Assassin's Creed II

[Shadow Wave]

Got the black edition.... its not really worth the extra $50 (or 70 if you get a sale price)

regret buying it... the figurine is a nice size indeed, but its cheap flimsy plastic, his sword bends etc... when you pick up the box you will notice something is not right with the weight of it.
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[ManeKast]

Just grabbed it for $77 at dick smith. standard. 360.

{ps3 dead}

Looks cool so far.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[Benc82]

Yep I got the 360 version. Excellent game, but I loved the first one as well. This trumps it in everyway.
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XBL/PSN/Steam: BenC82

[sploggers]

Would anyone recommend playing the first game first to understand anything plot/story-wise, or am I safe to jump right in to this one and not get lost in a stuff that'll only make sense to people who've played the original? I didn't have a 360/PS3 when it originally came out.
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[Sinthesys]

Well, you can play the second one I guess and enjoy it, although you'll get a lot more out of it if you play through the first. The plot isn't overly complicated in the first, so I don't think jumping into number 2 blind is going to confuse you much. Most of the story was about 'Altair' in the past, which was wrapped up quite nicely, so the first game is rather self contained plot-wise. However, you might be thrown in the deep end and wonder what's happening in the 'present', but a quick browse over the synopsys should catch you up to speed.

If you really can't be bothered playing the first game, just browse over a wiki article of it or something, although keep in mind this will spoil the first game completely for you..
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GT: Da Herbalist - Keep on Choppin'

[ManeKast]

Am I going insane?

I cant even do the first race up to the clock tower, the controls have me jumping the wrong way off walls, just idliing on ledges, being stuck and basically I have spent 40 minutes pulling my hair out trying to do this first bit. Am I missing something?

This game has 30 minutes and its back to EB.
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[Peveus]

[ManeKast]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I get it now, must be getting old.

This game RULES>

Can someone spoiler tag me a basic synopsis of what went on in the first game and how it ends -> how this game starts? Bit lost on the story.........
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[Sinthesys]

Well, Desmond, the bartender is captured and put on 'the animus' a machine that can retrieve memories through DNA. Desmond, it turns out, is an ancestor of a long line of assassins, who are in a sort of sercret society that keeps order by killing meglomaniacs.

It turns out that in the DNA memories, the assassins are fighting the 'Templars': a bunch of christian knights who have a similarly secret organisation. It turns out the scientists who captured desmond are actually the modern day templars, and they are sifting through this DNA memory searching for the location of something (Holy relics, the whereabouts of other assassins etc). You learn after this that the assassin's guild is still alive and well in the modern day and they tried/failed to rescue you sometime during the course of the game. You were supposed to be executed after you finished on the animus, but you are saved by an assistant, some chick who's reasons for helping you are unknown. You seem to gain some of your ancestor's abilities as an assassin, and desmond can use eagle vision outside of the animus to see a bunch of confusing text written all over the modern day lab. The game ends and leaves you confused, with no conclusion to the plot.

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GT: Da Herbalist - Keep on Choppin'

[ManeKast]

Thanks.

As a first time player of the series: I must say to others, patience is a virtue........ this game after a few hours and some patience has blown my mind. Yet another AAA game this season..........
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PSN/XBL/Steam: ManeKast
Kudos to Fetidchimp for the sig.

[sploggers]

[Sin Ogaris]

I'm actually enjoying just running around in this one a lot more than in the first game, I think having the treasure chests really helps exploration, that and the various "odd jobs" you can do. Also breaking into banks is immensely enjoyable.

I'm still only in the very first area mind you, but it's a hell of a lot of fun and I can't wait until I start exploring more of the land.

[kaboose]

I'm really looking forward to getting ACII for Xmas this year. I just borrowed the first Assassins Creed off my friend to get up to date on the story (not to mention play a kick-ass game), so I'm quite pumped.

I have been considering buying the White Edition for the figurine and the awesome box, but I'm finding it hard to justify an extra $20 or so, especially with so many top-rate games coming out these days (ie, MW2, Borderlands, L4D2, ACII).
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[Capoeira]

I'm starting to get pretty excited about this game again. The only problem I'm facing now is figuring out whether to pick the game up on the 360 or PS3. I'm leaning towards the latter.
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Say You Want A Revolution

[Tooki]

Great game. I'm still in the first area but it's already more fun than the original. It looks like their is a LOT more to do especially in-between missions. That was a big flaw from the original.
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Year Of The Husky 2010

[Sin Ogaris]

There's also a lot more story progression to this game, whereas before nothing really felt all that connected other than killing each of the main dudes, in this, every mission is a part of the storyline, it actually makes each mission more engaging and the revamp of the blend system is a godsend, as are the glyph's, won't say more on them though so I don't spoil it for anyone.

I can see myself pushing for the full 1000 in this one, plus the whole UPlay thing is quite intriguing as well, already downloaded the exclusive theme, now I want to finish the game just to score yet another bonus mission. Hell, UPlay makes me anticipate SC: Conviction a hell of a lot more too.

My main qualm is that the actual free-running hasn't really changed at all, so it's still a little cumbersome, but once I get back into the swing of things it'll become second nature when to switch from sprint, to high profile, to low profile and back again. Another little quibble is that it would have been nice if changing your outfit colours had an effect on your notoriety, but that's a pretty minor greivance.

Fighting with the hidden blade freaking rocks though.

[Sinthesys]

I both groaned and laughed at the same time when you meet your uncle for the first time: Its a' me, mario!
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GT: Da Herbalist - Keep on Choppin'

[sharkfinblues]

I picked this up at EB and the guy tempted me with their final remaining Black edition. I'm not a collector at all, but did like the look of the figurine. For an extra $73 though - no way. I'm glad that I didn't. Don't need buyer's remorse screwing up my Friday!

As for the actual game, I totally agree with everything Sin Ogaris said. Ubisoft did good.

[Peveus]

Why does Lucy look like a muppet?

That's all I have to say.
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Currently Playing: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

[ObsoletE]

^ didn't notice that personally - was too busy watching her arse as she walked.
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[myzz]

Mine is in the mail - got it from dstore
I decided to get the white edition, I was soooo pumped for the original but was let down to an extent. Hope that this lives up to all the good reviews and comments.

Anyone disappointed by this so far?
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[LeonJ]

[döppelgangbang]

Reflections so far:

ACII has some big Florentine slippers to fill. And so far I'm digging it. The game progression is enjoyable as it slips you into the action bit by bit, stretching out 'training' sessions with opportunities to use your new skills.

I must admit though that I have been a little disappointed with the in-game modelling, all the characters look a little flat, their eyes dead and skin cold. I was hoping for a jump in the graphical fidelity, not just tweaked special effects (the in-animus construct is awesome). I was expecting a richer looking environment too, with Italy being the locale I wanted to see more colour and vibrancy. The roof tiles look faded and sun-bleached rather than freshly fired terracotta. Maybe I was imagining it, or maybe it's the day/night progression but the environs did seem to get brighter as I collected feathers and became more synched. Is this a feature anyone knows about... the memory becoming more colourful as you're recollection improves?

I also was underwhelmed by the leaps of faith. The camera doesn't seem to swing as high invoking the vertigo and gravity that it did in AC1 and the transparent haystacks don't react as if someone has just dropped from 7 stories up... They imperceptibly wobble without so much as a plume of straw. The immersion level is a little low.

There were a few painful moments, like not realising that I had to stand next to the Animus 2.0 and press a button to get in. Instead was talking to the operator who got sick of my questions before I scoured the building twice with increasing frustration.
Then there was the box I was meant to pick up, but the contextual button kept doing a 'gentle push' until I mashed it a little.
Then there was the running race where I was facing backwards each time when the whistle blew.

Since then though I have understood the nature of the mission structure and been getting into tacking my way across the city climbing viewpoints and pilfering treasure. The theft aspect feels a little grimy.

I just got my assassin blade, I expect Ezio to soon be up to some old tricks. Its a great game, even if my initial and unfounded expectations weren't met.

Oh, and the camera, I <3 AC camera!!

[Peveus]

There's a giant landmark in the middle of the area you start in which looks incredible from the front during the day. The scenery is higher contrast than the original and generally looks better. The lighting is DEFINITELY better though both these are marred by the pop in which appears very close to the camera...

There are cutscenes now. That's new. But the characters look a little bit cartoonish for my liking. The whole game looks DIFFERENT, even in places you've been before.

Despite being a direct sequel with the same gameplay I find AC2 to be quite incomparable to the first, it's just that different in so many ways.

What is outstanding though, is the level of authenticity in Florence. My sister who spent some time there was able to direct me around the city to various landmarks by SIGHT.

Now that's cool.

P.S. The first ten minutes are awesome.
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Currently Playing: Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

[Sin Ogaris]

For me the game looks absolutely breathtaking at night. As for the characters being wooden, they're not that bad, there's certainly a lot more character than in the first game. Ezio, in the first few moments really does give off a very cheeky way about him in the facial expressions.

It does look a touch "cartoony" though, even with the improved expressions.

I've been roaming around the place starting with M. I need to find two more statues but I'm a little lost as to where they are (can't remember if the first game had it or not but sounds emanating from pick ups is a freaking awesome idea, much like Crackdown).