The Hidden Blade Assassin's Creed in Depth

Altaïr returns to Acre in Assassin's Creed II with some slightly different skills. Gone are nine of the ways to wield the hidden blade: low profile, high profile, running, prone, hidden blade counter and taunting penalty. However, he has acquired some new skills. Namely those that he passed along to Ezio through the Codex:

1:14 Altaïr retains his air to assassinate move. In fact, his range is much better than in AC1 and we get this nice camera angle of the jump.

1:22 Ah, the spring-loaded air to assassinate! Acquire a target lock and then climb to a point higher than where you would normally be able to lock on. Press the attack button to let it rip.

1:40 This may look like a running assassination but it isn't. The move is initiated while Altaïr still hangs from the ledge. The rest of the animation is all automatic.

1:50 The low profile ledge assassination, just the way Ezio learned to take out archers.

1:56 The Templars don't normally walk past haystacks. You have to grab and throw them into a near the hay to try these.

Unfortunately, the roof gardens have been removed from Richard's Citadel and there aren't any civilians to sit on benches. Otherwise I suspect Altaïr could do additional assassinations from hiding spots.

2:04 Pulling the Templar into the haystack.

There have been some design changes to William's quarters:

• William's desk is gone.
• The haystack has been moved from the outer wall to the middle of this room.
• The ladder has been moved to the right of the scaffolding.
• There's a "prison" behind the two walls that meet where William's desk once was.

I call it a prison because there's no way for Altaïr to get back there and no way for those three Templars to get out. Poor bastards!

2:38 Altaïr has some grappling moves that were absent in AC1 such as groin kicks, head butts and curb stomps.

2:50 Here's something that even Ezio can't do: survive a twelve story fall! The water is off limits, so we don't know if Altaïr learned how to swim.

3:26 This demonstrates that Maria remains invincible. Swords and fists pass right through her and she can't be grabbed and thrown. Note how she leaves a trail of gold on the ground, even with Eagle Vision turned off.

3:47 Major vertical leap by Maria. She must have been anxious to get on top of the tower.

3:58 Once again, you can put the lantern in orbit. It doesn't make that loud, clanging sound anymore.

4:18 Desmond recognizes her as "Maria from Acre". Based on what he learned in AC1 she would have been "that unnamed woman from Jerusalem". LadyVe points out that in AC: Bloodlines, Maria introduces herself in Acre. That fills the plot hole but I still think it's going to be hard for Altaïr and Maria to explain to their children exactly how they met.