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?