Ubisoft has a released a video of new Assassin's Creed II gameplay. The video is essentially the same demonstration given at the Penny Arcade Expo, though a few things shown at the expo have been omitted. Specifically, the video doesn't show the ability to throw money on the ground [update: Yes it does.] -- which will cause peasants to scramble after it -- or the ability to blend in with any crowd -- not just groups of monks and citizens on benches.
Still, the video shows off a great deal of the game's new features, including the wrist cannon, new side missions, improved Eagle Vision, the new economy system, indoor challenge areas and, our favorite, poison. Watch it. You know you want to.
its pretty much unavoidable to not be labeled repetitive for a sandbox type game.
anyways its interesting that they're using the xbox version to show off the game, maybe they feel more confident in the 360 version but even with that the game does seem to have a high amount of screen tearing. the parallax mapping is really impressive on the roofing shingles.
This game is definately looking like a huge improvement over Assassins Creed, I especially like how there seems to be the option to assassinated people stealthily.
looks like they added a few things to try not to be stale but it's hard for them to overcome the sheer bordom i got about 3/4 way thru first one. will check it out but doubt i'll buy unless really join it during rental
Holy crepes, that looks awesome. You can really see the cross-pollination between the different Ubisoft Montreal games; the mark and execute in Splinter Cell: Conviction being in this game as well, seen when he marks the one guard with a red dot before pulling him off the ledge, and when he assassinates the other with an aerial attack.
The animations also look a lot smoother, and they link together in a much more fluid way. Note how the camera follows Ezio smoothly when he swings around corners on the chandeliers, this isn't something you saw much of in Assassin's Creed 1.
I co-sign. I seen this video much earlier, today, and, at first, I didn't want to watch it because I just want da damn game, period! However, I thought about it a moment and decided that I'd let this vid wet my appetite for the game, even more.
This game looks so much further ahead of the first. The first was a great foundation, though. I can't help but wonder, though, if Sony never lost this as an exclusive, how much better it coulda been on the PS3 with more disc space and the included HDDs in all SKUs. Maybe Sony could broker an exclusive for the 3rd entry. Lol. Doubt THAT would happen.
Well now its more like Prince of Persia which is great since Assassins Creed POP elements were bland especially compared to other games before it but did they just mix it with Batman Arkham Assylum? The sound effects of the bats are the same used in Batman.
Still is far from the "Hitman" assasination they first promise us but they are comming close.Extra bonus points awarded for removing the fracking flags.
[I was Florence and I actually recognize 2 of the buildings, yay ]
Eh... I really preferred the PAX presentation that's been floating around on the internet over this. Patrice was far more charming in his presentation, and actually made for an interesting watch. While I appreciate being able to see the game's actual graphics instead of a crappy shakey cam, the guy who's narrating this video is just... bleh.
Its like a French-Canadian trying really hard to pull off a bad American accent.
maybe I'm weird, but I'm not excited by this in the least. The key to any fantasy-based story is to make it believable. I can't imagine ANY assassin killing the way he was killing. It's sloppy, relying specifically on absurdly complicated technology and supurbly dumb AI.
Playing an assassin in most games requires patience, stealth, and skill. there shouldn't be scenes of you chasing guards, pulling people out of crowded areas in broad daylight, swinging on lamps and accurately shooting people on rooftops with wrist mounted black powder pistols.
I'm curious why haven't they shown any footage of Desmond and the world beyond the animus.
Is that really a big secret?
Seriously that's what got me into AC1 in the first place, add to that the Arabian atmosphere.
Ubi better add more than easter eggs to Desmond's world this time, or I'll be really mad.
That is, if there's still a Desmond left!
I feel that this could be a prequel, concerning Subject Sixteen .. But that would definitely alienate a lot of people who learned about Desmond in the first game and loved his character.
HEAR ME Ubisoft! Show us the real world in AC2! not the Animus world.
In my personal opinion, the real enjoyment of AC is the ability to shift between two worlds. I'm sure the developers understand that.
Sorta like a fantasy machine.
Every time I play as الطائر I waited for them to pull me out. that's where I enjoyed the game the most.
Ubisoft has stated that Desmond will do "more than just walk" in this game. Not entirely sure why they're keeping that aspect of the game so secret, though. Better be good, because I agree, I liked that sci-fi/real-world aspect of AC1 as well.
For some reason, the game world they've been showing looks really... bland, at least to me. I mean, in the screenshots it looked great, but in the gameplay videos, the city (Florence) looks like its missing something. Specifically, people. Maybe what they've been showing is just a quick demo build, or something, I dunno.
Another thing is the textures and such, they just seem to be low-quality or something. Maybe it's just me. *shrugs*
I do like what I've seen of Venice so far, though. Very nice, and the gameplay itself looks great. Looking forward to this game.
Is it just me or does the game look like the added content has made the overall presentation suffer somewhat... the animations just dont seem as smooth in transition and dont appear as concrete feeling as the first one. (this is all just going off of videos, so hopefully it will feel better to actually play) One of the main things I loved about the first game was how it felt to play.
I just fear this will suffer the same fate as Skate2. Tons more to do, but the core charm and polish of the game suffered too much for the added content to make up for it. Hopefully I am wrong
really lookin forward to AC2, i enjoyed 1 but i got bored during second playthru and never finished: some gameplay mechanics were tiresome the second time thru but i really fell asleep on the story. hopefully they do a better job with that part this time
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TypeF @ Sep 9th 2009 6:28PM
i hope the missions are not repetetive like AC1
DeepFriedSushi @ Sep 9th 2009 9:27PM
its pretty much unavoidable to not be labeled repetitive for a sandbox type game.
anyways its interesting that they're using the xbox version to show off the game, maybe they feel more confident in the 360 version but even with that the game does seem to have a high amount of screen tearing. the parallax mapping is really impressive on the roofing shingles.
WiredKnight @ Sep 9th 2009 6:28PM
"...ability to throw money on the ground..."
I'll be happy if it just makes those damn beggars leave you alone.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Sep 9th 2009 6:48PM
But it was so fun to run straight into a crowd of beggars and watch them fall down like bowling pins.
MikeO. @ Sep 9th 2009 10:18PM
But PLEASE sir, I haven't got any money? I'm poor and sick and hungry!
I loved Assassin's Creed to death but I swear they repeated the same 5 lines for 15 hours.
i.c. weiner @ Sep 9th 2009 11:13PM
i wish i could throw money on the women and be like " MAKE IT RAIN!"
Mandos117 @ Sep 9th 2009 6:30PM
"Specifically, the video doesn't show the ability to throw money on the ground"
Actually, it does.....
Sly Cooper, Attorney at Law @ Sep 9th 2009 6:57PM
yeah, right after he uses the eagle vision to spot the target.
J-Link @ Sep 9th 2009 6:32PM
This game is definately looking like a huge improvement over Assassins Creed, I especially like how there seems to be the option to assassinated people stealthily.
Dan (PSNID: SnapAttack) @ Sep 9th 2009 8:22PM
You could in the first game O_o
Ryan Hamilton @ Sep 9th 2009 6:36PM
So mini Tomb Raider games exist under Florence Italy?
ShadowMonkey987 @ Sep 11th 2009 3:26AM
no there like the challenge rooms for extra life in the prince of persia game (not the 2008 one) the sands of time, warrior within, the two thrones..
remember they had challenge rooms where by if you completed the room you were given extra life.. as the game went on the challenges got harder...
Space @ Sep 9th 2009 6:45PM
wow I haven't been this bored with a gameplay video since wet
Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Sep 9th 2009 8:03PM
I just wanted to let you know that I downvoted you. Just a heads up before you see your comment faded.
ziggen @ Sep 9th 2009 6:50PM
That loud bang from his gun didn't alert anything... wow
arrrgh @ Sep 10th 2009 10:26AM
I wondered about that too.... seemed like a purposefully loud and echoing boom put in for nothing
Sly Cooper, Attorney at Law @ Sep 9th 2009 6:54PM
"wrist cannon" ... "poison" ...
DO WANT.
Chris_Mac @ Sep 9th 2009 7:08PM
Looks like they've really taken on a lot of the criticisms of the first game, which I loved, should be reet fun.
Still not sure about those glider shenanigans though...
Ashitaka @ Sep 10th 2009 11:22AM
Yeah, same here. I wanted a somewhat historically correct game but I guess that's not what Ubisoft wants.
And that gun used to kill the guard that did an effing loud BANG that didn't alert anyone? That seems kinda odd too.
polecya @ Sep 9th 2009 7:13PM
Assassin's Creed II looks legit!
AvA (ice~) @ Sep 9th 2009 9:59PM
of course it's legitimate. it's a sequel to the first, produced by Ubisoft. how could it be fake?
I hate the new use of the word "legit"...so annoying, no offense to you at all!
freaparn @ Sep 9th 2009 10:19PM
New use of the word? Wasn't MC Hammer too legit to quit back in 1991?
Lagster @ Sep 9th 2009 7:14PM
looks like they added a few things to try not to be stale but it's hard for them to overcome the sheer bordom i got about 3/4 way thru first one.
will check it out but doubt i'll buy unless really join it during rental
Aeshir @ Sep 9th 2009 7:20PM
Holy crepes, that looks awesome. You can really see the cross-pollination between the different Ubisoft Montreal games; the mark and execute in Splinter Cell: Conviction being in this game as well, seen when he marks the one guard with a red dot before pulling him off the ledge, and when he assassinates the other with an aerial attack.
The animations also look a lot smoother, and they link together in a much more fluid way. Note how the camera follows Ezio smoothly when he swings around corners on the chandeliers, this isn't something you saw much of in Assassin's Creed 1.
Adam Archer @ Sep 9th 2009 7:22PM
quite excited by this. hopefully the developers will give me enough incentive to, you know, actually finish the game this time. :P
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 9th 2009 7:41PM
I miss the Genesis song.
Obie @ Sep 9th 2009 7:46PM
I enjoyed the first AC, and this one seems to fix many issues that bugged me about the first game. I'll keep my eye on this one..
panzerklein @ Sep 9th 2009 7:47PM
Well that video justified my Pre-Order of the Black Edition.
And restored my Faith in the Franchise....now let hope the faith survives Initial Contact with the game in November.
MikeO. @ Sep 9th 2009 10:23PM
You have multiple unnecessary capitalizations in your sentence, yet your name is in all lowercase.
*head asplodes*
Special Agent Steve @ Sep 9th 2009 7:47PM
Looks a lot better than the first, and I loved the first one.
TreyIM @ Sep 9th 2009 8:00PM
I co-sign. I seen this video much earlier, today, and, at first, I didn't want to watch it because I just want da damn game, period! However, I thought about it a moment and decided that I'd let this vid wet my appetite for the game, even more.
This game looks so much further ahead of the first. The first was a great foundation, though. I can't help but wonder, though, if Sony never lost this as an exclusive, how much better it coulda been on the PS3 with more disc space and the included HDDs in all SKUs. Maybe Sony could broker an exclusive for the 3rd entry. Lol. Doubt THAT would happen.
Shadowbender (Sweatshop Supporter In Hiding) @ Sep 9th 2009 8:00PM
I smell GOTY, I smell pure awesome right here. I cannot wait for this.
Felix @ Sep 9th 2009 8:34PM
Wow the inside of a church! I am sooo intrigued. How will the top that in AC3? The inside of a larger church
Seriously I hope AC2 is better that the first one. Maybe if they just made the first one shorter?
Mr. Manly ESC Mcbeefington Ferguson The Second @ Sep 9th 2009 9:00PM
Well now its more like Prince of Persia which is great since Assassins Creed POP elements were bland especially compared to other games before it but did they just mix it with Batman Arkham Assylum? The sound effects of the bats are the same used in Batman.
Still is far from the "Hitman" assasination they first promise us but they are comming close.Extra bonus points awarded for removing the fracking flags.
[I was Florence and I actually recognize 2 of the buildings, yay ]
Darkpen @ Sep 9th 2009 9:13PM
Eh... I really preferred the PAX presentation that's been floating around on the internet over this. Patrice was far more charming in his presentation, and actually made for an interesting watch. While I appreciate being able to see the game's actual graphics instead of a crappy shakey cam, the guy who's narrating this video is just... bleh.
Its like a French-Canadian trying really hard to pull off a bad American accent.
freaparn @ Sep 9th 2009 10:17PM
Heh... I believe that's because he's an interpreter, and not the actual dev.
toxicinzanity @ Sep 10th 2009 5:53AM
this made me cum bubbles
xFenixKnightx @ Sep 9th 2009 9:55PM
B-E-A-utiful! I want it, NAO!
Nate @ Sep 9th 2009 11:26PM
maybe I'm weird, but I'm not excited by this in the least. The key to any fantasy-based story is to make it believable. I can't imagine ANY assassin killing the way he was killing. It's sloppy, relying specifically on absurdly complicated technology and supurbly dumb AI.
Playing an assassin in most games requires patience, stealth, and skill. there shouldn't be scenes of you chasing guards, pulling people out of crowded areas in broad daylight, swinging on lamps and accurately shooting people on rooftops with wrist mounted black powder pistols.
james @ Sep 10th 2009 12:01AM
the only thing im not really diggin is the weapon wheel. what was so nice aboot the first was it was a nice quick weapon select system.
Nineteen88 @ Sep 10th 2009 12:18AM
I'm curious why haven't they shown any footage of Desmond and the world beyond the animus.
Is that really a big secret?
Seriously that's what got me into AC1 in the first place, add to that the Arabian atmosphere.
Ubi better add more than easter eggs to Desmond's world this time, or I'll be really mad.
That is, if there's still a Desmond left!
I feel that this could be a prequel, concerning Subject Sixteen .. But that would definitely alienate a lot of people who learned about Desmond in the first game and loved his character.
HEAR ME Ubisoft! Show us the real world in AC2! not the Animus world.
In my personal opinion, the real enjoyment of AC is the ability to shift between two worlds. I'm sure the developers understand that.
Sorta like a fantasy machine.
Every time I play as الطائر I waited for them to pull me out. that's where I enjoyed the game the most.
Vertimyst @ Sep 10th 2009 1:17AM
Ubisoft has stated that Desmond will do "more than just walk" in this game. Not entirely sure why they're keeping that aspect of the game so secret, though. Better be good, because I agree, I liked that sci-fi/real-world aspect of AC1 as well.
WiredKnight @ Sep 10th 2009 4:55AM
I'm guessing as they get farther into the series, Desmond will become the main assassin that the player is controlling, no more VR flashbacks.
Vertimyst @ Sep 10th 2009 1:22AM
For some reason, the game world they've been showing looks really... bland, at least to me. I mean, in the screenshots it looked great, but in the gameplay videos, the city (Florence) looks like its missing something. Specifically, people. Maybe what they've been showing is just a quick demo build, or something, I dunno.
Another thing is the textures and such, they just seem to be low-quality or something. Maybe it's just me. *shrugs*
I do like what I've seen of Venice so far, though. Very nice, and the gameplay itself looks great. Looking forward to this game.
Vertimyst @ Sep 10th 2009 1:23AM
...also, off-topic, but any idea why my avatar keeps changing back to the default Mario?
Sid @ Sep 10th 2009 3:44AM
The first one was great....
This one looks... uh...greater!!
sgltito @ Sep 10th 2009 9:27AM
This reminds me of infamous. Where you have to go in the sewers to turn the electricity back on than you get a new move
arrrgh @ Sep 10th 2009 10:32AM
Is it just me or does the game look like the added content has made the overall presentation suffer somewhat... the animations just dont seem as smooth in transition and dont appear as concrete feeling as the first one. (this is all just going off of videos, so hopefully it will feel better to actually play) One of the main things I loved about the first game was how it felt to play.
I just fear this will suffer the same fate as Skate2. Tons more to do, but the core charm and polish of the game suffered too much for the added content to make up for it. Hopefully I am wrong
RedSonRising @ Sep 11th 2009 1:55PM
really lookin forward to AC2, i enjoyed 1 but i got bored during second playthru and never finished: some gameplay mechanics were tiresome the second time thru but i really fell asleep on the story. hopefully they do a better job with that part this time