Hey guys,

As you already know E3 is at the door, and it’s a big event for every gamer and every game, and Assassin’s Creed 2 is no exception.

Usually we see a lots of conversations on forums during E3, and there are always questions pending. So we thought that it could be a good occasion to start a Q&A with you!

Go ahead and ask your questions, and with the help of our team we will pick some of them to come back with answers direct from the source on our Event website !

Atmon


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07/07/09 Q&A Update

Gameplay


Will certain buildings be accessible from the inside?

Yes, some of them will be accessible from the inside.


Is the flying machine a one shot experience in Assassin’s Creed 2?

We have a lot of ideas around the flying machine and other new types of gameplay we are developing for the game. The Italian Renaissance was such a cauldron of creative minds that any game designer’s dreams could come true in Assassin’s Creed 2! More specifically, on the flying machine, we’ll adjust our plans depending on the feedback we get from playtests.


How many hours of gameplay can we expect in AC2?

We have greatly increased the scope of the game since the first installment of Assassin’s Creed, so just completing the core of the game will be longer than the 20 hours it took in the first game.

Moreover, we have developed several different optional gameplay that will add a lot of depth to the whole experience and will also extend your gameplay time in a very significant and meaningful way. As for the exact number of hours it will require it’s still too early to say!


How will combat work?

Many new skills concern the fighting system – without naming all the new possible moves, Ezio can master a great amount of new weapons: long pikes, axes and warhammers to name just a few. As those are heavy weapons, Ezio won’t have to carry them all the time: he will now be able to disarm his enemies and use their weapons against them. He will also use his hands more efficiently when fighting, performing various punches, kicks, grab movements, head butts & spectacular grabs... Holding your enemy by the collar and hitting him with your forehead is quite soothing…If you happen to be burning with vengeance like Ezio is.

One hidden blade is fun but two is better. This time, Ezio will have one hidden blade on each arm. Imagine all the possibilities in new assassination moves, counters and upgrades using two hidden blades. My favorite one is the double kill, which gives you a great sense of power. Finally, we’ve added a lot of new assassination moves. You can pounce on your enemy from virtually anywhere in the city: rooftops, hiding spots, water, ledges etc …

These are just but a few of the new skills Ezio brings to the table; he has many more tricks up his sleeve…


How will you improve the crowd interaction for the second game and the role of the NPCs for blending/stealth/attack…?

In Assassin’s Creed 2, you have been betrayed by the ruling Italian Families – you will have to learn how to interact and use the ‘common people’ or, like we call them in the game, “the underworld”, to get your revenge. So you can generally consider that the crowd is on your side (except of course if you behave too badly!). First, any crowd NPC can help you to hide – just go into a group and press the blend button to enter a crowd and lower your chances of being noticed by guards. The crowd can help you to stealth through the city but aren’t 100% stealth proof as guards have various awareness levels depending of their class. We have also added a new “notoriety system” where your actions in the city will impact your notoriety and how you are “wanted” in the city.

You can use certain groups to perform specific actions. Those specific groups are called factions. There are a few factions in the game. There will be the thieves, the courtesans and the mercenaries. Through the game, you will meet various faction leaders. For example, Antonio of the thief guild will ask you to do certain missions for him. Once you gain Antonio’s thrust, the members of the thief guild will be fully operational to give you help and perform specific tasks. Each faction possesses their own unique skill for Ezio to use and manipulate his enemies with. For example, the courtesans will be able to go seduce and distract groups of guards letting Ezio sneak pass them unnoticed.


The entire game play/mission structure in Assassin’s Creed 1 was semi-linear and kept the same structure through the 9 assassinations. Will Assassin’s Creed 2 feature more missions and a wider variety in the structure and how the story unfolds?

The game structure and the mission system were the most crucial elements we wanted to improve on. We are redefining the overall mission structure to give gamers a more fun, rewarding and unpredictable experience throughout the game by adding a lot of variety in missions types and changing the way the story and the missions unfold.

There are no more patterns of missions to perform but rather a story that develops through a great amount of mission giving characters. Some characters will give you an assassination mission, others an escort/protect mission while some will give you a chase mission etc… There is no limit to the types of challenges we will give players. We invested most of our development time in ensuring that there is a huge amount of variety and depth in the missions required to finish the story. But we also want the player to have a real freedom and opportunity to explore and ‘use’ the world we have created at their own pace. Cities are now filled with a ton of missions that the player can do if she chooses: for instance, you can now decide to get rid of witnesses if you feel you are becoming too notorious after a not-so-stealthy assassination, or help thieves pursued by guards. These tasks are optional but will bring you interesting rewards if you accept to fulfill them.


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Game development

On which platforms will Assassin’s Creed 2 be available?

Assassin’s Creed 2 will be available on PS3, X360, and PC. We will also release another Assassin’s Creed game on PSP: Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines.

When will it be released?

November 17th 2009

Is the PC version going to be released at the same time as the PS3 and 360?

Yes, we are planning to release the three versions at the same time.

Who is in charge of the development?

Core development on the PS3, X360 and PC versions of the game is handled by Ubisoft Montreal.
We also have other teams working on specific parts of the game in other Ubisoft studios to help us deliver the scope and quality we are looking for.

What I want to know is, with Assassins Creed 2, will there be a dominant version, or will they be basically, identical?

The core content of the experience is the same but there are some specific features linked to each platform’s technology. For instance, you will be able to connect your PS3 version of the game with Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines on PSP to unlock exclusive content on both the PS3 and the PSP.

What are the PC specs?

We cannot confirm the PC spec right now.


Are there any achievements?

Yes there will be achievements and trophies in Assassin’s Creed 2.

Regarding the inclusion of Far Cry 2's vegetation system; will the game actually provide plenty of opportunities to show off this technology?

Even if our engine is different from Far Cry’s Dunia Engine, we were able to expand the features behind the Anvil/Scimitar to add the vegetation technology from Far Cry 2. Therefore you can expect amazing Tuscany landscapes!

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Web Q&A

Story


How is Assassin’s Creed 1 linked with Assassin’s Creed 2?

Assassin’s Creed 2 is the sequel to Assassin’s Creed. The events in the present start right where the first game left off but the Animus will plunge you into a very different & fresh historical period. Overall we are building on the strengths on the first episode, its unique sense of freedom and immersion and adding a lot more depth, variety and scope to the core gameplay.
Storywise, Ezio is a descendant of Altair and the connection between the two games will be revealed through an encoded book very much like the one Leonardo Da Vinci is famous for writing.

What is the storyline of the game?

Once again, Desmond will be exploring his DNA to relive an ancestor’s life, however this time it with a very different goal and it’s a very different kind of ancestor. Ezio Auditore Da Firenze; a nobleman who lived at the end of the 15th Century in Italy is our new hero. His family is betrayed and murdered by the ruling families of Italy, and Ezio must uncover the arts of his ancestors in order to avenge their death. To his allies, he will become a force for change - fighting for freedom and justice. To his enemies, he will become a boogey man – dedicated to the destruction of the tyrants of Italy. Through Ezio’s quest for vengeance, Desmond and the present day Assassins will uncover the crucial piece of the conspiracy that was hinted at in the first Assassin’s Creed game. The Templar/Abstergo plot is bigger than could have been imagined with consequences reaching to every detail of modern life as we know it.

Will there be an opportunity for the Desmond/future timeline to have more of a role this time? Will we be able to play as Desmond?

Yes, Desmond is back. He is helping the 2012 Assassins fighting the Templars by retrieving some vital information hidden in his genetic memory. But his role will not stop here and you will see that gameplaywise, Desmond has more tricks up his sleeves than what you saw in Assassin’s Creed…

Will there be any templars to kill in AC2? or some descendants of the templars ?

The main plot in Assassin’s Creed is a struggle between the Assassins and the Templars, so they are still in the game, and you’ll be able to fight them.

Is the franchise still planned to be a trilogy on X360, PS3 and PC?

Yes, that still is our vision. However, we want to continue extending the universe we’ve created. There are still many more stories we want to tell about the Assassin’s Brotherhood.

What about the cryptic signs that Desmond sees at the end of Assassin’s Creed? They didn’t refer to the Italian Renaissance, was that on purpose?

Those symbols were left by subject 16 who was previously kept captive by Abstergo. The symbols on the walls weren’t necessarily meant to hint at the location of the next game, but rather the global and timeless nature of the threat our heroes are facing. Having said that, I must admit we were really excited to see the amount of speculation and questions it raised amongst fans!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Raide,

This is great news now to think of a question.

EDIT: Will there be an opportunity for Desmond/future timeline to have more of a role this time and please say he can walk faster than last time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tenshi23,

Well First post and first question all though I have a few, first off will the game be open minded to say you can go anywhere when you want & as you want or is there just one way, secondly will there be any involvement with Desmond because as with all the info supplied his name isn't mentioned, thirdly and lastly how are the dev team going to make assassins creed the greatest sequel ever to an equally great game?

Will we be playing as Desmond?

And please, please show some gameplay. (probably won't happen)

Will the PC screen ratio and HUD be done for PC to make the game easier to play on a keyboard and fill the full monitor or will it be like AC1 showing the console button config on screen and leaving black bars on over 90% of monitors to conform with the 16:9 ratio of HDTV's?

will there be any templars to kill in AC2 ? or some descendants of the templars ?

Forgive me if this has already been answered:

Will certain buildings be accessible from the inside?

<_<

Will AC2 pick up exactly where the first game left off with you stuck in your room as Desmond?

Good to see you, Atmon

I started the PC Specs Thread that you and I have discussed.

Any information on minimum specs for the PC version of AC2 would be gratefully received

Non-AC2 Question: Will we ever get to Asia?

AC2 Question: Will there be a weapon available that is like a grappling hook and similar to Mortal Kombat's Scorpion's spear?

I would greatly appreciate an answer to either of these questions!

How will combat work? is it like AC1 where you just keep pressing the attack hand button? or will it be like a combo chain? or will it be fable 2 style where you follow the beat/timing...aslo will the graphics be improved to meet the standards of today's games (think gears of war, killzone 2, ect) or will it be similar to AC1?

I have a few questions:

In one of the released screenshots, Ezio is swinging a stave-ish weapon and several opponents are falling backward to dodge. Does this mean combat will no longer be attacking one enemy at a time?

You said you were addressing some of the most popular issues with the original Creed. One issue that I felt was quite popular was the lack of difficulty, and lack of difficulty settings. Can we expect multiple difficulty settings this time around, or in any way a more challenging gameplay experience?

And finally, what sort of rewards and bonuses can we look forward to from the collect-a-thons? Unlocked memories? New abilities?

First, everyone seems to be focused mainly on the gameplay, but will the story for ACII deal with religion, existence, etc the way ACI did?

Secondly, will Jesper Kyd be scoring the soundtrack again? (hope so)

Thirdly, will we find out what happened to Altair?

Lastly, there seems to be a lot of focus on the combat side of things and the not-so-subtle approach. Well I'm a stealth game fan, so will Ezio be able to more stealthy things? I've heard about the blending-into-any-crowd, but this just seems like another hiding place. Is the AI going to be more challenging or something?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Xanatos2007,

Hi so here are my questions: Is Altair returning at least as an unlockable costume? Are there any guns? Will Desmond be able to to fight or he is still only able to walk around again? Ezio has the eagle vision? Any Dynamic Weather? Multiplayer? Any explosives? thanks!!

I'm curious as to how Ubisoft plans to make the cutscenes more "Hollywood" like

Well, as I'm currently reading "April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici" to try and get a handle on the time period, I'm curious as to what books possibly influenced the new storyline. Obviously "The Prince" seems a shoe-in, but were there others?

Firstly I'd like to say that I'm brilliantly impressed with Ubisoft, you have great interaction with the fans through this forum. It's mad awesome.

I would like to know how large, in like... square kilometres (or miles) the game is. Or at least have it compared to the original.

Or whether Ezio actually joins the Assassins. That might be spoilers though. Feel free to PM me.

What does Machiavelli look like in the game?

Will cutscenes be skippable on the second playthrough?

quote:

Originally posted by Kaxen6:
Will cutscenes be skippable on the second playthrough?

Off-Topic
Ah, Kax, so eager to get a glimpse of Machiavelli.
Oh, well, after reading The Prince, I have to say, I'm eager too

On-Topic
Will this game answer many questions or bring more up? (I'm hoping it's the latter)