Assassins Creed 2
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The original Assassins Creed game brought the player to a new world of mystery and intrigue. Its contrast between a technically-advanced present and the ancient past has delivered a sharply-drawn world where the battles between the Templars and the Assassins are actually plausible. The question on the mind of every fan of this title is will the sequel, Assassins Creed 2, enhance that legacy or leave it bleeding on the floor? Today, we are going to try to find out, before you pick up the title.
Storyline
In some ways the story of Assassins Creed 2 is a true sequel to the first game, but in others it is also a major departure from the original game. Once again the character of the shell story spends most of his spare time inside the Animus machine. Only this time, instead of being trapped inside a Templar facility, he has willingly entered it to help the Assassins' cause.
This section has a small "real world" cast that will distinctly remind you of Cave Dwellers of Matrix fame, only without the post apocalyptic backdrop. This is a stark contrast from the white and sterile outer world of the first title.
This time the inner world takes you to Renaissance Italy. The differences here are basically cosmetic. The costumes are more lavish, the buildings have ornate facades and your ancestor has a distinctly darker look. The structures with high roofs, awnings and posts to climb on are just as prevalent.
The people in this world are equally treacherous, which you will quickly learn while watching your father and brother be executed. So, you will not be at a lack for the plot twists you have come to expect. Sadly, like the first title, you won't have enough time to get emotionally invested in the protagonist before they begin.
Graphics
We all know that the quality of graphics will vary depending on your hardware. On the recommended system requirements, the visuals in this game are adequate. You will not be disappointed in the world, but you can miss out on a lot of the subtler nuances of shade and texture. To be honest, the average player may not even notice the differences while they are jumping from roof to roof in Venice.
In the city of Rome, however, the difference becomes more pronounced as the details in the background become much more pronounced when more layers are added. With the minimum requirements, the odds are that you may not have even known about some of those missing details if you had not been forewarned about their existence. If you really want a chance to see them, get down to street level, stop, and look around. Things in close range should exhibit a reasonable facsimile of what you are missing.
Waiting for graphics to load does not seem to take up too much processing power in the game. You will not notice a significant lag when you head into a new area or transition from outside to inside. This should be a relief to any PC gamer who has to hear console gamers brag about low lag times on their Xbox 360 or PS3.
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