History VideoGame / AssassinsCreedII

* LosingTheTeamSpirit: In terms of gameplay, killing a high ranking guard or lots of guards quickly may cause the other guards to rout. Also, aiming the pistol at someone for long enough will cause this.

* BadHabits: As explained by Rodrigo Borgia, the Templars are actually not interested in the Catholic faith, they only took over the Church in order to gain influence.

** In the "Battle of Forli" DLC, Caterina Sforza launches into a long and ''very'' profane tirade at the Orsi brothers, including saying she'll [[GroinAttack kick them in the manbits so hard]] [[CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon that their testicles come out their noses]], threatening to [[AssShove shove their heads up her vagina]], and responding to their threat to kill her children by saying "Go ahead! I have the instrument to make more right here!" and [[PantyShot flipping up her skirt]]. This '''really did''' happen, and the entire rant is something the real Caterina Sforza is recorded as having said.

* TheGroundIsLava: The mission "Follow the Money" requires that Ezio not touch the ground while tailing the senator for full synchronization.

* PantyShot: Given ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext intentionally]]'' by Caterina Sforza in the DLC Sequence 12 to taunt the guards on the gates' walls.

The game, alongside ''Brotherhood'' and ''Revelations'', were re-relased in November 2016 for 8th generation consoles as part of the "Ezio Collection". And in February of 2022, this trilogy-compilation will also be released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

The focus this time is on another one of Desmond's ancestors, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Ezio is like most other young guys of his age and class: {{rich|IdiotWithNoDayJob}}, [[LovableRogue carefree]], [[HandsomeLech spending most of his time wooing girls]] (and then some) and [[LeParkour jumping around the rooftops]] of his native UsefulNotes/{{Florence}}. [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive Life takes a brutal turn for the young man]] when his family is threatened in a political plot that leaves his father and two brothers dead -- it turns out his father was an Assassin, and he has [[PassingTheTorch passed that mantle]] (along with some shiny equipment) to Ezio. Ezio, [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge seeking revenge]], flees with his sister and mother to his uncle's villa and begins to track down [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar those responsible for the death of his family]], following clues that lead him from his home city of UsefulNotes/{{Florence}} to other Tuscany cities, Forlì, UsefulNotes/{{Venice}}, and eventually UsefulNotes/{{Rome}}.

''Assassin's Creed II'' is the sequel to ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI Assassin's Creed]]'', created by Ubisoft, and the second game in the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' franchise. It was released in 2009 on UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, Xbox 360 (playable on Xbox One via backward compatibility) and PC and in 2016 on UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and Xbox One as part of the Ezio Collection.

The game, alongside ''Brotherhood'' and ''Revelations'', were re-relased in November 2016 for 8th generation consoles as part of the "Ezio Collection". And in February of 2022, this trilogy-compilation will also be released on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch

The game, alongside ''Brotherhood'' and ''Revelations'', were re-relased in November 2016 for 8th generation consoles as part of the "Ezio Collection". And in February of 2022, this collection will also make the transition to the UsefluNotes/NintendoSwitch.

The game, alongside ''Brotherhood'' and ''Revelations'', were re-relased in November 2016 for 8th generation consoles as part of the "Ezio Collection".

* BadassBeard: Ezio grows one near the end, between possessing the Apple and finally confronting Rodrigo Borgia. It overlaps with BeardOfSorrow in that it grew while he convalesced (from [[spoiler:being stabbed by Checco Orsi]]) and, at this point, he's questioning the virtue of taking vengeance for the murder of his family.

** Averted when it comes to Desmond’s role in the present day story. Lucy is genuinely surprised and remarks on how she was [[LampshadeHanging preparing to talk him into joining them on the drive to the assassin’s hideout.]]
** PlayedStraight when Mario asks Ezio to join the fight against Vieri Di Pazzi. Ezio at first turns this offer down as he plans to take his family and leave for Spain. Ezio is quick to change his mind.
* UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance: The game focuses on the social and political ramifications of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century.

** It appears the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargello Bargello Palace]] (or Palazzo del Popolo), which is not far at all from the Palazzo Vecchio, hasn't been modelized. It was a barracks and prison at the time and nowadays houses an art museum, especially about sculptures by Donatello and Creator/{{Michelangelo|Buonarroti}}.

** It appears the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bargello Bargello Palace]] (or Palazzo del Popolo=, which is not far at all from the Palazzo Vecchio, hasn't been modelized. It was a barracks and prison at the time and nowadays houses an art museum, especially about sculptures by Donatello and Creator/{{Michelangelo|Buonarroti}}.

* AnAesop: The game cements its morals on the GreyAndGrayMorality of the conflict between the Assassins and the Templars with [[https://youtu.be/FThVFUzol2k a speech from Ezio]] near the game's end. Ezio pleads with a crowd that VengeanceFeelsEmpty, and it won't make you a better person. Also, he implores the crowd to find their own way, not to blindly follow those with the loudest voices or the most wealth.

* AnAesop: If the series itself does have one to teach, it is that people should not allow others to choose their path and what they believe, but to decide it for themselves. In this particular game, this is explicitly stated by Ezio at the end of the DLC "Bonfire of the Vanities" memory sequence.

** Meanwhile with the Assassins, Rebecca refers to the Animus 2.0 as Baby.

* NeverTrustATrailer: A minor one but the trailers show Ezio in his starting outfit during the [[spoiler:execution of his father and Brothers]] and is cut to suggest that he then claims his assassin robes afterwards, in fact he claims the robes after [[spoiler:their arrest]] and is wearing them at the [[spoiler:execution.]]

* FranchiseCodifier: The game had a major impact on the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' franchise as a whole. Not only did it have an improved combat system but it had greater mission variety, a compelling main character who would become the SeriesMascot, a deeper story with a more fleshed out modern day and a greater emphasis on "Historical Tourism" be it the inclusion of important figures in Renaissance-era Italy such as the Borgias and Niccolo Machiavelli or the lifelike recreation of Florence and Rome in the 15th century. Many fans consider it an EvenBetterSequel to [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI the first game]]. Every ''Assassin's Creed'' game after ''II'' would adopt its standard formula of story and gameplay until ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins Origins]]'' replaced it with an ActionRPG style akin to ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt''.

%% * FragileSpeedster: Agiles and thieves.

* FourthWallPsych: In in the final cutscene of the game, [[spoiler: Minerva]] begins her monologue talking to Ezio, but turns to stare into the camera a few sentences in. When Ezio expresses his profound confusion, she tells him that she's not talking to him and continues to talk to the camera, despite his protests that there's no one else there. It isn't until the end of the cutscene that she confirms she's addressing [[spoiler: future Desmond and friends. [[MindScrew And maybe the player as well]].]]
* FranchiseCodifier: The game had a major impact on the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' franchise as a whole. Not only did it have an improved combat system but it had greater mission variety, a compelling main character who would become the SeriesMascot, a deeper story with a more fleshed out modern day and a greater emphasis on "Historical Tourism" be it the inclusion of important figures in Renaissance-era Italy such as the Borgias and Niccolo Machiavelli or the lifelike recreation of Florence and Rome in the 15th century. Many fans consider it an EvenBetterSequel to [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI the first game]]. Every ''Assassin's Creed'' game after ''II'' would adopt its standard formula of story and gameplay until ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins Origins]]'' replaced it with an ActionRPG style akin to ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt''.

* NotSoDifferent:
** Ezio's first mark (Uberti) throws this excuse at him: "You would have done the same, to save those you loved." Ezio's response is "Yes. I would. And I have." Ezio's later marks usually don't bother to defend themselves, likely in response to complaints about the overly-long speeches in the first game.
** In Subject 16's hidden backstory messages, you see that the Templars have used assassinations as well. Notably for [[spoiler: Abraham Lincoln (Booth is expressly listed as a Templar), and JFK (there are detailed plans to use a Piece of Eden to distract people with a fake grassy knoll sniper.)]]