Assassin's Creed 2 is an unforgettable experience; a sequel that fulfills and exceeds the potential of the original.
AC2 takes the redeeming elements of Assassin's Creed part 1 and instead of giving them to the player at certain fine points, it gives them from beginning to end, expanding upon gameplay ideas of the original, and replacing AC1's repetitive down-moments with unique, memorable experiences that exhilarate and involve the player from beginning to end.
The gameplay is very similar to the original. The combat is improved with new moves, dozens of new weapons, and memorable and enjoyable ways to dispatch enemies. To be honest, killing people is alot easier in AC2. The weapons are more powerful, plentiful, and far more deadly. But this turns out to be a beneficial design decision, because for once you feel like a gifted killing machine, cutting a vengeful, meaningful path through anyone who is foolish enough to stand in your way. Gone are the long, sometimes dull swordfights of the original. In this game, it is much easier to step in between two enemies, legs together in a crucifix-pose and pierce their jugulars in grueseome fashion with your dual hidden-blades. The platforming is also improved. Not only does Ezio have all of Altair's skills, he is even more agile and gifted... and as the game progresses, you are given a steady diet of new abilities, some of which pertain to climbing and jumping. There is alot of exploring to be done, and rarely has discovery been so rewarding.
It's hard to describe the visuals in Assassin's Creed II except to say they surpass the originals by a longshot, but also surpass almost any expectations, however high they may be, of a high-profile game in this era. The cities of Renassiance Italy are so lovingly and beautifully recreated I felt a sense of awe and grandeur and was honestly overwhelmed when I first visited Venice (the game's largest and most beautiful city). I don't know if I've ever seen a game this beautiful. Many moments of Assassin's Creed II are filled with conversation. In this scenes, the in-game engine is used in a close up. The characters faces, although not perfect, all give a sense of authenticity to the era -- nobles with grungy teeth, old men with weary eyes. And since the game takes place over a decade, the main characters also age, changing facial hair and hairstyIe as time passes.
But these cosmetic improvements pale in comparison to the heart of the game -- a heartfelt and intimately told tale of a young noble who's life is dictated by his family's past. You feel his pain and disillusionment as he goes from a carefree teenager on the streets of Florence, chasing girls and running from their fathers, to a haunted murderer chasing vengaence and answers always just slightly out of his grasp. The game lets you play the backstory, for the most part (it begins at Ezio's birth... literally), but also reminds you with a large back catalog of documents, letters, and glyphs for you to discover. Ezio has alot of personality, one of the more flushed out characters in recent gaming history. No more nonsensical blatherings like Altair in the original. As the game progresses, your character makes friends. One of which is the famous artist Leonardo Di Vinci. This character essentially becomes your best friend, and you are with him through his triumphs, downfalls, and tragedies, as he is with you. The game creates a very convincing bond with most of the characters, and Ezio's interactions with his friends are warm, comfortable, and effortless -- with his enemies, cold and merciless.
The game's soundtrack also deserves praise. Jesper Kyd once again takes the reigns as the composer, and I'll be damned if he isn't one of the most gifted VG musicians ever. Of course, this is no synthesized, feaux-orchestral nonsense. The music is hauntingly beautiful -- well composed, crafted, and very obviously performed by a real orchestra. It adds alot to the game. As does the voice acting. Much of the game is spoken in Italian and broken-english, so it's best to put on subtitles as not to miss a syllable. The game is well written and beautifully performed. Not one time will you ever take pause from poorly delivered dialogue. I can't think of a game this generation with a better voice acting cast.
Assassin's Creed II is a superior piece of work, bordering on art. There are no lulls or dull points in the game. In fact, there are so many surprises and unexpected gameplay twists that I'd be a fool to ruin them here for you. The game's only real flaws are the some minor bugs and occasional crashes. The game took 28 hours to complete, and there is still plenty of interesting content to explore.