Customer Reviews

Assassin's Creed 2 (Original Game Soundtrack)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am already an avid video gamer (maybe less now, with so much school and work) and definitely a big Assassin's Creed fan--I was very thrilled that Ubisoft/Jesper Kyd noticed people actually -liked- AC music enough to want it, and released it pretty much around the same time as the video game release...unlike the first one, hence fans were literally down on their knees begging for it to be released (and after nearly two years it did, thankfully).

I have yet to play the game as I'm still waiting for it to be released on the PC. However, I couldn't wait any longer to get the soundtrack, and the minute I had spare cash, I got it. The very second I listened to it--heaven to the ears. I am not exaggerating.

I have a attune ear for music. I am somewhat a musician and hold a large library of many genres. When I study music and wish to write a review, I really dig down into that soul of the song(s). With this soundtrack, it didn't take a minute into the first track to realize I was so drawn into it and fascinated. Now, this is all my humble opinion...but I could not imagine anyone disliking this. Not your favorite, yes, but heaven forbid hating. That's about a horrid thought as disliking Beethoven or the Beatles. You just don't dislike those.

The quality was crystal clear. I could hear every little guitar strum and beautiful vocals. It has a classic Renaissance feel with the singing and the Spanish guitar. It gives a sense of ease and relax--like it does when I listen to Jazz on a lazy day. There are plenty of songs though, that give you a sense of suspense and excitement; there is a perfect balance. This has more depth to it, another level of music hides in its layers--there is a definite impression of Electronica/Trance. Some parts just blow me away and give me the shivers. It's giving a sense of matrix, mysteriousness, and a futuristic intertwining into the 16th century. A surreal sensation I can't explain, but it's extremely inspiring, especially if you are a artist of any kind.

The only thing I am disappointed in...that there aren't more songs! Of course, I am very thankful they gave two discs worth of it. I'm so excited to play this game with this wonderful music playing in the background.

This is a perfect soundtrack if you're looking for something that isn't too distracting, but still has a lot of variety to it. It's fresh, the tunes and rhythms are as memorable as the Star Wars' themes. Even people who are not interested in gaming or have a clue what Assassin's Creed II is will love it. Some underestimate gaming music...this COMPLETELY proves them wrong.

This Sweeping & Breathtaking Soundtrack is a perfect example of how Video Games have now become the main form of entertainment & quite obviously a learning experience for all ages. Talk to your kids people! Get involved! Video games have become far more than Pac-Man & Donkey Kong with their bee, bee, bee, bee, beeps!!!! They have a soul now & this soundtrack is a shining exhibit of how this form of artistic expression has turned a simple & fun way to pass the time, into something with depth & heart to be passed on to future generations. Video Games today give people of all ages & from all walks of life, a voice that might not otherwise have been heard until now.

I purchased this after borrowing a copy from a friend, and found this to be an excellent listening experience outside of any game.

Disk 2 does seem to be largely a darker repetition of material presented on the first disk, but grat work nonetheless.

EDIT: The 4 missing songs from the game are not in this soundtrack and were only made available via Jesper Kyd's facebook fanpage but they are no longer available for download. However, special thanks to Wassef Wahzoola for providing a link to the 4 tracks here:

[...]


I'm a huge fan of Assassin's Creed and was upset that my master assassin's edition of the game's supposed "soundtrack" was on a blu ray disc that made it pointless to even listen to. So, being the fan I was I spent another 10 bucks for this soundtrack.


To me, music is a VERY important factor in creating the perfect video game. If a game only has good gameplay, good graphics, good story and bad music it would fail having the player fully immersed within the game. That is my thinking when it comes to this.


Let me first say, I like the first soundtrack more. Every song in the first soundtrack was beautifully orchestrated and in my eyes began a musical "theme/tone" for the series. It kept me immersed in the story and wanting to complete the game.


This new soundtrack was great. Many nice and beautiful songs throughout but the theme and tone from the first game was gone and replaced IMO with a more darker tone. Granted, Assassin's Creed 2 takes place in a different period and an obvious musical change needed to be made to accommodate a new era. But being as this is a series now more songs should have had a more memorable tie in to the music in the 1st soundtrack. The Assassin's Creed II soundtrack itself has it's own theme instead of tying it to its predecessor. But I guess I shouldn't complain. At least it's not jumping around from one type of sound to the next.

A new sound I didn't really think fit well within the series was the electric guitar. Pretty much most of the action-based themes. Songs such as:

-Wetlands Combat
-Wetlands Escape
-Chariot Chase
-Venice Fight

The above songs are good by themselves and I like them a lot. They're very good in fact, but ones that I didn't think fit well within the time frame of the series. Now this would've been fine since it's just a few songs but the above songs are the action-based themes in which Assassin's Creed 2 is a very active game and you will hear them a lot.


Songs I felt had a closer tie to the look and period the game takes place in and some favorites of mine are:

-Tour of Venice
-Ezio's Family
-Florence Tarantella
-Dream's of Venice
-Flight over Venice 1+2(especially these ones)
-Night Mission in Venice

Flight over Venice is what I think would have been the best way to approach the action-based themes to the game.



I gave this soundtrack four stars not because of the quality of the music. Because the soundtrack is simply stellar and masterfully done despite my affection and longing for the sounds and themes of Assassin's Creed I. But because this soundtrack is actually incomplete. So far as I know there is ONE SONG MISSING. There may be another one I think is missing as well but I'll have to confirm that in another playthrough of the game. It is the song of the final battle of the game that is missing. I don't know why that important song would be left out of this soundtrack but it was easily the best song in the game. It was a fast, upbeat song, with drums,strings and chanting, and it was the only song reminiscent of Assassin's Creed I's music for me. It is a song that is only heard if you reach the final battle without becoming notorious. Clearly, the final battle is a pivotal moment in the game. Why they left it out of this soundtrack upsets/disappoints me and makes me wonder why?

Assassin's Creed II was one of the best games I've ever played. It was almost perfect. One of the big contributors to its greatness was its music. Rarely does a video game have pretty music. Usually it's just a bunch of background noise and useless vibrations that wouldn't make sense by themselves. Assassin's Creed II is an exception. Sure the music goes well with the game, but it also goes well by itself. Many of the tracks like Earth, Ezio's Family, Home in Florence, Tour of Venice, Dreams of Venice, Sanctuary, and the Madam have pretty female vocals that sooth your thoughts and give you a kind of a renaissance relaxation. Many other tracks like Venice Rooftops, Approaching Target 1, 2,& 3, Venice Fight, Venice Combat Low, Venice Escape and Notorious have high tempo beats and even guitar sometimes that get your adrenaline rushing and make you want to go assassinate some templar or jump off of a high tower into a cart of hay. It's an excellent soundtrack to listen to. And if you played the game before you buy this soundtrack you have the luxury of picturing Ezio doing what he does best while you listen.

As a gamer, you're lucky if you come across a game with an amazing soundtrack. The way music affects the experience of a game is remarkable, and this soundtrack mixed with one of the most fun games of 2009 is a real treat. It's not often that I actually hear the music that's playing in the background as I play the game. I don't normally hear the music because they're only made to be fillers, but then there are games such as Final Fantasy X specifically with such exceptional music (courtesy of Nobuo Uematsu and others) and ACII.

I think Jesper Kyd did a wonderful job with this soundtrack. Unlike others, it works with the game to provide such a great experience. In some games if you've noticed, the music seems to be drowned out with the gameplay, action, and whatnot. I'm not sure that I would recommend this soundtrack to someone who hasn't played the game. There is something about experiencing the thrill of adventuring atop rooftops at night with the busy city at work below you, and the magical music playing in the background. If you didn't play the game and enjoyed the soundtrack, please share your thoughts :)

Overall review: Highly Recommend. There are only a few who can make music that transports you to a completely different time.

i was very entranced with the music as i was playing the assassin's creed 2 game. i think the music is just wonderfully done. listen to it. let the music speak for itself;although, it really depends on people's taste

Jesper Kyd has provided an amazing experience within his followup score to Assassin's Creed II. A mixture of electronic and ethnic flavors create a full on atmosphere and immerse you in the world of the game.

The score propels you forward with the story and really doesn't ever feel like "background" music. Of course there are a few tracks that may be classified as that such as the tracks that play when you approach a target. However they are structured and looped in a way where the player builds their own suspense and the music fits pretty much whatever images you as the player create.

The score has an other worldly feel but still grounds itself with certain sounds and melodies that give us something emotional to grasp onto. There isn't anything sweeping or grand and it excels in its simplicity. Kyd embraces solo instruments and lets them shine. The score is a modern approach and works extremely well.

The Hitman series was honestly the first video game series I had ever stopped to even consider if I might be able to purchase the soundtrack (excluding titles that simply include already authored songs). By Hitman 2, I was actually purchasing select songs. Each title since that time has shown the blossoming of Kyd's gift, which each becoming more complex and entertaining.

I thoroughly enjoy playing Assassin's Creed II... but it is all the more enjoyable because of the music. I am at the point where I am looking to see if Kyd will produce a CD separate from a video game... I'd likely buy it.

Jesper Kyd has once again shown us that he is the master of the video game soundtrack. While he has evolved over the years, his work has always been great, all the way back to Hitman 2. The songs range to low and melancholy, to loud and adventurous, to both. The odd part is is that most of this music seems to be missing in the game, which sadly means people probably wont be listening to this soundtrack. With this soundtrack, he has cemented himself to being as great as movie composers such as Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. Seriously. He's that good.

Notable Tracks:
Earth
Any Song with 'venice' in its title
Leonardos Inventions
The Animus 2.0