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Assassin's Creed II - The |OT|
- Thread starter Costanza
- Start date
I recognize that the first game has some pretty substantial flaws, and that's why I skipped it when it first hit in 2007, passed on it in 2008, and only finally bought it earlier this year.
Flaws and all, I loved the concept and execution enough that I 100%'ed it. Did all side quests, found all 400 flags, killed every Templar guardian, filled every DNA memory strand, etc.
Played through the PSP game first (also at 100%). It was short, rough, and easy, but the cool special weapons and the ~25k florins that carried over to AC2 PS3 were more than incentive enough. Not to mention that it was a nice touch to see that most of AC2's codex pages
.
I'm loving AC2 to pieces. It basically takes the core concept devised for the original game and turns it from a rough proof of concept into a unique, full-blown adventure game the likes that we'll probably not see again this gen. Amazing, amazing game. Sure, the extra cash ported from the PSP version probably broke AC2's in-game economy (I was able to afford almost all of the villa renovations from the get-go). I'm only on Memory Sequence 5 (I think) and am already pulling in a ridiculous 11k every 20 minutes from the villa. (Summary says that I'm approx. 75% complete!)
I must have at least 10-15 hours on the clock, since I've explored every nook and cranny in the three areas of Florence, Tuscany, and the Villa and found all glyphs (awesome puzzles!), seals (awesome PoP-like platforming!), feathers, and treasures available to me so far! I think I need to continue the story in order to open up new locations to loot! I've done all available sidequests so far, including one or two which must have been from the Limited Edition DLC, and redeemed another from uPlay last night (though I haven't tried it yet)!
Game is fucking amazing, and it might me a GotY contender for me.
I prefer Altair as a character, and being Middle Eastern myself, identify more with the setting in the first game, but there's no doubt that every single aspect of AC2 is superior. Altair may have been a "cooler" character for me, but there's no doubt that Ezio's much better developed. Likewise, the narrative is much more engrossing, the scenarios much more varied, and the game, in general, infinitely more dynamic than the very rote, very formulaic original.
And to add insult to injury, this game out PoPs Ubi's newest Prince of Persia! Amazing stuff. Truly.
My only big surprise is that there are no Desmond Miles excerpts between the Memory Sequences, ala AC1. At least, not so far. I think I can predict why, but it's still a surprising change.
Flaws and all, I loved the concept and execution enough that I 100%'ed it. Did all side quests, found all 400 flags, killed every Templar guardian, filled every DNA memory strand, etc.
Played through the PSP game first (also at 100%). It was short, rough, and easy, but the cool special weapons and the ~25k florins that carried over to AC2 PS3 were more than incentive enough. Not to mention that it was a nice touch to see that most of AC2's codex pages
were writings from the journal you see Altair keeping between missions in AC Bloodlines!
I'm loving AC2 to pieces. It basically takes the core concept devised for the original game and turns it from a rough proof of concept into a unique, full-blown adventure game the likes that we'll probably not see again this gen. Amazing, amazing game. Sure, the extra cash ported from the PSP version probably broke AC2's in-game economy (I was able to afford almost all of the villa renovations from the get-go). I'm only on Memory Sequence 5 (I think) and am already pulling in a ridiculous 11k every 20 minutes from the villa. (Summary says that I'm approx. 75% complete!)
I must have at least 10-15 hours on the clock, since I've explored every nook and cranny in the three areas of Florence, Tuscany, and the Villa and found all glyphs (awesome puzzles!), seals (awesome PoP-like platforming!), feathers, and treasures available to me so far! I think I need to continue the story in order to open up new locations to loot! I've done all available sidequests so far, including one or two which must have been from the Limited Edition DLC, and redeemed another from uPlay last night (though I haven't tried it yet)!
Game is fucking amazing, and it might me a GotY contender for me.
I prefer Altair as a character, and being Middle Eastern myself, identify more with the setting in the first game, but there's no doubt that every single aspect of AC2 is superior. Altair may have been a "cooler" character for me, but there's no doubt that Ezio's much better developed. Likewise, the narrative is much more engrossing, the scenarios much more varied, and the game, in general, infinitely more dynamic than the very rote, very formulaic original.
And to add insult to injury, this game out PoPs Ubi's newest Prince of Persia! Amazing stuff. Truly.
My only big surprise is that there are no Desmond Miles excerpts between the Memory Sequences, ala AC1. At least, not so far. I think I can predict why, but it's still a surprising change.
I'm guessing I'm screwed on the Fly Swatter achievement if I missed it during the mission?
Anyhow the game is incredible and I was definitely one of those people who never finished the first, but this makes me want to go back and play it. Wish the games on demand price was $20, but I'm sure I could find it even cheaper at retail.
Anyhow the game is incredible and I was definitely one of those people who never finished the first, but this makes me want to go back and play it. Wish the games on demand price was $20, but I'm sure I could find it even cheaper at retail.
Lostconfused
Member
Of course if you play AC you will realized that AC2 in some parts just isn't as good.ThePeacemaker02 said:
SlasherJPC
Banned
Lostconfused said:
HUH? explain?
Lostconfused
Member
Well of course that was just my opinion. But I didn't like Ezio's story and I think that the narrative of the 2nd game isn't as good. Also a the main story assassinations, except for one, weren't as enjoyable or interesting as in the first game.slasher_thrasher21 said:
slasher_thrasher21 said:
Personally it's just the visceral level of violence that has been toned down. You could also argue that it doesn't look as realistic, but that's an art design choice more than anything.
On a non-personal level, it could be argued that some people miss the extended conversations and reasoning behind the actions of your targets, which is far more streamlined in AC2(I find this to be an improvement).
But that is it, everything else is a massive improvement in every single way.
Baker said:
Much appreciated. I tried to get the stupid ones out of the way ASAP, such as wasting 300 florins via dispersal, 5000 florins via the courtesans, etc.
I didn't see any trophies dedicated to various kinds of kills (combo kills, stealth kills, counter kills, etc.) like the PSP version has. Am I right, or did I miss something?
Lostconfused
Member
Well you can also maybe add the sweep 5 enemies with the spear and blind some number of enemies with dust to that list.jett said:
TheExecutive
Member
Lostconfused said:
If you can actually get through the game that is...
jett said:
I actually prefer story-driven achievements/trophies over the skill-based ones, since most of those turn out to be a chore. It's one thing if a game rewards you for playing with style, but quite another to force you to grind stupid activities for the paltry reward.
I just trained up in long weapons and the axes, IIRC (expensive!), but didn't see anything about training with sand. The only category left is pistols, and that category is still greyed out and unavailable to me.
The not getting hit trophy, does that include blocking? Like, can I clear off 10 guys with blocks/counter-kills and still get the trophy? Only problem for me is finding a group large enough. They tend to start fleeing after I slaughter 6 or so of them...
Lostconfused
Member
No you only need to unlock the sweep. Throwing sand in the face is always an option, they just never tell you how to do it.Baker said:
I agree, I think the kills in this game are, to a large extent, more brutal than in the first.
Especially once you start upgrading that Hidden Blade a bit.
Haven't been following the thread too heavily. What's up that a patch is needed? I've experienced no glitches so far, thankfully.
Especially once you start upgrading that Hidden Blade a bit.
Haven't been following the thread too heavily. What's up that a patch is needed? I've experienced no glitches so far, thankfully.
Lostconfused
Member
Well in the first game there is the one where he grabs the enemies head with the right hand and jams the blade into the eye. Or there is one where he stabs them with the blade in the gut follows up with a punch to the stomach with the right and finishes it up with a hidden blade to the eye.ultron87 said:
Oh yeah, I guess a few of the hidden blade counters in the first one are pretty bad as well.
However (and I haven't played the first in a while, so I might be wrong), I never remember the hidden blade popping out the other side of the guy's face when you stab him there.
Also, this game has kills with the maul and battle axes and spears. Some of those are pretty crazy as well.
However (and I haven't played the first in a while, so I might be wrong), I never remember the hidden blade popping out the other side of the guy's face when you stab him there.
Also, this game has kills with the maul and battle axes and spears. Some of those are pretty crazy as well.
ultron87 said:
The actual concept of the kills are more brutal...but they don't look quite as uh destructive as in AC1. In AC1 the one where you stick your dagger in the head of the guard for example, he shakes uncontrollably as you do it. The shake is removed from AC2.
The more whimsical art design of the game also prevents, for me, from looking as violent as AC1. And seeing blood spray and drip from the actual entry wounds is much more satisfying than watching them appear out of thin air as they do in AC2. And maybe it's the lower resolution of the consoles, but I can't really see the fear of God I put in the guard's faces as I take away their lives in the same way I do in AC1.
rollingstart
Banned
ew, the premium theme Amazon sent me look like someone took a sloppy shit all over the bottom of the screen.
Lostconfused
Member
I am pretty sure almost all, if not all, of the sword and knife kills have been copied over from the first game.Mejilan said:
Jugendstil
Member
The kills in the sequel seem just as vicious, if not more so. I love the unique animation and kills for each weapon. The throat slash you can do during a fight using the sultan's dagger is sick.
RainbowByte
Neo Member
It was a feature that was cut, it *should* be patched in because it fucking sucks to not be able to replay a certain mission to show it to friends,etc. The 3 saveslot limit is bullshit too.duckroll said:
Rollo Lawson
Banned
these guys have really mastered the immersion aspect. ive never felt connected to games and environments like i have with ac and ac2
i see now why it started so slowly...the game's intensity builds with your reputation...
in fact, everything that pissed me off early on becomes justified levels later
i see now why it started so slowly...the game's intensity builds with your reputation...
in fact, everything that pissed me off early on becomes justified levels later
MirageDwarf
Member
Ristlager said:posted this in the sales thread, but perhaps this is the better place
I have an unopened dragon age game. Should I trade it in for this instead? I liked the first one quite a bit, but I also like rpgs (first one for me this gen!!). What should I go for?
It is like trading one gem with another gem.
MirageDwarf
Member
Mejilan said:
Yes. Easy way to get this is use smoke bomb and assassin's blade.
