Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forli Review

By Kristan Reed Published 27 January, 2010

Making a killing.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Spoiler alert: We've tried not to give much away here, but if you haven't finished ACII and don't want so much as a hint of what's to come, best come back when you're done.

Battle of Forli is a bit of an oddball in the world of downloadable content. Apparently culled from the original game in order to meet the deadline, it's essentially another excuse to sell diehard fans a 'deleted scene' to plug a gaping hole in the story.

It's a tactic that's catching on, and done properly, it's not necessarily as ugly and cynical as it appears. Gears of War 2's Road to Ruin DLC certainly proved that point forcefully with a slab of content that was well worth the asking price and pleasingly replayable to boot.

Ubisoft has similarly grand plans for the Assassin's Creed II DLC. Rather than simply bolt on an episode that has no real connection to the main storyline, both Battle of Forli and next month's Bonfire of The Vanities slot seamlessly into the existing game, effectively 'patching' in what was missing from the boxed release - for 320 Microsoft Points a pop, equivalent to £2.70 (PSN price TBC).

Let's face it, there was a fairly significant plot hole for Ubisoft to fill. Those of you who've already put the game through its paces will recall Rebecca Crane suddenly chiming in to inform Ezio that the next two sequences were 'corrupt'. Slightly ludicrously, the story skipped forward to the climactic sequence, and everyone was left wondering what happened in-between.

Well, wonder no more. Thanks to the magic of extra development time (and the lure of extra cash), the first of these corrupt sequences has been 'repaired'. The DLC allows you to rejoin the story in 1488 in Romagna. Ezio must journey to Caterina Sforza and battle his way into the Rocca di Ravaldino, the citadel inside the walled city of Forli.

'Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forli' Screenshot 2

Ticklish?

Circumventing its watery defences as gaming's most athletic man, you spend much of your time battling alongside both Caterina Sforza and Niccolo Machiavelli - characters encountered briefly in the run-up to Sequence 12.

With most of your focus on protecting them from hapless guards, Battle of Forli quickly settles into a succession of regulation angry mob encounters, allowing Ezio to hack, slash, and occasionally shoot his way through a determined mob, while also keeping one eye on the respective health bars of Caterina and Niccolo.

Should either perish the game returns you to the last checkpoint, making the task at hand much more of a nannying process than usual. And stripped of your more powerful weaponry (such as your spear, axe, mace and longsword) the combat is, in theory, somewhat more challenging than it might otherwise be. You're forced to focus on attacking with double hidden blades, poison blade, throwing knives, pistol and smoke bombs.

Assassin's Creed II creative director Patrice Desilets explains the Battle of Forli and Bonfire of the Vanities.

The combat feels easier than ever, amplifying some of the foibles of the parent game - such as the ability to assassinate multiple characters in quick succession, making many of the 'battles' little more than perfunctory exercises. By simply hitting the attack button repeatedly at the start of the rumpus, you can take out at least three guards before they're even aware of the danger.

With up to half the aggressors taken care of, mopping up the stragglers involves little more than a few minutes of dodging and countering - or just repeated attack-button-mashing. The removal of any kind of requisite skill strips these encounters of any real tension. Once you're onto your fourth or fifth identical battle in a row the interest value ebbs away.

Bizarrely, Ubisoft Montreal has conspired to make Battle of Forli even easier by including ammo recharge points, allowing you to use all your high-powered weapons with abandon. With a few carefully lobbed smoke bombs, even the most fearsome enemy can be removed from the equation with a single button-press. It makes absolutely no sense.

After the third (of six) mini-missions, the concerted melee battling changes course and you're sent off on a rescue mission. But when you get there, the game once again spams you with a few enemies and a half-hearted series of encounters ensues.

It's not much better for the final two memories, which both involve simple chase sequences that last no more than a few minutes each - and that's assuming you fail a few times. As is so often the case with Assassin's Creed the chase is generally better than the kill, with your targets falling prey to simple one-hit assassinations and nearby guards offering precious little resistance.

Once you've powered through all six memories, all that remains is one single 'Special Memory' which marks itself mysteriously in the top right of the map. Upon climbing a tower, it transpires that you can board the same flying machine that you used once in the main game and spend some time kicking guards off buildings for larks.

'Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forli' Screenshot 2

You'll believe a man can fly... into buildings.

As usual, staying airborne involves careful navigation between the various fires across the city, but unlike in the main game there's no context, no mission and no real point to it other than to give you something else to do. And while it's mildly diverting to take to the sky for a while, there's no quick restart option if you crash, meaning you have to trudge all the way back across the map and climb the tower in order to have another go.

While Battle of Forli is reasonably priced for a piece of DLC, you don't get an awful lot of entertainment for your money.The missions lack challenge and variety. The kicker is that the entire sequence is over and done with inside one hour, leaving you with little more than some cinematics to watch - but frankly, you could probably catch those on YouTube for free and go out for a beer instead.

By any objective measurement, this a poor attempt at adding a new sequence to an excellent game which already boasted a generous amount of content. Had it added more explorational elements, or another secret location to discover, it would have been worth the effort - but to simply stitch together forgettable melee encounters and chases with new cut-scenes is some distance from being enough.

5 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (59) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • harzo #1 2 years ago

    Won't be wasting my money on this!!

  • Terribly_Mauled #2 2 years ago

    No new Achievements or Trophies either...

  • hardtech #3 2 years ago

    If there is no new Achievements I'll maybe wait and see if the second DLC is any good. Maybe they will offer them as a double pack with a discount.

  • Felwyn #4 2 years ago

    "No new Achievements or Trophies either... "

    LOL! Got that devs? We couldn't care less about the game, we want 'achievements' and 'trophies' . . .

  • Retroid #5 2 years ago

    Oh dear.

  • ignatiusjreilly #6 2 years ago

    Maybe if this was reviewed as a piece of anti-second-hand software instead of a game it would have got a better mark? I mean, that's the whole reason it was made, right?

  • rudedudejude #7 2 years ago

    Hmmm.... so if I make a really shit game and put hundred of trophies and achievements in you'll buy it?

    You bunch of e-peen whoring bitches.

  • Nanocrystal #8 2 years ago

    Somehow I suspected this wouldn't be worth getting. I feel better about trading in my copy of ACII for Mass Effect 2 now. :)

  • NewbieZilla #9 2 years ago

    "No new Achievements or Trophies either..."

    Posting something like that here suggests you want to live up to your username. People be crazy.

  • sneetch #10 2 years ago

    @Felwyn

    Who exactly are "we"?

    Some people seem incapable of understanding that a group of people don't act or think the same way or want the same thing just because they're part of some arbitrary group.

  • NewbieZilla #11 2 years ago

    "Hmmm.... so if I make a really shit game and put hundred of trophies and achievements in you'll buy it?"

    Of course not. They'll rent it.

  • Collymilad #12 2 years ago

    ""No new Achievements or Trophies either... "

    LOL! Got that devs? We couldn't care less about the game, we want 'achievements' and 'trophies' . . . "

    See the "either" in his post? That means he cares about trophies in addition to something else, that something else probably being the game.. :|

    Let's face it anyway, posting ANYTHING on EG these days is likely to get you stick from someone, given the amount of petty people there are on this site now. You could probably post the word "The" and someone would come up with an argument about it.
    Edited by 2 at 27/01/10 @ 17:23

  • hardtech #13 2 years ago

    My interest in achievements in this is only due to not wanting to lose the only game whose achievement list to be completed on my account tod disappeared, normally I couldn't give a toss and its saved me having to buy what appears to be a piece of cack.

  • danathjo #14 2 years ago

    Although the absence of trophies surprises me it doesn't dissapoint either, the main thing that bugs me is that they actually came out and said it was supposed to be in the final product so paying for it doesn't really appeal to me anymore

    maybe if they kept thier big traps shut people would be more happy to make the purchase

  • PrivateJoker #15 2 years ago

    Completed and Platinumed within a week. Traded for Dragon Age. I guess I can delete the save file now I have no interest in revisiting this. Venice was awesome though.

  • makeamazing #16 2 years ago

    Ok some game elite here by the sounds of things :). Having no achievements is important to lots of gamers, or they wouldnt have games with them in...

    Me personally, i got 100% on the game, and its a shame the content isnt good, and that there are not achievements for it. Both of those things would make it an instant buy because i loved this game. Now probably not.

  • Syrok #17 2 years ago

    Ubi could have spent a few weeks more on the game instead. Would have saved them a mediocre review score and some disgruntled consumers.

  • miiiguel #18 2 years ago

    eheh
    "I'm with the cool boys none of that geeky stuff. Ok, I do play video-games, but I don't care about Achievements. I'm so cool! And I judge them all the time. Can I hang out with you Diesel boys and gals? I still begin my sentences with "LOL", but I'm working on that. LOL!"
    Edited by 2 at 27/01/10 @ 18:01

  • Salaminizer #19 2 years ago

    At least on consoles you can CHOOSE not to buy it.

  • ronuds #20 2 years ago

    I figured this wouldn't be worth it. Didn't sound good from the description.

  • Eraysor #21 2 years ago

    Extra pint for me then.

  • wizlon #22 2 years ago

    I'd still prefer the Beer

  • ziggy_played_guitar #23 2 years ago

    Hmmm.... so if I make a really shit game and put hundred of trophies and achievements in you'll buy it?

    I suppose you can't do that, because: 1- I believe you can't make any game, whatsoever. 2- You can't put hundreds in one game, 3- I fail to see how that's any of anyone's buisness.
    That was my anti-"we" contribution.

  • fiery_jackass #24 2 years ago

    alas for me, this despondent overview of the DLC's merits mirrors my feelings about the full game. Lovely to look at, but a combination of dreadful combat and unlikeable characters robbed it of almost all the goodness of those lovely visuals. Just never felt involved in the game, apart from some of the brilliant vault levels.

    maybe I shouldn't have played it so soon after arkham asylum.

  • Dr.Mott #25 2 years ago

    The

  • Vyggo #26 2 years ago

    I think it's time to trade this game in for Mass Effect II..

  • Paulie_P #27 2 years ago

    @Dr.Mott "The" is so noughties, 'A' is a lot more powerfull and has a great 2010 ahead of it.

  • DFawkes #28 2 years ago

    Isn't that picture on the front page Altair?

  • MyPointIs #29 2 years ago

    @Dr.Mott

    That 'The' doesn't make any bloody sense. And I'm against that sort of thing. It was egotistical and evil from your side to post such a comment. And it shows a lack of respect for the educated readers of this forum.

  • Chazmeister #30 2 years ago

    Oh what a suprise, yet more lame DLC. AC2 was good but they can forget it if they think I'm spending my money on that sort of rubbish content.

  • coastal #31 2 years ago

    Ohew, glad i sold my AC2 months ago

  • JohnnyWashnGo #32 2 years ago

    Question: does the flying in this dlc unlock the 'infrequent flyer' trophy that I missed on my run through the game?
    its the only trophy i need and i'll be damned if i'm gonna play through the main game again to get it.

  • sarcasmoidosis #33 2 years ago

    I got the xbox version for 15 pounds from a friend selling his 360 and had quite a bit of fun with it. DLC doesn't work in my country so will probably be playing this when the PC Director's Cut comes out.

    Hopefully, it's better when played during the story. Hopefully...

  • makeamazing #34 2 years ago

    @ohnnyWashnGo

    No, you do not need the DLC to get 100% of the trophies. The main flying trophy is to kick an enemy while flying that machine, i cannot recall any other trophies for flying

  • Olemak #35 2 years ago

    Crap, then. Just as well. ACII still lies unfinished, due to Batman:AA-induced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

  • Lukey__b #36 2 years ago

    Looking at this interupted my drinking.

    Fuck you EG tards with your deliciously ripe tasting fruity comments.

  • old_skool #37 2 years ago

    WoW!!! Didn't expect a 5

  • itsfuzzy #38 2 years ago

    After all the strides they made to fix all the crap from the 1st game they go and do this.
    From Hero to zero.

  • man.the.king #39 2 years ago

    @PrivateJoker

    "I guess I can delete the save file now I have no interest in revisiting this."

    Here's something I don't understand. I never delete any game-save on the off-chance that I may need/want/use it some day. Does it take up that much space on your 360/PS3?

  • sonmi451 #40 2 years ago

    Siena would've been nice.

  • TheJuriel #41 2 years ago

    Yay, even less challenge. Pass.

  • jimboton #42 2 years ago

    The removal of any kind of skill requisite strips these encounters of any real tension

    that's just as true for the whole game.

  • Terribly_Mauled #43 2 years ago

    I simply posted that as I'd 100%ed the game, one of the very few games that I had. If it had achievements, I would have bought it to maintain that rare score. Since it hasnt, I won't. Simple, and no need for kerazy outbursts?

  • IronGiant #44 2 years ago

    Sod off then!

  • penhalion #45 2 years ago

    So it wasn't so much cut to save development time as it was cut because it simply didn't work.

  • Bloodloss #46 2 years ago

    So it's utterly terrible then? Then why give it 5?

    From the EG scoring policy:

    5/10 - Average

  • earobus #47 2 years ago

    Another attempt at making more money this sounds like a right joke loved the game but made me sick when i found out they had cut joke content to make more money later, will not be buying!

  • secombe #48 2 years ago

    Having no achievements is important to lots of gamers, or they wouldn't have games with them in...

    Achievements exist because they make more money, it's that simple.

    If you're in any doubt, just browse this comments thread, the amount of people admitting to buying / not buying something based on arbitrary points is incredible. They've successfully tapped in to 'hardcore' gamers needs quite brilliantly now we're all online.

    Neg away, anyhow.
    Edited by 1 at 28/01/10 @ 07:53

  • darm #49 2 years ago

    I would have bought it still as I think Forli was the best of all locations and felt sorry for it not having any story missions. But I only have 300 points on my account and won't bother getting extra 20 with such a terrible review score.

  • muscleblade #50 2 years ago

    "No new Achievements or Trophies either... "

    Thats a good thing when the DLC isnt better than this. I like my 1000/1000 as it is.

  • Sunyavadin #51 2 years ago

    So, the cynicism was correct? Big surprise.

  • Danno #52 2 years ago

    Given the tone of the article, even 5/10 seems high. Maybe there'll be DLC to repair this corrupt DLC. Ho-ho.

  • menage #53 2 years ago

    Bah, so much for my defense of this then. Keep it.

  • Zebula77 #54 2 years ago

    Too bad. I'd hoped for another Assassin's Tomb or something. They were arguably the best sections of the game. Or more sneaky stuff, or like the review said - more exploratory stuff.

    Oh, well. Might get this somewhere down the line, but I'm certainly not in any rush.

  • M_of_the_sys #55 2 years ago

    So are the people that were crying that this should have been in the game from the beginning still wishing this was in the game? Sounds bad. I hated the bits were you had to babysit someone.

    So does this add any more to the story of the assassins and the templars? More glyph puzzles? If it does I might download this just for that.

  • guernican #56 2 years ago

    A beer for £2.70? Where do you live... the 1990s?

  • kangarootoo #57 2 years ago

    My thoughts, in the order they came out of my head.

    1. A real shame about the gameplay. Was half looking forward to this as I loved AC2 rather a lot.

    2. Not such a problem, as ME2 means I won't have time to play it anyway.

    3. I don't give a hoot when they made this extra content, or whether it was or wasn't originally in the game, or whether it should or shouldn't have "been on the disc". That whole debate is boring and mad.

    4. An episode with lots of toe to toe fighting sounds like the parts of AC1 I liked the least. An assassin would surely find a better method of attack than standing there shouting "come on you fookers" with his car keys poking out between his fingers.

  • Lionheart #58 2 years ago

    @ Lukey__b

    I take it you've just turned 18 and want to brag about yourself legally drinking?

  • Zerobob #59 2 years ago

    "By any objective measurement, this a poor attempt at...."

    "By any objective measurement, this is a poor attempt at..."

    Come on EG. Grammar. Grammar :)