So it’s about that time.

Holiday time.

You should be looking for gifts to buy loved ones.  Yet somehow, you’re thinking about yourself.

Don’t feel guilty.  Listen to the voice inside.  You’ve worked hard.  You deserve to treat yourself.

But the question is:  How?

Or maybe more so:  With what?

I’ve  got the answer for you.

Assassin’s Creed 2

Set some 300 years  after the original, Ubisoft takes us to Italy this time around.

Have you been to the beautiful boot?  Think it’s gorgeous?  Yeah, you should see it during the Renaissance.

Walking, awkwardly jogging, climbing or leaping from towers as Desmond Miles – err, Ezio Auditore – you can.

You must.

We’ve all played games that have kept us glued to our controllers. This is more than just another one, though.

Those who picked up the first Assassin’s Creed know that the original was like Paris Hilton 5 years back.  Sure, she looked good… but there was just no substance.   And it got kind of annoying.  Quickly.  This sequel is like the timeless Angelina Jolie.  Without the crazy.

But it is crazy-good.

There’s simply so much to unfold.

We’ll start with “the truth”  – an optional 20 piece puzzle which, upon completion, unlocks an eye-opening video (which will not be spoiled here, but is assuredly incredible).  Each segment is found as encrypted data in “glyphs” (which are strewn across Florence, Sam Gimignano, Forli, and Rome) and can be unlocked in various ways.  They start out as simple challenges before eventually turning into frustrating head-scratchers – which makes the video that much more fulfilling when the truth is pieced together.

The quest for “Altair’s Armour” has you scouring the maps for Assassin’s Tombs, in which you’ll take part in gameplay elements similar to that of Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia.  These dungeons work as make-shift mazes.  You’ll get a quick fly-by to show you the elaborate path, but getting to the end in the allotted time is both difficult and completely gratifying.

The hunt for 100 feathers can be a bit mundane (although Achievement/Trophy-hounds might say it’s all in a day’s work) – but if you can find half of them, you’ll get a special treat.  50 was fine for me.

There are also codex pages which you bring to Leonardo Da Vinci for decoding, which allows you to upgrade certain weapons, boost your health bar, and eventually unlock the final “memory” (chapter).

While the main storyline unravels at the perfect pace, and with key subjects and events drawing from actual Italian history, enjoyable side missions include: Assassination Contracts, Beat ‘Em Ups  (see: rough up some lady’s cheating husband), and Timed Races.

They’re fun… and there’s just enough of them to keep you entertained and wanting more.

In AC2′s early-goings you also get the task of upstarting and managing a Villa, where paying for renovations (and collecting art, weapons and armour) increases the city’s value and brings in cash for you to spend freely.  This aspect doesn’t quite get fleshed out as much as it perhaps should… but we’ll just say that it’s something to look forward to in the series’ third installment.

The combat can feel stiff at times, but with multiple finishing animations for each of the 22 weapons there’s plenty of joy to be had in impaling your targets with every one of them.

The climbing mechanics are so polished and pure, and the graphics are so crisp, that even when you’re not collecting, chasing, or assassinating, it’s honestly fun to just roam around and explore.

…and while the controls can sometimes leave you fighting the urge to heave your joystick (I know we don’t call them that anymore), there’s just so much to this game, it’ll have you salivating for more when you can’t play… and hypnotized when you can.

Let’s face it:  A lot of games can be fully appreciated in one rental period.  This, on the other hand, is more than just a game you pop into your platform of choice.  It is an experience.  It needs to be truly appreciated.  It needs to be owned.

By you.

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For those of you interested (like myself):

The voice-acting happens to be top-notch with Nolan North (Uncharted 1 + 2, Shadow Complex, Dragon Age: Origins, Madworld, ++), Kristen Bell (yup), Roger Craig Smith (Metal Gear Solid 4, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Madworld, Resident Evil 5, Tekken VI ++), and Eliza Schneider (Dragon Age: Origins, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, South Park, King of the Hill ++) all lending their vocals to help paint a beautiful picture.

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