Assassin's Creed II: Discovery

Assassin's Creed II: Discovery is a video game that is part of the Assassin's Creed series. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Apple Inc.] CEO Steve Jobs revealed the development of the game in his keynote speech on September 9, 2009. The game was released for the Nintendo DS and iPhone OS. Both iPhone and DSi users are able to use their devices' camera function to display portraits as Wanted posters in-game.

Gameplay
Assassin's Creed II: Discovery is a side-scroller game wherein players assume the role of Ezio. Primarily set in Spain, Ezio must navigate through the levels and accomplish specific goals prior to the mission. Ezio is able to scale most buildings by its side only, and can also roll, jump, and swing through the environment. Likewise to the previous installments, enemy guards are present within the game, which Ezio can either avoid or confront, depending on the player's choice and the current situation. Several guard archetypes are present within the game, such as the Halberd Guards (a stationary version of the Seekers), Captain Guards (a more agile variation of the Brute), archers, and many others. At Ezio's disposal is his father's Hidden Blade, a Sword, and Throwing Knives. Ezio can utilize all of these against hostile targets to dispose them, either in an overt or covert manner. Likewise to Assassin's Creed II, Ezio can assassinate guards by pulling them down from ledges. Also, Ezio can hide using bale of hays, and the addition of new hiding spots such as wooden barrels and obscure open spaces.

Combat in the game is similar to the previous Assassin Creed titles in a number of ways. When engaging in sword combat, players can execute chain attacks that breaks the defense of the enemy. Also, players can perform counter attacks, which can result in an instant kill or a brief moment to attack the guard. Players can also perform a clash with a target, which will result in a test of strength (complete with a pressure bar at the side). Players must fight the guard's resistance in order to incapacitate them, else the player takes damage.

Memories are played out in missions, similar to Assassin's Creed II. Players are given synchronization points by clearing the mission if the required set are met in the mission factors. The specific mission factors are the following: Time cleared, kills, and damage taken. In order to achieve perfect synchronization with the requirements, the player must be as fast as possible, kill as many as they can, and take minimal damage respectively. The required set vary from mission to mission.

There are several mission types set in a specific memory, in which defines how Ezio should approach the mission, else the mission will be a failure. There are three mission types in the game:
 * Normal - Players can approach the mission however they like and take their time to explore the environment for collectibles, however the basic mission factors are still present.
 * Chase - Players must run towards the objective while trying to avoid combat. The player is followed by a rain of arrows that can only be avoided once indoors, or whenever Ezio is in a hiding spot.
 * Stealth - Players must avoid confrontation with hostile enemies at all cost. Enemies are indicated by arrows that appear whenever Ezio is near them. The player is permitted to be spotted 4 times in total. Exceeding the limit will result in the mission being a failure.

There are also challenge rooms present in the game, which require Ezio to clear a specific objective. The challenge rooms are played through in the Animus corridor, similar to the tutorial levels in the game. Cheats dubbed "Animus hacks" were present within the game, which can be unlocked by obtaining enough synchronization points. These cheats ranged from character skins to boosted gameplay movement and perks, giving the players advantage.

Collectibles are present in game. There are a total of 5 collectibles: Memory paths, which indicate where a player should go to next; Renaissance maps, which unlocks the aforementioned challenge rooms; Knives, which refill Ezio's knives; Wanted posters, which can be torn off to increase the health meter once the required amount is met, and; art pieces, which can be collected by unlocking hidden rooms in missions.

The iPhone and Nintendo DSi versions of the game allow the player to integrate their facial likeness in the game through photos, replacing Ezio's placeholder image in the wanted poster with the player's own image. Also, the art pieces found in the iPhone version can be imported for use as wallpapers.

Plot
In the year 1491, in the midst of searching for the Apple of Eden, the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze was summoned by the Venetian Thieves Guild leader Antonio de Magianis to assist in the dilemma of his contact from Spain, Luis de Santángel. Representing the navigator Christoffa Corombo, Luis asks Ezio for his protection, fearing that the company he keeps bear ill fate against him. Though reluctant at first, Ezio agrees to assist after hearing with Christoffa's connections with the Spaniard, Rodrigo Borgia.

Luis' suspicions proven right, Ezio intercepts the planned assassination attempt of Christoffa and points him to safety as he fled the meeting place. The two would then meet up again at Venice's garden district, along with Luis. There, they asked Ezio to recover an atlas for their expedition in their hostel, an atlas that contained important maps detailing vital routes. Ezio agrees to do it as a final favor, and successfully intercepts the atlas and hands it to the two.

Before setting off for their expedition, Luis informed Ezio about the status of the Spanish Assassins' Guild, who were all apprehended by Tomás de Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition. When asked by Ezio how he knew of the Assassins, he informs him that he is well-connected. Returning to Antonio, Ezio announces that his search for the Piece of Eden is postponed, believing that it was his duty to help reform the brotherhood in Spain. Ezio then left the Thieves Guild and set off to start his search for the Assassins in Barcelona.

After some brief trouble with a French rogue, Ezio searched for the Spanish Assassin members, which lead him to the Assassin Guild, only to be ambushed. After fleeing the soldiers into the underground sewers, Ezio encounters a member of the Assassin guild, Raphael Sánchez. After an introduction, Raphael informs Ezio that the Spanish Assassins were apprehended by the Inquisitor Gaspar Martinez, and that he should go and meet with him if he is to learn more. Leaving the underground area, Ezio infiltrated the quarters of Martinez, and there, he denied holding Assassins prisoner, yet admits that one of them will be burned at the stake. After learning this, Ezio assassinates Gaspar, and takes a list of names from his body. He would then leave to save the Assassin.

Evading most of the guards, Ezio was able to save the Assassin. He would then meet with Sánchez to discuss the list he found. After reading the scroll, Sánchez concluded that the names were possibly a list of targets tied to the Spanish Inquisition. In order to eliminate them, Ezio and Sánchez travel to Zaragoza to seek out the Inquisition's calificador, Pedro Llorente. Arriving at Pedro's location, Ezio witnessed the murder of an Assassin by the order of Tomás de Torquemada, whose orders came directly from Rodrigo Borgia himself.

Trivia

 * The cover art of the game is a variant of a poster for Assassin's Creed II.
 * Despite the storyline occurring between the two DLCs, Ezio does not sport the dual hidden blades. The single blade used in this game is the basic one, with no poison blade or hidden gun upgrade.
 * Unlike in Assassin's Creed II in which Ezio can assassinate with his hidden blade while an enemy is facing him, in the game he can only assassinate from behind.
 * Blocking arrow of an archer is a hard trick in this game, since it can only be blocked once the arrow has been launched.
 * Archers can't face Ezio with melee attack. Once Ezio get close to an archer, the archer will surrender and ask for mercy.
 * If an archer is attacking Ezio, attempting to assassinate him will result in Ezio grabbing an arrow from the archer and stabbing him with it, rather than using his hidden blade.
 * Guard Captains appear, and resemble the Brutes in Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, etc. However, they are extremely fast, agile, and devastating. If Ezio attempts to jump onto a wall, they will also jump and try to pull him down.
 * Counter-attacks are very effective when Ezio is surrounded by soldiers that deal light attacks (seekers, guards) but counter attacking cannot be used against Guard Captains, as Guard Captains can break Ezio's defense in one strike.
 * Guards in Italy and Spain appear to be clearly informed of the presence of Assassins, and will immediately fight Ezio.
 * No blood is present, only sweat, and there is no eagle vision within the game.
 * Ezio is not connected with or will meet Leonardo Da Vinci in the game, and none of his war machines could be found in the game.
 * Ezio does not face The Spaniard directly in this game.
 * Unlike in Assassin's Creed II, there are no civilians crowd that Ezio can use for blending.
 * There are new unit type that appears in the game that resemble Guard Captains (Some players opine that they look more like Papal Guards). They are only armed with pikes, and cannot chasing Ezio as they're stationed in one place for each one of them. However, they are extremely strong, defensive, devastating, and are able to block Ezio's path, which become major obstacles during free-running levels.
 * Chances of performing a Leap of Faith are scarce, as there are not many soft spots to land.

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