Assassin's Creed II
- "Truth is Written in Blood"
- ―Giovanni Auditore
Assassin's Creed II is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game being developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is set to release on November 17, 2009 (US) and November 20, 2009 (Worldwide) on PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox 360. A special version of the game will also come out on the Nintendo DS.
Plot
While not much is known of the plot yet, it has been confirmed that the player will assume the role of a young nobleman-turned-assassin named Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Ezio is a descendant of Altaïr and an ancestor to Desmond, the protagonists from Assassin's Creed. He is shown to have dual assassin's blades and a colorful attire, to fit the era. The game is set to take place in Renaissance Italy, during the 15th century, approximately 300 years after the first game. The story in the Renaissance could quite possibly begin with Ezio watching his father and others (possibly other family members) executed by the hands of the Templars, directly or indirectly. This event fuels Ezio's quest for vengeance and will eventually lead to revelations that will change what you thought you knew about Assassin's Creed. From what was revealed from the short films, Ezio will pick up where his father left off, as his father was also an Assassin and it's his uniform Ezio will wear.
The 2012 setting will also be returning for the sequel, along with the character Lucy Stillman from the first Assassin's Creed. Lucy will help Desmond escape Abstergo to an Assassin secret hideout where the Animus will be waiting for them. Danny Wallace will voice the character Shaun Hastings, a historian and possible Assassin who will help and teach Desmond about the time period and enemies he is dealing with.
Over the arc of the story, many historical figures will find their way into the narrative, including Leonardo da Vinci (his friend and supporter, who has invented Ezio's hidden blades), Niccolò Machiavelli, author of The Prince, (who will teach Ezio "tactics"), Caterina Sforza and Ezio's Uncle Mario (who helps Ezio hone his fighting skills). The narrative will focus mainly on the struggles of Ezio, as he seeks revenge against those who betray him, as further below the surface, the Assassin's and Templars continue their centuries long war and continue to influence the course of history. The game will feature Venice, Florence, Rome and the Tuscan countryside. Famous architectural marvels will appear, such as Saint Mark's Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Colosseum, Santa Maria Novella Church and the Rialto Bridge.
Gameplay
yes
Special Editions
The Black Edition:
- “Master Assassin” upgrade Ezio figurine with black collector box
- 3 in-game bonus quests, allowing the character to explore the following:
- Palazzo Medicis in Florence
- Santa Maria Dei Frari In Venice
- Arsenal Shipyard Warehouse In Venice
- "Conspiracy book": A book from the developers, describing development, and the storyline (with extra commentary on the "conspiracy"). 64 pages, hardcover, "leather style".
- DVD with all videos, behind-the-scene interviews and "e-goodies" about Assassin's Creed II and game soundtrack by Jesper Kyd (British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominee for "2009 Best original score in a game").
- Black packaging with unique holographic signature
This edition of the game will be made available for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC[2]. It is confirmed for Europe, as well as Australia[3]
The White Edition:
- Ezio figurine
- Collectible White Packaging
The Master Assassin’s Edition Xbox 360 - Bonus in-game content
This version is in only available in parts of Europe,as well as Australia: [[1]]
The Master Assassin Edition:
- Ezio figurine
- Artbook: The art of Assassin's Creed
- Premium Collectable Metal Case
- Two In-Game Maps: Palazzo Medici and Santa Maria Dei Frari
- Additional Content DVD with Behind the Scenes of Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed II Soundtrack
This edition can be bought in North America: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=75654
Development
On January 22 2009, it was confirmed by Ubisoft that Assassin's Creed II was in production, but no details were revealed. A promotional video was released by Ubisoft on April 6 showing a map of Italy, some hidden blade designs, and DaVinci's flying machine on a scroll. On the official site after the teaser is viewed a symbol is given to print and show infront of a webcam. Doing this will unlock a picture displayed on the site. 4 of the 5 symbols have been given by Ubisoft, and the other was found by a fan. Later, on April 10, Game Informer magazine released details on the game, as well as pictures of Ezio. There are about 240 team members, some of these members were sent to Italy, traveling through Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and Rome. ScrewAttack also released a video with some of the pictures from the magazine. In early May, Ubisoft has stated that they are putting full emphasis on the game and that 450 team members are now working on the title. 75% of the original developers for the original game are now working on the the second.
Case of Ezio Screenshots
- A Side By Side Comparison of Assassins Creed and Assassins Creed II Gameplay
- Assassins Creed II Trailer and Gameplay Information! First Screenshots of Ezio!
- Assassins Creed II Gameplay - E3 including dev comments
References
External Links
- Official Website
- VIDEO: Electric Playground Interview with Assassin's Creed 2 Creative Director Patrice Desilets
- ARTICLE: Electric Playground Preview of Assassin's Creed 2
Special thanks to Jay Stillinger and his team of ajax developers for making this content available