We managed to get our hands on Assassin's Creed 2 for a bit of a playtest at the recent eGames Expo. The sequel, due for release later this month, looks fantastic and should be well worth the money.

Up on the rooftops, you’re given far more free movement. While there are various city guards patrolling the rooftop, your mini-map highlights their locations, and so can easily be avoided (or quietly removed, if the fancy takes you). As most of the streets and canals of Venice are tightly packed together, just letting Ezio sprint and leap from rooftop to rooftop was great fun, and the controls flow smoothly enough to allow for last minute direction changes without feeling twitchy. You’ll also meet groups of thugs on the rooftops, who you have the option of hiring to assist you in your missions. Just try not to wonder how they got up there. It was probably a thieves patio party or guild wine mixer or something.

MattyJWest via armchairdiplomat.com »