Secret location
There are 9 Secret Locations in Assassin's Creed II. They consist of Prince of Persia-like platform levels which must be completed through free running and some puzzle solving. These missions are optional; however, the first one must be done to discover a Templar conspiracy against the Medicis.
Each location has several stages and each one has a different platforming objective, from climbing high towers from the inside to timed free running trials meant to test a player's abilities. 5 secret locations are also Assassin Tombs containing seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor, which is the most powerful armor in the game and is necessary for Desmond to achieve full synchronization with Ezio. The first Assassin Tomb (the secret location mentioned in the first paragraph) does not count as a secret location, but does contain one of the 6 seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor.
Locations
- Basilica di San Marco (Assassin Tomb)
- Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore (Assassin Tomb)
- Torre Grossa (Assassin Tomb)
- Rocca Di Ravaldino (Assassin Tomb)
- Visitazione's Catacombs (Assassin Tomb)
- Palazzo Medici (Templar Lair, GameStop pre-order exclusive)
- Unknown (alleged Templar Lair, Xbox Live downloadable content, not yet released, may be released in January with Battle for Forli DLC)
- Unknown (alleged Templar Lair, Xbox Live downloadable content, not yet released, may be released in February with Bonfire of the Vanities DLC)
- Auditore Family Crypt (Assassin Tomb (the only one that does not hold one the seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor), Uplay downloadable content)
Possible Unlockable Armor
There may be another unlockable armor set tied to the secret locations, as a message displayed at the bottom of the menu screen when the player selects the downloadable or exclusive content divisions of the extras menu to the effect of "the ultimate Assassin armor requires that you visit all of the secret locations. Are you ready for it?" evidences. This may be Altaïr's Armor, but it seems more likely that the message would say "Assassin Tombs" instead of "secret locations" making it possible that this is an entirely seperate armor set.