'Assassin's Creed 2' DLC: 'Battle of Forli' Review

With the first piece of "Assassin's Creed 2" DLC, Ubisoft Montreal addressed the biggest issue surrounding the game: How Ezio got his beard between Sequences 11 and 14. But is it worth the florins (read: $4) to find out? Let's see.

The Basics

"Sequence 12: Battle of Forlí" is a continuation of the "Assassin's Creed 2" narrative, kicking off after Sequence 11 left you wondering. The DLC is divided into six fast-fire Memories, each featuring a familiar challenge: a "beat the timer" rescue effort, an "escort" bit, a defensive "protect" battle, two assassinations, and a "capture the thief"-style endeavor.

Don't expect much from the DLC. "Sequence 12" doesn't re-orient, refine, or bother building on what is offered in "Assassin's Creed 2." It is what it is -- a missing link in the "Assassin's Creed 2" Sequence chain.

The Highs

Now with more stabbing action
It's a good thing Ezio doesn't pay to have the blood removed from his clothes. Dude would be broke by the end of "Sequence 12: Battle of Forlí." The content kicks off with a frantic escort mission inside the city, which is thick with armed soldiers and peasants that fancy being fodder for steel. The next Memory keeps pace, as it has you brutalizing even more guards inside the tight confines of a citadel.

Combat is something "Assassin's Creed 2" does well, and it's satisfying to put a few slugs, daggers, and various other weapons into soldier tummies again -- especially after such an extended break from the game.

More "Assassin's Creed 2"
On a similar note, it's nice to dive back into "Assassin's Creed 2" in general -- to receive new Memories, get a closer look at Machiavelli, and explore a part of the story that was cut. A lot of games have hit since November, and you may have forgotten what made this one so special. I did.

The Birth Of The Beard
One second Ezio learns Machiavelli is a member of the Assassins posse, the next he's a bearded warrior charging into the Sistine Chapel. It turns out that Ezio didn't earn his facial hair while on an emotional drunken bender; he got it during "Sequence 12."

The Lows

Pretty Short
"Sequence 12: Battle of the Forlí" can be completed in an hour or so.

Wait, Another Gap?
Sequence 12 and Sequence 13 are a crater in "Assassin's Creed 2," so it's rather odd that part of this effort to bridge the game's core content has yet another gap. There's a definite span of time not accounted for within this DLC's conclusion.

Jarring Intro
I conquered "Assassin's Creed 2" in November, and my knowledge of plot elements stayed in that cold month. The small text box that pops up at the start of "Sequence 12: Battle of Forlí" failed to unlock those memories, so I found myself hitting Internet wikis in an attempt to learn what Ezio was doing.

Final Word

This isn't a slab of rich content that builds on mechanics or features play outside of what is familiar in "Assassin's Creed 2." Nor does it bother to explain its existence. But I believe the majority of game owners will be happy with giving this a spin -- its pedal-to-the-metal pace, mixture of missions, and fresh story elements do fill in the Sequence gap better than I expected.

Tags assassin's creed, assassin's creed 2, ubisoft, ubisoft montreal