While both titles ended on something of a cliff hanger, Assassin’s Creed II shipped missing a couple of sequences. Predictably, these sequences ended up as downloadable content. Whether or not there is any truth to the claims that the sequences had to be left out in order for the game to have shipped on time, we’ll leave that for you to decide. Both sequences are now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store.
If you have already completed the game, players are greeted with a short introduction explaining that the previously broken sequences are now available and you’re slipped straight into Sequence 12. For those who haven’t finished the game yet, it’s likely that you’ll come across these upon completion of Sequence 11, just to keep things in order. For whatever reason, neither sequence comes with any new achievements or trophies.
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Downloadable content ratings system
We've given a 'buy' rating of 'Yes', 'Maybe', or 'No'.
Yes means that the content is either great value or brings some substantial additions to the game, or possibly both.
Maybe means that the content may be fun while it lasts, but may either be too short or not enough to fully justify the price tag.
No means that we don't recommend downloading this insubstantial content.
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Sequence 12: Battle of Forli
Price: 320 Microsoft Points/$6.45
In terms of story, both downloadable sequences for Assassin’s Creed II essentially fill in the blanks and have you working with people that you encountered previously. In terms of gameplay, Battle of Forli feels like a warm-up for the finale in sequence 13. It doesn’t bring anything explicitly new, but at the same time, fills in the gaps adequately.
Players will reacquaint themselves with Caterina Sforza of Romagna, the fine lady who repaid the help you gave by getting you to Venice, as well as the Machiavelli. Having acquired the Apple, you’re sent to Romagna to leave it there for safe keeping. Unfortunately, ‘The Spaniard’ has other plans, as he sends the mercenary Orsi brothers to shake up Romagnan rule and re-capture the Apple. Of course, it’s up to Ezio to help stave off the battles, save Sforza’s children and take down both brothers.
There isn’t much subtlety in this sequence. The main tasks that you’ll have are protecting Sforza and the Machiavelli while getting places or slinking through the several street battles. Eventually, you have to take down the brothers in contrasting circumstances. The attack on the second brother is particularly eventful, if a little messy. Overall, the content is very heavy on combat over any form of stealth. In addition to this story arc, Da Vinci’s flying machine makes a return. Unfortunately, the addition is quite superfluous, as all you can do is aimlessly fly around. Mind you, kicking guards off rooftops can keep you going for a little bit.
Playing through the story that is available will take around one to two hours, depending on how quickly you want to plough through it. And, you can use the flying machine as many times as you like. However, it does little to advance or revitalise the game. Battle of Forli is only worth it for the die hard Assassin’s Creed II supporter keen on filling in the gaps, as the end of the sequence links directly to the beginning of the next one.
Worth buying? Maybe
Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities
Price: 320 Microsoft Points/$6.45
At the end of sequence 12, Ezio loses the Apple to a monk missing a finger. Sequence 13, Bonfire of the Vanities, has you waking up in Caterina Sforza’s fort, and has you first roaming the Romagna countryside to find out who this monk is. Upon learning that he’s the mad monk Girolamo Savonarola, you head to Florence, only to find it in disarray. Apparently, he’s got the whole city under the control of the Apple and not even ‘The Spaniard’ can get in. Going back to the roots of the original game, the whole sequence is based on historical events, where Savonarola has ordered the burning of all books, paintings and instruments considered to be the seeds of secular attitudes and moral decay.
However, Savonarola has only taken control of nine people important to the subsistence of Florence. These include the guard captain, a farmer, a trader, an artist, a doctor and several holy men. To fit all these guys in, the size of Florence has been extended by roughly one third. From there, the sequence plays out like a mini version of the overall game, minus all the exploratory fluff. Basically, you go out and assassinate nine guys. So coupled with the historical context, you’ve essentially got a streamlined version of the original game.
While it’s good that a lot of these guys require stealth for you to get to them, you fail if you’re spotted in some of them. This can be sometimes frustrating, particularly as it can boil down to trial-and-error, which is something that the main games managed to avoid. This is because the simplicities of the overall game are rather exposed through this, as well as the design of some of the game’s structures. The game is designed for speed and parkour proficiency, not the precise intricacies of traditional stealth. Aside from these nine varied assassinations, you have added spring jumps to the game. Again, this is a rather superfluous addition, as you won’t see or need to use them much, despite being rather amusing.
However, where Bonfire of the Vanities doesn’t really add as much to the story as the Battle of Forli, it makes up for providing nine of the most varied assassinations of the entire game. It’s reminiscent of the sequence 5 (The Conspirators), one of the high points of ACII, while the historical context makes it feel like a bite-sized and streamlined version of the original game. Taking up to 3 hours, this a hefty piece of content. Bonfire of the Vanities is for anyone looking to rekindle all their assassination skills.
A note of caution though, the content comes off as rushed, as there are major audio deficiencies and glitches, such as missed dialogue sentences and overall world silence. This is a real shame because the voice acting is actually very well implemented this time around.
Worth buying? Yes
Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities & Secret Locations
Price: 560 Microsoft Points/$11.45
Remember the Black Edition? It came with a code to unlock three extra ‘Secret Templar locations’, which were similar to the platforming highlights of Asssassin’s Creed II, the Assassin tombs. In addition to sequence 13, you can purchase a pack that contains the sequence, as well as these three extra locations: Pallazo Medici, Santa Maria del Frari and Arsenal Shipyard.
As mentioned, these three locations play much like the Assassin tombs and all three are sufficiently different from one another. These levels play like a revival of the Prince of Persia roots by being dedicated to showcasing your acrobatic abilities, with a few light puzzles and chases along the way. Unfortunately, these locations are something of an afterthought, as only the Santa Maria del Frari comes close to recreating the exhilaration of the Assassin tombs. Also, if you’ve finished the game, the monetary rewards don’t mean anything to you.
There are three levels of interest in this DLC. Those who purchased the Black Edition of Assassin’s Creed II have already played these levels and have no reason to repurchase them. If you purchased the White Edition, you’ve already got the best one, so you’re not missing much from the Pallazo Medici or Arsenal Shipyard. However, anyone with the standard edition and an itch for some acrobatic action will get a lot from just a small increase in the cost outlay.
Worth buying? Maybe
At the end of the day though, if you are going to take the plunge it’s best that you go through both sequences chronologically and as intended. Playing just one or the other isn’t going to leave you satisfied. However, if you’re an avid Assassin’s Creed fan who is keen on completing the story or missed out on the Black Edition, you’ve got some sufficiently sized content that fills in the story well for a fairly inexpensive price of entry. The rest won’t find much value, though.
. It's actually pretty good, and if the console version is as good, with more modes, it will be awesome! You basically look like a civilian, and have to assassinate the other people, so look for suspicious activity etc. Really goo game of cat and mouse.
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