But the fun does not stop there folks, as when you pre-order the collector's edition from Gamestop you will also receive not one, but two exclusive maps for the game. One of the maps is set in Palazzo de Medici and the other is set near the Venetian church in Santa Maria Dei Frari. That is not all you are going to get with the collector's edition. You will also be getting a 8.5” statue of Ezio, an art book, a behind-the-scene DVD, and a nice tin for you to hit people with.¹

My Take:

Is this worth your $80? Maybe if you are a hardcore Assassin Creed fan and you really liked the first installment. I do like the exclusive two maps that you are able to get with the collector's edition but everything else seems pretty standard now. Like having a statue, art book, and DVD or similar items. Sure its not as high tech as Modern Warfare 2 with the night-vision goggles² or the Batarang with Batman: Arkham Asylum. Sure they look good on a night stand or wall but you can't really use it or play it like you can with the two maps in Assassin Creed II?

Assassin Creed II is scheduled to be released on November 17^th, and I will be one of the many that will be getting this title on that day.

Update on August 5th, 2009:

Ubisoft has come out and say that Assassin Creed II is strictly a single-player game and more details on the two exclusive maps will be announced at GameCom