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A Narrative Critique of Assassin's Creed 2

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ก.ค. 2024
  • A narrative critique of Assassin’s Creed II. Full spoilers for AC 1-AC 3.
    Chapters:
    0:00 Introduction
    3:11 Act I
    20:26 A Florentine Youth
    1:06:57 Vieri de’ Pazzi You Insufferable Dingus
    1:29:04 Act II
    1:57:37 The Renaissance Perseus?
    2:04:24 Here I Go Killing Again
    2:22:26 The Middle Bit
    2:42:36 La Bella Venezia
    3:17:00 Carnival and L’Arsenal
    3:54:14 Act III
    4:20:52 The Siege of Forli
    4:43:26 The DS/iOS Game
    4:45:49 The Bonfire of the Vanities
    5:10:44 The Vatican & The Vault
    5:41:13 Conclusion
    Links
    Online Recorder (very fun imo): www.doctormusik.com/apps-and-...
    AC Lineage Film: • Assassin's Creed Linea...
    Fra Giocondo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovann...
    The Montefeltro Conspiracy: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
    The Florentine Onesta: zimmer.csufresno.edu/~mariter...
    On Love, The Devil, The Clergy, and Chastity During the Renaissance Witch Craze: www.academia.edu/10712318/On_...
    The Prince: ia804706.us.archive.org/11/it...
    The Prince & Satire: / is_machiavellis_the_pr...
    #assassinscreed

ความคิดเห็น • 540

  • @DukeofWhales
    @DukeofWhales  2 หลายเดือนก่อน +416

    TL;DW -- It’s fun. It’s fine. A much shorter video on Oxenfree is coming up next and then the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim!

    • @damz98
      @damz98 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      My notification bell will be on 😂

    • @abd1979o1
      @abd1979o1 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      Oxenfree is a great game, Unique dialogue system too.

    • @Splitboltxful
      @Splitboltxful 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      I’m excited for that! Also hoping you one day get to AC4 black flag lol

    • @jackthomas8956
      @jackthomas8956 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Very excited for Oxenfree!

    • @Shapeshiftergreen
      @Shapeshiftergreen 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Id' love to hear your thoughts/ analysis on the Oxenfree sequel too.

  • @Joshua.R.
    @Joshua.R. 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +684

    Pumping out a 6 hour video as a a 30k sub channel, you’re insane

    • @joeyjones4929
      @joeyjones4929 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +49

      Insane and goated

    • @user-nx9ql9mj8i
      @user-nx9ql9mj8i 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      It’s amazing.

    • @MrMiddleWick
      @MrMiddleWick 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +36

      I'm a sucker for looong video essays to have in the background, surely I'm not the only one

    • @Lux_Ferox
      @Lux_Ferox หลายเดือนก่อน +16

      Insane? I think it's a godlike move.

    • @SeraCrysta
      @SeraCrysta หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Thats why he wont stay at 30k!
      So much effort and passion

  • @clemdelaclem
    @clemdelaclem 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +321

    Whenever you cut to it I have laugh at how funny it is that in this game of historic drama the finale has you fist-fighting the pope

    • @SpoopySquid
      @SpoopySquid หลายเดือนก่อน +32

      Peak gaming right there

    • @tactictoe
      @tactictoe หลายเดือนก่อน +14

      My kind of holy war.

    • @zurcus7224
      @zurcus7224 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      I hope whoever came up with that idea got a promotion back then

    • @ericpeterson9110
      @ericpeterson9110 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I think that was when the series really jumped the shark and am 100% here for it.

  • @RaptieFeathers
    @RaptieFeathers 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +262

    I will never forget the insanely creepy puzzles telling the backstory and all of the stuff regarding the Apple and stuff. Gave me chills.

    • @36shadowboy
      @36shadowboy 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +19

      Absolutely, and I played the game without touching the first. So I was actually trying to piece together the implications of every little tidbit

    • @CapnJigglypuff
      @CapnJigglypuff หลายเดือนก่อน +27

      I started playing this game for the first time last week and was really blown away when I started on the glyph puzzles. These games can say there’s a global history-spanning conspiracy war all they want, but it be presented to us like this, through clues hidden inside of famous paintings and photos, in the shadows of real historic figures, feels so cool and so mysterious!

    • @darkflame2067
      @darkflame2067 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

      This Stuff was so good
      That Potential...but man how they wasted it

    • @suittwo
      @suittwo หลายเดือนก่อน +9

      The Joan of Arc one legitimately frightened me my first time playing the game, but those side quests made the conflict feel so real in a way not many other games before or since have. As I’ve studied much more history since then, I’ve grown to appreciate the series in a new way.

    • @tactictoe
      @tactictoe หลายเดือนก่อน

      It was such a wild trip, I played it through with a friend, both in our late 20's having been fans of computer games and couldn't believe how far they had come, it felt like a whole new way to tell a story.

  • @cloud_and_proud
    @cloud_and_proud 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +64

    I think the assassination of Uberto being easy is sorta part of the point. He's easy to kill, because as it turns out he doesn't actually matter that much. Ezio is just lashing out at him out of vengence. Maybe he's powerful in Florence, but not in Italy at large.

  • @kirbyinhalesjotaro4471
    @kirbyinhalesjotaro4471 หลายเดือนก่อน +114

    Including literal Machiavelli in a game and having him be surprised by the idea of not attacking someone directly is so funny to me

    • @1RoundInTheChamber
      @1RoundInTheChamber หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      For real. The dude was so friggin slick we use his name as an adjective for being a conniving bastard, and here he's just...gobsmacked at a plan more subtle than charging at them while screaming bloody murder.

    • @tj-co9go
      @tj-co9go 21 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Machiavelli should have been a Templar leader or something, it feels like he wasted here. Or someone playing both sides or something. You really don't learn much about him despite his absolutely huge involvement in Florentine politics
      Of course there are a bunch of other Renaissance characters missing here, but you cannot include them all. Cannot figure out what Marcello Ficino or Pico della Mirandola could do here.

    • @lukethelegend9705
      @lukethelegend9705 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@tj-co9goyeah Machiavelli in 2 and especially brotherhood just doesnt feel like machiavelli. It would’ve made so much more sense for him to have been a high ranking Templar, his ideology was so much more in line with them and not the Assassins

    • @BoZoiD57
      @BoZoiD57 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Correct me if I'm wrong as it's been a couple years since I've played II and Brotherhood, but isn't the in-game justification because Ezio inspired Machiavelli to write The Prince?

    • @karthikcv8104
      @karthikcv8104 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@BoZoiD57 yes

  • @CapnJigglypuff
    @CapnJigglypuff หลายเดือนก่อน +112

    Borgia definitely strikes me as someone who would consider living in shame a harsher punishment than to be killed outright. To go on after having (what he believes to be) the power to tame God stripped away from him, knowing that his life’s work and the singular reason he became Pope, to open the vault, is the destiny of another man might be a greater cruelty to him than just having his throat opened up.
    Probably not what Ezio was going for, but it’s a reading.

    • @scarlettTG2704
      @scarlettTG2704 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Yeah that's exactly what I thought too, that to just kill him is the fate Borgia would prefer over being kept alive to stew in his failure and shame.

    • @VeaFlea
      @VeaFlea 14 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I also read this as the last time Ezio ever spares a major enemy precisely over what happens immediately after this in brotherhood 😂

  • @nathangomez4409
    @nathangomez4409 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +215

    I don't think you should be so down on your work here. The Lord of the Rings is great and all, but I love video games, I love dissecting them, and I love hearing others do the same. I learn so much about storytelling through this style of content, and your work in particular is incredible. So many game critique channels are comfortable just summarizing the plot and providing no commentary or criticism on HOW a game tells its story. You actually have shit to say, and that's why I'll watch your essays every time. Cheers.

    • @picahudsoniaunflocked5426
      @picahudsoniaunflocked5426 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      Main monitor channel + comment.

    • @Shapeshiftergreen
      @Shapeshiftergreen หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      I'm surprised DukeofWhales hasn't made a patreon, this the kind of channel and deep analysis I'd love to support.

  • @skullbuster1220
    @skullbuster1220 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +151

    I’m only 45 mins in, but I want to say I’m glad a channel like yours exists, most long form video game critiques usually only take surface level looks at narratives, even when praising them, so to focus on so deep on everything narrative, especially for a video game isn’t very common, it’s appreciated and it adds extra appreciation to the games you cover

  • @jaredsimpson4701
    @jaredsimpson4701 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +84

    My god, why tf don't you have more subs? This content is insane. Almost SIX HOURS? You're the absolute maddest of lads, I look forward to 10 years in the future when we get a 30 hour long video on Baldur's Gate 3.

    • @sentientmeat96
      @sentientmeat96 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I'll be there, comrade

  • @pkmn6620
    @pkmn6620 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +92

    While this is new, I want to thank you for taking the time, care, and dedication to make a video on this game of this length. Showing love for these older games shows me and the community that the love for these games is still there, and still shared by the community. These games can and will be discussed on any and every level and it will never be enough to sum up all of the feelings shared by the collective community.
    These games are actually timeless. They will live forever. How blessed are we? To share our stories across generations.

  • @hunterfox6176
    @hunterfox6176 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

    FIVE. MONTHS. You vanish for five months, no word of any return and with so much left unsaid. I myself begun to fear you had died. And you return with *THIS?*
    My friend, this was well worth the wait, and well worth the time it took to watch. Welcome back!

  • @MrKakibuy
    @MrKakibuy หลายเดือนก่อน +33

    the crappy flute noises really enhance the overall quality of the video

  • @MrKakibuy
    @MrKakibuy หลายเดือนก่อน +17

    I always thought assassins creed is fundamentally a story about existentialism versus external morality. I interpret the "nothing is true, everything is permitted" line as the idea of "existence precedes essence". With the idea is that if nothing is true (existence precedes essence), then humanity is free to define its own essence (everything is permitted).

  • @ilsartobaldassarre
    @ilsartobaldassarre 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +29

    I think Giovanni wanted to prosecute Francesco de' Pazzi for "scandal value". Directly killing him would have meant just one more templar out of the picture, but condemning him would have discredited all of his familiy and all his collaborators; striking a more significant blow to the templar order. It was not uncommon for powerful man to sue a member of a rival family, especially in the city-states of ancient Greece and of reinassance Italy.
    Anyway, so far, I've loved this video. Much love form Italy.

    • @soggybogwitch
      @soggybogwitch หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      Yeah, it makes a lot of sense for the Assassins to evolve like this, because the nature of political power was evolving.
      For Altair to run around literally assassinating powerful figures makes a lot of sense in the context of a war zone. These men's power is a martial one. But for Giovanni, his enemies power lies in the realms of politics and social life. Killing them raises eyebrows and suspicion, but if you "assassinate" their character, show conclusively that they're untrustworthy, their power collapses

  • @tactictoe
    @tactictoe หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    You know a video is good when you happily sit through every advert due to wanting that creator to have all of the revenue possible.

  • @cthulhufollower9329
    @cthulhufollower9329 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +43

    I can't wait to watch almost 6 hours video about a game i've only seen walkthroughs of.

  • @ragnarth_781
    @ragnarth_781 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    When I was younger, the first game I bought for the PS3 was AC1 (because I liked the cover lol), and I simply fell in love with the concept-the freedom of movement, the implied philosophy, the sci-fi aspect, and all the mystery.
    But when I got to AC2, I felt something was missing. It was prettier, bigger, lighter, but where had the ambiguity, the philosophy, and even the investigations that made the assassinations feel earned gone? The targets looked and acted like inherently bad guys most of the time. I love Ezio's charisma and journey as much as the next person, but the revenge story felt a bit short for me. The things I liked the most were the little pieces of lore scattered around the world.
    I must be one of the few who prefers Altair's arc overall, not because it's better or more enjoyable, but because it's bold, provocative and unique. The problem isn't Ezio himself, but that his journey became the template for subsequent entries, to the point that revenge became a regular theme in Assassin's Creed. Ezio's family somehow became the theme of the franchise in overused remixes.
    When Unity last tried (and failed) to bring some ambiguity to the characters, this "formula" was abandoned in favor of a much more generic RPG style that undermines a focused narrative. Origins was again a revenge-for-family plot, with little to no introspection from the protagonist, and somehow this was meant to instigate the birth of the Brotherhood. After that, there were almost no themes related to the Assassins, their creed, or beliefs. Instead, we are playing through Isu mythology and ending important modern-day plots in comics.
    It's sad that AC1's potential was rarely revisited in future entries, and somehow it became the ugly duckling of the series.

  • @Splitboltxful
    @Splitboltxful 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    LETS FUCKING GOOOOO
    I just rewatched the first one last week and was definitely hoping more was to come. love ya duke

  • @Kantorath
    @Kantorath 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

    I was thinking about replaying the early AC games, so now I have the conundrum of replying the games and reexperiancing the story that I haven't seen in over a decade, or watching this awesome video and loosing a lot the point of replaying them. So thank you for making this awesome video, but curse you for making this awesome video!

  • @deltatkg5380
    @deltatkg5380 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    I've been waiting a long time for this one. Loved the first assassin's creed video - I think so few people take these games seriously as a narrative or art. There's genuinely some interesting stuff in there and I'm glad there's someone out there going through the series to pick that stuff out.

    • @Echantediamond1
      @Echantediamond1 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If you want more of stuff like this, Whitelight is an amazing creator who takes very deep dives and critiques at AC games and other popular franchises and titles

  • @DespereauxHarvey
    @DespereauxHarvey 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    Three days ago I was remembering your comment during your AC1 hinting at making more and wondered when those were coming. Thankyou for this. Well done

  • @damz98
    @damz98 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

    Been waiting for your next video and finally here. 💪🏻
    Loved the Skyrim Dawnguard essay and would really like to see one of the Dragonborn dlc.

  • @DarkDaneAJ-Jamaa
    @DarkDaneAJ-Jamaa หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    Only an hour and 25 minutes in, but dude, you’re nailing it on the head for my thoughts about this game. I literally clipped the moment where Ezio is just repeating “I don’t know” to his family’s questions. Such a gem. Also, concerning Vieri: I feel no one has taken such a sympathetic view of his character as you have. People in general fail to see the deeper dimensions of his character, and I’ve always seen him as a, as you put it, “dark mirror” to Ezio’s character; he wasn’t some inherently evil monster, but a kid, just like Ezio, set on a different path due to factors outside of his control. I also wish that AC2 touched more on the religious philosophy that was so heavily present in AC1, with the Renaissance being the perfect time period in which to do this. In short, you’re taking the words out of my mouth. Great video and I’ll probably come back when I’m done just to lay more praise on you.

  • @dmcv99
    @dmcv99 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    Finding your channel and watching your vids recently has been an absolute delight. You clearly put a lot of time and effort into your research and analysis of the games you decide to cover, and it shows! Lookin forward to more stuff in the future!

  • @Headbanger203
    @Headbanger203 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    Casually drops a near 6 hour video about one of my favorite games? My man, keep it coming.

  • @BrotherLeandros
    @BrotherLeandros 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +18

    My afternoon is cooked

  • @_kalia
    @_kalia หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Gods, I love these narrative analysis videos. The AC1 video was great but I really saw what makes your videos shine in the Gollum one; the amount of consideration and insight you put into it makes these videos such enjoyable and thought-provoking watches.
    My memory of AC2 is very rusty, but I'm sure I wouldn't have considered half of these details without this analysis.

  • @Cirelion
    @Cirelion 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    Okay I rarely comment but I have to disagree with your point about its-a-me Mario! It happens right after the tension dies down and it positively killed me laughing. Mario has a ton of development later on, so this one joke is honestly 100% worth it and it would be a lesser game without it. The fact that you personally don't like a joke doesn't make it "not worth it".
    Assuming that "nobody would laugh at this" is ridiculous when this one moment is iconic and well known and loved. Otherwise great video!

    • @SolidStateSimulations
      @SolidStateSimulations 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Yeah. I think Duke's complaint might be because the line is very obviously a video game reference so it might be immersion breaking in a story that up to that point was taking itself seriously and so it leans a bit too hard on being a sudden shock moment where you notice the writer's presence, but it's not aggravating to the point of saying that it's completely unfunny. Maybe with a small tweak it could've worked so that everyone could be happy, but it's fine as-is in my opinion too.
      One thing I think Duke has not realized yet is the many parallels Assassin's Creed starts having to Metal Gear Solid ever since this installment, where I think Ubisoft have been more and more influenced by MGS' directing and writing, but tweaking it so to be more appealing to a western demographic by focusing on other kinds of humor. Everything from the way you have an entire cast of different and specialized secondary characters to a story that has an entire passage of time and some rather eccentric side characters plus the game design itself seem very inspired from Metal Gear. Heck, Brotherhood literally has VR missions and the overall design of the stealth gameplay prioritizes speed and concealment more than patience and caution like Splinter Cell and Thief. Metal Gear and Assassin's Creed from that point is all about running towards enemies and stabbing them in the face or hiding in plain sight in order to approach them directly in a stealthy way instead of sneaking slowly around them. This is a design philosophy that's seldom seen in stealth games.
      My point with this long ass paragraph is that the "it's-a-me, Mario!" line is the first indication that Assassin's Creed was undergoing a Metal Gear solidification (heh) that, to be honest, I'm mostly fine with. Really the only issue of AC2 is the lack of overall character depth in comparison to the first game because of the truncated narrative that purposefully wants to be more like a traditional action movie instead of a slow thriller film. What is ironic about my statement is that this aspect of the franchise was dropped ever since AC3 released, which ditched most of the Metal Gear influences in favor of trying to go back to being a bit more like the first game, but I feel like there were some missteps and Ubisoft kinda missed the point here or there and didn't actually learn any of the right lessons that could be learned from the Ezio trilogy, both the things it succeeds at and the things it's flawed at that could have been improved upon. Oh well.

  • @oklywright8886
    @oklywright8886 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I rarely hit the “like” button on TH-cam. But you absolutely deserve it. You 100% deserve a million + subs, & I have no doubt given a little more time & a few more videos you’ll get there. Your voice, speech, analysis & quality are all already on the level of a MASSIVE channel. Keep going man, whatever goals you have I’m certain you’re gonna smash them.

  • @ji_yink
    @ji_yink 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    this is the first video of yours i've found and i have to say, the quality of your writing here is so truly outstanding. excellent critique, im rooting for this channel !

  • @cloud_and_proud
    @cloud_and_proud 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Omg the Chris Carter effect? I've been aware of this concept and thought about it for a long time but had no idea it had a name until now. Thank you!

  • @waswer6901
    @waswer6901 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    So glad youtube reconmended me your channel right after you posted your first video. Love the content, absolutley top tier stuff to play in the background whilst I'm doing other things, keep up the good work my guy

  • @brocksmith3403
    @brocksmith3403 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I’ve been a fan for a while, and I’d like to say that these videos are so well crafted and thoughtful. Good video game story analysis is so hard to find, and it’s great to see people having in depth discussions about a genre of storytelling many have dismissed

  • @user-fl5wn8ze1u
    @user-fl5wn8ze1u 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    That's why I love your videos. You give so much of context for a simple phrase "Typical of Sixtus" that it's really interesting to watch.

  • @tanaypandit7262
    @tanaypandit7262 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This video is really underrated and so is this channel. Ive never seen such a comprehensive analysis of AC2, amazing work. I hope you make an AC brotherhood video like this one!

  • @matneptune
    @matneptune 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    In this house, we pretend Ubisoft didn't make Lucy a templar.

  • @boiimcfacto2364
    @boiimcfacto2364 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Dude you are INSANE - your content is amazing, I've been binge watching your videos all week and now this? Incredible, hope you get the boost in popularity you deserve 🔥

  • @thisisaformality
    @thisisaformality หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    I audibly shouted "LETS GO!" when I saw this video was up, and I'm not kidding. I love your essays man and I cant wait for the next one!!!

  • @assassino1480
    @assassino1480 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    This level of quality is so, SO good. I absolutely adore how much you examine the real history that inspired the events and figures in this game.

  • @teotsukka
    @teotsukka 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

    Been waiting for this one.

  • @helpimdming3910
    @helpimdming3910 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Loving your content! keep diving into, critiquing, and analyzing my guy! You make some of the best video essays on the site

  • @spenser5001
    @spenser5001 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I consume a lot of long form content but this video really sticks out as an extraordinarily well put together video essay. incredibly digestible. cannot wait to see you tackle brotherhood!

  • @noa8316
    @noa8316 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I really appreciate you taking the time to give your informed thoughts on this story. The assassin's creed games mean a lot me (especially the Desmond games) and I really get a lot out of your videos and analyses to bolster the depth of my connection to these stories. I especially liked your video comparing Beowulf to the story of Skyrim.

  • @MetalOtter33
    @MetalOtter33 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I watched the AC1 video and 2 hours of this while I built a Lego project before settling in to watch the rest with my full attention and I really enjoyed your talks about the actual real life history and other more mythological/religious additions since when I played 1 and the Ezio trilogy originally I was a young kid who didn't fully grasp the full context for things besides 'traveling through history is fun' and having not replayed them in full since then, it was really interesting to hear all those added bits of context to the large whole.
    Totally earned my sub from these two videos and I will watch the rest of your work in due time!

  • @DarkDevastat0r
    @DarkDevastat0r หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    For real, this is amazing and exactly what ticks all my boxes. Thanks for putting this together, and I look forward to seeing you tackle the rest of the series.

  • @Chalupa_Troopa
    @Chalupa_Troopa 5 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Been a huge fan of these AC videos so far. I love this mess of a series so seeing genuine analysis of it all that treats it seriously is wonderful stuff! Keep it up and I can’t wait to see more if you do any more on the series!

  • @chrpr2814
    @chrpr2814 5 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Absolutely adored every second of this. Fantastic work and effort and incredibly thought provoking. Really made me want to replay with your analysis in mind. Excited for your next video!

  • @gift-shop
    @gift-shop 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Your video on the first game is one of my all time favourite video essays, can't wait to dive into this one!!

  • @skyfallshome8169
    @skyfallshome8169 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I appreciate your essays so much. You speak very eloquently and bring up wonderful points. I know your channel isn't as big as it could be but for me it's a real treasure and if your work has no fans I am dead ❤

  • @Dave-sw3fq
    @Dave-sw3fq 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Awesome work, loved your AC1 video, really good analysis and not just recapping of plot. Can't wait to dig into this one.

  • @nathenwheeler8638
    @nathenwheeler8638 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Well this was a very fun bit to watch/listen to during my workweek. You've allowed me to revisit the nostalgia, and enjoy the deeper narratives that the writers were trying so desperately to squeeze in to the production schedule in a very casual and often times cheeky way! Thanks!

  • @ubername51
    @ubername51 28 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    I watched all six hours of this video and I loved every minute. I hope you keep up your videos because they get me through my 10 hour shifts and the way you articulate your thoughts and analyze various sections of this game REALLY made me want to play them again!

  • @guffly
    @guffly 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    This is actually insane. I’ve been missing your content since the fire watch and gollum episodes and was wondering if you left us, so glad you didn’t!

  • @user-cn5vu6zm4j
    @user-cn5vu6zm4j 29 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Just found your channel and wanted to say your videos are superb! Please continue with the Assassin's Creed series! Your analysis has shown me so much nuance and understanding that I never picked up on when playing these games as a kid.

  • @beepbop211
    @beepbop211 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    So happy to have another video to watch from you. Really like longer videos too

  • @Leeeeeeeeeem
    @Leeeeeeeeeem หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    One of the best channels working right now! Love your videos man, keep it up!

  • @anumidium6641
    @anumidium6641 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Another wonderfully thoughtful narrative analysis, your channel is a real gem!!

  • @redblobdude
    @redblobdude หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Dude. Holy shit. I stumbled on your channel when I found your Firewatch video and loved it. I’ve since watched all your other vids save for the first one on Oblivion since I’ve never played it. Now, I remember your channel and come to check if you have any new videos just to find a 6 hr long vid on one of my favorite games of all time. Keep doing what you’re doing man. Idc what the numbers say, this shit is gold.

  • @ehman1492
    @ehman1492 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Really excited to see you covering these games. I played assassin's creed 2 so many times as a kid and was so excited to see Desmond and Ezio's story progress in brotherhood and revelations (played assassin's creed 1 afterwards and 3 on release). Unfortunately, some circumstances led to me stopping part way through blackflag, and after all of the quality issues with newer games I never really picked the series back up or had a chance to dive deep into all the lore and narratives. Your analysis is so thoughtful and I can tell you also hold a special place in your heart for them as well as the historical background they draw from. Perfect excuse to get back into the series, can't wait for the next one!

  • @ExplorerElderStar
    @ExplorerElderStar หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I recommend your stuff to everyone I know. To date, you have some of the most succinct narrative critiques I've ever heard.

  • @tairenk.3996
    @tairenk.3996 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Man, you're touching on what I've always felt about the first one-third of AC2's story. It's amazing. Then afterwards, it just falls apart.

  • @argirismichalostamos6191
    @argirismichalostamos6191 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Dude, I would like just to say that for the past year I started to enjoy way too much this type of videos on TH-cam. I love crawling to bed at night and watching a 30-minute or longer video for a game I used to play. Obviously, on this occasion, I had to break it into several parts which took me more than a week but I see this as a bonus. Whether it is an analysis of the content, a comparison, a praise, or a hate, it is always welcome whether I agree or not. I like it so much that some people have taken the time to build their statements as this was an essay. I really had fun watching your video to the very end. Make more whenever you can for other games as well!

  • @lije_b2015
    @lije_b2015 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for that video, great work, I'm glad that you took into this series, really brings memories about the game into perspective. Especially grateful for historical insights and cited sources, really shows how awesome of a work you did there+cool recommendations

  • @ValentineAyala-Martinez
    @ValentineAyala-Martinez 14 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    This was incredible. I appreciate the time and effort it took to make this possible. Please take your time, enjoy the process as much as you can, and reward yourself for taking the risk of exposing aspects of your work to possible scrutiny. It takes courage to post anything online. To post something which took a lot of time and effort to craft is very commendable. I hope you appreciate how far you've progressed. It's healthy to take a step back and see that distance ventured :)

  • @1senhart
    @1senhart หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I'm only halfway through and I'm living for this. I wish we had more thorough and varied analysis of games like this. You're doing the Lord's work, my friend.

  • @darkflame1182
    @darkflame1182 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Just got recommend your videos by TH-cam, Hoping I see more from your channel and that you continue to cover Assassin's Creed serious. I enjoyed this video alot you got some great stuff going here

  • @wolfgirl535
    @wolfgirl535 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I went to your channel page to look through the rest of your videos, and saw your comment about "second monitor" content, as I am watching this on my second monitor while working. I felt very seen by this. Good stuff, carry on.

  • @koLdZ1
    @koLdZ1 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for the effort you took in creating this beautiful video, it worked wonders as listening material while grinding AC games

  • @HoratioAccel
    @HoratioAccel 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Yooo i just started playing through the ac series from the start and i loved your ac1 video after i finished the game myself. This vid is just in time

  • @baggie2911
    @baggie2911 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    Jesus dude I i was gonna go to sleep but OK I'll stay up another 5 hours

  • @Pawncheetoes
    @Pawncheetoes หลายเดือนก่อน

    This video was great! I especially loved the historical/mythological insights that you provided. Hope you have a great day! ♥♥♥

  • @TheRemco98
    @TheRemco98 หลายเดือนก่อน

    It has taken me multiple days to watch this video and I'm so glad I watched it all the way until the end. Your analysis of one of my favourite games of all time is very interesting and although I don't agree with all of your points, I enjoyed hearing your take on tis story all the same. I very much appreciate that you take your time to thoroughly analise and explain what happens and how it impacts the story and themes the game is trying to tell. You've definitely earned a new sub!

  • @BeebletheBee
    @BeebletheBee 29 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I've never been a big AC fan and it took me a month to get through this video in many small sittings, but let me say that your breakdown was very thorough and thoughtful and I greatly enjoyed it

  • @Deliverywitch
    @Deliverywitch หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Doing your voice overs in a blanket fort while drinking tea sounds absolutely lovely

  • @hunterandersen4172
    @hunterandersen4172 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Keep making these narrative critiques! I love them I’ve seen all your videos already and when I first stumbled on your channel I didn’t realize it was so new, I thought this guy does a good job he has to have tons of other games covered. And you don’t! I love the assassins creed games and im looking forward to hearing everything you have to say for all them.

  • @nicholascherneski
    @nicholascherneski หลายเดือนก่อน

    I love these videos analyzing games and their themes and stories. I ate up the Dawnguard video and I've been hooked on Duke's content ever since

  • @SlimSpartan
    @SlimSpartan หลายเดือนก่อน

    I never watch videos this long but your points, editing and everything you added made it a great couple hours to kill. Great vid!

  • @amadeus2938
    @amadeus2938 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Makes me happy to see a dedicated video about AC2, my fav AC game. Well done!

  • @sgtkumpel
    @sgtkumpel หลายเดือนก่อน

    First off, huge respect for the insane amount of work that you put into this video.
    At first I wanted to just listen to it and/or have it in the background or on the second monitor but the editing and visuals support the voiceover so well that I decided to watch the entire thing instead.
    There is a lot of video, so obviously there is lots to talk about which I might do another time but for now I'd just like to mention that I appreciate the addtional research that you put in to have a better picture of the real historical people, politics and events and sprinkling them into this analysis really elevates these scenes.
    I also like that you do not hide your opinion about stuff that doesn't make sense and don't talk around retcons but just call them what they are. It's refreshing and gives a lot of character to your work and even though I might have some differing opinions, I see where you're coming from. I also like the idea in general to critique the narrative and not the game itself, as you said the game is fun but the story judged separately mostly doesn't hold up.
    Two things I'd like to address, especially since you had the part about you mispronouncing various terms in the video.
    One of which is basically irrelevant but the other one bothered me and I'd rather mention it than stay silently annoyed.
    1. The word is "asterisk" not "asteriks".
    2. Not sure why you pronounce "Altair" the way you do but the name is supposed to be pronounced "Alta-eer", not "Alta-air", "Alta-ehr", "Alta-yehr" or other variations that one can come up with.
    I'm not sure if you are aware of this because your pronounciation is inconsistent throughout the video with 5:15:43 being especially bad and 5:43:44 being fine.
    If you decide to not change it or if it's so ingrained already that you have a hard time changing it, that's fine but now I will at least not be bothered by myself not bringing it up when I had the chance.
    Looking forward to the Dragonborn DLC and future AC titles and depending on how long the Oxenfree video will be, also to that one.
    Cheers

  • @Mr.Room1
    @Mr.Room1 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Really love your stuff, and I have been anticipating this video ever since the AC 1 video. I hope you continue to make this series, as Brotherhood is a game I didn’t really enjoy and I’m curious to see your narrative exploration of it!

  • @haydenw7981
    @haydenw7981 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    five hour duke of wales vid dropped!!! Oh buddy we sleepin good tonight

  • @amefuyuu4983
    @amefuyuu4983 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’m not that far into this video analysis yet but I just wanted to thank you so much for making this! so far you’ve made amazing points and I really appreciate your dedication to dissecting and actually critiquing the story and game for what it is. Amazing work!!!

  • @SANTAtheGREY
    @SANTAtheGREY 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    oh boy I've been waiting for this, and now it's 6 hours long, a dream come true 😍
    Thank you so much for putting in so much effort!

  • @dreamergirl4vr
    @dreamergirl4vr 23 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    Hey man - I jave just watched both of your AC videos in full. I cannot commend your work ethic/quality enough. Instant rewatches and sub!!

  • @BrokaCola
    @BrokaCola 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Yeeeeah dude! I'm gonna seriously listen to this a couple times, then fall asleep to it for years. Thanks man!

  • @Thayra
    @Thayra หลายเดือนก่อน

    What a gift! I love your videos man. Can't wait to watch the rest of this.

  • @rurounijay7100
    @rurounijay7100 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is an amazing analysis. I actually love the way you dont shy away from any topic, and you think far deeply about most things and every detail a majority of players would completely overlook, forget, or never even notice to begin with. Youre not judgemental, rather explorative and curious. You spent like 40 minutes discussing sex and religion in such a thorough and open minded fashion, and i really appreciate that kind of healthy open ended discussion. You definitely deserve more subs because you took so much time to do a proper deep dive on everything in the story. I love this kind of content, and its super refreshing to see others who actually think deeper about things and question everything. After all to question everything is part of the real assassin creed.
    (Also, i dont think the dlc is bad at all, its just the placement. Each part of the dlc should have been installed into a completely different part of the game.)
    (Also also im happy you called out machiavelli, hes one of the most intriguing, compelling and contoversial historical figures of all time, to see him
    Reduced to a figure head who does essentially nothing other than save ezio at the villa and somehow name him Íl mentore, he should have been such an interesting addition,with his radical political views and philosophical views on people and rule)

  • @rosesilver4773
    @rosesilver4773 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Wow was just thinking about how I hoped you'd post again soon and the video you posted is about the video game I'm finishing up writing a ten page paper about. Thanks!

  • @Agon1stt
    @Agon1stt 25 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You're a legend to come up with a 6 hour very based analysis of AC2, so underrated my dude i hope you get the subs and recognition you deserve, awesome video

  • @ikaemos
    @ikaemos 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    3:21:30 If it helps assuage your horribly guilty conscience, the English dialogue isn't any more consistent than you with its pronunciations. I kind of like it, though. The script definitely made some _choices,_ being full of historical jargon, randomly waffling between languages, giving you double subtitles, etc. It all muddies the translation in a way where it isn't seamless - you're always noticing it... Much like a New York bartender would.
    On the other hand, the Italian dub is in (ahistorical) modern standard Italian. It's a shame; Florentine and Venetian are still extant, very distinctive, and mutually intelligible enough to not be foreign to the average Italian speaker. It's a good dub, but it removes that friction (and its accompanying texture) that's always present in the English VO.

  • @Gaming123ish
    @Gaming123ish 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +17

    I’m gonna have to lock in for this

  • @lil_vault_boy
    @lil_vault_boy หลายเดือนก่อน

    I cannot wait for future videos on the AC series, regardless take your time making videos you enjoy. They're always a worthwhile watch

  • @landerino_ross
    @landerino_ross 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I've been hoping for a new video soon, now I have something to relax to after work

  • @deeayenn
    @deeayenn หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Excellent work. My thanks for covering a game I thoroughly enjoyed but have limited time to likely play again.
    Bonus points for the Mitchell & Webb at the end..

  • @kedein20
    @kedein20 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Finally finished your video after 5 days and it's once again fantastic, congrats to you👌🏽 I especially like the little jokes you throw in there for comedic relief but it's not too often to ruin your flow or the vibe really. Besides that I really enjoy the trivia's you include in the video about historical figures and events. Really looking forward to your next videos and what you have to say about the two other titles of the Ezio Trilogy.
    Plus I'd really like to see a video from you about Mafia 3 because man this games story is so great but people didn't like it back in the day because of it's repetitive gameplay. This story never got the appreciation it deserved so it'd be perfect for a narrative critique.
    Anyways keep up the good work dude👍🏽

  • @absolutelyanxious3039
    @absolutelyanxious3039 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You’re one of the only creators I’ve found on this website that can scratch that Noah Gervais itch, and honestly I can’t think of any praise higher than that. Keep it up!

  • @jacobscully4707
    @jacobscully4707 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thoroughly enjoy your videos. Looking forward to the next one!

  • @aZeddPrattFilm
    @aZeddPrattFilm หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you so much for your work. You've done what I've thought of doing, but have done so so seemingly easily. Would love to hear about the behind the scenes of how you approached this undertaking.

  • @sylph4252
    @sylph4252 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This video is a third of your channel's runtime, wth? Very impressive, will watch over a couple days