Introduction
Beneath the shimmering surface of Venice’s famed canals, a hidden world of damp stone and echoing silence awaits in Assassin’s Creed 2. This isn’t the Venice of gondolas and grand palaces, but a forgotten network of cisterns – vast, underground reservoirs that played a vital role in the Renaissance city’s survival. Assassin’s Creed 2, a cornerstone of the critically acclaimed franchise, transports players to 15th-century Italy during the Renaissance, placing them in the role of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, an Assassin seeking revenge against those who betrayed his family. While the game is celebrated for its vibrant depiction of Renaissance life, the towering architecture, and thrilling combat, one aspect that often slips under the radar is the intricate network of cisterns scattered throughout its cities. These waterlogged tunnels, more than just incidental set pieces, are integral to the game’s design, narrative, and atmosphere. This article will dive deep into the cisterns of Assassin’s Creed 2, exploring their historical inspiration, gameplay mechanics, environmental storytelling, and the vital role they play in immersing players into the world of the Italian Renaissance.
A Glimpse into History: Cisterns in Renaissance Italy
To truly appreciate the cisterns of Assassin’s Creed 2, it’s important to understand their significance in Renaissance-era cities, particularly in Venice and Florence. Water, of course, was essential for life, and in cities without modern plumbing, collecting and storing it was a crucial task. Cisterns served as a vital part of this system, collecting rainwater and sometimes even water from wells to provide a reliable source of drinking water, sanitation, and firefighting.
Venice, built upon a lagoon, faced unique challenges. The city’s dependence on the sea meant that freshwater was precious. The Venetians constructed an ingenious system of public and private cisterns. Public cisterns, often found in the center of campi (squares), were communal wells fed by rainwater collected from the surrounding paving stones. These wells were carefully designed with filtration systems to ensure the water was safe to drink. Private cisterns, on the other hand, were often built beneath palaces and wealthy homes, providing a private water source for the family and their household.
The construction of these cisterns was a considerable engineering feat. They were typically lined with impermeable materials like clay or pozzolanic cement to prevent water from seeping into the ground. Maintaining these systems required constant upkeep, preventing contamination and ensuring a reliable water supply for the city’s inhabitants.
Beneath the Surface: Cistern Design in Assassin’s Creed 2
Assassin’s Creed 2 expertly captures the essence of these historical cisterns, incorporating them into the game’s levels and storylines. The game features cisterns in various locations, including Venice, Florence, and Monteriggioni, each with its own unique look and function. In Venice, the cisterns are often grand, cavernous spaces, reflecting the city’s wealth and engineering prowess. In Florence, they might be smaller, more utilitarian structures, reflecting the city’s more practical approach to water management.
The game’s artists have paid meticulous attention to detail in recreating the visual aesthetic of these spaces. The cisterns are dimly lit, often only illuminated by shafts of sunlight filtering down from above, or the flickering glow of torches. Water drips from the ceiling, creating a constant echo that amplifies the sense of isolation. The texture of the stonework, worn and stained by centuries of moisture, adds to the sense of realism.
However, the cisterns are not just pretty backdrops; they are integral to the game’s mechanics. Ezio uses them for a variety of purposes, from escaping guards to infiltrating enemy strongholds. The labyrinthine layout of the cisterns makes them ideal for stealth. Ezio can slip through the shadows, using the water to muffle his footsteps and avoiding detection.
The Dance of Shadows: Gameplay in the Cisterns
The cisterns also present unique parkour challenges. Ezio must leap across gaps, climb crumbling walls, and navigate submerged passages to reach his destination. The verticality of the spaces adds another layer of complexity to the parkour system, requiring players to think carefully about their movements.
Furthermore, the cisterns are often used for puzzle-solving. Ezio might need to activate mechanisms to drain water, open gates, or reveal hidden passages. These puzzles test the player’s observation skills and their understanding of the game’s mechanics. Encounters in these areas require a change in tactics. Narrow passages and limited visibility force players to be more strategic in their approach. Stealth becomes more critical, and quick reflexes are essential for dealing with unexpected ambushes.
The story also takes players underground. The cisterns often serve as escape routes for Ezio, or hidden hideouts for the Assassins. They might also lead to secret Templar locations, adding a sense of intrigue and danger to these subterranean spaces.
Memorable Depths: Key Cistern Experiences
One particularly memorable sequence involves infiltrating a heavily guarded Templar hideout located deep within the Venetian cisterns. The player must navigate a series of interconnected tunnels, using stealth and parkour to avoid detection. The level design is excellent, with multiple routes and hidden passages to discover. The tension is palpable, as one wrong move can alert the guards and trigger a deadly confrontation. The atmosphere is enhanced by the dim lighting, the sound of dripping water, and the distant cries of guards.
Another notable example is a mission in Florence where Ezio must use the cisterns to escape from the Pazzi conspiracy. This sequence highlights the versatility of the cisterns as an escape route, allowing Ezio to evade his pursuers and disappear into the city’s underbelly. The chase is thrilling, with Ezio dodging guards and leaping across obstacles in a desperate attempt to reach safety.
These examples illustrate how the cisterns are not simply background elements; they are active participants in the game’s narrative and gameplay.
Mastering the Depths: Exploration and Navigation
Navigating the cisterns in Assassin’s Creed 2 can be challenging, but rewarding. Paying attention to the in-game map is crucial for identifying cistern entrances, which are often marked with subtle symbols. Mastering the game’s parkour system is essential for navigating the complex layouts and verticality of the cisterns. Learning to wall-run, climb, and leap with precision is key to reaching hidden areas and avoiding obstacles.
Exploring the cisterns thoroughly can uncover hidden passages, collectibles, and even Easter eggs. Keep an eye out for suspicious-looking walls, loose stones, or other anomalies that might indicate a secret area. Also it is advisable to be careful when facing enemies in these areas. Stealth is the best way to avoid detection, but if combat is unavoidable, use the environment to your advantage. Create choke points, use the shadows to conceal yourself, and take advantage of the element of surprise.
The Murmurs of the Deep: Atmospheric Immersion
The success of the cisterns in Assassin’s Creed 2 stems from their ability to create a distinct and memorable atmosphere. The sound design plays a crucial role in this. The constant dripping of water, the echoes of footsteps, and the distant sounds of the city above all contribute to a sense of isolation and claustrophobia. The visual design is equally important. The dim lighting, the shadows that dance across the walls, and the reflections in the water all create a sense of mystery and danger.
The feeling of vulnerability is heightened by the fact that Ezio is often alone in these spaces. He is cut off from the familiar sights and sounds of the city, and must rely on his own skills and instincts to survive.
Conclusion
The cisterns of Assassin’s Creed 2 are more than just watery tunnels; they are a testament to the game’s rich detail and its ability to immerse players in a believable historical setting. They offer a unique gameplay experience, combining stealth, parkour, puzzle-solving, and combat. They add depth and complexity to the game’s narrative, providing escape routes, hidden hideouts, and secret Templar locations.
While cistern-like environments have appeared in later Assassin’s Creed games, the cisterns of Assassin’s Creed 2 remain a benchmark for their design, atmosphere, and integration into the game’s world. They exemplify how environmental storytelling can enrich the player experience and create a sense of place. They are a reminder that even the most seemingly mundane elements of a game world can contribute to its overall impact. They invite players to venture into the shadows, to explore the hidden depths, and to discover the secrets that lie beneath the shimmering surface of Renaissance Italy.
