Assassin's Creed 2's Cut Content Explained

Summary

NPCs like Viola De' Pazzi & Piero de' Medici were cut from Assassin's Creed 2.
Two capes, a Borgia Cape and Verizon Cape, were left out of Assassin's Creed 2.
Textures like an aged Mario Auditore & Leonardo da Vinci, and unused text influenced the storyline.

It's almost impossible for anything in the entertainment industry to make it through production without original designs being thrown out the window and their voids either filled with something else or left completely empty. The same goes for the gaming industry and games like Assassin's Creed 2, which wasn't able to make it through production entirely unscathed — though the amount of content ultimately cut from it pales in comparison to many other games.

Assassin's Creed 2's cut content includes NPCs, capes, textures, and text, all of which might have slightly changed the game if they were left in. Fortunately, nothing cut from Assassin's Creed 2 was substantial enough to affect the storyline too much, or its engaging gameplay.

Everything Cut From Assassin's Creed 2

Several NPCs Were Cut From the Final Game

One of the most substantial cuts made to Assassin's Creed 2 ahead of its full release involved the removal of three NPCs originally designed to play somewhat significant roles in the game. First, there's an NPC by the name of Viola De' Pazzi, who was initially created for an Assassin's Creed 2 assassination quest. Then, there's Piero de' Medici, an NPC originally intended to be a target in Assassin's Creed 2's Battle of Forli DLC. Finally, Manfredo Soderini is the black sheep of the group, as he was repurposed for Christina's missions in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, as opposed to simply being cut altogether.

While Manfredo Soderini's character model was repurposed, his original character model remains on the cutting room floor for Assassin's Creed 2.

Two Capes Were Originally Intended to Be in the Final Game

Fans of Assassin's Creed 2's captivating cosmetics might be disappointed to learn that two capes were cut from the game before its release. One of these capes was a Borgia Cape, although it was still used in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The Borgia Cape featured the Borgia's iconic dancing bull symbol on its side, while the rest of the cape was mostly one solid color. The other cape cut from Assassin's Creed 2 was the Verizon Cape, which features a white texture similar to the skin of the same name that players can obtain from the in-game shops.

Some Unused Textures Suggest Changes to Certain Characters

There were also a few textures cut from Assassin's Creed 2 that would have changed a couple of characters in the game and even added an extra item. Two of these textures were designed to age the characters Mario Auditore and Leonardo da Vinci. Apparently, they would have aged just as Ezio does in the game. It's unknown why these textures were ultimately cut, but it was presumably for narrative reasons. The other texture that was cut from the game was for a key. During the final contract mission in Venice, players can loot dummies and their keys.

The missing texture implies players would have been able to actually see these keys in their inventory, even though the keys do nothing.

Some Cut Text Involved the Ending and Another Mission

Finally, there was some text cut from Assassin's Creed 2 that would have impacted the game's ending and even added another quest. One passage of text would have seen the ending to Assassin's Creed 2 extended beyond the final conversation between Ezio and Minerva. Specifically, it was a conversation between Ezio and his uncle Mario, where Ezio tells Mario about Minerva. This text being cut seems to coincide with Mario's aging texture being cut as well. The second passage of text that was cut from Assassin's Creed 2 would have seen Ezio going on a mission to eliminate Vieri's sister Viola.

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Released: November 7, 2009
ESRB: M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language
Developer(s): Ubisoft
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Engine: havok, anvil
Franchise: Assassin's Creed

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Assassin's Creed II introduces you to Ezio, a new assassin carrying on the deadly lineage of his forebears. Confront an epic tale of power and corruption as you hone your Assassin's art, wielding weapons and instruments designed by the legendary Leonardo Da Vinci himself in this gripping and deadly sequel.

Explore the deadly, shadowed world of the assassin with new assassin Ezio.

Experience heavy action blended with fluid and precise animations. Use a wide range of medieval weapons, and face your enemies in realistic swordfight duels.

Stalk your prey through richly detailed, historically accurate, open-ended environments. Scale buildings, mount horses, blend in with crowds. Do whatever it takes to achieve your objectives.

Platform(s): macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Genre(s): Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat: 19 Hours
PS Plus Availability: Extra & Premium