Sadistic
Aug 20 2009, 07:34 AM
... I think I'm going to explode. Holy hell, this game is going to be amazing.
http://au.ps3.ign.com/articles/101/1015724p1.html
Highlights (read the actual article for more elaborate info);
- While viewpoint scaling remains, missions are no longer linear and obvious. They flow much more naturally now.
- Locales include but are not limited to Florence, Venice, and Tuscany.
- Ezio can blend with ANY NPC now, and guards cannot spot you.
- One can now steal from anyone, including the same NPCs that are hiding Ezio.
- The money stolen/pickpocketed from civilians can be used at a range of shops.
- Eagle Vision is now usable while moving, a feature many have called for.
- Poison can be applied to the blade of Ezio's dagger, which has an interesting effect on guards.
- There is an aiming mode for the hidden gun.
- Ezio can taunt enemies. He's starting to give off a Dante vibe.
- Several hours of the game takes place underground, in various crypts and caves. These pose Prince of Persia-like gameplay whilst one moves towards their target.
- There is more (Atlantean) treasure akin to Piece of Eden in this game.
Detailed Q&A @ g4tv (http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/698513/Assassins-Creed-2-GamesCom-2009-Images-And-Answers.html)
Answered by Patrice Desilets, Creative Director
What are the specific technologies you developed for this second episode of Assassin's Creed 2? Are there any particular achievements you're proud of?
What I'm particularly proud of is the new game architecture allowing much more diverse gameplay and missions in our engine. We also have enhanced NPC navigation showcasing parkour-like acrobatics that will spice up the chases and escape missions in the game.
Now, for the visuals, the Assassin's Creed game engine - Anvil - got some awesome new technical features that let us create a world with an even better visual treatment.
We have many new technicalities we added in the engine that affect the graphics in the game and improve the overall visual treatment:
o Night and day cycle
o New load distance for more detailed open-world environment from greater distances
o The same internal vegetation technology used in Far Cry 2
o Several rendering improvements to support improved lighting, reflection and more special effects.
o New cloth system used extensively for characters
Beyond the technical achievements, the very location we chose poised us to make a visually outstanding game. Cities like Florence and Venice are amongst the most stunning landscapes in the world and all the technology we developed just served this purpose, made you feel this beauty. We are not only recreating the architecture but also everything that makes Italy so unique during the 15th century - from the special lighting of Venice to the colorful carnival disguises. Every minor detail was important for the artists and they are very excited for players to get their hands on the game and explore such a stunning city.
Venice featured prominently in the E3 coverage of AC2, what other cities/regions will players be able to visit?
Ezio is a young noble born from the city of Florence. He will live the beginning of his life in the city that is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. His family is well respected by the Florentine society. Florence is known for having some of the most beautiful churches and monuments to come out of the Renaissance. The most prestigious and dominant building in Florence is Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as The Duomo. There are many other landmarks that players will want to discover: Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella etc. The first sequence of the game will be set in Florence and players will get to meet Ezio's family, friends and his enemies.
As the game progresses, Ezio will have to travel to various cities and regions. There is of course, Venice, as you have discovered in the E3 demo, and this is just a small portion of the world of Assassin's Creed 2. Players will discover the famous Tuscany region, known for its beautiful and fertile fields as well as the town of San Gimignano. Beside Tuscany and San Gimignano, there are the mountain regions that players will have to go through on their first journey to Venice.
Another region players will get to discover is the wetlands, situated to the west of Florence. This region is known for its continuous flood, cloudy weather and its various aquatic plants. Players will get to explore and perform various missions in the city of Forli, deep within the Wetlands.
It was important for us that each city, regions and sub city have an important role in the game. We didn't the countryside to be a simple walk in the park for the players. They will all have their role in the game and will require players to invest time in them. Each region will have its main, secondary missions. There will be lots of exploration and time investment for the player to discover all the secrets behind each location.
What are the Secret Locations?
The Secret Locations are interiors of several famous landmarks. You can discover their entrance in various regions of the game. The gameplay in these locations will challenge the player in acrobatics, puzzles and stealth. These locations are not bound to the main quest but offer hours of additional gameplay, details about the story of the assassins/templars war, and a special reward as players complete each of them.
What is the chase gameplay?
Ezio can control a horse carriage in the Italian countryside to reach his destination faster and escort people alongside it. Guards will try to jump aboard the carriage… This is one of the surprises we have in store for the player.
What is the armor upgrade system and the character customization?
At E3, you've learned that there is an economic system that lets the assassin collect money through various ways and make the most of the tools at his disposal. Weapons, tools, ammo, faction service, and doctors will be available for our assassin to spend his hard-earned money. There is still much to reveal to what players can do with their money.
In Assassin's Creed 2, there will be an armor upgrade system where Ezio will be able to upgrade various armor parts: Shoulders, chest, boots etc. There will be different armor ranks and each of them will offer better protection as well as a new look to Ezio. Also, there will be tailors in Assassin's Creed 2 that will be able to customize the color of Ezio's outfit.
What is the poison blade?
The poison blade is another one of the cool hidden blade upgrades that Ezio will get from Leonardo Da Vinci. The poison blade is a needle that the assassin will have attached to his fore-arm. He will only be able to use it when he is in low profile. The needle is very small and can be used without the target noticing it. When he stings his victim with the needle and its poison, the victim continues his tasks until he starts losing his balance and finally, falls into a “berserk” mode. The victim then starts attacking everyone surrounding him. If it's a guard who is poisoned, he takes his sword out and attacks with it. This creates a lot of commotion and attracts the attention of guards in the area. After a few seconds, the victim dies and guards come to investigate. Thanks to this commotion, the player will already be far from his victim and the attention of the guards.
How do we recharge the poison blade? Who are the doctors?
As revealed at E3, there is a new economic system in Assassin's Creed 2. Players will be able to buy weapons, tools and hire factions in the game. To recharge the poison blade, players will have to go see a doctor that will sell him poison vials. Doctors will also heal Ezio's wounds when he is hurt. Players will have to find a doctor in the city and pay him to get patched up.
What is the animus database?
We have worked hard to improve the animus in Assassin's Creed 2. As in the first game, the animus is a machine that lets players explore the genetic memories of his ancestors, but this time, it will have a database, giving extra information about all the key locations, characters and services that the player will encounter during play. For example, when the player approaches a famous church - like Santa Maria Novella in Florence - with a simple button press, its history is revealed. This is only one piece of the database; however, the rest is a secret…for now.
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173386_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173385_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173384_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173383_l/.jpg
Another at 1up (http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3175675)
Earlier today at Gamescom, Ubisoft treated us to a brand new demo of Assassin's Creed 2 and we learned quite a few new things about the game in the process. As you know, the sequel takes place in Italy -- at E3 we saw Venice and today we saw Florence. Here now are some brand new screens of the game and some of the details we collected while checking it out:
- First of all, the game just looks really darn good. But you already knew that if you saw our E3 coverage. Seeing a lot more of the game today, however, it's evident that lots of the animations have been nicely improved over the original game -- the timing on transitions is smoother here.
- There won't be any mandatory side missions this time around. Though you can open new areas, the game doesn't force you to complete them to open up main missions like in the original. Also, the side missions this time around include what Ubisoft calls "the Secret Missions," in which you get "acrobatics, puzzles, and stealth" challenges inside "several famous landmarks."
- You can buy poison from an alchemist and poison an enemy by poking him with a poisoned blade. In one sequence we saw Ezio, your character, poison an enemy from behind -- the man then started stumbling back and fourth and ultimately in delirium started swinging his weapon. To add fuel to the fire, Ezio then tossed coins at his feet, causing some surrounding bystanders to jump for the money -- only for some of them to get nipped by the poison man's sword. The "doctors" that sell poison will also heal Ezio for a fee.
- Ezio has a handgun. It's one bullet, one kill, though, so you need to be accurate.
- You'll be able to upgrade your armor and purchase items to change your character's appearance, and be "able to customize the color of Ezio's outfit," according to a Ubisoft press release.
- You can now blend in with all different groups of people as you pass by them, not just monks as in the original. You can carefully move between groups to stay constantly blended in.
- As you can see in the image above, the game now has "chase gameplay" sequences (that seem somewhat similar to the chariot races from Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones), where you take over a horse-drawn carriage and can transport allies while protecting yourself from enemies.
- You're now able to use your Eagle Vision while you're actually playing -- it's not just viewable from the first-person perspective anymore.
- Attacking people from above is much easier now -- you can lock onto enemies to ensure a successful attack.
- There are points where you can spend money on mercenaries to have them fight for you -- for example, if you want to get into somewhere undetected you can have them start fighting while you sneak by.
- Several parts to the game will take place in underground areas, which, according to Ubisoft, play much more like Prince of Persia. We saw Ezio enter into some underground catacombs for a really neat sequence where he had to chase a templar through several rooms and passages -- this was really impressive.
A third Q&A, highlighting freeform gameplay, at Gamepro (http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/211687/spotlight-assassins-creed-ii-freeform-play/)
The game's creative director Patrice Desilets gives GamePro an extended walkthrough of one of the game's optional missions that illustrates a wide variety of play styles.
Known as Koln throughout much of Europe, Cologne, Germany is a classic-looking European city. Big churches, winding cobblestone streets, and ancient-looking roofs.
Given the new location of Europe's Gamescom show, it felt entirely appropriate that our closed-door demonstration of Assassin's Creed II was set in another ancient, cobblestone-lined European city: Florence. Set right in the middle of the Renaissance, we witnessed thirty spectacular minutes of free form gameplay that illustrate one of the ways in which this highly anticipated sequel will improve upon the original.
For the purpose of this demo, Patrice Desilets, the game's Creative Director, emphasized that he was not playing a scripted mission that would be part of the game's central storyline. Instead, he enthused, we'd be going freeform, exploring the city of Florence and tapping into some of the city's dark secrets along the way. In retrospect, this demonstration also served as a great example of the more varied forms of play mechanics you'll encounter in ACII.
We started off in classic Assassin's Creed II style, with Ezio (the game's new character) perched like Spider-Man high above the city. To the North, you could see the world-famous Duomo, the fourth largest church in the world, rendered in lifelike detail. To the South you could see the Ponte Vecchio, an ancient Florentine bridge that crosses the Arno River.
Suddenly, without warning, Desilets swan dove Ezio off his perch straight down. Ezio landed in a large bale of hay at which point he quickly and brutally used his spring-activated knives to stab out a guard and quickly/surreptitiously drag the guard into the hay bale so that no one would notice him.
Ezio then climbed out the hay bale and began walking around Florence. Assassin's Creed II will continue to emphasize crowd-oriented stealth play. This second version will make it more intuitive by displaying a small crisscross grid on the ground beneath Ezio and turning his immediate surrounding crowd gray when he's properly camouflaged. "Remember," Desilets told us, "the game is still set in the future and Desmond is moving through his own genetic memories with the help of some science fiction devices." This explains such anachronistic effects in the game.
With no specific objective in mind, Ezio meandered through the streets. At one point Desilets had him stop at a street vendor to buy some healing potions as well as some poison. Along the way, he generated cash by pick-pocketing the citizens of Florence. Each picked pocket yielded a few coins; it was not clear how easy/hard this would be to accomplish once the game is finished.
At one point in the game, Desilets explains, you befriend Lorenzo de' Medici, a real-life statesmen and ruler of Florence during the Renaissance who uses Ezio's services to eliminate his opposition. You take on de' Medici's missions - all of which are optional - by visiting a pigeon coop in one of the lofts in the city.
Unfortunately, on our way up to the pigeon loft, Ezio encountered a guard. Rather than fight hand-to-hand on the roofs above Florence, Desilets chose to use one of the game's new weapons - a gun - to dispatch the guard. Pow! Goodbye guard.
The mission Ezio receives is a simple - well, perhaps straightforward is a better word - assassination. The target is surrounded by lots of people making discretion tough. In an interesting twist, Desilets used poison to assassinate the target. The poison had an interesting side effect - it turned the target into a raving madman who began swinging his halberd around killing innocent victims. Desilets gleefully and wickedly amplified the carnage by throwing a bunch of change on the ground. Peasants hitting the ground for coins + halberd-swinging poisoned dude = carnage.
Eagle Vision reveals a dark secret
As we played, we also noticed that the Eagle Vision used in the first Assassin's Creed has changed a bit. It's no longer channeled into the first person; instead the game remains in the third person but highlights all the objectives, people, and targets of note.
As we scanned the map in Eagle Vision, Desilets pointed out a hidden spot located in a narrow corridor behind near a crowded building. In order to get to the spot - guarded by about four guards, Desilets used another of the game's new weapons. He hired four mercenaries to attack the guards and then slipped in behind the attack. (You could also do this another way and hire four thiefs to begin robbing people in order to distract the guards.)
Once this little inconvenience was taken care of, Ezio finds a secret portal that lowered him into the Templar ruins below the city. Here the game took a decidedly Prince of Persia twist. A camera flyby revealed key objectives scattered around a cylinder-shaped building. Not surprisingly, the gameplay objectives were to swing and climb between the poles, supports, and ledges in order to activate a series of switches, which would then open a series of doors.
At one point, Ezio encounters two fairly vicious guards. Rather than fight them hand-to-hand, Desilets chose to use a smoke bomb to blind and distract them, and then disappeared into a side corridor in the ruins. Soon thereafter, he encounters another guard, who upon seeing Ezio breaks and begins running. This begins a chase sequence of gameplay where Ezio has to scamper over all kinds of obstacles in order to catch the guard before he alerts his superiors. In one swift move, Desilets jumped from a ledge to a staircase and landed on top of the escaping guard, dispatching him with his spring-activated blades.
After this, Ezio hears a group of men discussing a murderous conspiracy in hushed tones. "Gentlemen, a new sun rises," an older Florentine is telling his partners. Who or what this means remains a mystery. But what's really interesting is the fact that all of the above is an optional side mission in the game.
Assassin's Creed is still scheduled for release in November 2009. For lots more info on the game, keep your eyes open for the October issue of GamePro Magazine, which will be on sale at newsstands the first week of September.
Also, according to recent reports the exclusive quests with some editions will NEVER be available as DLC, so get 'em while you can. :o
On that note, a guy on the Ubi forums has compiled a comprehensive list of all the different editions of the game and where to get them. I will share it here.
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5251069024/m/8591064287
ASSASSINS CREED II
- Explore the beginning of modern history in an epic story of power, revenge, and conspiracy.
- Master the art of the assassin with over 20 new weapons and inventions created by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Experience open world gameplay with over 16 types of mission.
Collectors Edition Bonus Quests: Enter and explore the most prestigious moments of the Renaissance. Reveal mysterious, unique artifacts hidden within the walls of Palazzo Medicis in Florence, and the Santa Maria Dei Frari, and Arsenal Shipyard Warehouse in Venice.
Black Collectors Edition [Limited Edition] (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - complete with upgraded "Master Assassin" cloak. (Note: this cloak is only available in the later stages of the game)
3 x in-game Bonus Missions - Palazzo Medicis (Florence), Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice), Arsenal Shipyard (Venice)
1 x Game Soundtrack - composed by Jesper Kyd, and nominated for a BAFTA in the "2009 Best Original Score in a Game".
1 x Behind the Scenes DVD - which also includes all of the videos, behind the scenes goodies, and e-goodies about Assassin's Creed II.
1 x Conspiracy book - a 64, parchment finished, page book with a finely crafted leather style hardcover, containing exclusive insights on the Game Art, Story, and Background, direct from the games developers. As well as this, secret faces are revealed from within the game's overarching conspiracy.
All this comes in a Collectable Black Packaging - complete with a Unique authentic holographic signature.
Master Assassin Edition (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - with his usual White assassin's cloak.
2 x in-game Bonus Missions - Palazzo Medicis (Florence), Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice)
1 x Game Soundtrack - composed by Jesper Kyd, and nominated for a BAFTA in the "2009 Best Original Score in a Game".
1 x Behind the Scenes DVD - containing all the behind the scenes videos of Assassin's Creed II.
1 x Art book - containing all of the concept art for Assassin's Creed II.
All this comes in a Premium Collectable Metal Case
White Collectors Edition (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - with his usual White assassin's cloak.
1 x in-game Bonus Mission - Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice)
1 x Special Assassin's Creed Hoody - only available from JBhi-fi.com.au
All this comes in a Collectable White Packaging
Normal Edition (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x in-game Bonus Mission - only available in the USA, with a special code from www.gamestop.com (http://www.gamestop.com)
(All of the Editions mentioned, apart from the Master Assassin Edition, are available for PC, Xbox, and PS3.)
(NOTE: The hardware specifications for these games have not yet been released)
Availability
Black Edition
UK and Europe - www.play.com (http://www.play.com)
Australia - www.ebgames.com.au (http://www.ebgames.com.au)
Master Assassin Edition
USA and Canada - www.gamestop.com (http://www.gamestop.com)
White Edition
Australia and New Zealand - www.jbhifionline.com.au (http://www.jbhifionline.com.au)
Normal Edition
All good game retailers
http://au.ps3.ign.com/articles/101/1015724p1.html
Highlights (read the actual article for more elaborate info);
- While viewpoint scaling remains, missions are no longer linear and obvious. They flow much more naturally now.
- Locales include but are not limited to Florence, Venice, and Tuscany.
- Ezio can blend with ANY NPC now, and guards cannot spot you.
- One can now steal from anyone, including the same NPCs that are hiding Ezio.
- The money stolen/pickpocketed from civilians can be used at a range of shops.
- Eagle Vision is now usable while moving, a feature many have called for.
- Poison can be applied to the blade of Ezio's dagger, which has an interesting effect on guards.
- There is an aiming mode for the hidden gun.
- Ezio can taunt enemies. He's starting to give off a Dante vibe.
- Several hours of the game takes place underground, in various crypts and caves. These pose Prince of Persia-like gameplay whilst one moves towards their target.
- There is more (Atlantean) treasure akin to Piece of Eden in this game.
Detailed Q&A @ g4tv (http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/698513/Assassins-Creed-2-GamesCom-2009-Images-And-Answers.html)
Answered by Patrice Desilets, Creative Director
What are the specific technologies you developed for this second episode of Assassin's Creed 2? Are there any particular achievements you're proud of?
What I'm particularly proud of is the new game architecture allowing much more diverse gameplay and missions in our engine. We also have enhanced NPC navigation showcasing parkour-like acrobatics that will spice up the chases and escape missions in the game.
Now, for the visuals, the Assassin's Creed game engine - Anvil - got some awesome new technical features that let us create a world with an even better visual treatment.
We have many new technicalities we added in the engine that affect the graphics in the game and improve the overall visual treatment:
o Night and day cycle
o New load distance for more detailed open-world environment from greater distances
o The same internal vegetation technology used in Far Cry 2
o Several rendering improvements to support improved lighting, reflection and more special effects.
o New cloth system used extensively for characters
Beyond the technical achievements, the very location we chose poised us to make a visually outstanding game. Cities like Florence and Venice are amongst the most stunning landscapes in the world and all the technology we developed just served this purpose, made you feel this beauty. We are not only recreating the architecture but also everything that makes Italy so unique during the 15th century - from the special lighting of Venice to the colorful carnival disguises. Every minor detail was important for the artists and they are very excited for players to get their hands on the game and explore such a stunning city.
Venice featured prominently in the E3 coverage of AC2, what other cities/regions will players be able to visit?
Ezio is a young noble born from the city of Florence. He will live the beginning of his life in the city that is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. His family is well respected by the Florentine society. Florence is known for having some of the most beautiful churches and monuments to come out of the Renaissance. The most prestigious and dominant building in Florence is Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as The Duomo. There are many other landmarks that players will want to discover: Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Maria Novella etc. The first sequence of the game will be set in Florence and players will get to meet Ezio's family, friends and his enemies.
As the game progresses, Ezio will have to travel to various cities and regions. There is of course, Venice, as you have discovered in the E3 demo, and this is just a small portion of the world of Assassin's Creed 2. Players will discover the famous Tuscany region, known for its beautiful and fertile fields as well as the town of San Gimignano. Beside Tuscany and San Gimignano, there are the mountain regions that players will have to go through on their first journey to Venice.
Another region players will get to discover is the wetlands, situated to the west of Florence. This region is known for its continuous flood, cloudy weather and its various aquatic plants. Players will get to explore and perform various missions in the city of Forli, deep within the Wetlands.
It was important for us that each city, regions and sub city have an important role in the game. We didn't the countryside to be a simple walk in the park for the players. They will all have their role in the game and will require players to invest time in them. Each region will have its main, secondary missions. There will be lots of exploration and time investment for the player to discover all the secrets behind each location.
What are the Secret Locations?
The Secret Locations are interiors of several famous landmarks. You can discover their entrance in various regions of the game. The gameplay in these locations will challenge the player in acrobatics, puzzles and stealth. These locations are not bound to the main quest but offer hours of additional gameplay, details about the story of the assassins/templars war, and a special reward as players complete each of them.
What is the chase gameplay?
Ezio can control a horse carriage in the Italian countryside to reach his destination faster and escort people alongside it. Guards will try to jump aboard the carriage… This is one of the surprises we have in store for the player.
What is the armor upgrade system and the character customization?
At E3, you've learned that there is an economic system that lets the assassin collect money through various ways and make the most of the tools at his disposal. Weapons, tools, ammo, faction service, and doctors will be available for our assassin to spend his hard-earned money. There is still much to reveal to what players can do with their money.
In Assassin's Creed 2, there will be an armor upgrade system where Ezio will be able to upgrade various armor parts: Shoulders, chest, boots etc. There will be different armor ranks and each of them will offer better protection as well as a new look to Ezio. Also, there will be tailors in Assassin's Creed 2 that will be able to customize the color of Ezio's outfit.
What is the poison blade?
The poison blade is another one of the cool hidden blade upgrades that Ezio will get from Leonardo Da Vinci. The poison blade is a needle that the assassin will have attached to his fore-arm. He will only be able to use it when he is in low profile. The needle is very small and can be used without the target noticing it. When he stings his victim with the needle and its poison, the victim continues his tasks until he starts losing his balance and finally, falls into a “berserk” mode. The victim then starts attacking everyone surrounding him. If it's a guard who is poisoned, he takes his sword out and attacks with it. This creates a lot of commotion and attracts the attention of guards in the area. After a few seconds, the victim dies and guards come to investigate. Thanks to this commotion, the player will already be far from his victim and the attention of the guards.
How do we recharge the poison blade? Who are the doctors?
As revealed at E3, there is a new economic system in Assassin's Creed 2. Players will be able to buy weapons, tools and hire factions in the game. To recharge the poison blade, players will have to go see a doctor that will sell him poison vials. Doctors will also heal Ezio's wounds when he is hurt. Players will have to find a doctor in the city and pay him to get patched up.
What is the animus database?
We have worked hard to improve the animus in Assassin's Creed 2. As in the first game, the animus is a machine that lets players explore the genetic memories of his ancestors, but this time, it will have a database, giving extra information about all the key locations, characters and services that the player will encounter during play. For example, when the player approaches a famous church - like Santa Maria Novella in Florence - with a simple button press, its history is revealed. This is only one piece of the database; however, the rest is a secret…for now.
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173386_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173385_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173384_l/.jpg
http://cache.g4tv.com/rimg_606x0/ImageDb3/173383_l/.jpg
Another at 1up (http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3175675)
Earlier today at Gamescom, Ubisoft treated us to a brand new demo of Assassin's Creed 2 and we learned quite a few new things about the game in the process. As you know, the sequel takes place in Italy -- at E3 we saw Venice and today we saw Florence. Here now are some brand new screens of the game and some of the details we collected while checking it out:
- First of all, the game just looks really darn good. But you already knew that if you saw our E3 coverage. Seeing a lot more of the game today, however, it's evident that lots of the animations have been nicely improved over the original game -- the timing on transitions is smoother here.
- There won't be any mandatory side missions this time around. Though you can open new areas, the game doesn't force you to complete them to open up main missions like in the original. Also, the side missions this time around include what Ubisoft calls "the Secret Missions," in which you get "acrobatics, puzzles, and stealth" challenges inside "several famous landmarks."
- You can buy poison from an alchemist and poison an enemy by poking him with a poisoned blade. In one sequence we saw Ezio, your character, poison an enemy from behind -- the man then started stumbling back and fourth and ultimately in delirium started swinging his weapon. To add fuel to the fire, Ezio then tossed coins at his feet, causing some surrounding bystanders to jump for the money -- only for some of them to get nipped by the poison man's sword. The "doctors" that sell poison will also heal Ezio for a fee.
- Ezio has a handgun. It's one bullet, one kill, though, so you need to be accurate.
- You'll be able to upgrade your armor and purchase items to change your character's appearance, and be "able to customize the color of Ezio's outfit," according to a Ubisoft press release.
- You can now blend in with all different groups of people as you pass by them, not just monks as in the original. You can carefully move between groups to stay constantly blended in.
- As you can see in the image above, the game now has "chase gameplay" sequences (that seem somewhat similar to the chariot races from Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones), where you take over a horse-drawn carriage and can transport allies while protecting yourself from enemies.
- You're now able to use your Eagle Vision while you're actually playing -- it's not just viewable from the first-person perspective anymore.
- Attacking people from above is much easier now -- you can lock onto enemies to ensure a successful attack.
- There are points where you can spend money on mercenaries to have them fight for you -- for example, if you want to get into somewhere undetected you can have them start fighting while you sneak by.
- Several parts to the game will take place in underground areas, which, according to Ubisoft, play much more like Prince of Persia. We saw Ezio enter into some underground catacombs for a really neat sequence where he had to chase a templar through several rooms and passages -- this was really impressive.
A third Q&A, highlighting freeform gameplay, at Gamepro (http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/211687/spotlight-assassins-creed-ii-freeform-play/)
The game's creative director Patrice Desilets gives GamePro an extended walkthrough of one of the game's optional missions that illustrates a wide variety of play styles.
Known as Koln throughout much of Europe, Cologne, Germany is a classic-looking European city. Big churches, winding cobblestone streets, and ancient-looking roofs.
Given the new location of Europe's Gamescom show, it felt entirely appropriate that our closed-door demonstration of Assassin's Creed II was set in another ancient, cobblestone-lined European city: Florence. Set right in the middle of the Renaissance, we witnessed thirty spectacular minutes of free form gameplay that illustrate one of the ways in which this highly anticipated sequel will improve upon the original.
For the purpose of this demo, Patrice Desilets, the game's Creative Director, emphasized that he was not playing a scripted mission that would be part of the game's central storyline. Instead, he enthused, we'd be going freeform, exploring the city of Florence and tapping into some of the city's dark secrets along the way. In retrospect, this demonstration also served as a great example of the more varied forms of play mechanics you'll encounter in ACII.
We started off in classic Assassin's Creed II style, with Ezio (the game's new character) perched like Spider-Man high above the city. To the North, you could see the world-famous Duomo, the fourth largest church in the world, rendered in lifelike detail. To the South you could see the Ponte Vecchio, an ancient Florentine bridge that crosses the Arno River.
Suddenly, without warning, Desilets swan dove Ezio off his perch straight down. Ezio landed in a large bale of hay at which point he quickly and brutally used his spring-activated knives to stab out a guard and quickly/surreptitiously drag the guard into the hay bale so that no one would notice him.
Ezio then climbed out the hay bale and began walking around Florence. Assassin's Creed II will continue to emphasize crowd-oriented stealth play. This second version will make it more intuitive by displaying a small crisscross grid on the ground beneath Ezio and turning his immediate surrounding crowd gray when he's properly camouflaged. "Remember," Desilets told us, "the game is still set in the future and Desmond is moving through his own genetic memories with the help of some science fiction devices." This explains such anachronistic effects in the game.
With no specific objective in mind, Ezio meandered through the streets. At one point Desilets had him stop at a street vendor to buy some healing potions as well as some poison. Along the way, he generated cash by pick-pocketing the citizens of Florence. Each picked pocket yielded a few coins; it was not clear how easy/hard this would be to accomplish once the game is finished.
At one point in the game, Desilets explains, you befriend Lorenzo de' Medici, a real-life statesmen and ruler of Florence during the Renaissance who uses Ezio's services to eliminate his opposition. You take on de' Medici's missions - all of which are optional - by visiting a pigeon coop in one of the lofts in the city.
Unfortunately, on our way up to the pigeon loft, Ezio encountered a guard. Rather than fight hand-to-hand on the roofs above Florence, Desilets chose to use one of the game's new weapons - a gun - to dispatch the guard. Pow! Goodbye guard.
The mission Ezio receives is a simple - well, perhaps straightforward is a better word - assassination. The target is surrounded by lots of people making discretion tough. In an interesting twist, Desilets used poison to assassinate the target. The poison had an interesting side effect - it turned the target into a raving madman who began swinging his halberd around killing innocent victims. Desilets gleefully and wickedly amplified the carnage by throwing a bunch of change on the ground. Peasants hitting the ground for coins + halberd-swinging poisoned dude = carnage.
Eagle Vision reveals a dark secret
As we played, we also noticed that the Eagle Vision used in the first Assassin's Creed has changed a bit. It's no longer channeled into the first person; instead the game remains in the third person but highlights all the objectives, people, and targets of note.
As we scanned the map in Eagle Vision, Desilets pointed out a hidden spot located in a narrow corridor behind near a crowded building. In order to get to the spot - guarded by about four guards, Desilets used another of the game's new weapons. He hired four mercenaries to attack the guards and then slipped in behind the attack. (You could also do this another way and hire four thiefs to begin robbing people in order to distract the guards.)
Once this little inconvenience was taken care of, Ezio finds a secret portal that lowered him into the Templar ruins below the city. Here the game took a decidedly Prince of Persia twist. A camera flyby revealed key objectives scattered around a cylinder-shaped building. Not surprisingly, the gameplay objectives were to swing and climb between the poles, supports, and ledges in order to activate a series of switches, which would then open a series of doors.
At one point, Ezio encounters two fairly vicious guards. Rather than fight them hand-to-hand, Desilets chose to use a smoke bomb to blind and distract them, and then disappeared into a side corridor in the ruins. Soon thereafter, he encounters another guard, who upon seeing Ezio breaks and begins running. This begins a chase sequence of gameplay where Ezio has to scamper over all kinds of obstacles in order to catch the guard before he alerts his superiors. In one swift move, Desilets jumped from a ledge to a staircase and landed on top of the escaping guard, dispatching him with his spring-activated blades.
After this, Ezio hears a group of men discussing a murderous conspiracy in hushed tones. "Gentlemen, a new sun rises," an older Florentine is telling his partners. Who or what this means remains a mystery. But what's really interesting is the fact that all of the above is an optional side mission in the game.
Assassin's Creed is still scheduled for release in November 2009. For lots more info on the game, keep your eyes open for the October issue of GamePro Magazine, which will be on sale at newsstands the first week of September.
Also, according to recent reports the exclusive quests with some editions will NEVER be available as DLC, so get 'em while you can. :o
On that note, a guy on the Ubi forums has compiled a comprehensive list of all the different editions of the game and where to get them. I will share it here.
http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5251069024/m/8591064287
ASSASSINS CREED II
- Explore the beginning of modern history in an epic story of power, revenge, and conspiracy.
- Master the art of the assassin with over 20 new weapons and inventions created by Leonardo da Vinci.
- Experience open world gameplay with over 16 types of mission.
Collectors Edition Bonus Quests: Enter and explore the most prestigious moments of the Renaissance. Reveal mysterious, unique artifacts hidden within the walls of Palazzo Medicis in Florence, and the Santa Maria Dei Frari, and Arsenal Shipyard Warehouse in Venice.
Black Collectors Edition [Limited Edition] (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - complete with upgraded "Master Assassin" cloak. (Note: this cloak is only available in the later stages of the game)
3 x in-game Bonus Missions - Palazzo Medicis (Florence), Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice), Arsenal Shipyard (Venice)
1 x Game Soundtrack - composed by Jesper Kyd, and nominated for a BAFTA in the "2009 Best Original Score in a Game".
1 x Behind the Scenes DVD - which also includes all of the videos, behind the scenes goodies, and e-goodies about Assassin's Creed II.
1 x Conspiracy book - a 64, parchment finished, page book with a finely crafted leather style hardcover, containing exclusive insights on the Game Art, Story, and Background, direct from the games developers. As well as this, secret faces are revealed from within the game's overarching conspiracy.
All this comes in a Collectable Black Packaging - complete with a Unique authentic holographic signature.
Master Assassin Edition (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - with his usual White assassin's cloak.
2 x in-game Bonus Missions - Palazzo Medicis (Florence), Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice)
1 x Game Soundtrack - composed by Jesper Kyd, and nominated for a BAFTA in the "2009 Best Original Score in a Game".
1 x Behind the Scenes DVD - containing all the behind the scenes videos of Assassin's Creed II.
1 x Art book - containing all of the concept art for Assassin's Creed II.
All this comes in a Premium Collectable Metal Case
White Collectors Edition (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x Ezio Figurine - with his usual White assassin's cloak.
1 x in-game Bonus Mission - Santa Maria dei Frari (Venice)
1 x Special Assassin's Creed Hoody - only available from JBhi-fi.com.au
All this comes in a Collectable White Packaging
Normal Edition (PC) (Xbox) (PS3)
1 x Game Disk
1 x in-game Bonus Mission - only available in the USA, with a special code from www.gamestop.com (http://www.gamestop.com)
(All of the Editions mentioned, apart from the Master Assassin Edition, are available for PC, Xbox, and PS3.)
(NOTE: The hardware specifications for these games have not yet been released)
Availability
Black Edition
UK and Europe - www.play.com (http://www.play.com)
Australia - www.ebgames.com.au (http://www.ebgames.com.au)
Master Assassin Edition
USA and Canada - www.gamestop.com (http://www.gamestop.com)
White Edition
Australia and New Zealand - www.jbhifionline.com.au (http://www.jbhifionline.com.au)
Normal Edition
All good game retailers