Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition

Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition is a sequel that is somehow better than its predecessor, transporting gamers to the Italian Renaissance in the late-1400s. Playing as Ezio Auditore, you'll pounce around various iconic locations in Italy as you hunt down targets and pursue an ancient mystery. Featuring an open-ended parkour system, exciting combat, and a twist-heavy story, this is one of the most satisfying action games of all time. Plus, this edition of the game is full of extra content so you can keep your blade sharp with new missions and areas to explore.

Main Game Features

• Explore Renaissance-era Italy as a hooded assassin
• Third-person action and stealth gameplay
• Includes three bonus areas and two DLC expansions

Story

Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition takes place after the first game, Assassin's Creed, and continues the story of memory-jumping protagonist Desmond Miles. On the run from the deadly organization known as Abstergo, Desmond must jump back into the memories of his ancestor to get closer to the truth, sending him back to 1476 in Italy. Experiencing life through the eyes of Ezio Auditore, a young member of a wealthy and astute family, Desmond must track down members of the Templar Order as Ezio starts his training as an assassin.

This edition of the game also includes two expansion packs, The Battle of Forli and Bonfire of the Vanities. Both expansions take place after the main story, and follow Ezio's activities after recovering the Apple of Eden. In the Battle of Forli, Ezio and a small crew explore the city while fighting against a band of mercenaries. Bonfire of the Vanities sees Ezio traveling to Florence, where he must defeat nine lieutenants to draw out the villainous Girolamo Savonarola. Both expansions add some solid narrative context to Ezio's story and help flesh out the world with new locations and characters.

Gameplay

Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition is a stealth action game that lets players control an agile and deadly assassin living in historic Italy. Playing as Ezio Auditore, you climb towering chapels, sneak around in the shadows, and defeat your enemies through wit and skill. Similar to other stealth games like Hitman or Splinter Cell, you'll track down targets during story missions, exploring locations and doing your best to stay out of sight. When you're not playing a mission, you can freely explore the open-world map, which includes hidden collectibles, merchants that sell new weapons, and even secret caves with precious treasure.

There are also simple management systems in the game, as you can upgrade various locations by spending florins, which are earned through normal gameplay. You can also spend florins to dye Ezio's costume, purchase new gadgets, and help reinvigorate the city. There are tons of optional missions to complete as well, with a total of nearly 200 missions in the entire game. There's even more fun to be had in the two expansions, which don't change the gameplay formula much, but offer new areas to explore and sneak through.

Conclusion

Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition takes a great game and makes it even better, with bonus content that is just as fun as the main game. Running through the streets of Italy and bounding across rooftops never gets old, especially as you upgrade Ezio and gain new powers.

Pros

• Parkour movement is very smooth
• Tons of missions to play
• DLC content is great fun

Cons

• Some missions are repetitive
• Combat can be simple at times
• Desmond's story is overshadowed by Ezio's