Assassin's Creed 2 Details Emerge From Shadows, Stabs Us With Stilleto

[Ink Asylum]

Apparently ScrewAttack got their hands on the upcoming issue of Game Informer with details about the upcoming Assassin's Creed sequel.

What I'm excited about: SPOILERS AHEAD

- Da Vincis workshop is in the game
- Locations include Saint Marks Basilica, The Grand Canal, The Little Canal, and the Rialto bridge.
- The game opens in 1476, Altair is from 1191
- So you do indeed play as a new ancestor of Altair / Desmond
-You will see the countryside of Tuscany
- Big characters are in the game including Machiavelli, Caterina Sofrza, and Lorenzo de Medici

When I completed Assassin's Creed 1 I right away hoped that the sequel would be in Renaissance era Italy with a new Assassin. Looks like my wishes have been granted. There is so much awesome potential for a game in that setting, and so much amazing architecture to climb. I can't wait. Love or hate the series, it is picking some very unique settings that haven't been touched on often in games, if at all. Good for them, as long as Assassin's Creed 3 doesn't take place in World War II Europe.

- Game will feature a new notoriety system that governs how enemy soldiers and people will treat you.
- 16 unique mission types.
- Hidden objects (like flags in the first one) are there to uncover but this time if you track them down you will get in-game bonuses that make it worth your time.
- New enemy types with unique attitudes and weaknesses are present in the game. Archers are mentioned, as well as elite enemies, dagger wielders, "Brutish" armored troops with heavy armor and 2 handed swords and axes, and an intelligent halberd enemy will probe hiding places with their weapons if they think you're near by.

Nice to see they're taking the "repetitious" criticisms to heart and expanding on many areas of the game.

- There is now a night and day sequence in the game.
- YOU DO INDEED GLIDE on Da Vincis flying machine.

You are now Renaissance Era Batman.

Except you look like this:

[National Kato]

They needed to add a day/night cycle, so I'm glad that's happening. Crouching upon Renaissance-era cathedrals in the moonlight as citizens and guards walk the streets below, unawares?

Yes, please.

[Ink Asylum]

Then swooping down with your DaVinci crafted wings over an unsuspecting guard, only to drop down on his back and jab your twin wrist-knives into his neck.

[National Kato]

Running through the cobbled streets after your kill is discovered by a guard standing in the shadows of a recessed alcove, oil lamps creating dancing shadows out of the corner of your eye.

[DoctorFinger]

Moved to news, and edited the title.

[Hellbug]

Still doesn't address the whole, "The main character must rely on blending in, yet he sticks out like a sore thumb!" issue that some people had with the first game. Oh well, I'm still excited for the game.

[NotJeff]

Adding in-game bonuses for flag collection doesn't make me want to do it. But it probably does make me do it.

[DoctorFinger]

Originally Posted by Hellbug

Still doesn't address the whole, "The main character must rely on blending in, yet he sticks out like a sore thumb!" issue that some people had with the first game. Oh well, I'm still excited for the game.

I hear you, but that's just one of those suspension of disbelief moments. The character has to 'pop' against the background, and he wouldn't if he was authentically stealthy.

[cawblen]

Originally Posted by Ink Asylum

is it me, or does our new friend in the photo above have all 10 of his fingers?

[GigaFuzz]

Originally Posted by cawblen

is it me, or does our new friend in the photo above have all 10 of his fingers?

Technology's obviously moved on some in 300 years. You no longer need to sacrifice a finger to make it work.

[Digital Outlaw]

Great news, hopefully Q4 2009

[DoctorFinger]

Yeah, he has wrist sheathes instead of the missing digit.

[Raen]

Originally Posted by GigaFuzz

Technology's obviously moved on some in 300 years. You no longer need to sacrifice a finger to make it work.

Exactly what I was going to say. Everything looks a lot more mechanical and cog based from looking closely at the shot and from the stuff shown on the teaser site.

Also please, please, please crossbow this time

[Camel]

Originally Posted by cawblen

is it me, or does our new friend in the photo above have all 10 of his fingers?

Yeah, the middle 2 are together behind the blades. At first it looks like he's missing a finger on each hand, though.

I'm really looking forward to this game. I know a lot of people really didn't dig the first game, but I loved it. It looked great, and I enjoyed just climbing all over the place. It may have been very repetitious, but I thought the stuff I was doing over and over again was fun.

EDIT: Whoa, I didn't know he was SUPPOSED to be missing a finger. How the heck did I miss that from the first game?

SUPER DOUBLE EDIT: Also, I thought the setting for the first AC was fantastic. I was worried that the second game wouldn't be able to live up to that, but Renaissance Italy sounds great!

[torrefaction]

Originally Posted by Hellbug

Still doesn't address the whole, "The main character must rely on blending in, yet he sticks out like a sore thumb!" issue that some people had with the first game. Oh well, I'm still excited for the game.

Those people must have REALLY hated Hitman.

*Edit*

What I'd love most is if they had other Assassin's you had to worry about creeping after you on the rooftops.

[Virtual Pariah]

I Liked the 1st game, but would enjoy some changes.

1. Allow me to actually complete an assassination in secret, instead of a scripted scene.
2. How about allowing us to change costumes and "blend in"
3. Reduce the Desmond sequences to make them less frequent, but more relevant.
4. Add some variety to the characters. I don't want to save the same 3 or 4 voice actors over and over again.
5. Save some useless money being spent and drop Kristen Bell. You don't need celebrity voices, just good voice actors.

[Virtual Pariah]

Originally Posted by torrefaction

What I'd love most is if they had other Assassin's you had to worry about creeping after you on the rooftops.

I'd like to see that more as a separate multi-player mode.
Not in story yet. Save that for when we actually have to play as Desmond in a future game.

[Ink Asylum]

Thanks for the move/edit. This is a much cooler title.

I think Eizo's outfit will blend in much better in Venice than it did in Jerusalem. The half cape should help hide his swords, too. I've heard that the Carnival of Venice will be happening during the game, which should allow for much greater subterfuge, perhaps using masks instead of hiding amongst monks.

Perhaps Eizo still has all his fingers because he's an apprentice assassin? The finger-chopping might bte part of an initiation. Just a thought.

[Ravenlock]

That costume is Bad. Ass.

Loved the first one, the repetition didn't bother me at all, everything you did was fun and flowed so very smoothly. Some of the most cinematic and enjoyable combat I've ever seen in any game. One of the few games I actually finished last year.

This is high on my list.

[Ink Asylum]

So far we've only heard about Venice but does anyone think they'll stick to just one city? If we're going to be exploring the countryside of Tuscany what other cities are big enough to make it into the game?

Florence seems like a given. Let me climb this:


Pisa, anyone?