Analysis of Assassin’s Creed 2

Introduction

The title of the game that I will analyse is Assassin’s Creed 2. The game has sold
1.6 million copies since it has come out (http://gamefocus.ca/?
nav=new&nid=7593). The developers of Assassin’s Creed 2 are Ubisoft
Montreal, who also makes such games as the Tom Clancy series, Prince of
Persia, Naruto: The Broken Bond and many more.

Character Control

Character control is how many players you can control in that game. There are three types
of character control. The first one is single player which is when you can only play as one
character in that game. Example of this is in James Bond. Second one is multiple characters
(frequent change) which are when you can change the characters every few seconds. These
are found mainly in sport games such as Fifa 11, NBA 11 and NFL 11. The last one is multiple
characters (infrequent change) which is when you can change the character either every
level or in long periods of time. Examples of this are in games such as Call of Duty, Final
Fantasy and Red Dead Redemption. The type of character control in Assassin’s Creed 2 is
multiple characters (infrequent change). This is because you change characters in long
periods of time. You start the game in the real world as a character named Desmond Miles
and you go into a memory machine which takes you to the renaissance and you play as Ezio
Auditore Da Firenze. You have cut scenes in the game that go back to Desmond.

Playing Method

Playing method is how you play the game whether it is only one player, versus or co-
operative. One player is when you play the game by yourself. Examples of this are Batman
Arkham Asylum and Lara Croft Tomb Raider. Versus is when you play with someone next to
you or someone online. Examples of this are Fifa 11 and UFC 2010. The last one is co-
operative which is when you play missions with someone online or friends online. Examples
of this are Halo 3 and Gears of War. The type of playing method in my game is only one
player. You use this type of playing method throughout the game in story mode where you
have to do different missions, such as killing people and finding out about secrets about
people. You can’t play online and you can’t do missions with friends.
Game Space

Game space is how big the world in the game is and how you can play in that world. There
are five types of game space. The first one is mapped which is when you see the whole map
from above and this kind of game space is used in such games as World of Warcraft and
Pokémon. The second is contained area which is when you can only play in a contained area
and this is mainly used for games where you versus an oppositions such as Fifa 11 and NBA
11. The third game space is free roam which is when you can go back and forth in a mission
and have an objective. This type of game space is used in Call of Duty and Medal of Honour.
The fourth game space is structured level which is when you can only go forward or where
the camera tells you and you have an objective. This type is used in Sonic and Little Big
Planet. The last game space is free roam massive and this is a big world where you can do
what you want and have an objective. This is used is GTA IV. The type of game space in
Assassin’s Creed 2 is only free roam massive as you can do little side missions if you want
before you do the actual mission such as helping civilians and killing people or beating them
up. If you want you can go and run around and do what you want.

Narrative

Narrative is how you can complete and there are four narratives which are linear campaign,
non-linear campaign, level objective and single. Linear campaign you play the story in the
way the game tells you to play it in, examples of games are Football Manager 2011 and Fifa
11. Non-linear campaign you can do what you want, complete it in what way you want to.
Example is GTA IV. Level objective is when you finish a level to move on to a harder level.
Example is Crash Bandicoot. The final one is single where you have only one objective and
example of games are Street Fighter and Capcom Vs. Marvel. The type of narrative in
Assassin’s Creed 2 is non-linear campaign as you can do side missions and do what you want
before you do the mission, such as run around and find things like posters or feathers to get
achievements. Also it is level objective because when you do missions or levels they get
harder.

Camera View
Camera view is what camera view you have when you play the game. There are four camera
views. The first is bird’s eye this is when you’re above the character and you can see a lot.
Example in a game is Sims 3. The second is extreme long shot and this is when you see most
of the plating area or scene. These are mainly in sport games for example in Fifa 11 and NBA
11. The third one is third person which is when you are behind the character and you see all
of the character. Examples of games are Resident Evil 5 and Lara Craft Tomb Raider. The last
one is first person which is when you play in the view of the person. Games with this are Call
of Duty and Medal of Honour. The camera view in Assassin’s Creed 2 is only third person
because you are always playing in behind the character.

Genre

Genre is the type of the game. There are ten different genres but I am only going to talk
about five. Firstly there is racing which is when you race vehicles and try to win, you can
have a season mode. Examples are Forza 3 and F1 2010. Second is sport genre which is
games that simulate real life sport. Examples of this are Fifa 11 and NBA 11. Third type is
adventure which is when you play through levels killing people. Examples of games are GTA
IV and Fable 3. Fourth is combat and this is when you are shooting things like people.
Examples of this are Call of Duty and Medal of Honour. Finally there is music sim where you
tap along to music that can be real or made up. Examples of games are Guitar Hero and
Rock Band. The genre of Assassin’s Creed 2 is only adventure as you are an assassin and you
have to kill people that have done bad things like kill your family.

Conclusion

The main points that my essay has made about Assassin’s Creed 2 is this game is
adventurous and most teenagers like adventure so they would by this game. Also because
you play as an assassin and assassins aren’t real like in the game, it makes you feel happy as
you play something that isn’t real and looks ‘cool’. I enjoy playing this game a lot because
you can do so much and it also keeps you gripped in the story. They story is like a film that
you can play which makes it special. The campaign makes you want to keep playing it and
the graphics are really good as well.