Assassin's Creed II

Desmond Miles, the last in the line of the ancient order of Assassins, has been captured by the modern-day descendants of the Templars, forced to experience past events through a device called Animus in order to obtain crucial information. However, one of the scientists unexpectedly switches sides, asking Desmond to put his trust in her hands and follow her out of the complex. Soon afterwards they escape the holding place and team up with some new allies that intend to use Desmond's knowledge against the Templars. Their new device is called Animus 2.0, an upgraded version of the original. This time, Desmond relives the life of Ezio Auditore di Firenze, a man who lived in Italy in the 15th century.

Ezio is a skilled and resourceful young man driven by vengeance after his father and brother are publicly executed by a trusted man. He begins to discover more about his father's life and realizes he too belonged to the Assassins' organization. Ezio becomes an assassin himself, determined to seek revenge for those he loved.

The core gameplay allows players to freely explore cities and rural areas on foot or horseback. Players can also swim, navigate boats, climb buildings, and access rooftops using Eagle Vision. Free-form jumping and running is a significant part of the gameplay.

A notable addition to the game is its financial system, which wasn't present in the first game. Items, weapons, and armor can be bought in shops and repaired for money. There are many types of weapons and individual items that can be upgraded. Players can also collect treasure from various spots in the game world.

The game introduces new stealth options, such as hiring mercenaries or commissioning thieves to distract guards. Mission objectives and challenges are more varied than before, with new equipment and puzzles to experiment with. Players have their own headquarters, a mansion and a small town adjacent to it, which can be customized and invested in.

The game features a larger number of side quests than its predecessor. A series of sub-quests involves locating and deciphering ancient words of wisdom that supposedly hold the secret of the universe. These sequences require precise jumping and contain light puzzle-solving elements.