Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Battle of Forli starts with the easy pleasure of slipping back into Assassin’s Creed II’s late-game rhythm. You are Ezio again, Forli is under attack, and the familiar mix of mission-driven action and movement returns without any relearning curve. That makes the opening immediately welcoming if you finished the base game hungry for a little more, though it also means this DLC never creates the jolt of discovery that a full expansion might.

Its placement near the end of the campaign matters. Ezio is already an established, capable character by this point, and the corrupted-memory framing gives this sequence the feeling of restored material from a larger story. The missions ask you to help defend Forli alongside Caterina Sforza and Niccolò Machiavelli, so the pack works best when you are invested in that existing cast and simply want more time with them.

Do not expect a new combat toy or a different kind of challenge. There are no new locations, enemies, or weapons here; Battle of Forli relies on the same core play that carried Assassin’s Creed II. That can be frustrating if you arrive expecting DLC to reinvent the experience, but it is a reasonable extra helping for anyone who still enjoys the base game’s established flow.

The standout reward is a special mission that unlocks Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine for repeat use. That is the one addition with lasting value beyond the sequence itself. It turns a memorable vehicle into something you can revisit whenever the urge strikes, and it gives completion-minded fans a concrete reason to care about finishing this add-on.

Graphics

Forli returns in the same historical style as Assassin’s Creed II, with Ezio, Caterina Sforza, and Niccolò Machiavelli carrying the scene during a city under attack. Since there are no new locations or enemy types, the pack looks like a direct continuation of the main game rather than a separate visual excursion.

The flying machine is the clearest visual treat. Once unlocked, seeing Ezio take to the air remains a welcome break from staying on foot, and repeated access gives that image more room to stick with you.

Story

This is a continuation, not a self-contained side tale. The sequence sits toward the end of Assassin’s Creed II and sends Ezio to a Forli under siege, where he aids Caterina Sforza and Niccolò Machiavelli. If you remember Caterina from her earlier appearance, the return has more weight than it would for someone dropping in cold.

The corrupted-memory angle is a neat fit for material added after the original game, making the chapter feel like something recovered from within the Animus rather than an unrelated detour. It does not push the story into a radically different direction; its value comes from extending an established moment and letting existing relationships breathe a little longer.

That narrow focus is also why the DLC is easier to recommend after you have finished, or nearly finished, Assassin’s Creed II. You are not coming for a grand new arc. You are coming because the world, Ezio’s journey, and these supporting figures have already earned your interest.

Overall Experience

Battle of Forli is a modest, competent extra sequence for a game you already like. Its biggest weakness is simple: it asks you to enjoy more Assassin’s Creed II while offering very little that is meaningfully different from Assassin’s Creed II. For some fans, that is exactly enough. For anyone exhausted by the main game’s formula, it will not change your mind.

The flying-machine unlock gives the pack a better aftertaste than a mission-only add-on would have had. It is a small but tangible reward, especially if you enjoyed that part of the original adventure and wanted more freedom to revisit it.

If you are choosing a version of the game and want this chapter included alongside the larger package, the Assassin’s Creed II: Game of the Year Edition is the relevant edition to consider. Taken on its own, Battle of Forli is pleasant supplementary material: worthwhile for committed Ezio fans, but not essential enough to overcome a lukewarm opinion of the base game.

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10