Okay, finished the game.
Pros:
- Combat is finally perfected. The biggest problem I've ever had with an AC game is the fact that combat becomes insanely tedious and slow because of the reliance on counters. The new execution streak feature (is that what it's called) allows you to actually have quick and dynamic fights rather than relying on the same old "Stop, get surrounded, take them out one by one like a bad ninja movie". It's very powerful (The first fight with the Sons of Romulus come to mind in how you can really demolish groups), but I love it.
- The side quests feel better fleshed out than the previous games. There is enough variation and character to them to really like them. I actually enjoyed the Borgia Captains thing (the tower, less so) because there were some fun challenges in them. In particular, the captain in the catacombs required some stealth and a few timely uses of your assassins. Other things like the Templar Agents and such were cool and needed.
- Controls are still very good. Every now and then they feel the need to run Ezio off a ledge or jump a way I don't want, but overall the controls are still solid.
- The Assassin's Guild makes the game what it is. At least, the single player. It's immensely fun and satisfying to watch your assassins progress, and using your assassins is a fun game in and of itself; after I had a few groups of assassins, any group of guards I saw was instant entertainment. The contract missions have neat historical tie-ins, which are another plus. I never had an assassin die on me, but apparently you can have a little moment of mourning for them, too. Loved it.
Cons:
- This is a relative thing, but the story is not as good as the last one. Hunting down the conspirators in the last game was a lot more compelling than taking down Cesare Borgia in this one. Plus, I think Rodrigo Borgia was a more interesting villain.
- Along with this, the ending missions are really, really weak. They felt rushed, out of place, poorly set-up, and the mechanic they revolve around is just... bad. Compared to the last game, where you were sneaking into Rome and then fought the Pope with opposing magical alien doodads, the ending is really lame. Where the side missions were better, the story missions were perhaps not as good. The finish with Desmond was not as good in my opinion, either.
- I was disappointed with the Subject 16 "revelation" in this one. Hoping for more along the lines of the last game, revealing part of the secret history of the world. Not so. It's not bad, it just wasn't what I wanted.
- Screw item quests. That's all that needs to be said about those.
Despite having a few problems with it, this is a great game. The criticisms are like comparing Indiana Jones movies; they are great, but compared to one another you have to emphasize the flaws to make the differences stand out. 9/10
