Assassin's Creed 2

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,533 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Assassin's Creed 2 Game Cover
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Assassin's Creed II is a historical open-world game set in the Italian Renaissance, offering a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. The game features an intriguing story of power, revenge, and conspiracy, with diverse options for combat, assassination, and escape. Experience a vast open world with settings such as Venice, and a wide range of new weapons and gameplay elements.

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  • Mac OS
  • PC
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  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Uplay
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,533 reviews
story2,735 positive mentions
grinding123 negative mentions
  • story6,239 mentions

    The story of "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, following the journey of Ezio Auditore as he seeks revenge for his family's betrayal amidst the backdrop of Renaissance Italy. Players appreciate the rich character development, engaging plot twists, and the integration of historical figures, which enhance the immersive experience. While some missions can feel repetitive, the overall narrative and gameplay improvements over its predecessor make it a standout title in the franchise, often regarded as the best in terms of storytelling.

    • “The story is captivating, and the music will always be incredible - dreams of Venice, home in Florence, Ezio's family, are just a few of many excellent tracks.”
    • “Ezio's personal quest for revenge and his deeper understanding of the Assassin’s Creed provided an emotional core that drew players in.”
    • “With its rich historical setting, engaging story, and memorable characters, it's a must-play for any fan of action-adventure games.”
    • “The game's story is solid for the time but mainly suffers in the latter stages due to time skips and rapid introductions of characters.”
    • “While the base game suffers from the aforementioned issues, the now merged DLC adds to the issues by affecting the flow of the story by bringing it to a halt, introducing more characters and conflict, failing to successfully flesh out the base game's time skips relative to the previous events in the story.”
    • “The story is ok, but it's so drawn out and gets boring quickly.”
  • gameplay2,208 mentions

    The gameplay of "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its significant improvements over its predecessor, featuring smoother parkour mechanics, a more engaging combat system, and a variety of mission types that enhance player experience. While some players note occasional clunkiness and repetitive elements, the overall mechanics are considered enjoyable and immersive, contributing to a captivating narrative set in beautifully rendered historical locations. The game successfully balances exploration, stealth, and action, making it a standout title in the series.

    • “While the controls took a bit of adjustment, once I got the hang of them, I found myself enamored with its sneaky mechanics, intricate parkour paths, and engaging puzzle-solving gameplay.”
    • “The game balanced exploration, combat, and stealth in a way that kept players constantly engaged, and the fluid parkour mechanics were revolutionary for their time.”
    • “With its engaging narrative, satisfying gameplay mechanics, and breathtaking visuals, it stands as a shining example of what the medium is capable of achieving.”
    • “The gameplay is super clunky in every aspect; combat, stealth, parkour, traversal... and even if they weren't clunky they'd still be pretty mediocre.”
    • “The gameplay is horrible and the game wears out its welcome way too early.”
    • “The combat mechanics are not very good either.”
  • graphics1,308 mentions

    The graphics of Assassin's Creed II, released in 2009, are generally regarded as impressive for their time, with many players noting that they have aged well despite some dated elements. While some reviews highlight minor graphical glitches and a lack of modern polish, the vibrant environments and detailed cityscapes of Renaissance Italy continue to captivate players. Overall, the visuals are praised for their artistic style and immersive atmosphere, making the game a visually appealing experience even years after its release.

    • “The graphics are stunning, bringing historical landscapes to life.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, especially considering the game’s age.”
    • “The graphics have aged well and are very pleasant to look at, the lighting carries environments and compliments the scenery in Florence, etc. It is easy to get lost in the beauty of the wonderful and lovely countryside.”
    • “Graphically, this game hasn't aged that well.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated, but the story and gameplay are still solid.”
    • “The graphics may not have aged that poorly overall, but the character models are not great.”
  • music739 mentions

    The music in *Assassin's Creed II* is widely praised for its breathtaking quality and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting Jesper Kyd's masterful compositions that enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Iconic tracks like "Ezio's Family" have become synonymous with the franchise, contributing to a rich auditory experience that immerses players in the Renaissance setting. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the best in gaming history, elevating the gameplay and leaving a lasting impression on players.

    • “The soundtrack perfectly matches the tone of the game, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The music composed by Jesper Kyd wonderfully captures the atmosphere of the era, while the realistic graphics impress with detail and ambiance.”
    • “The soundtrack is a masterpiece, with a mix of renaissance and modern music that sets the mood for each mission and cut-scene.”
    • “The soundtrack is too ambient for my liking, but 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?).”
    • “However, it is kind of frustrating trying to kill a guard and a musician comes right in front of your face, and instead of killing a guard, you kill the musician.”
  • atmosphere198 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised for its immersive and vibrant recreation of Renaissance Italy, with detailed cityscapes, authentic architecture, and a dynamic soundtrack by Jesper Kyd that enhances the emotional experience. Players appreciate the distinct atmospheres of each location, from the bustling streets of Florence to the colorful canals of Venice, which contribute to a rich and engaging environment that feels alive. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the narrative and gameplay to create a captivating historical experience.

    • “Only topped by the gorgeous and diverse atmosphere, established with its fluent mixture of semi-earthly ideas but spun with an other-worldly and at times outlandish presentation to it all.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding184 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with many players finding certain aspects, such as collecting items and completing side missions, to be tedious and repetitive. While some players appreciate the variety in missions and the overall gameplay, others express frustration with the lengthy and often unengaging tasks required to fully complete the game. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable elements, it is marred by moments of grind that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Not grindy unless you want it to be.”
    • “Good story, nice gameplay, and not too grindy.”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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 collectible hunting is just as tedious and annoying as in the first game.”
  • stability172 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in parkour mechanics and mission sequences. While some users noted that the game runs well on modern systems and has fewer issues compared to its predecessor, others found it frustratingly buggy, with frequent crashes and technical problems that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, players should be prepared for occasional technical hiccups.

    • “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.”
    • “It's filled with bugs and glitches and a lot of them are game-breaking.”
    • “Too many glitches make the game unplayable.”
    • “The buggy controls make it effectively unplayable.”
  • optimization135 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users experienced smooth gameplay, others noted that the game is poorly optimized for various hardware configurations, leading to frustration and the need for workarounds. Overall, despite its engaging story and gameplay, the game's technical shortcomings detract from the experience, especially for PC users.

    • “Optimization: 10/10”
    • “Good optimization, very stable 60 fps on 1440p-ultra on a GTX 980 (overclocked).”
    • “Performance-wise it's excellent too, very well optimized.”
    • “Then you get into the game and 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.”
    • “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.”
  • humor127 mentions

    The humor in "Assassin's Creed II" is widely praised, with players highlighting the charming and witty character of Ezio, as well as the amusing interactions with historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci. Many reviews mention funny moments, such as quirky side missions and humorous dialogue, which contribute to a lighthearted tone that balances the game's serious themes. Additionally, the presence of amusing bugs and glitches adds an extra layer of comedy, making the overall experience entertaining and engaging.

    • “Honestly, the positives far outweigh the negatives; there are a lot of funny moments, like a broke housewife paying you 2000 florins to beat up her cheating husband.”
    • “Funny, doesn't take itself too seriously while also dedicating time to the character to make you relate to their goals and their struggles.”
    • “The story has lots of humor to it, keeping 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'.”
    • “Funny bugs.”
  • emotional110 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Assassin's Creed II" is profoundly impactful, primarily through the character of Ezio Auditore, whose journey from a carefree youth to a seasoned assassin resonates deeply with players. The game's narrative, enriched by a touching soundtrack and compelling character development, evokes strong feelings of empathy and investment, particularly during pivotal moments of loss and vengeance. Overall, players find themselves emotionally engaged, making the experience both memorable and heartwarming.

    • “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.”
    • “Ezio's transformation from a reckless youth to a master assassin is compelling and emotionally engaging.”
    • “Everything takes forever, especially in the boring story.”
    • “At other times, it demands you complete some boring story mission or worse, a flying mission, filled with annoying prerequisites and arbitrary 'stealth' sections that have instant-fail conditions.”
    • “Cons: Ubisoft account registration, console-port menu, clunky AI, sub-par facial animations, clunky/buggy controls, button-mash combat, holding 3 buttons to run, graphical glitches, glaring/white screens, boring storyline, glyph minigames, and the tomb missions.”
  • character development85 mentions

    Assassin's Creed II is widely praised for its exceptional character development, particularly that of the protagonist, Ezio Auditore, who evolves from a carefree youth into a mature and skilled assassin throughout the game. Players appreciate the depth and emotional investment in Ezio's journey, as well as the engaging narrative that intertwines historical intrigue with personal growth. While some critiques mention a lack of development for secondary characters, the overall consensus highlights the game's strong storytelling and character arcs as standout features.

    • “The character development is exceptional, with Ezio evolving from a brash young man into a formidable and wise assassin.”
    • “Ezio's story is a massive step up from Altair's, as you can see Ezio mature and grow not only in skills as an assassin, but also predominantly as a person as the story progresses.”
    • “This game does everything beautifully, from the missions to gameplay, story, it has amazing character development, and every location has its own unique style and soundtrack.”
    • “Lets talk protagonists, after the initial 'he lost his family and he wants revenge', what character development does he get?”
    • “Ezio's character development seems quick and rushed, as if they wanted to get it out of the way so they could get to killing people.”
    • “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).”
  • replayability69 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as strong, with many players appreciating its branching storylines, multiple side quests, and expansive open-world environment that encourage exploration and different playthroughs. However, some reviews note limitations, such as a lack of mission replayability and repetitive side activities, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while many find significant replay value, opinions vary, with some citing low replayability due to linear progression and dated gameplay mechanics.

    • “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 2 offers ample replay value for players seeking to explore every corner of Renaissance Italy.”
    • “Overall, AC2 is a fantastic game with a great replayability factor.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some praising the absence of microtransactions and aggressive advertising, while others criticize it as a cash grab that detracts from the overall experience. Players appreciate the return to a more enjoyable gaming model, contrasting it with modern titles that often rely on monetization strategies. Overall, the sentiment leans towards valuing gameplay over profit-driven tactics.

    • “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.”
    • “Downvote for aggressive advertising to promote another game.”
    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

22hMedian play time
22hAverage play time
19hMain story
35hCompletionist
10-31hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 61 analyzed playthroughs

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