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Assassin’s Creed II is an action-adventure video game being developed by Ubisoft Montreal. The sequel to Assassin’s Creed, it is set to be released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2009.

Synopsis: Get ready to plunge into the lush and deadly world of the Italian Renaissance, an era of arts, riches and murderous conspiracy. Assassin’s Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your assassin’s art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel.

Key Game Features:

• Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio
• Roam freely through the lush and dangerous world of Renaissance-era Italy
• Do whatever it takes to complete your missions in the game’s all-new open world and mission structure
• Thrive in an environment rich with power, revenge and conspiracy
• Practice your assassin’s art with all-new weapons and instruments created by Leonardo da Vinci

Videos

Links

Academics hope history in video games spurs interest

Assassin’s Creed 2: Blending fiction with history

Assassins Creed 2: the pride of Montreal

Murder in the Abbey

Developed by Alcachofa Soft in 2008 for the PC

Also called The Abbey this game is set in the world of the Middle Ages. An old abbey is the scene of a series of mysterious murders, and only one man can put a stop to the slaughter. You play the role of Leonardo, a former royal advisor. The Vatican sends him and his assistant Bruno off to a remote monastery, where things aren’t as peaceful as one would expect from such a place. In the intro, we see them riding through some rough terrain on a stormy night. On the way, they already get their first taste of what’s to come: a mysterious figure in monk’s robes rolls a large rock down a cliff, and Leonardo can only barely get his companion out of the stone’s way.  Reviews for this game were mostly negative.

Watch the Trailer for the Game

More Videos from the Game

Links

Review from Diehard GameFAN

Review from IGN

Released by Firefly Studios in 2008

Stronghold Crusader Extreme takes the addictive Crusader gameplay to a new level. Featuring massive battles, new outposts and tactical powers to master, Extreme carries on from where Crusader left off. The all new Extreme trail will provide a stiff challenge to any hardened Crusader player. For those new to Crusader, the original game has been provided too, in an updated form and with all the previously released limited edition content, such as the second crusader trail and all new AI opponents.

The first Stronghold game was developed in 2001 by Firefly Games, and after its initial success, several sequels and expansion packs have been released.  The basic objective of all games is to manage your medieval territory, starting with a simple area and building up your power as you go along, either by warfare or through developing the economy and farming of your lands.  

Some of the highlights of this new game, which is available for the PC, include the ability to play over 20 new missions, and when in battle, you can control over 10 000 units on the battlefield.  

Videos – Scenes from the Game

Links

Review of the game from Gamespot

Review of the game from IGN

Released in 2008 by Paradox Interactive

Europa Universalis III, which delves deeply into the areas of exploration, trade, warfare and diplomacy, is an epic strategy game where players take control of a nation and guide it through the ages to become a great global empire.

Unparalleled in its depth and historical accuracy, Europa Universalis gives players freedom to rule their nation from an impressive choice of over 250 historically accurate countries. The Europa Universalis series put Paradox Interactive on the map as a leading strategy games publisher and developer and fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating Europa Universalis III.

Europa Universalis III – In Nomine

Start in October 1399, at the time of the coronation of Henry IV of England, and experience over 50 more years of game play, adding the Byzantine Empire, Tamerlane and the end of the Hundred Years War.

Choose exactly when to make major decisions that will shape the future of your country. Strive to Create Great Britain, Establish the Spanish Inquisition, or Institute the East Indian Company. Act rather than react, on both country and province level, with the new Decision System, including hundreds of different situational decisions.

Experience the new Mission System, where the player and AI alike will be given goals to achieve, providing endless replayability by guiding history along different tracks every time.

Rebels with a Cause: there are countless types of rebels, all with different goals, and different abilities. You may get colonial rebels overseas, striving for representation or independence, or you may see reactionary nobles rise up to put the serfs back where they belong. Crush the rebels by force, negotiate with them, or even worse; watch them enforce their demands on your country.

Religious tolerance now depends on the ideas and decisions you take, adding a new layer of strategy. As cardinals stay loyal longer, the power of the Papal Controller has grown, as he can now excommunicate rulers, and call crusades against infidels.

Improved AI, focusing on long-term strategic goals, with support for fully scriptable logic.

In Nomine is available as part of the box set Europa Universalis III: Complete, which contains the popular Europa Universalis III grand strategy game and the Napoleon’s Ambition and In Nomine expansion packs.

Watch the Official Trailer

 
More videos – Scenes from the game

Links

Read an interview with the game designers

Read a review of the game from IGN

Read a review of the game from Gamespot