Gorgeous game (as usual), great historical references, but too much button mashing and non-intuitive combat issues
However, I still can't stand all the button mashing, and the fact that when combat starts, Ezio can't lead with a defensive manoeuver (counter strike). He has to swing first to get the action going. In fact, the first few seconds of AI initiated combat are always frustrating and non-intuitive. Anytime AI enemies attack or initiate combat, Ezio should be programmed to adopt a weapon drawn, defensive stance, ready to block or strike. He's the best assassin on the planet for God's sake, why make the gamer hit the square button (which has no immediate tactile response), stand there, get tagged three times, have to swing to trigger any sort of combat awareness, then shift into R1 + square mode while hitting the left directional key to replenish stupidly wasted health?
This game desperately, desperately needs a slow down mode like the VATS system in Bethesda's Fallout series. You should be able to focus, pick a sequence (maybe include targeting body parts), and execute the sequence. That's how a top notch assassin works, it's all about slowing down time and picking the spots. That completely does NOT exist with this game, and it's a problem. It's way too frantic, way too clumsy, way too unintuitive and having to stop and spin the weapon wheel six times during a sequence is f-in ridiculous.
Sidenote: I often wonder, like many other gamers, why this is called assassin's creed instead of fighter's creed, when there is very little "assassin" content in it. No stealth premium, no stalking bonuses, no precision elements, just brawling and chaos. So there's that to think about as well.
Another issue -- when I peg a Borgia captain with three dead-on crossbow shots and he "escapes" -- that is BS. Make it realistic, or don't bother making it. Leave it out of the game. Seriously.
It's still a worthy game and a great experience in many ways. But I really go out of my way to avoid combat with four or more enemies, not because it's difficult, but it just isn't fun. It's a chaotic mess of button mashing and trying to get Ezio to do what he should do, but can't without pausing the action six times, missing the right button by accident (easy to do, since there are like ten multi-button moves to choose from and only one or two work in any given situation), weapon wheel spinning, just a bunch of tedious crap that takes the fun out of it.
Final issue -- this game, like its predecessor is just too linear and controlling in story mode. Too many times you have to execute exact actions, in perfect sequence, step by step, instead of allowing the gamer to free form or approach the challenge in a sandbox manner. That's what keeps this series from being truly elite. It's clearly the lovechild of highly controlling developers who haven't gotten the memo that linear, step-by-step junk is out (same thing that killed the overrated God of War series), and sandbox challenges are in. And why not, given the beautiful open environnments this game presents?