Why Aren't More Sequels Like Assassin's Creed II?

Sequels aren't good.  Sorry.  They're not.  Any time a sequel to a popular movie/game/book is announced, caution is always the best approach since usually a sequel, instead of focusing on the continuing stories of the characters, revolve more around spectacle and crowd-pleasing.  I point to Iron Man 2 as a good example of sequel-itis.  That or Pirates of the Carribean.  But sometimes, sequels not only continue the stories set up by the first installment logically, but also manage to go back and pave over flaws that hampered the original.  Assassin's Creed II is such a sequel.

Assassin's Creed was a game full of potential.  You play Altair, a member of a secret society of Assassins devoted to maintaining order in the world.  Basically, you bop around the Crusade-era Middle East and assassinate members of the Templar order, who are trying to bring the Holy Land under their control.  Fun idea, but very fatally flawed.  The gameplay was the main issue.  It was repetitive to the point of annoying: there are nine different assassination missions and all of them play out almost the exact same way: you go to some ancient city, punch a few witnesses until they give you information about your target, go to target, stab, and run away before you're killed by guards.  Fun the first time, but by the final time it's maddening.  In addition, Altair kind of sucked a little as a main character.  He's bland, doesn't have much personality, doesn't go through much growth, and basically just jumps around rooftops like a badass and not much else.  There's also a science-fiction subplot that's more annoying rather than intriguing, the way they were intending.

But the sequel went back and, if not fixed completely, tweaked the problems enough to make it almost an entirely different experience.  In the sequel, you play a noble named Ezio Auditore de Firenze in Renaissance-era Italy.  He is a descendant of Altair (don't ask me how that's possible) who, after his family is betrayed and executed by Templars, dons the Assassin's cape and hunts them all down in a fit of angsty vengeance.

This game should be the poster child of videogame sequels.  Remember that repetitive gameplay I told you about?  Almost non-existent in this game.  The game has a much more narrative-style flow, which means your missions can be escort missions, or tailing missions, or simply walking around exploring the sights.  You even get a chance to fly Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine halfway through the game.

Also, Ezio is everything Altair isn't.  Ezio has depth, and multiple levels to his character, something Altair heavily lacked.  Ezio starts out as a brash womanizer, and even when he starts his revenge, he still has a bit of fun-loving flair to him.  Even his angst is believable.  It's not annoying and not focused on, and his character arc as he slowly begins to accept his birthright as an Assassin is handled subtly and naturally.

I'm not done with this game: unfortunately, since school's started up again, I don't have any time to play.  But so far, I'd say it's the best game I've played this year; even though it came out last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPTAWHywY6E