This month's issue of Game Informer sports a rather dramatic pose by the new leading man of Assassin's Creed II, Ezio Auditore de Firenze, but it's what's inside that's truly interesting. Having listened to the cries of needless repetition besmirching what was an otherwise rather impressive debut for a new IP (it's apparently the fastest-growing new gaming franchise in history), Ubisoft is adding quite a bit more depth to the Renaissance Italy-based sequel.
The ample amount of historical documentation about the smattering of city-states, infighting merchant families and the corrupt religious figures of the time make for plenty of ties to real-life events, but perhaps none are as promising as the inclusion of Leonardo da Vinci and all his wonderful toys (Game Informer likens him to Bond's gadget buddy Q). Among many of da Vinci's inventions that will feature in the game is his legendary flying machine, which is perhaps more of a glider than anything else, as he'll be kept aloft with warm air currents rising off Ezio's allies during a particular mission.
With Venice's network of aquatic channels (yep, there's swimming now) and densely-packed buildings, Ezio's ability to ditch enemies has naturally been magnified, and to help balance that out, Ubisoft has bumped up the types of enemy units, which will grow more aggressive and skilled as the game goes on, including being able to tail you with the same now-infamous parkour moves from the first game. Other enemies will be advanced melee attackers or will poke into hiding spots (which have likewise increased in variety).
Watch our in-depth analysis of the Assassin's Creed 2 teaser trailer.
The increase in variety hasn't just been restricted to the cities and waterways, though; outside the cities, Ubisoft is populating the countryside with more to do, including the ability to string together missions that will take you from Venice to Florence and the more rural areas in between, tied together with a stronger narrative thread. Promises of missions being stacked back-to-back -- about 200 in all -- abound, as do mentions of the different types of missions one can undertake. Because Ubisoft Montreal is being careful to mix things up, they're also claiming that the side missions can essentially be taken on in any order, and stretching from the city into the countryside and back.
With all the changes to the scenery and main character (Ezio is a far more affluent and cultured protagonist than Altair was in the first game), it's not really terribly surprising that Ubisoft Montreal also amped up the combat. Weapons can now be ripped from an enemy and used against them, but Ezio doesn't carry a sword with him at all times, meaning improvisation and getting the drop on enemies is more important this time around. To assist in this, he can fight bare-handed if need be, stripping enemies of their weapons or simply opting to whittle down their numbers and make a break for it.
All this fighting will lead to Ezio becoming rather notorious in whatever city he's causing a ruckus, and though he can make a break for it (with white sheets indicating key routes of traversal), it's smarter to just undertake missions to lower his notoriety, which will drive down the presence of suspicious guards (though Ezio can now blend in with any crowd rather than just monks if the situation calls for it). Tearing down posters, taking out witnesses or paying them off were all mentioned as viable ways to keep the heat off you .
The full feature is on stands now, and is rather loaded with new tidbits
Also While we already knew it was coming, one interesting bit of info is included within the text - a holiday 2009 release window on all current-generation systems, which reads to us like it's hitting the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii (and probably the PC as well). Note that the first title never hit Nintendo's latest console. And you know that Ac psp game i was gabbing on about, its Ac 2. Here is game informer issue scanned
From Inferno
Peace out
A NEW UPDATE!!!!
I'm adding photos
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