I'm hugely enjoying AssBro so far. There's so much to see, do and stab that I haven't the foggiest how far in I am but I'm having a hoot. Yes, it's essentially a better version of Assassin's Creed 2 but it doesn't feel like a rehash. The new city, combat tweaks, mission variety and optional side objectives make it all sparkly and lemony-fresh. I'd recommend playing in Italian with English subtitles too, for that authentic Romagna flavour. Though mounted combat can shove right off.

I'm especially glad that only the silly and needless sci-fi layer has been featured so far, while the absurd and terrible sci-fi element introduced in Assassin's Creed 2 has yet to surface. I'm sure it will but this time, I'll be waiting with a team of trained face-stabbers.