Mm, so after playing several hours of ACII, I am realize that it is really about story and making you go through the motions more than anything else. There isn't really any challenge involved whatsoever (except for those damn frustrating tombs)*, it kind of just tells you do to such and such a task, you go do it, and it gives you another task.
Fortunately it is pretty and entertaining and some of the tasks it has you do are quite fun. It is like the Italian Spider-man of the 1400's, a flamboyantly dressed man climbing up buildings and leaping about. Kind of silly to think about, you are suppose to be this great assassin, so you'd think blending and looking as common and ordinary as possible would be key, but instead you wear this super fancy getup that would definitely draw attention to you.
I love that you can go on a guard murder spree and have distressed citizens running around screaming at the brutal acts they witness at your hand, and then they'll never recognize you again. The guards won't even remember what you look like, provided you tear down a couple of random wanted posters. Seems like they could just tell the guards as they are coming in for work, "Okay, there's this bloke out there, 6'2'', crazy outfit, wears a hood, weapons hanging off his belt. Yeah, kill him if you happen across him."
Ah, but obviously I am forgetting one very important key element here: its a game. And a fun one too.
*I've died four times, so far, and I am pretty sure three of those times were because of an accidental wall kick (hate that move) that has sent Ezio flying off in the direction of nothing while at an incredible height. Well, I had died only four times, prior to last night when I wrote this post in my head, now I've died about sixteen times, and almost all of those are thanks to one particular tomb and the fact that I couldn't figure out how to get down from it. I tried leaping in all directions trying to get a grip on something. Very frustrating. Turns out I was suppose to open a window and exit that way... big Warbler moment for me. *Sigh*