Review: Assassin’s Creed II Official Guide

Assassin’s Creed II: The Complete Official Guide adds much to the gaming experience.

Title: Assassin’s Creed II Official Guide
Publisher: Piggyback Interactive

By Mike Wheeler

Assassin Creed II publisher Ubisoft has great expectations for the game, and taking no chances, commissioned a 200-plus page book that is its Official Guide.

As a standalone product, Assassin’s Creed II: The Complete Official Guide is a wonderfully put together tome. It seems no expense has been spared on the production aspects, with a great graphics, beautiful pics and the grade of paper of the publication is of high quality.

Publisher Piggyback has made it so it is very easy to reference and read, with simple, yet detailed explanations of all the different sequences you will encounter throughout the game. Everything is covered from the minor missions, through to weaponry, as well as when to make use of peripheral players like courtesans and mercenaries.

There were times during the game where I was wondering “what am I supposed to be doing here? I’m missing something” and once I referenced the book, it was all explained neatly and concisely.

If you are having problems with the game – ie, you think you might have missed something, or skipped an important part, then this is the ideal reference point. Everything is explained chronologically, while also giving you useful tips and hints so you don’t waste time, while the index at the back allows you to quickly go to points of reference that you need.

Just as important, the guide gave me something more – time. As a father of two young sons, it’s hard enough to get any spare moments, let alone doing something I like, such as gaming. With the guide, I can keep time wasting to a minimum and carry out missions without spending too much time looking around for equipment or gear I’m supposed to have. I know some will say “hey, that’s half the fun”, and to some it may be. But I like to kick on with the main game itself, and if there are any side missions going on then I’ll do them, but now I can complete them with the minimum of fuss.

Overall, a great addition to the Assassin’s Creed II franchise, and an worthwhile insight into how Ubisoft does things. And at $39.95 it will hardly break the bank, and can almost be bought as a standalone item, if not for the information, but the illustrations themselves.

4.5 out of 5

Assassin’s Creed: Complete Official Game Guide is distributed by Bluemouth Interactive