In the latest developer diary video for Assassin's Creed II, Patrice and friends walk us through the game's dynamic and painful-looking combat system.

The developers here touch on one of my biggest gaming pet peeves in the video - enemies that don't react to being hit. If I hit someone with an axe, they are going to stagger, get wounded, and possibly die. At least I am assuming this, as I've yet to test that. I can't stand games where you swinging away at the enemy and they don't react until they suddenly fall down dead. I guess what I am trying to say is that I want to feel like I am actually beating someone to death.

Okay, that might have come out wrong.

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