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Assassin's Creed II

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed II cover
Developers
Ubisoft Montreal
macOS (OS X) Ubisoft Ukraine
Publishers
Ubisoft
Akella
Engines
Anvil
Release dates
Windows March 9, 2010
macOS (OS X) October 1, 2010
Reception
Metacritic 86
IGDB 90
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, DLC
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, Stealth
Art styles Realistic
Themes Europe, Historical, Renaissance
Series Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II on HowLongToBeat
Assassin's Creed II on IGDB
Assassin's Creed II guide on StrategyWiki
Assassin's Creed II on MobyGames
Assassin's Creed II on Wikipedia
Assassin's Creed 2008
Assassin's Creed II 2010
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 2011
Assassin's Creed: Revelations 2011
Assassin's Creed III 2012
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag 2013
Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD 2014
Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry 2014
Assassin's Creed: Pirates 2014
Assassin's Creed Unity 2014
Assassin's Creed Rogue 2015
Assassin's Creed Chronicles (series)
Assassin's Creed Syndicate 2015
Assassin's Creed Origins 2017
Discovery Tour (series)
Assassin's Creed Odyssey 2018
Assassin's Creed III Remastered 2019
Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Remastered 2019
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2020
Assassin's Creed Mirage 2023

Assassin's Creed II is a singleplayer third-person action and stealth game in the Assassin's Creed series.

Key points

Very poor mouse input due to aggressive acceleration. A controller is highly recommended.
Online services shut down on October 1, 2022.[1]

General information

Official manual
Official forums
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
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Windows
macOS (OS X)
Amazon.com
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Windows
Epic Games Store
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Windows
GamersGate
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Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
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Windows
Green Man Gaming
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Windows
Humble Store
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Windows
Steam
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Windows
Ubisoft Store
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Included with Ubisoft+.
Windows
Amazon.co.uk (unavailable)
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Windows
Games for Windows Marketplace (unavailable)
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[2]
Windows
Mac App Store (unavailable)
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macOS (OS X)
Origin (unavailable)
Origin
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Windows
All Windows versions require Ubisoft Connect DRM.
A constant internet connection is no longer required. The game is playable offline.[3]

Monetization

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
Battle of Forlì Included in the Deluxe Edition. No longer available.[4] Sequence patched into the game. See EaglePatchAC2 to unlock the Bonus Content.
Windows
Bonfire of the Vanities Included in the Deluxe Edition. No longer available.[4] Sequence patched into the game. See EaglePatchAC2 to unlock the Bonus Content.
Windows

Essential improvements

Patches

Version 1.01 patch can be downloaded here.
Among other fixes, it adds ATI Eyefinity support and provides some performance enhancements for multi-core processors.

EaglePatchAC2

Latest version can be downloaded here.
Improved shadow map size from 1024 to 4096.
Draw distance maxed out for buildings, peds and flags.
Enables UPlay bonuses - Auditore Crypt, Altair robes, extra knifes, bonus dye.
Added support of all XInput controllers.
Added detection of hotplugged controllers.
Gamepad and kb/mouse controls work at the same time.
Added ini setting for enabling PS3-like controls.
Added ini setting to skip intro videos.
Options configurable in .ini file.
Removes support of DirectInput controllers. Use of a DirectInput to XInput translator such as XOutput is recommended if using a DirectInput only controller.

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.
In-game HUD settings.
In-game HUD settings.

Configuration file location

System Location
Windows %APPDATA%\Ubisoft\Assassin's Creed 2\Assassin2.ini
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/33230/pfx/[Note 1]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <Ubisoft-Connect-folder>\savegames\<user-id>\4\
macOS (OS X)
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/33230/pfx/[Note 1]
Save games before the new patch are in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Ubisoft Game Launcher\savegame_storage
The save folder was relocated in a November 23, 2012 patch.
If you change the XML config file to allow offline play, or if you select the Uplay launcher to stay offline in the options, then your progress and games will NOT be saved!
You CAN turn cloud-sync OFF in the options, but you must allow Uplay to go online to allow Assassin's Creed II to save games to this location on your local hard drive.

Save game cloud syncing

Video

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
Higher vertical aspect ratios (e.g. 16:10, 4:3, 5:4) are letterboxed.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
Cutscenes and some menus are pillarboxed. Use this fix for 21:9 / 16:10.
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
Up to 8x MSAA.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
The game has a poorly implemented 59 FPS cap which can jump between 57 to 63 FPS; however, it allows a high refresh rate.
120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Input

In-game control settings.
In-game control settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game button map settings.
In-game button map settings.

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Aggressive mouse acceleration. Can't be disabled.
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
X and Y inversion can be set independently for first-person, third-person, or both.
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping
For non-XInput devices only.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion
X and Y inversion can be set independently for first-person, third-person, or both.
Controller types
XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration
PlayStation controllers
See DualShock 4 or DualSense.
PlayStation button prompts
Use this mod.
Light bar support
Adaptive trigger support
DualSense haptic feedback support
Connection modes

Generic/other controllers
Button prompts Input settings icon - Generic Controller.svg
Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Digital movement supported
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
SFX, Character Voices, Music.
Surround sound
5.0
Subtitles
Some in-game dialogue is spoken in Italian. Translations are displayed in the subtitles.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Czech
Available only at local distributors.
Danish
Dutch
French
German
Hungarian
Fan translation.
Indonesian
Fan translation by IGTC Team, download.
Italian
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Use this if the game won't run in Polish.
Portuguese
Brazilian Portuguese
Fan translation.
Russian
Retail only, download. Origin version has a full official translation by Akella.
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
Fan translation, download.

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision
Use Helix Mod: Assassin's Creed 2 for better support.
TriDef 3D
iZ3D
vorpX
G3D, DirectVR
Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list.

Issues unresolved

No background music

Often after the game starts, the background music does not play.[5][6]
Keep restarting the game until the music starts playing[7]

Issues fixed

Stuttering/Tearing with Vsync On or Off

Ingame FPS Cap workaround and CPU load fix
This is caused by 2 issues - a uneven 59fps fps cap and excessive CPU load when using Vsync
To fix the uneven cap. Set the refresh rate to 50hz in game instead (use CRU in case no such option is available in game for you) and use the Vsync as below:
  • For Nvidia cards: use Nvidia's Adaptive Vsync in the Nvidia Control Panel. This minimizes Vsync drops to 25fps
  • For newer AMD cards: turn on Radeon Chill as an FPS limiter set to 50/50 (min/max) and also turn on the "Enhanced sync" feature (don't forget to turn Vsync off in-game for AMD's enhanced sync to work).
  • The alternative, if the other 2 are not possible for you, use the normal in-game Vsync on.
When using VSync, excessive single core use is also evident (typically 99%) with any Quad Core CPU and above. Removing the first core of your CPU availability manually using the Task Manager affinity or alternatively using utility Process Lasso to automatically remove CPU 0 access from the AC2 executable resolves this.

The affinity fix also fixes the same issue with ACB, ACR and AC3 when using VSync.

Making affinity changes permanent (setting affinity in task manager only lasts until you exit the game):
  1. Edit your preferred shortcut for launching the game (desktop and/or start menu)
  2. In the target field, set the following (just put the default contents in double quotes and prepend cmd.exe /C ...):
  • For a 4/4 (core/thread) CPU cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity e "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe"
  • For a 4/8 and 8/8 (core/thread) CPU cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity fe "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe"
  • For a 6/6 (core/thread) CPU cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity 3e "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe"
  • For a 6/12 (core/thread) CPU cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity 7fe "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe"
  • For a 8/16 (core/thread) CPU and higher cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity fffe "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe"
Verify correct affinity by launching the game and checking affinity in task manager (see beginning)
To be used in Steam launch options, to launch the game directly from Steam, it must be a little different:
  • Ex. for a 8/16 (core/thread) CPU and higher C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start "" /affinity FFFE "<path-to-game>\AssassinsCreedIIGame.exe" %command%

Lights shine through walls and other objects

Nvidia Control Panel Fix[citation needed]
This issue is cause by the Nvidia Control Panel forcing graphical settings on.
  1. Enter Nvidia Control Panel.
  2. Select "Adjust image settings with preview".
  3. Select "Let the 3D application decide".

Game freeze when given hidden blade

Press "2" to select the weapon to continue the cut-scene[citation needed]
Default mapped keys do not work as they should.

Error "A Ubisoft service is unavailable at the moment"

Download and install the UPlay client[citation needed]

Program hangs and screen flashes repeatedly on launch

Set monitor resolution to 1280x720 on launch and change resolution in-game[citation needed]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
OpenGL 2 OS X only.
Shader Model support 3
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok
Audio Wwise
Cutscenes Bink Video 1.9n

Mods

Assassin's Creed 2 Overhaul

Updates most of the textures and particle effects in-game with a mix of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood textures and custom textures.

Neural 1080p Enhanced Cutscenes

Improves the quality of the heavily compressed FMVs

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP
Processor (CPU) AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8 GHz
System memory (RAM) 1.5 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 8 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon X1950
ATI Radeon HD 2000/3000/4000/5000 series
Nvidia GeForce 7/8/9/100/200 series
256 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Shader model 3.0 support
Sound (audio device) DirectX 9.0 compatible
Other
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.5
Processor (CPU) Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz
System memory (RAM) 3 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 9 GB
Video card (GPU) 256 MB of VRAM
Shader model 3.0 support
Does not support Lion X (OS 10.7). Should work on any versions 10.8 and above.


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/33230/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (33230) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References