Update on life:
1. No I am not dead
2. Finished DA:O (awesome), ME2 (awesome), Darksiders (cool), Bayonetta (uhh).
3. Now on SC2. :3 and FF13.

[comics]
1 Manna from Heaven
2 $25USD
3 Bug Reporting
4 Friends Invite Keys

( comics )

The best thing about playing a game where the first game was enjoyable but technically sucked is that you go into the second game with no expectations except one that the main character should be hot.

Assassin's Creed 2 was a pleasant surprise. Firstly, the prestory Lineage trailers are really worth watching, and tbh necessary watching if you intend to play the game, since they aren't part of the cinematic start of the game and the voice acting and casting is fantastic. The game takes place immediately after the Lineage trailers, switching you to the less hot non!trailer version of Ezio, being Desmond!Ezio, and following his playthrough over a period of 10+ years.

Gameplay: Similar to the first, except a little more difficult. There's more ways to kill people, but guards get harder as you near the end of the game. Counter does not kill all, and you have to adjust the types of counters to the types of weapons, as well as the timing. A new ability, Disarm, also doesn't always work. Fighting therefore is more intuitive and somewhat more challenging, but if you can counter/disarm, you can still murder armies of soldiers without dying... especially since you can now carry potions.

Again like AC1 though, it's still easier to just murder everyone instead of running away and hiding.

Graphics: Graphics were disappointing at the start. I felt the character models looked worse than AC1. Lucy's mouth is too big in the opening cutscenes, and the 'real' characters have awkward bodies and eyes with far too much whites, making them look ironically cartoonish. Once you get into the game, however (and get over the shock of how fugly Giovanni looks in game) it gets much better. :)

Characters: Unlike AC1, AC2 actually bothers to equip you with a set of likeable friends, from your uncle ("It's a-me! Mario!") to a puppyish Leonardo da Vinci to a variety of supporter friends who put up with Ezio's childishness and tantrums with remarkable patience. Ezio himself goes through character development, culminating in a set of mature final decisions that seem to coincide with the growth of a moustache and beard. Evidently, you are mature when you have facial hair.

Also, Ezio is cute. :) And gorgeous costumes. I didn't see the point of dyeing his clothes. I love Assassin White.

Fangirls: ACII is probably really a fangirl game. ;o You can change Ezio's clothes, the most likeable characters are guys, his closest friend and confidante is a guy, and the female friends he makes are either his bitchy sister, his traumatised mom or prostitutes or annoying. The game only has a handful of difficult points, all of which are optional (second last Assassin tomb, nimble thief mission).

Story: To my great surprise, ACII actually has a decent storyline. Ezio isn't always successful even after his kill. The buildup to each boss is far more complex than the AC1 eavesdrop-pickpocket-race rinse and repeat, mostly mini sidequests that culminate in a final quest that is usually fulfilling and fun (the flight through Venice was great). My only real complaint is (as usual) I didn't really like the ending (see spoilers) and that for someone whose entire family got murdered for trusting too easily, Ezio never learns his lesson. And is apparently spineless.

Also, if you unlock all of 'The Truth'? The revelation is awesome. :) I suggest restraining yourself and NOT watching any of it until you have all of the clips.


Again, it's still easier to just murder everyone instead of running away and hiding.

( spoilers )

Great game! :) Highly recommended.

Also, when Leonardo talks to you? Watch out for the button prompts. :( I didn't hug him! Was so sad.

Firstly... this game was incredible. :) A must play for any fan of choose-your-race/class RPGs. It doesn't need that high of a comp spec (my comp is a couple years old and it works fine on high def), and the voice acting is superb (save for slightly jarring mute!main character).

Final clocked time on first playthrough: 61hours 35mins, elf, mage, spirit healer/bloodmage, normal. Great work on Bioware in making a game almost as long as a Japanese RPG. The above time doesn't even count in the endless reloads. This game is a tough one, and if you have never played WoW before or similar rpgs that need LoS pulling and basic tactics then it will be even harder.

Gameplay: The gameplay was pretty outstanding. There's the usual stupid AIs, but not as buggy as NWN. (Look, AIs will always be pretty stupid and walk over traps. that's why you have to micro them). The tactics system, very similar to but an improvement on the FF12 gambits system, does help, but nothing beats micro. For those people bitching about needing an auto-pause when any party member hits 25%, try playing a healing class in WoW for a couple of years. The game is not meant to be easy and surprisingly enough, that made it even better.

Storyline: The main plot is pretty predictable if you've read any sort of high fantasy (particularly Tolkien) the mini origin stories are highly enjoyable. The game is dark fantasy though, and it shows - all the mini origin stories are terribly emo/tragic (save maybe for dwarf commoner, but that's because you already start off on the bottom of the barrel, your sister is a ho and your mother is a drunkard, you work for the crime boss, and you can't go any lower).

The only odd thing about the storyline is the remarkably convenient way every single person you go to for help has non-Blight related problems. :O Morrigan makes a sarcastic comment about it at one point.

The best thing about the storyline, however, is that there are very few black and white choices. As such there's no real alignment issue in the game (though you can do bastardy stuff, usually there can be a reasonable explanation). This was realistic and depressing at the same time.

Complaints: For all that the game is Dragon Age Origins your origin actually doesn't make that much of an impact on the storyline, unless you are a human noble. This is particularly jarring for the dwarf noble storyline, which even on your return to your city there isn't much of a difference to the story as a whole. Would have been nice to have some significant choice changes: would make replaying better.

Characters: Amazingly enough, the characters were as likeable as an FF game, personable, +character development, +great voice acting. The character dialogues in party are fun, the choices can be hilarious (esp for Oghren) and the sidequests can be unexpected. As usual, the romance aspect is terribly awkward, esp the 'sex' scenes, but the other party members' reactions to your goings on later in dialogue can be funny.

Also, yes, there are lesbian/gay romances, though of the bisexual characters, the girl is crazy and the guy is a sex-mad murderer. Not sure how this reflects on popular perception, but I guess all the party members are deeply flawed in some way anyway (dark fantasy).

Hints: Force field is your friend. Let your tank get aggro, drop the field on him, and with any luck the boss/enemies will still be whaling on him without any harm. Also, if you intend to keep Zevran, make sure your approval with him is in 'Friendly' (or Adore, with the romance option) before you go to Denerim. Take Persuade at the very start, or you can't take it again later for some reason until very late in the game.

( spoilers )

Recommendation for people interested in the Alistair romance storyline: human, rogue, female noble, assassin---duelist
Recommendation for people interested in the most interesting origins storyline: human, dwarf, warrior noble tank, templar---champion
Recommendation for playing at higher difficulty levels: mage, arcane warrior---bloodmage
Recommendation for playing 'evil' (i.e. no Wynne in party): mage, spirit healer---bloodmage

... despite the surprise!ah pek of the main character in the short film. -.-; [Assassin's Creed: Lineage]

Anyway:

Jon. Music keep me company. Music set me free. says:
hmm, the duke looked as though he wasn't wearing pants
anya s.y says:
yea
anya s.y says:
i thought that too
anya s.y says:
but i think its more like beige tights, typical court dress
anya s.y says:
just
anya s.y says:
unfortunate
anya s.y says:
color
Jon. Music keep me company. Music set me free. says:
lolol
Jon. Music keep me company. Music set me free. says:
no he's not wearing pants
Jon. Music keep me company. Music set me free. says:
pantless npcs in AC2
anya s.y says:
....

anya s.y says:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/anyasy/batmaan3.jpg
Pui says:
ahahahahahah
Pui says:
do u know, we use vibrators to construct foundations
Pui says:
response from the class was obvious when we were taught this in class
Pui says:
i saw one the other day too XD
Pui says:
theyre huge
anya s.y says:
lol.......
anya s.y says:
....
anya s.y says:
....
Pui says:
we vibrate piles into the ground
Pui says:
it goes on for hours
Pui says:
HOURS
anya s.y says:
..
Pui says:
;p
anya s.y says:
livejournal
anya s.y says:
post
Pui says:
your mind is in the dirt
Pui says:
i know it!
Pui says:
and its being vibrated on
anya s.y says:
hey I not say anything ok
Pui says:
may your silence incriminate you!
anya s.y says:
;p