oh, and those who hated the Animus involvement in the original will find it more bearable here.

                One of the largest complaints I had, as many others did, was how repetitive things got. Sure, the roof-running was a blast, but who wants to sit on a bench and listen to conversations eighty billion times? Things here are way better. There are many more mission types now, and sometimes they are even mixed together in interesting combinations. Diversity was obviously a clear objective in Assassin’s Creed 2, making each mission feel more involved and new.

However, the game might still feel repetitive by the end because of its incredible length. I finished it the first time through in 21 hours. That’s a lot of game your getting, and even if it does become repetitive, that will be after hours of great gameplay. Even then, the story will inspire you to see the game through to the end. While I haven’t had this problem, it is definitely possible, as some others who have also played the game found it repetitive near the end.

There is also a lot more to do outside of the main game now. One of my favorites is the shop. You can buy weapons and armor, health potions, maps, and clothes. Collectibles, like feathers, chests, and codex pages, actually have rewards this time, too. No disappointment where you collect them all and gain nothing.

Then there’s the villa, a cool idea that I enjoyed, but also somewhat unbalances the economy. You can pay for civic services to attract citizens or to make and upgrade shops. The more citizens there are, the more cash piles up, and if you concentrate on upgrading, you are inevitably going to end up richer than Bill Gates.

There are also a lot of side missions, but the path to the end is much more clear this time around. There’s one way to go, but you’re allowed to explore enough that it never feels like you are on a leash.

One of the most impressive parts of the first game was its incredible parkour system. You could run up any building as long as you could find a handhold. You can navigate at lightning speeds, but precision still isn’t there, but it is rarely required.

Combat, another complaint about the first, hasn’t gotten the over-haul it needs, but the expansion it’s been given makes it much more enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, you’ll still be relying on counter-kills, but new weapons keep things interesting. You can take enemies weapons as well, but be careful of them doing the same to you. While your foes do have new tricks up their sleeves (no, that doesn't mean a hidden blade), they are still incredibly stupid.

Thankfully, the ability that let you blend into the crowd from the first game has changed. You can no longer hold a button and seem invisible. Now, its as simple as slipping into a crowd unseen. You can also distract guards with prostitutes or thieves, or get others to fight on your side.

The Metroid style from the last game returns, now in the body of Leonardo Da Vinci, who will give you upgrades and weapons like TWO hidden blades or a flying machine (the latter is only used briefly). Travel is easier thanks to water, where you can swim or hop on a boat and glide around.

The graphics in Assassin’s Creed II are impressive thanks to two thing- authenticity and animation.  The attention the developer’s paid to realism is evident in every city, from Florence to Tuscany. The animations of Ezio are also incredibly believable, making you feel like he’s a real person inside a game world. Issues like poor character models, pop in, and slow frame rate can, at times, take you out of the experience, but it is nothing that breaks the game.

Assassin’s Creed II as a whole is a little hard to explain. It is undoubtedly a sequel to the first one, as the core is very much the same, but with so many great improvements and additions, even people who hated the first game will want to give a go. Similar to Fable II, it is everything the first game should have been, but that doesn’t it any less enjoyable.