Assassin's Creed II

Hey there! So you're diving into the world of Assassin's Creed II, huh? Awesome choice! This guide is designed to be your trusty companion, making your journey through Desmond's ancestor's life as smooth as possible. Think of it as a friendly chat, not a stuffy manual.

You'll find a walkthrough that's pretty straightforward, covering pretty much everything you'll encounter. If you're ever looking for something specific, don't sweat it – just glance at the table of contents at the top of the page. Once you find what you need, you'll see a little code next to it, called a 'quickjump'. Just pop that code into your browser's Ctrl+F function, and bam! You'll be zapped right to that section. It's super handy for searching keywords too.

Got a burning question? Before you shoot me an email, please do me a solid and check out the FAQ section at the end of the guide first. Chances are, your question's already been answered there. If it hasn't, or if you've got some feedback, a cool tip to share, or something you want to submit, feel free to reach out. Just a heads-up, though: if you're planning on sending something in, give the 'Contact Info' section a read first. It lays out my policy on submissions, and it'll save us both some hassle.

A Little Lore Recap (Spoiler Alert!)

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the game itself, let's quickly touch on the intro you might have seen. You step into the Animus as Desmond, reliving the life of your ancestor, Altaïr, during the Third Crusade. Altaïr was part of a brotherhood sworn to three tenets: 'Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent,' 'Hide in plain sight,' and 'Never compromise the brotherhood.'

Things went a bit sideways when Altaïr's actions led to his brother Malik losing an arm and another brother, Kadar, losing his life. Al Mualim, the master of the Assassins, wasn't too pleased and stripped Altaïr of his rank. As punishment, Altaïr was tasked with assassinating nine men, both from the Crusader and Saracen forces. It turns out these nine men were Templars, all working towards a twisted form of 'peace' using a treasure from Solomon's Temple. Altaïr's quest to take them down revealed a deeper conspiracy, hinting that even his master, Al Mualim, might not be who he seems.

This background sets the stage for the epic story you're about to play through. Now, let's get you ready to make your mark as Ezio!

Basic Controls:

PS3 Buttons:

• Pause: Start
• Map: Select
• Movement: Left Analog Stick
• Camera: Right Analog Stick
• Lock on: L1
• Contextual Camera: L2
• High Profile: R1
• Inventory Wheel: R2
• Look: R3
• Select Hidden Blade: D-Pad Up
• Select Primary Weapon: D-Pad Right
• Use Medicine: D-Pad Left
• Select Fists: D-Pad Down

Xbox 360 Buttons:

• Pause: Start
• Map: Back
• Movement: Left Thumbstick
• Camera: Right Thumbstick
• Lock on: Left Button
• Contextual Camera: Left Trigger
• High Profile: Right Button
• Inventory Wheel: Right Trigger
• Look: Right Thumbstick In
• Select Hidden Blade: D-Pad Up
• Select Primary Weapon: D-Pad Right
• Use Medicine: D-Pad Left
• Select Fists: D-Pad Down

Actions: Low Profile and High Profile:

PS3 Buttons:

• Steal (Low Profile): X
• Sprint/Free Run (High Profile): X
• Gentle Push (Low Profile): Circle
• Grab/Throw (High Profile): Circle
• Tackle (while running): Circle
• Attack: Square
• Speak: Triangle
• Eagle Vision: Triangle (hold)

Xbox 360 Buttons:

• Steal (Low Profile): A
• Sprint/Free Run (High Profile): A
• Gentle Push (Low Profile): B
• Grab/Throw (High Profile): B
• Tackle (while running): B
• Attack: X
• Speak: Y
• Eagle Vision: Y (hold)