Assassin's Creed 2

Assassin's Creed II is a phenomenal achievement and is a game that you should play regardless of what system you own.

87%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

86% User Score Based on 31,852 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 6 reviews

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Assassin's Creed 2 is a single player and multiplayer open world action adventure game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and was released on March 3, 2010. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Assassin's Creed II" is a historical action-adventure game set in the Italian Renaissance, following a protagonist seeking revenge and uncovering conspiracy. The game offers an open-world experience in locations like Venice, with diverse options for combat, assassination, and escape, and new weapons and gameplay elements. Players will engage in a rich and immersive story of power, conspiracy, and revenge during a pivotal moment in history.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 31,852 reviews

story5.9k positive mentions

grinding264 negative mentions

The story of Assassin's Creed II is engaging and emotionally resonant, particularly through the character development of Ezio Auditore.
The gameplay features significant improvements over its predecessor, offering a refined combat system and enhanced parkour mechanics that create a more enjoyable experience.
The graphics, while showing some signs of aging, effectively capture the beauty of Renaissance Italy and contribute to the immersive atmosphere of the game.

Some gameplay mechanics feel dated and clunky, leading to frustrations with combat and traversal.
The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs and crashes, which can disrupt the overall experience.
Certain missions and side quests can feel repetitive and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
13,488 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The story of "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, following the journey of Ezio Auditore as he seeks revenge for his family's betrayal. Players appreciate the character development, rich historical context, and emotional depth, with many considering it one of the best stories in the franchise. While some missions can feel repetitive and the gameplay mechanics show their age, the overall storytelling and immersive world make it a standout title that continues to resonate with fans.
- “The story is amazing, the graphics are slightly less quality than the first, the gameplay is upgraded considerably, the controls are fully customizable, and the side quests are top of the line.”
- “Ezio's maturation as an assassin over time manifests itself not only in missions, but also in dialogues and character relationships.”
- “The main strength of the story is the emotional bonds and the depth it adds to the Assassin's Creed universe.”
- “While the story was decent, it wasn't particularly remarkable; it feels flat and boring. Don't drop it; it's going to get better, and the protagonist was average—not standing out as either particularly good or bad but had good character development.”
- “The story is ok.... but it's so drawn out and gets boring quick.”
- “The story is probably the only redeeming quality, as it is very engaging.”
gameplay
4,816 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The gameplay of "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its significant improvements over its predecessor, featuring a refined combat system, enhanced parkour mechanics, and a more engaging mission structure that reduces repetitiveness. Players appreciate the fluidity of movement and the variety of gameplay elements, including stealth, exploration, and combat, although some mechanics can feel dated or clunky by modern standards. Overall, the game successfully combines a captivating story with enjoyable gameplay, making it a standout title in the franchise.
- “The gameplay is a perfect blend of stealth, combat, and accidentally jumping off buildings.”
- “It lacks the stylish animations of Unity, or the naval combat of Black Flag, but it has the most tightly-woven gameplay of the franchise.”
- “The gameplay in Assassin's Creed II is refined and expanded upon, offering players a more diverse and engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay did not age well and might sometimes feel frustrating, but the story and level design are superb and still stand strong.”
- “The gameplay is super clunky in every aspect; combat, stealth, parkour, traversal... and even if they weren't clunky they'd still be pretty mid.”
- “The gameplay is horrible and the game wears out its welcome way too early.”
graphics
2,846 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
48%
8%
The graphics of "Assassin's Creed II" are generally praised for their quality, especially considering the game's release in 2009. Many reviewers note that while the graphics show signs of aging, they still hold up well and effectively capture the beauty of Renaissance Italy, with vibrant cityscapes and detailed environments. However, some players mention occasional graphical glitches and outdated character models, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive for their time, they may not meet the expectations of modern gamers.
- “The graphics in this game are exceptional.”
- “Graphics: 10/10 (considering the year when it first came out)”
- “The graphics are beautiful, especially considering the game’s age.”
- “The game refuses to launch on Windows 11, it crashes if you alt tab, it has 0 controller support, the pop-in and graphical issues are horrible.”
- “With very lackluster combat, aging graphics and overly repetitive quest design there's a lot the industry has improved upon.”
- “The graphics may have worn a bit over the years, but there's still nothing quite like hunting templars and taking in the renaissance architecture.”
music
1,582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting the iconic "Ezio's Family" theme as a standout track. Composed by Jesper Kyd, the soundtrack effectively enhances the game's atmosphere, immersing players in the rich historical setting of Renaissance Italy. Overall, the music is described as beautiful, memorable, and integral to the game's emotional impact, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, with a mix of renaissance and modern music that sets the mood for each mission and cut-scene.”
- “The music composed by Jesper Kyd wonderfully captures the atmosphere of the era, while the realistic graphics impress with detail and ambiance.”
- “The soundtrack expertly complements the game's atmosphere, heightening emotions during key moments and making the whole experience even more magical.”
- “The soundtrack is too ambient for my liking, but yeah it is quite subjective; the only memorable track is 'Ezio Family Theme'.”
- “Eventually, you'll get to the last scripted mission which involves climbing the same structure 6 times and then two rounds of hand-to-hand combat against a tanky opponent (did I mention that there's no boss music?).”
- “The music is mostly hit and miss with a too small number of appropriately selected environmental music.”
atmosphere
418 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The atmosphere in "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive depiction of Renaissance Italy, contrasting sharply with the darker tones of its predecessor. Players appreciate the detailed architecture, dynamic environments, and a captivating soundtrack by Jesper Kyd that enhances the overall experience, making the cities feel alive and historically rich. The game's ability to evoke nostalgia and a sense of place, combined with varied atmospheric elements across different locations, contributes to its status as a standout title in the series.
- “The incredible architecture, the atmosphere, the history, everything took me away.”
- “From the bustling streets of Florence to the majestic rooftops of Venice, Assassin's Creed 2 brings Renaissance Italy to life with breathtaking detail and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and you have the feeling the cities you walk through are alive.”
- “And the game feels visually inferior to the first game because AC2 fails to capture the same grim atmosphere of the first game.”
- “Generally you are overpowered and that ruins even more the atmosphere, the survival feeling and every need to hide.”
- “Just like in the first Assassin’s Creed though, the pale colors and gloomy music often dull the atmosphere, it seems like they try to forcefully embitter the mood, yet they never fitted the protagonist's presented character in the first place.”
grinding
398 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
32%
66%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a significant aspect, often described as tedious and requiring a considerable time investment, with many players feeling that they "need a second life" to manage it. While some side missions and collectibles are seen as purposeful, others are criticized for being repetitive and lacking meaningful rewards, leading to a mixed experience where the main story remains engaging despite the grind. Overall, players appreciate the improvements over previous titles but still find certain elements of grinding to be a drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Not grindy unless you want it to be.”
- “Good story, nice gameplay, and not too grindy.”
- “The objectives are tedious, not a single character is developed in any way, not a single target you assassinate has even remotely interesting stuff to say and the story becomes boring all of a sudden.”
- “The side missions, for example, at some point just feel extremely tedious and about 15 hours in I started skipping them as I had enough money to buy everything available and there was nothing really relevant in terms of the story within these side missions as most of them just had one or two sentences of what to do and maybe one or two lines of generic monologue from the NPCs involved.”
- “The collectible hunting is just as tedious and annoying as in the first game, though.”
stability
376 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
2%
93%
The stability of the game is frequently criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, others describe it as unplayable due to frequent crashes and frustrating mechanics, particularly with parkour and controls. Overall, the game is seen as having a mix of minor and major stability issues, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on PC and looks great all these years later, 10/10 would recommend.”
- “It runs great, at a solid, and I mean solid 60fps.”
- “The game runs great on my Windows 10 laptop getting constant 60 fps.”
- “Too many glitches make the game unplayable.”
- “The buggy controls make it effectively unplayable.”
- “It's filled with bugs and glitches and a lot of them are gamebreaking.”
optimization
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
38%
40%
The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting significant stuttering, frame drops, and performance issues across various hardware setups. While some users experienced smooth gameplay, particularly on modern systems, the overall consensus indicates that the game is poorly optimized for PC, often requiring manual adjustments and workarounds to achieve acceptable performance. Many reviewers express frustration over the lack of support from Ubisoft in addressing these technical shortcomings.
- “The best Assassin's Creed game that I have ever played runs smoothly without any issues.”
- “Performance-wise, it's excellent too, very well optimized.”
- “Good optimization, very stable 60 fps on 1440p-ultra on a GTX 980 (overclocked).”
- “Game is not optimized at all, laggy and does not run unless you download the latest version of the Ubisoft launcher. The game itself is great but really needs a remaster or some type of remake.”
- “The main issues that I have with this game is that the performance is terrible. It was not optimized for PC at all and there is no effort by Ubisoft to fix anything with this game.”
- “While the game itself is fantastic, the optimization for the PC is flat out garbage! I have a PC that would easily destroy this game but due to constant stuttering, the gameplay which is supposed to be fast and fluid becomes slow and frustrating.”
humor
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised, with players highlighting the charming and witty character of Ezio, who delivers memorable and funny dialogue throughout the game. Many reviews mention humorous interactions with NPCs, such as bards singing in the streets and quirky side missions, as well as the comedic potential of various glitches and bugs. Overall, the game balances its serious themes with well-timed humor, making it an enjoyable experience that resonates with players.
- “Funny, doesn't take itself too seriously while also dedicating time to the character to make you relate to their goals and their struggles.”
- “Filled with memorable characters, a winding, twisted story of revenge, humorous interactions, and a great move-set, Assassin's Creed 2 is one of the best.”
- “The story has lots of humor to it, keeps things fresh throughout the game.”
- “Not funny when you try to enter an area and you receive the message 'unlock this map through the Ubisoft Club'.”
- “Not funny when you try to enter an area and you receive the message 'unlock this map through the Ubisoft Club'.”
emotional
240 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The emotional aspect of *Assassin's Creed II* is highlighted by the deep character development of Ezio Auditore, whose journey from a carefree youth to a master assassin resonates strongly with players. The game's narrative is rich with themes of revenge, loss, and redemption, enhanced by a touching soundtrack that amplifies key moments, making it a profoundly engaging experience. Many players express a strong emotional attachment to Ezio, often recalling specific scenes that moved them to tears, underscoring the game's ability to create a personal connection with its audience.
- “Ezio's personal quest for revenge and his deeper understanding of the assassin’s creed provided an emotional core that drew players in.”
- “At the heart of Assassin's Creed II is its protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, whose journey is both compelling and emotionally resonant.”
- “The storytelling in Assassin's Creed II is a tour de force, featuring a deep and emotionally resonant narrative that keeps players invested from start to finish.”
- “Don't get me wrong, Ezio Auditore is an amazing character and I love him in Brotherhood and especially in Revelations, but I cannot understand how they were able to butcher him with a very boring story.”
- “However, at other times it'll demand you complete some boring story mission or worse flying mission, filled with annoying pre-requisites and arbitrary 'stealth' sections, which have insta-fail conditions.”
- “Everything takes forever, especially in the boring story.”
character development
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
Character development in Assassin's Creed II is widely praised, particularly for the protagonist Ezio Auditore, whose transformation from a carefree youth to a skilled and wise assassin is compellingly portrayed. Reviewers highlight the depth of his character arc, emotional investment in his journey, and the engaging narrative that intertwines historical intrigue with personal growth. Overall, the game is noted for setting a high standard in character development within the series, making it a standout experience for players.
- “Ezio's character development is a triumph, transforming from a carefree youth into a skilled assassin with a deep personal vendetta.”
- “The character development is exceptional, with Ezio evolving from a brash young man into a formidable and wise assassin.”
- “Ezio is one of my favorite video game protagonists; he is very likable, and watching him grow as a person throughout the game was beautifully done, just amazing character development.”
- “Let's talk protagonists, after the initial 'he lost his family and he wants revenge', what character development does he get?”
- “I had fun for the first quarter of the game where at least the character was very charismatic but it quickly became a repetitive slog with character development that you'll hardly notice by the main plot putting you to sleep.”
- “There is no character development to the 2 new characters: Shaun and Rebecca, and it really wouldn't have made a difference if they just decided to cut out the entire modern day story for this game, because it's literally non-existent (apart from the ending of course).”
replayability
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its branching storylines, side quests, and open-world exploration, which encourage multiple playthroughs. However, some critics note that certain aspects, such as linear mission progression and limited post-story content, diminish its overall replay value. Overall, while many find it enjoyable enough to replay, opinions vary widely, with some rating it as high as 10/10 and others as low as 3/10.
- “The game's branching storylines and multiple side quests offer significant replay value, encouraging players to revisit the world and experience different outcomes.”
- “With its sprawling open-world environment and wealth of side activities, Assassin's Creed II offers ample replay value for players seeking to explore every corner of Renaissance Italy.”
- “I was so enthralled by it that I managed to achieve 100% completion, which speaks volumes about the game's depth and replayability.”
- “As it is very linear and ends up as a bit of a flat experience story-wise, I'm afraid the replay value is quite low, especially since there are already plenty of titles in this ongoing series that haven't ended yet.”
- “Replayability of the main missions is limited, since they are presented in the order they are received and cannot be re-done once completed.”
- “I do admittedly have a quibble with the replayability; you don't really have the option to replay missions, which kind of sucks.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
22%
67%
Reviews highlight a mix of sentiments regarding monetization, with some praising the absence of microtransactions and aggressive advertising, while others criticize the perceived cash grab nature of certain titles. Players appreciate when games focus on fun rather than monetization tactics, but express frustration over aggressive marketing strategies and the impact of microtransactions in free-to-play models. Overall, there is a strong desire for games to prioritize player experience over profit-driven approaches.
- “No microtransactions: check”
- “This is back from when games were meant to be fun instead of a hassle to make you buy microtransactions, and it shows.”
- “Shameless cash grab using what was one of the best games of all time.”
- “A more serious case was that of Might & Magic: Duel of Champions, a free-to-play game with microtransactions, whose closure not only removed the game from stores but also erased achievements and statistics from accounts, rendering important player information inaccessible.”
- “Down vote for aggressive advertising to promote another game.”

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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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23h Median play time

23h Average play time

19h Main story

35h Completionist

10-35h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 132 analyzed playthroughs

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Assassin's Creed 2 is a open world action adventure game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes.

Assassin's Creed 2 is available on iPhone, Windows, Xbox Series X|S, PC and others.

The main story can be completed in around 19 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 35 hours to finish. On average players spend around 23 hours playing Assassin's Creed 2.

Assassin's Creed 2 was released on March 3, 2010.

Assassin's Creed 2 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal.

Assassin's Creed 2 has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Assassin's Creed 2 is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, Assassin's Creed III and others.

Assassin's Creed 2

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