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jp's Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3)
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| [March 2, 2021 06:48:52 PM]
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Finished over the weekend, yay!
So, there is a lot that I didn't quite understand about the game's story - in particular there was a significant gap in the timeline that confused me. But, overall it was interesting and fun even if the contextual controls did get the best of me sometimes - there was a lot of jumping backwards from towers when I meant to jump up and grab and stuff like that.
Overall, I'm still amazed at how well the game holds up and at how rich/interesting all the different locations are. Yes, there isn't that much variety - but the basic "legos" used for the design of the cities are enough that each city really feels special and unique with neighborhoods that are distinct enough to be recognized.
Once I finished the game I read some of the story sections from the strategy guide (which I mostly used to see the solutions to some of the puzzles as well as the locations of some things)...wow, the story is a lot more complicated/convoluted than I expected. I'm also surprised by how much it intertwines with Assassin's Creed 1. Now I'm really curious to know how long they kept the game's story going - I don't think you play the same character in the regular world portions of the game, right? Hmm. I don't think I'll play all the games in the series (22 titles as of this moment!) but I do wonder about the main storyline and how that's either wrapped up or keeps on going. I know that Ezio came back for a few more titles - but I wonder about Desmond Miles! Maybe Desmond just appears in the mainline games in the series? I'm also guessing that those are the only ones that push forward the series' main storyline?
Man, I really wish there was a mega-guide for Assassin's Creed - sort of summarizing the story/plot points of all of the games so far...
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| [February 16, 2021 05:58:25 PM]
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Still playing!
I reckon I'm perhaps 2/3 of the way through the game at this point? I've reached Venice and have started doing some missions here. However, since I was planning on playing a lot, I've also spent time and resources upgrading the villa - to get more money faster - to buy all the stuff. This means that every now and then I have to go back to the villa to collect the cash (and drop off stuff) before heading out on a shopping spree. It gets a little bit tiresome to have to make your way back to the fast travel spot, travel, and then sprint some more.
I think I've reached the point where I can resist the temptation to go loot a chest when I see one close by on the radar. I (mostly) have enough money at this point... that being said...
1. I've started throwing coins around more often (those bards/troubadours are funny and annoying and it's the fastest way to get rid of them). At first I was like "these are really annoying" and then it turns out that's 100% why there were implemented. So, design was a success!
2. I've also started hiring people (mercs, thieves, etc.) to help me out. I didn't before because of the expense but now I'm much for friendly to the idea because they really make things easier. So, murdering some guards, fighting the rest and so on is just too much effort when they can be distracted and I can wander in to loot a codex page they were guarding...
3. There was a "back in the real world" interlude that was quite unsettling...in what it bodes for the future. I'm genuinely curious to know how the story wraps up. Perhaps a bit less so because AC2 had 2 direct sequels - but I'm not sure if they were really sequels? Or parallel stories? Anyways...
4. REALLY surprised to play an Altair (short) sequence. Wow, I did not expect the games to connect that way. I think the protagonist (in the real-world) is the same for both games - but still, I thought this was cool. If I understood things correctly, Ezio Auditore is somehow related by blood to Altair?
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| [February 2, 2021 09:11:15 PM]
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This is the last game in my PS3 pile of shame! (which does not include unplayed PS3 avalailable through PS+)
And...I'm really enjoying it. Yes, the first Assassin's tomb was quite frustrating (due to an inconsistency in the control scheme I discovered and experimented with). But, overall it's been a real joy to play AND, like many of the old PS3 games I'm playing, I'm really impressed by how well the game holds up, how polished everything is. It is quite clearly a AAA title that holds up remarkably well.
The game's interface still feels super slick and polished and I've really enjoyed how the game has slowly opened up. I think I'm probably 5 hours in at this point? I've already set up shop in the villa and I think most of the "things you can do" (in terms of variety) are available to me. I haven't really explored the combat system - but I see there will be new weapons and armor to try out.
I think what worries me the most right now is that I'll get to a mission I'll find really frustrating and just quit the entire game in a huff.
On the other hand, I just realized I have a physical copy of the deluxe strategy guide (I think I bought this for a student research project?) and I've decided to read it and play along with the guide. I've never done this before - I'll often refer to a guide when I'm stuck - so I've decided to play this game (from now on) under this new modality. I want to see what that's like and in what ways I'll have a richer more interesting experience?
(maybe I won't, we'll see)
Oh, I think this was a famous thing - but when your Uncle Mario appears (it's a-me Mario!) I cracked up.
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jp's Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3)
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Current Status: Finished playing
GameLog started on: Sunday 17 January, 2021
GameLog closed on: Tuesday 2 March, 2021 |
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