Here’s a brief rundown of what you’re going to see.

For one thing, there’s an economic system that allows you to buy things that you want with the money that you earn like weapon upgrades, armor and even poison.

Ezio learns how to be a better assassin as the game progresses but this learning system isn’t detailed.

Da Vinci’s creations are included in the game like a pistol and double hidden blades. Da Vinci items aren’t a big suprise since we’ve already seen the “flying machine” but the gun and double hidden blades were pretty cool.

There are secondary missions that don’t affect the main story so you don’t have to do them if you don’t want to. But, if you complete them, you get special rewards.

You can utilize Eagle Vision while you’re moving around so you can actively track marks.

You now have the ability to hire mercenaries to take out people who get in your way.

There are also secret locations in famous landmarks. Like the secondary missions, these secret locations are separate from the main story but you learn more backstory if you play the secret location “quests” and you receive rewards for each location that you complete. If you complete all of the secret locations, you’ll receive an “ultimate reward”. The secret locations also add hours of gameplay and looks like they will keep things from being so “repeated” like they were in the first Assassin’s Creed.

Smoke bombs can be used for obfuscation and they look like they’ll come in rather handy if you don’t have a crowd to blend in with.

I’ve had very large doubts about Assassin’s Creed II but now that I’ve seen this video, I think that I’ll check it out once the game is released in November. I’m not saying that I’m going to buy it, but I’ll definitely rent it.

Image|Amazon

Post from: EveryJoe

Assassin’s Creed II GC 09:Walkthrough Video

In all actuality, I was sitting on my couch with my laptop in my lap watching the Sony press conference live but still, like I was there!

Yes. I know. I’m a dork.

SO many cool things were introduced [PSPgo!!! $249.99 and Agent from Rockstar exclusive to PS3] and lots of cool videos were shown [Final Fantasy 14 Online *gasp* and Uncharted 2]. Also, demos were played [Assassin's Creed 2] and there was the announcement that 50 PSone games are coming to the PSN [Playstation Network and did you know that you can still buy a PSone on Amazon.com? Who knew?!]

All in all, it was a great press conference and I have obviously not listed each and every cool thing that was talked about today. If you’re interested in what I had to say on Twitter while watching the press conference then click on all of this for a link.

I’m REALLY looking forward to seeing what Sony is going to bring to the table this year.

Post from: EveryJoe

I was At E3…Online

We’re less than two days away from the official start of E3 here in sunny L.A., which begins on Tuesday (though a trio of major press conferences take place Monday). I got into town today and took a long walk around the Los Angeles Convention Center, where signs of E3 are popping up all over. If there was any doubt about this year’s event being a return to the truly big E3s of yesteryear, those thoughts were washed away by these larger-than-life sights around the convention center!

Click through to see all 27 photos for yourself:

The outer entrance to West Hall, where Sony and Nintendo will be exhibiting. That’s Kratos’ arm from the God of War games, holding a PS3 controller. A sure hint that God of War III is going to be shown.

This Jack Black-voiced titled is finally seeing the light of day. (Hey, I made a funny.)

Three banners showing off what is without a doubt, one of the most highly anticipated games of E3 2009: Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

After many long delays (and what looks like a makeover for protagonist Sam Fisher), it looks like Splinter Cell: Conviction might be ready to drop.

Can’t wait to see more of this one… I loved the first game!

An appropriate centerpiece for the main lobby at the massive South Hall.

The Sims 3 adorns a building directly across the street from the Convention Center.

Without a doubt, the biggest banner on display at E3 — inside or out. It’s advertising Assassin’s Creed II, the sequel to my favorite game of all time.

I’m admitting nothing, but it’s possible I might have peed a tiny little bit when I saw this.

Another ginormous ad for Modern Warfare 2.

Had to stop by the historical Los Angeles Theatre this afternoon to pick up my press badge. The event takes place tomorrow evening.

Get ready… get set…

Here we go.

Complete coverage of E3 2009 begins tomorrow with the press conferences for Microsoft, EA, and Ubisoft. Stay tuned!

Post from: EveryJoe

L.A. Convention Center readies for E3

Today is chock full of PlayStation news, so be sure to check out the following links to find out what’s new with the PS3 and PSP. And be sure to check out the latest PSN content, which is full of all kinds of great games and deals. If you haven’t played Pixeljunk Eden yet, this is the week to do so.

• We all know that the PS3 can do more then play games, but apparently it’s also one of the best Bul-Ray players on the market. At least, according to CNN.
• Unlike a number of PS3 titles, the upcoming Killzone 2 won’t require a hard drive install. In fact, it’s not even an option.
• We don’t know when, but it looks like a demo for Resident Evil 5 will be hitting the PlayStation Network sometime before the game is released in North America.
• In honor of the American Thanksgiving, this weeks LittleBigPlanet free DLC is none other then a turkey hat. But if you have some money to burn, you can also pick up a Resistance 2 Chimera costume.
• The PSN is also having an awesome sale, with 5 great games available for just $4.99 each: The Last Guy, Pixeljunk Eden, Echochrome, Commando 3, and Novastrike.
• It looks like the previously believed Wii-exclusive title Tenchu 4 will now be coming to the PSP as well.
• Sony has released a trailer for the PSP version of Everyday Shooter, and it looks pretty much exactly the same as the PS3 game. Which, of course, is a good thing.
• We also have prices for a couple of upcoming PS3 peripherals. The Wireless keypad will run gamers $49.99, meanwhile an AC adaptor for charging controllers and headsets will cost $24.99.
• And, in case you were wondering, Ubisoft is indeed hard at work on the sequel to Assassin’s Creed.

Post from: EveryJoe

Today in PlayStation: November 26, 2008