ng an assassin would be hard.

In contrast, being one during 15th century Italy would be harder. Forget telescopes and long range rifles, a working assassin was close and personal; raw and gritty. Altair showed us the effectiveness of a concealed blade during Assassin’s Creed. The upcoming sequel is following the trend by introducing a new assassin for this Renaissance era, Ezio.

Well, Ezio Auditore da Firenze to be precise. It’s a bit of a mouth full that doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but when you’re an Italian nobleman you’re going to have a fancy name. Wait, noble? Aren’t you an assassin? Not from the beginning in this sequel. Similarly to the events from the first game, bartender Desmond Miles will be exploring his DNA to relive an ancestor’s life.

In Assassin’s Creed 2, Ezio is forced to learn the ancestral trade of killing people when his family is betrayed and murdered. He’s not initially competent at using a blade like Altair, but for his own survival Ezio will eventually embrace the role of a master assassin.

Death from above

While only the gist of the plot, notwithstanding new conspiracy theories forming for present day Desmond, the new settings are simply outstanding. Assassin’s Creed 2 is a visual masterpiece. Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Rome are just some locations Ezio will explore in his quest for vengeance. Contrasting against the Holy Lands of the 12th century, the Italian Renaissance is a breath of fresh air. Filled with colour; the urban environments are simply spectacular, excelling in both visual fidelity and scale.

The semi-linear mission structure of the first game is being redefined, giving more control to the player. There are no more mission patterns or gathering intel before assassinations, rather a more sandbox approach, with characters giving assignments to Ezio. The story works around these instances giving greater mission variety and depth. It provides a stronger aspect of freedom that wasn’t always apparent in the first game.

Watching Ezio dart through open environments is mesmerising; the extent to what is available and possible for players comes as an extraordinary surprise. Ubisoft are definitely making sure the scope is massive, focusing more on nonlinear gameplay.

It’s more than just the visual quality of Assassin’s Creed 2 that’s making it intriguing to discover. The setting has remarkable potential in drawing players into something fresh. The Renaissance Period was the birth of the modern world, with mankind combining intellectual efforts towards discovery in so many fields. Yet underneath the glamour of a new world, a dark side still existed where blood spilled in the shadows. During this time, powerful families controlled cities and regions. The Renaissance Period with its colourful palette becomes the smokescreen of the sinister spider web of corruption and murder that hangs in the darkness.

 Leap of Faith

  Building a realistic world around these concepts seems to be a high priority. Even small things like crowd dynamics are improving, providing Ezio with more natural cover to fade into. Being an unknown face in the crowd is important, but unlike the lonesome Altair, Ezio can hire helping hands. People from different factions can lend their services, whether it’s an extra sword in a fight, or providing an elaborate diversion to facilitate escape. Aid isn’t always cheap, requiring the player to not only pay for services, but also for certain equipment.

Bringing currency into the game is a clever idea for reinforcing a greater sense of realism. This gives the player an opportunity to test out Ezio’s new pick pocket ability on unsuspecting civilians or even guards. Failed attempts can result in unwanted attention, so it will be interesting to see how this monetary mechanic fares throughout the entire game. Add in a full day and night cycle, an infamy system that tracks Ezio’s notorious pursuits and it becomes clear that Ubisoft are going the distance in creating a believable game world.  

Leonardo Da Vinci is synonymous with the period and acts as a close ally during the sequel. Not only is the historical figure a personal friend of Ezio, but he also creates the tools the player will use. The famous Da Vinci flying machine is one contraption utilised by Ezio, which he uses to glide over the city.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Ezio

This year’s E3 demonstration showed the player soaring majestically across  beautifully designed city landscapes. In the air, Ezio dominated guards hindering his flight path, by using heat sources like torch thermals to rise higher. It’s similar to how hot air balloons operate and appears to give some interactivity with the environment.

At times, Ubisoft felt combat with Altair was too warrior-esque and because the game isn’t titled Barbarian’s Creed, Ezio adopts a more refined approach. While the basics remain the same, there’s a greater emphasis placed in disarming and neutralising opponents. Ezio is now able to snatch weapons from guards and turn the tables during confrontations.

For those wanting to follow the true assassin's code, there’s still the reliable stealth kill, with some being fancier than others. Without a doubt, the new double hidden blade assassination striking two targets will become a crowd pleaser, fitting happily into this fancier kill category.

Performing the essential silent kill will provide a greater challenge in Assassin’s Creed 2, thanks to improvements being made on enemy intelligence. Not only is the AI smart enough to search cover, but it's driven by a more dynamic system. Of course, if you do find yourself backed into a corner, you can now swim or hide underwater.

Can't touch this

Other gadgets can be useful like the smokebomb, that is used in true ninja style for quick disappearances. And while I mentioned assassins didn’t have the luxury of sniper rifles back in 1486, Ezio showed us he is willing to use firepower in the E3 demo. A rudimentary, yet powerful gunpowder weapon can be accessed from the wrist to take out targets from a distance.

Assassin's Creed 2 is shaping up closer to the vision that Ubisoft wanted the first time around. The setting is varied and different, which is brought to life by incredible visual talent, showcasing immersive set pieces you’d kill (literally) to explore. The improvements to many of the game facets are an added bonus to an already likeable gaming style. Perhaps the best thing about Assassin’s Creed 2 is Ubisoft’s dedication in crafting a living world, where you play by your own creed.