Assassin's Creed II, anyone?

[Jason]

Well, after Left 4 Dead 2 and Call of Duty: MW2, the other big news this month gaming-wise is the release of the second game in Ubisoft's historical action/stealth franchise. They're spending a lot of money advertising this one, but many gamers (including this one) are expressing reservations after the original game - although entertaining, many believed it quickly became very one-dimensional and repetitive, with the 'side quests' limited to little more than collecting hundreds and hundreds of flags. Whoopee.

The first reviews are largely positive, with IGN claiming that "No matter what your preconceptions are about Assassin's Creed II, the game is well worth your time and money." (link to review) (http://ps3.ign.com/articles/104/1046092p1.html)

Perhaps I'm getting a little cynical in my old age, but after the outpouring of hype and wide-eyed adoration the console reviewers meted out for the latest Call of Duty game (Metascore 95? REALLY?!), I'm a little less inclined to rush out and buy it just on the strength of a few reviews.
However, as most reviews are saying the same thing (like the first game, only it's actually quite good this time), I might well be tempted to give this a rent.

[MyNameDidntFit]

If its formula is essentially:

Assassin's Creed - Repetitiveness + Skippable Dialogue = Assassin's Creed 2

I'll be buying it when I have the spare cash.

[Jason]

It's definitely lost the repetitiveness according to the reviews. The skippable dialogue, I'm not so sure.
I have to say, I didn't hate the original Assassin's Creed, but I'd be lying if I said I'd picked it up again since the day I finished it.

[vlbarto10]

I have the game but have not opened it yet, was actually waiting for some reviews first.

Question on xbox 360 consoles. Is the Jasper system actually a better option or not? And if so how do you know..... I have read the power cord has 150 w on it but is there any other information out there regarding performance and decreased problems?

[Jason]

Hey, welcome to the forums. :)

I have to say that the news that the 360 is now running a Jasper chip was a susprise to me - I'd have thought they'd be trumpeting that one a lot more than they did. To answer your question, I did a little digging and found this article. (http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3472&p=1)
It's a little involved and techie-heavy, but the info is good, and they clearly know what they're talking about - it seems that Jasper should fix the RRoD issue, although the only way to find out is over time, it seems. So far, it's looking good.

There's also some good info on the power consumption on page 5 that should answer your PSU question. :)

[Konrad]

The first one was really really "meh". It was cool, and awesome, and epic, but it also got a bit boring and I never so much as glanced at it after finishing it.

I don't think ill be paying for this one. Not the full price anyway. Perhaps ill pick it up in some distant future sale, or borrow from a friend.

[vlbarto10]

I was under the impression that the new consoles all had the Jasper chip but was surprised to learn that is not necessarily the case. It is a shame it even has to be a consideration. The article is extremely helpful Thanks

[BannanoPeel]

I gotta try it out, I'm getting tired of these video game publishers making "exclusive "download codes for buyers. I like buying my games used.

[Jason]

I have to say, I picked this up on rental, and it's not bad. I wouldn't say it's not repetitive at all, but it's certainly a little more varied, with a better selection of missions and so on. I'd recommend renting it, but save your 'buying' money for something better.

[Landy]

Tried the first AC, but wasn't overly impressed. I rarely find myself playing SP games anymore, unless they come from Valve.

[Jason]

Finished this yesterday - it's pretty good overall, but nothing special. The 'Ezio' storyline is good for the most part, but I'm really struggling to give a shit about the over-arching storyline with Desmond and co. It's just too far-fetched, massively undercooked and not even slightly interesting. Fortunately, it only rears its head every now and then, and even then only for short blasts.
They're really going to have to do something special to get me caring about AC III if they're going with the Desmond storyline (which it appears they are).

[Knighto]

I'm not going to say anything about it since I haven't played it yet (I'm picking it up after my new Samsung LCD arrives) but I'm a huge fan of the first game.

I do agree with everyone that it was a bit repeatetive but the fact that half of it takes place in my country (Syria) got me to be very interested. Everything there is so real with amazing architecture, names of neighborhoods and streets were all real and they still exists. They went as far as documenting places that indeed existed at that time and still exist untill now. They have crazy refrences to places no one would recognize except for those who live here or know a lot about the area history and geography. Once, Altair was talking with a fellow assassin reminding him of the assassination they did in Aleppo (my city) few years ago, I looked it up and it turned out that around the time of game some assassinations really took place in my city by the Hashashin (Assassins).

The assassins fort in Mesyaf is real, still exists and had a crazy cult leader (Al Mu'alim). In fact, descendants of that sect of Shia Islam (Hashashin) still exist in a village close to the fort and I know some of them from college. Of course, they're not a crazy cult who follow a guy with a super sphere-apple-ball thing that can change the reality!!

Most of the assassinations in the game did occure in real time and historical and religious context is correct. Even the sounds of the streets are clearely taken from modern times in Damascus with street sellers shouting things I hear around me here every day.

Ubi Soft team really respected my Arabic and Islamic culture in a great way, unlike games like CoD: MW where Iraqis speak in an Egyptian accent (which is as like showing Americans speaking in an Australian accent) or CoD: MW2 where afghanis speak Arabic instead of, well, Afghani. I mean come on, have some respect, Afghanstan is not even close to the Middle East.

I can go on and on about AC, it's really (an unaknowledged) step forward in entertainment history with it's respect and tolerance for everyone and with it's originality in terms of mixing real history with entertaining fiction.

[Knighto]

I believe that Assassin's Creed is indeed a game for Mature-Gamers
;)

[Jason]

Ah, that's really interesting that it's as true to the history as you say - I knew they did a lot of research into it, but I didn't realise quite how much went into it. It's a shame that the gameplay itself isn't as strong as it could be, because you're quite right - the settings are fantastic, interactive, and generally just so immersive that it's hard not to be swept up in it all.

And let's be honest, who else has started to feel a bit dizzy during some of the longer, higher climbs? I know I have once or twice, and my girlfriend actually had to look away a couple of times!