Assassin’s Creed 2 follows Ezio Auditore across three decades of Renaissance Italy, from the execution of his father and brothers in Florence to his rise within the Assassin order. The campaign moves through Tuscany, Venice and Forlì, framed by the modern-day story of Desmond Miles reliving the memories through the Animus.
The climbing is a major improvement over the first game, with far less stiffness in the free running. Renovating Monteriggioni fills the town with people and generates steady income, making the villa economy a genius reward system.
The iconic set pieces are among the game’s best moments, from the flying machine mission to the carnival assassination and the carriage ride to Venice. Ezio’s character growth across the whole game explains why he is regarded as the best character in the series.
The assassin tombs act as traversal puzzles, with birds guiding the route, and the glyph puzzles reveal hidden truths about history. The double hidden blades, the blade used as a weapon and Altair’s armour add depth to the arsenal.
Enemy variety improves on the first game’s single guard type, with heavies, brutes and agile dagger fighters changing how encounters play. The music, essentially the series theme in its best form, is a highlight, and the interactive credits are a welcome touch.
Free-running jank persists, with the character occasionally doing what it wants and tomb challenges making the controls feel worse. Don’t-get-detected missions are a recurring annoyance, races are time trials rather than real races, and treasure chests offer little worth finding.
Overall, climbing fluidity and the villa economy make Assassin’s Creed 2 a meaty, memorable sequel. The free-running jank and detection missions are familiar series flaws that do not diminish a campaign packed with iconic moments.