Assassin’s Creed is a game which was generally appraised as a fairly enjoyable experience. Despite its inherently intriguing premise, its repetitive gameplay and uninvolving action served to temper what could have otherwise been one of the hottest games of 2007. Two years later, both fans of that game and skeptics alike now have an inquisitive eye on its sequel, Assassin’s Creed 2, as it nears its launch date this November.

Ever keen to the critical evaluations of their work, Ubisoft has altered the mechanics and formula of Assassin’s Creed’s gameplay in order to craft a continuation of much higher quality. The game’s story picks up right where the first left off, with Desmond still being held against his will and forced to jump into the past to take on the role of one of his ancestors. This time around he’ll assume the life of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an Italian nobleman during the renaissance period who becomes an assassin upon learning of a plot against his family.

From the start, Ezio is not a fully trained assassin like Altair, but over the course of the game he and the player will learn more of his skills and abilities. The most obvious difference between both relatives, aside from their existing during separate times in history, is Ezio’s access to the genius inventor Leonardo Da Vinci. The two are somehow affiliated, and players will make great use of the master artist’s creative inventions—namely his famed flying machine.

The flying machine will be one of the new modes of transit, eschewing the former restriction to running and climbing. Now players will be able to use what resembles a hang glider to soar across 1486 Florence, Venice and Tuscany to the amazement of grounded spectators. These standing solicitors, should they be armed guardsmen, will react to seeing Ezio in the air with firing arrows and launching spears at him, believing him to be a demonic bird.

If they knock him out of the sky, though, he may land in one of Venice’s many canals, where he can simply swim to safety, unlike Altair, who only floundered and died within water of any considerable depth. Players will also be able to assassinate some targets from the water if they feel the need to, as Ezio seemingly will be a more flexible, talented warrior than his ancestor. But if players find swimming and flying to be of little interest, they’ll certainly enjoy the new-and-improved climbing mechanics, which have been sped up to expedite travel from one point to another.

Agility aside, Assassin’s Creed definitely had its fair share of moments in which swordplay was the key element. Ezio is equipped with all of Altair’s weaponry as well as a few touches of his own. Rather than only having one hidden blade, our new assassin has two up his sleeves. Along with that there’s the wrist-equipped pistol, which mechanically fires small serrated disks at any enemy within his sights. Keep in mind, though, that these are only the weapons Ezio is automatically equipped with.

Up to 30 other weapons can be procured in gameplay, 6 of which are exclusive to the PS3 for players who connect that version with the PSP’s. Those that are not locked to a specific console include infamous tools of war such as the battle axe, war hammer and spear. These weapons can be found either in stores scattered around the different cities or in the possession of guards, whom you’ll have to disarm and kill before pilfering their armaments. 

Ezio’s methods will also differ in terms of carrying out the assassinations as well. Unlike in the first game, in which players had to assassinate targets with the hidden blade, one gameplay demo showed the use of poison being put into play. Rather than try and poison the target himself, Ezio poisoned the drink of the target’s personal guard who, in a convulsive fit of agony, accidentally mutilated the target before falling dead himself. This one example is indicative of the possibilities there may be in the world of Assassin’s Creed 2.

Ubisoft hasn’t yet built up a reputation for unsatisfying sequels, and hopefully their track record will remain as solid following Assassin’s Creed 2’s November 17^th release. With such competition as Left 4 Dead 2 and the specter that will be Modern Warfare 2, there may be a bit of a struggle to assert any dominance around the game’s launch. That all said, stick with Gameonn for further coverage of Ezio’s adventure leading up to and following its launch.