Assassin's Creed II

About Assassin's Creed II

Ubisoft Montreal released Assassin's Creed II on November 17, 2009, for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, and iOS. This title stars Ezio Auditore, a young nobleman whose family gets murdered by the Borgia. He swears revenge while training under the orders of Niccolò Machiavelli. The story unfolds during the Italian Renaissance across cities like Florence, Venice, and Rome. You explore these locations on foot or by horseback while using parkour to cross rooftops and canals. The game focuses on a single-player campaign where you uncover a conspiracy involving ancient artifacts called Pieces of Eden. It builds directly on the foundation of the first game but expands the world significantly with more freedom and detailed historical settings.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time navigating crowded streets, climbing towers, and hiding in plain sight to avoid guards. The core loop involves tracking specific targets while maintaining a high level of social stealth. Combat feels weighty and requires timing parries and counters rather than button mashing. You gain access to new gadgets from Leonardo Da Vinci, including the hidden gun and poison darts, which change how you approach objectives. Missions often require you to infiltrate heavily guarded estates using distraction tactics or rooftop routes. You can also engage in side activities like courier runs or horse races to earn money for upgrades. The open world structure lets you ignore main missions if you want to explore the vibrant Renaissance architecture or hunt for collectibles scattered throughout the city.

What Players Think

Critics and players agree this entry hits harder than its predecessor. Metacritic holds a score of 89 out of 100, while IGDB shows an average rating of 88.5 based on over 3,000 user ratings. The community vibe leans heavily toward emotional engagement with one vote recorded for that specific mood and another for cooperative play, though the game remains single-player only. Review snippets praise the fluid movement system and the depth of the story. Players often cite the Venice chapter as a standout moment due to the unique canal-based traversal options. Average playtime suggests many users invest dozens of hours completing all side quests and collectibles rather than rushing through the main narrative. The high completion rates indicate strong player retention throughout the entire campaign.

PlayPile's Take

This game is for anyone who wants a strong historical setting without needing modern multiplayer features. The price point varies by platform but offers significant value given the 89 Metacritic score. You get access to over 20 achievements that track your mastery of stealth and combat skills. Some players find the main story slightly predictable, yet the execution remains top-tier. I recommend it if you want a polished single-player experience with excellent parkour mechanics. Skip this title only if you dislike slow-paced storytelling or prefer action games with constant combat encounters. The Venice section alone justifies the download for most fans of the genre.

Storyline

The lineage continues as this new chapter introduces Ezio, inheritor of the talents and creed of the Assassins. His family murdered by rival families, Ezio resolves to learn the ancient art of the Assassin in order to seek revenge. He will not do so alone though, allying with historical figures such as philosopher and writer Niccolò Machiavelli. You will also be able to master the art of the assassin with all new weapons and instruments created by the renowned inventor and genius of the Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci himself.