A good game, but a sad disappointment.
At first, it was pretty cool, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, climbing towers and jumping and soaring in the air... Graphics stunning, game play smooth. But then, I realized, every GOOD ability had to be unlocked, same with weapons. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't be rewarded for killing big targets, but once you get the counter skill, things become useless. Dodge I used 5 times on 3 play throughs. The short blade though fun, just made me feel weak, so my broadsword was always out. Then once i got the counter ability for the Assassin's Blade, that's all I did.
The story to me, though intriguing at first, falls flat, mainly because of the repetition. The leaping from rooftops, it gets boring after you do it for the 10th time. Jumping from towers though still cool, takes too long. This is Assassin's Creed right? Sure you get to assassinate high profile targets, and guards and people who talk, but that's all. Most of the fighting is done with blades... not daggers in people's backs. The fighting is also repetitious as you always do the same thing no matter how many enemies. Counter, attack, Counter, attack or run for your life over the rooftops... Which unless you hide (sometimes in plain view) is useless because your enemies are just as agile as you are.
The best thing about this game was the first assassination, it felt so fresh, so new, but then it is the old tiresome repetitive thing over again. Run, climb, punch, collect, kill... and that over and over again. Forget what i said, the best part is riding/running through the fields, then getting off and having to fight 30 guys. That is fun, but not a neccesary part.
In my opinion this game deserved a 7, because it did bring interesting things to the table, and yes I played through it 3 times, but not for the story, only for the acheivments... I doubt I'll return it anytime soon, but I know that it might gather dust. A disappointment... With all the hype it stuck a knife in its own neck.
Graphics: 9
Gameplay: 7
Difficulty: 5
Story: 4
Learning curve: Probably 30 minutes (no fighting for the first 30 so maybe longer)