360 magazine UK: Assassin's Creed II review impressions

I've just finished my review of Assassin's Creed II for the latest issue of 360 and while we're under embargo and can't reveal the score, I still wanted to share some of my thoughts about the game…

[theEnemy]

it's infinitely better than the first one.

And no more bullsh1t repetitive missions.

[Darkeyes]

The first game tried to be a jack of all trades, but could only master a few (fluid climbing mechanism is one of them) aspects and got really repetitive after sometime. Besides that, it was really an ambitious go by the devs and I respect them for that... Thankfully, AC2 is looking much better than 1 (not only graphically, but even in gameplay and VENICE!!!!!).... I also love the art style of the game and boy the game looks gorgeous.

Frankly speaking, I am more hyped for this game than I am for MW2...

[WildArmed]

'It’s infinitely better than the first one. '
'nuff said.

*runs to preorder the game* I cant have it running out everywhere like Demons Souls did -.-

[StanLatMarveldotCom]

Sounds like it's going to be fantastic. Glad I put my faith in the second and didn't write it off as most did.

[SnuggleBandit]

I'm still gonna wait for "user reviews" cuz the first one just burnt too badly!

[SaberEdge]

I actually loved the first one, so if this one is even better...wooohooo! Seriously, this is one of the biggest games I am looking forward to this year.

[NewZealander]

i just need reviews to come out, ive preordered th black edition, but want to know what version is going to be better (if theres any difference)

[Poopface the 2nd]

I already know im going to get it. I really liked the first even though I thought it was a little repetitive and WAY TOO EASY. This one is looking much better.

[UnSelf]

you hear this jerkoff tryna get by? Go buy ur own damn magazine, no one cares for ur inept score

[dgroundwater]

I'm sorry, but what your problem? The guy is posting in the right site isn't he?

[frostypants]

The first one was painful...I am surprised anyone bothered finishing it. I'm a bit shocked that they didn't just let the IP die...

[swiftshot93]

Im shocked too. I mean, Assassin;s Creed is only the fastest selling new IP of all time, selling 9 million copies as of June 2009. What was Ubisoft thinking?

[bigrudowsky]

the first one was repetetive but not painful it was a great game overall not to mention the best open world graphics.

[corneliuscrust]

look more fluid and polished than the second one

[PirateThom]

I was kind of hooked on it, the combat and missions were a bit repetative, and the travelling was retarded (YOUR HORSE IS GOING TOO FAST!!!!!11111) but, the whole thing was so well done. The climbing elements, the story, the graphics, the cities...

I really liked it.

[DiffusionE]

YAY! MW2 can go screw, I'm definitely getting this Day 1.

[dgroundwater]

Same here! I got a great deal on the limited edition and have no intention of picking up MW2 for a while.

[ThanatosDMC]

I second you on that one!

[FwanK]

"You find out what the hell the end of AC1 was all about"

Thank God!

Only 2 years to find it out... ¬¬

[Kakihara]

I'm still very very skeptical but that's just because I was more hyped for the first one than I ever had been for any game and even after ignoring all the average review scores I picked it up and hated it.

[starvinbull]

Fact is with regards the first game... it was as ambitious as GTA but without a GTA budget.

Shame really that the setting and themes of the first game are gone and all the flaws will be corrected in iterations that may or may not be more interesting to the player. A bit like how GTASA's feature list makes Vice City look old when most people would prefer VC with GTASA's features.

Will be good I'm sure, just wish the first was better that's all.

[DelbertGrady]

Considering I really enjoyed the first game despite it's shortcomings I'm gonna love this one.

[va_bank]

UBISoft does not have the best track record for releasing technically sound games. Most of their big releases this gen had significant bugs in it, that had to be addressed in a later patch.

AC1 was the worst for me as a PS3 owner - it was freezing an hour into the game. I advise those of you who are not sure about wether to get this or not to wait a couple of weeks and see what surfaces on game forums and then make a decision. At least that's what I'll be doing - no rush, got plenty of games to play for now.

[bigrudowsky]

bugs dont bother me too much,it depends on the amount. Uncharted 2 has many bugs and i still love it.

[starvinbull]

The freezing out of towns was terrible on my copy, I had to trade it in and clock it on a rental copy.

Seriously hampered my enjoyment of the game. In the end I just clocked it as quick as I could without doing extra missions because I couldn't be arsed.

Wish they had worked another year on it to make it better.

[va_bank]

I think it would bother you if you couldn't get past the first hour of the game at all.

EDIT: Ooops, meant as a reply to 9.1

[MK_Red]

I was already sold on this game but after the "FANTASTICALLY violent" part, I'm double sold. Lack of real violence was one of my main grips with the original aside from lack of variety and pop ups.

[Cacolaco]

I'm just curious... That's an entirely different type of game. I mean, I realize a lot of people are upset about the dedicated servers thing, but why does that have to come up in comments for an article about AC2?

I'm glad to see that AC2 seems to be aiming for something a little less repetitive. I really had trouble getting into the first one, despite its many positive aspects...

[xg-ei8ht]

Punt?

So you have a bet in the boats, ahh i see. It's all clear now.

You bet on how many boats you can steal?

wtf.

Sorry, punt in UK, is basically having a bet.

Having a punt on the horses etc.