The lights are on
Only days after the game’s launch, there’s already talk about the potential DLC that might be headed to Assassin’s Creed II. Having played through the game a few times now, we’ve got some strong suspicions about what Ubisoft has in mind for downloadable content in the coming months. If you’re still playing through the game, you may want to avert your eyes for fear of some minor spoilers. Our assertion? The Assassin’s Creed II DLC will fill in the gaps in Ezio’s life, after his initiation into the Assassins, but before the final section of the game. There will be two major sections that may or may not release as a combined set in early 2010. The first “memory” will focus on Caterina Sforza and some of the dramatic events of her true historical life, and how Ezio becomes involved. The second will focus on Florence, and will open up a new section of the city.Our evidence? If you’re most of the way through the game, take a look at your DNA section in the Animus Desktop. There are missing memories for sequences 12 and 13. It’s during this section of the game that one of your handlers, Shaun, tells you that the memories of those years have been corrupted, and describes some things that happened during those years, including a story about Caterina Sforza, and some problems in Florence. In your achievement (or trophy) list for the game, there is currently no entry for completing sequences 12 and 13; it jumps from 11 to 14. Is it so hard to believe that at some point those memories could be deciphered, and opened up for play as downloadable content?
It’s also worth considering some notable in-game absences. In the retail game, Ezio spends about 20 minutes in the swamp-ridden area of Forli, before moving on to Venice. It seems like an awfully big area to not add more meaningful gameplay. Plus, there’s the issue of Caterina. In our original cover story on the game in May 2009, Caterina was mentioned as an important character:
Caterina Sforza, whose life was filled with true stories of betrayal and revenge, was one of the most fascinating women of the Renaissance. In one astounding event, she and her children were captured after the assassination of her husband. Escaping captivity, she fled to a nearby citadel and climbed to the wall’s battlements. There, threatened with the death of her children if she didn’t return, Caterina lifted her dress to all who could see what lay beneath, and shouted: “I have the instrument to bear more!” This event, and others in the woman’s wild life, will be included in the game. -Game Informer magazine, issue 193
This event is never depicted in Assassin’s Creed II. In the retail game, she is barely a side note, albeit a conspicuous one. Ezio rescues her from a tiny island where she’s been stranded, and she arranges for your passage to Venice. Afterwards, she hardly figures into the plot at all.
And then there’s Florence. Why does it appear that the entire southern section of Florence is mapped out and populated, but even at the end of the game, trying to cross to that area is impossible? If you go to any fast travel station and try to head to Florence, you’ll see a large area south of the Ponte Vecchio bridge with monuments and buildings. However, in the actual game, if you try to cross the bridge, you’ll be told: “Area not yet available”. Problem is, those areas are never available, even when you return late in the game.
This map of Florence reveals an entire southern area to the city. However, in the game, you can never cross the river to the south side.Are we missing something? Or is this as obvious as we think it is?
Email the author Matt Miller, or follow on Game Informer.
Yeah, a lot of that stuff is pretty conspicuous. I'd be surprised if this weren't the case.
i didn't read any of it because of the spoilers but is there ANY way of letting me know what the DLC can be with spoiling the plot! i cannot get this game until Christmas!
@Christian A. Ramos
The spoilers in the story are pretty minor, but this story on DLC won't make sense if you haven't played the game, so just wait and play the game on Christmas day and enjoy it. I'm sure Ubisoft will have officially announced some type of DLC by then.
i think you guys are really onto something, but time will tell. but whoever had the idea to take out elements of the game to be put into DLC needs shot........or assassinated.
thats cool
sounds kinda obvious to me. Lets hope we are right. Or we are wrong. and all the dlc is Desmond.
****SPOILERS****
I hope Rome gets added as DLC. I hated not being able to return after the end to just run around and climb buildings and such.
****END SPOILERS****
Looking forward to this. The game is great
I think you're right about Caterina - in AC1 they make a point of indicating that Ezio and Desmond wouldn't be if Altair hadn't sired a child and they indicate with who a child was sired... so I think that Caterina is important in the same manner given that all other members of Ezio family who would also be in the Assassin's lineage are dead.
Also, I've noticed a slight trend, if nothing more than trend of idea, to release sort of a unfinished game and finish it with DLC. I think it's contrived, but it's a way to prolong the life of the game. I have other conspiracy theories involving that whole thing, but I digress...
The assertion that Assassin's Creed II is somehow "unfinished" is just false. The game is huge as it stands. There's nothing wrong with a developer building in the opportunity for DLC as long as the game you buy is a complete experience...which AC II certainly is.
In fact, I prefer it this way. I'd rather have a game with built-in "doors" to the DLC that make for a smooth integration. It beats the random "Hey, here's a random, unconnected, and ultimately unimportant mission" approach.
The issue with Florence is the little known South Florence wall much akin to the Berlin wall. Perhaps they will add that to the DLC so that the wall may be broken down and the Flourides (people of florence and also good for your teeth) may be reunited.
***SPOILERS (MAYBE?)***
Maybe they also need to add a patch like in WoW to balance the armor and weapons, apparently Altair had some bad*** armor and a fancy sword. And I need DLC to be able to spend all the Florins that are so abundant via my villa. They are burning a whole in wallet, no wait that is the rrod.
I cant wait to get this game. so i didnt read it but dlc caught my eye.
I figured there was something suspicious about that, but DLC is DLC and in the day and age... everyone is doing it. It's almost like you have to offer extra after the game is released, otherwise people riot. Still... I'd love for a game to come complete for once without the need to pay more money to play it. Yes, it's nice for them to still care for the game and be considerate of the players and gamers who bought it, but there is also the glaring fact that most DLC could have easily been part of the main game that they held back to make more money. It's very rare that the expansions and DLC for games is all that impressive, and most of it feels like we just paid money for one or two hours at the most. Fallout 3 had some of the most depressing (and one of the best too) DLC packs out there... so it's just give and take I guess. It's good because you get more for the game without having to wait for a sequel, bad because you add more money on top of a $60 price tag, and muddled because more often than not the content isn't as good as what you orginally bought/
@ Ps3Altair
Please don't worry about nudity... We already discussed this on your thread. It's rated M for Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, and Strong Language.
Sexual Content could mean many things, but not nudity. That would lead to an AO rating. Expect partial nudity and sexual innuendo, as well as lots of blood (that can be turned off) and language.
Partial nudity could also mean many things, such as a silhouette or shadow of a naked woman, or a prostitute on the streets that is showing a bit too much.
Anyway, I like DLC as long as the game still feels whole without it, and this game surely does feel expansive.
Ubisoft can't do no wrong with Assassin's Creed 2... bring it on!
@jpow
M rated games actually can show nudity. It's intricately detailed sexual acts that warrant the game an AO rating, not simple nudity. God of War had boobs in, and The Lost and Damned had full frontal male nudity. Both games received an M rating.
DLC!! wow, is not very soon.