After the events of Assassin’s Creed, it might have been easy to continue the story of Altaïr and his quest for the Pieces of Eden. Instead, Assassin’s Creed II fast-forwarded centuries ahead, from 1191 to 1476, and imagined an alternate past in which the Levantine Assassins and Knights Templar not only survived the Middle Ages, but secretly spread their philosophies across the world.
The first place we saw this happen was Renaissance Italy, a setting virtually ignored by videogames at that point. Behind the scenes of the Italian Renaissance, the Templars fed their personal ambitions on a quest for total control of humanity, while the Assassins fought to further the cause of individual freedom. Out of this struggle came one of the series’ most iconic heroes: Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Florentine noble whose life players would eventually experience from birth to death.
Assassin’s Creed II built on the foundations of the first game to create an experience that was leagues beyond, bringing history to life with charming characters and a roster of such Renaissance celebrities as Leonardo da Vinci and Rodrigo Borgia. Its story spun a complex web of conspiracy and intrigue that transcended time, implicating notable figures throughout history in a secret Templar-Assassin war and revealing the Isu, an ancient First Civilization that created humanity. And through it all, Ezio’s personal journey from brash teenager to capable Master Assassin made him a fan-favorite almost overnight.
It certainly didn’t hurt that Ezio wielded abilities and gadgets that made him extremely fun to control, with dual Hidden Blades, weapons and gear to buy and wield, the ability to hire helpers, and social-stealth skills that let him blend in with any crowd (and pick pockets while he did so). The world in which Ezio could deploy these skills was lively and believable, with famous cities and landmarks based on their real-life counterparts, and players could forge a stronger connection to it by building up their own headquarters in the little walled town of Monteriggioni (which in turn revealed new secrets to discover).
Assassin’s Creed II represented a huge leap forward for the series, and showed us the first glimmers of what might be possible years down the road. As the series grows to include new places, people, and eras, it’s delivered unforgettable experiences – but for many, Ezio’s first adventure still holds a special place as a beloved, defining chapter in the story of the Assassins.
