Amazing... as I put my hands on Uncharted 2 I thought this was THE game for me for 2009. Hard to imagine how anything could compete with it. Then I decided to preorder the Special Edition for Assassin's Creed 2 (love the figurine) since I was sure that the game would be great anyways, and be it just and only for Venice!
But what can I say?
I must say that I really love the roleplay elements and I love that it makes the game so long. I also love that you can just ride your horse and explore the landscape without being attacked by any stupid fucktard, who thinks that you rode by too quick and sees that as a reason to bug you while you are busy sightseeing.
Meaning you can decide if you want to actually get into trouble or not. I discovered that this game really manages - besides my sudden go wild with an axe rampages - to entertain me purely by simply running, climbing or riding around, exploring the landscape, searching for treasures and enjoying all the wonderful places and architecture. I have also spent a lot of time rebuilding Mario's (Itsa me! Oh my!! XD) villa, which basically got me a lot of wealth sothat theoretically I wouldn't need to do any more assasination jobs to earn money. But as we know I wanna go on with the story so I might assassinate one or the other here and there.
Oh and Venice! Bella Venezia! I have been playing 12 hours straight until I finally managed to get there. Must admit that I could have gotten there faster, but this wouldn't honor all the other beautiful places that I have seen on my journey until getting there.
After I had finally arrived I walked the city so amazingly slowly that Nemo started complaing how the entertaining level of watching me play had now lowered to zero.
What do I care? The city is just too beautiful! XD
They have made it smaller than the real one, and it is not really a copy of the real Venice either (which makes me glad because of the artistic freedom) were I have been on a beautiful suny winter day with someone who made this one of the best in my life, and that I took a lot of vital photos of, so I do have something to compare.
I am not talking about buildings that weren't there around 1480, but about things that have been changed when it comes to the basilica and such, probably because all the little figurines on its roofs etc would have even managed to kill the strong PS3 hard drive.
BUT Venice is in all ways a place that makes me FEEL like Venice, which I find so very important. That also makes you feel all the love and passion that was used to make it become real for that game. I have spent one complete gaming day exploring every inch of it, only returning to the villa every now and then to spend my money on repairing stuff.
For the first time I spot myself being in a game, walking around thinking "Oh look, those guys are working on the restauration of this church" or wondering what the painters may be painting; thoughts that you usually don't have in agame because you are busy killing stuff, for instance.
The whole game is so utterly addicted to art that it makes me write this long article with joy! I don't have to mention that I also already started building up my own gallery there with what I bought from the art merchants.
I also simply love using the database to explore the cities and read information about its buildings and their history. Amazing how a game could manage to drag me so much into this.
As I thought I had already gotten to the highest point of excitement, venezian carnival was announced and started with a wonderful firework that made me climb a rooftop quicker than ever just to see it. Silly eh? That you behave that way in a game? The game must be great then.
I got a wonderful venetian mask, and besides the fact that I am wearing pretty expensive and died clothes, the cape with its filigran patterns I just got make Ezio look quite elegant but not a tad gay. What a great charatcer design! I will spend some more time in Venice now to be able to keep this outfit. ^_^
This is also a thing that I love: Since each town has its own art merchants and tayler stores, it feels like you really have been at another part of the country once coming back to the villa. The villa also has been a place that I have quite enjoyed so far, because they managed to actually design something that makes me feel quite at home.
I am wondering what will be coming up next. And I am also wondering who did the art direction this time. First I thought it could get screwed as Lacoste left, but now I think that however followed in his foodsteps, did his very best to honor him well.
Last but not least: PLEASE <b>DO NOT TELL ME</b> ANYTHING ABOUT <b>WHAT'S COMING AFTER VENICE</b>, since I am planing to have a loooong and beautiful stay there. ^_^
