Assassin's Creed II brings us from the late 1100's of the Middle East to the late 1400's of Renaissance Italy. You are in control of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. You are a well off 'street thug' and 'ladies man' who is in conflict with another affluent Florence family.  You find your father and two brothers are murdered via public hanging. And you must avenge their death. The story brings you to major Italian cities, including Venice and Rome. The majority of the characters you will encounter are people that lived during that time period and some who even we friends as well as enemies (you'll see).


Gameplay: 8/10

With enhancements in game play including the ability to swim! :D, new weapons, moves, and money making. There are some new aspects to the game as well, you can hire courtesans, thieves, and mercenaries. 
They help distract soldiers and guards. There are artisans that you can purchase weapons, armor, dye cloths, pouches, and artwork from. As well as doctors where you heal, purchase medicine, or poisons from. Unlike the original you can not heal fully over time. You will heal to the maximum armor level (ie if you have 10 points of armor and your health damage 2  you can only refill 8  health points until armor is repaired or healed fully by a doctor). There is new moves you can also attack with... if you are unarmed you can disarm your attacker. You can take pikes and sweep enemies down. you can assassinate from within a pile of hay, as well as hide the bodies there.


There are minor movement glitches for example when you jump off a building and go to grab something as you fall, you will grab the edge then as soon as you release again you will twitch out and fall on the ground.

Audio: 8/10

When you grab a broom from someone and then grab a soldier with them and slit their throat with it, it certainly sounds just like a sword doing the same thing. The music is unique. And entertaining. 



Graphics: 9/10

There are a few glitches you will encounter. The lace on some of the clothing is choppy and pixelated. Check out the dye cloths, and jump into water, and then come back out again. Looks good. I love the Wetland Ebony.

Try the game out from a rental place, trade with some one, you will find it pleasing.