Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection

The Story of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection is widely praised for its character-driven narrative and emotional depth, particularly in the development of Ezio Auditore. Critics highlight his transformation from a carefree nobleman to a seasoned assassin as a standout element, with PlayStation LifeStyle noting the straightforward missions that let players focus on core experiences, while Impulsegamer and Merlin'in Kazanı emphasize the cohesive story arc and unforgettable character. The trilogy’s blend of historical settings—such as Renaissance Italy—and fictional elements is celebrated, with Everyeye.it praising its "emotionally engaging narrative" and We Got This Covered applauding Ezio’s evolution from a playboy to an assassin. The inclusion of animated shorts like Lineage and Embers further enriches the mythos, as noted by The Games Machine and CD-Action, while Jeuxvideo.com highlights the dual narrative of Ezio and Desmond as foundational to the franchise’s legacy. However, several critics point to the collection’s dated mechanics and narrative shortcomings. God is a Geek criticizes the story for feeling "slow, imprecise, and outdated," while Multiplayer.it laments the exclusion of Assassin’s Creed (the first game), which disrupts continuity and omits Altaïr’s story. We Got This Covered and Vgames note that Desmond Miles’ modern-day storyline is "dull" compared to Ezio’s, and GamersRD observes that Revelations leans into a "sci-fi tone" that feels disconnected from earlier entries. Technical flaws and overused twists are also mentioned, with Gaming Age calling the narrative "overstuffed" and ICXM deeming Revelations the weakest in Ezio’s arc. These critiques suggest that while the trilogy remains a high point for character development, its execution occasionally falters under the weight of its own ambition. Overall, critics agree that The Ezio Collection represents one of the series’ strongest storytelling efforts, with Everyeye.it and GameCritics hailing it as "the most memorable story development in the series." While some acknowledge its age and narrative flaws, the emotional resonance of Ezio’s journey—spanning family conflicts, historical intrigue, and personal growth—remains a unifying strength. Trusted Reviews and Hardcore Gamer emphasize the trilogy’s role in shaping Assassin’s Creed’s identity, even as Vandal and NZGamer note its limitations compared to later entries. The consensus is that while not without flaws, the collection endures as a pivotal chapter in the franchise, balancing nostalgic charm with timeless character arcs.

The gameplay of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection receives mixed praise, with several critics highlighting its foundational strengths and evolutionary improvements. Reviewers like GameGrin and Nintendo Life acknowledge that while early entries such as Assassin’s Creed II have clunky mechanics, later games like Brotherhood and Revelations refine parkour, combat, and open-world exploration, offering smoother controls and more engaging missions. Trusted Reviews notes the trilogy’s progression, emphasizing how Brotherhood tightens controls and pacing, while Revelations introduces tools like the Hookblade to enhance gameplay variety. GameCritics and Merlin'in Kazanı also point to incremental improvements across the series, with Brotherhood’s quick travel system and Revelations’ dynamic combat marking steps forward. The collection’s emphasis on stealth, exploration, and narrative-driven missions is seen as a hallmark of the franchise’s early identity, with Gameblog.fr praising its single-player focus despite retaining original flaws. However, the consensus leans heavily toward criticism of the gameplay’s dated mechanics and repetitive design. Multiple reviewers, including CGMagazine, GameCritics, and Jeuxvideo.com, describe the free-running as “stale,” “awkward,” or “clumsy,” with inconsistent controls that feel outdated compared to modern titles. PC Games and Gaming Age highlight the lack of innovation, noting that the collection feels like a re-release rather than a polished remaster, with issues like imprecise climbing, simplistic combat, and frustrating AI persisting across all three games. Hardcore Gamer and ICXM specifically criticize the Switch port’s input lag and loose handling, while Gaming Nexus and PlaySense point to repetitive side quests and mission structures that lose their appeal over time. Even positive aspects like Brotherhood’s partner system or Revelations’ tower defense mechanics are overshadowed by broader complaints about the series’ stagnation in core gameplay. Overall, critics agree that The Ezio Collection is a nostalgic but flawed experience, reflecting both the franchise’s early promise and its limitations. While 3DJuegos and MondoXbox praise the trilogy’s enduring charm and refined mechanics compared to earlier entries, most reviewers emphasize that its dated controls, repetitive combat, and lack of modernization make it feel outdated by today’s standards. The collection is seen as a worthwhile experience for fans of Ezio’s story but less compelling for newcomers or those expecting innovation. GamingTrend’s brief praise for “steady combat” and “fluid free-running” contrasts with the broader sentiment that the games, while historically significant, struggle to compete with later Assassin’s Creed titles in terms of polish and depth. The mixed reception underscores a balance between celebrating the trilogy’s legacy and acknowledging its shortcomings as a relic of an earlier era in open-world design.

The reviews of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection highlight several positive aspects of its graphics and visual design, particularly the incremental improvements over the original releases. Critics like Atomix praised the historical recreation of cities such as Florence, Venice, and Constantinople, noting vibrant details and enhanced lighting in games like Brotherhood and Revelations. CGMagazine and GameCritics acknowledged brighter colors, sharper textures, and improved draw distance, while PlaySense highlighted better resolution and texture details in Brotherhood and Revelations. Additionally, Screen Rant noted that the Switch port’s docked mode offers vibrant character models and atmospheric settings, with some critics like CD-Action appreciating the blue filter enhancing Renaissance-era aesthetics. These improvements, though modest, were seen as redeeming qualities for fans of the series’ historical settings. However, the negatives dominate the critique, with many reviewers pointing to underwhelming remastering efforts and persistent technical flaws. Impulsegamer and GameCritics criticized minimal graphical upgrades, citing issues like "Sad Pepe" NPCs, inconsistent textures, and outdated character models. CGMagazine and Trusted Reviews highlighted dated visuals, including glitches like "staring man" errors and cardboard-like buildings, while PlayStation Universe and IGN Spain noted that the PS4/Xbox One versions retained 30fps and lacked significant overhauls. The Switch port faced particular scrutiny, with Starbit and NintendoWorldReport pointing to lower resolutions, texture pop-in, and compromises in visual fidelity. Even positive aspects like improved lighting in Revelations (per Areajugones) were overshadowed by issues like unnatural facial animations and stiff character movements, which many felt failed to meet modern standards. Overall, the consensus among critics is that The Ezio Collection represents a conservative remaster with mixed results. While some improvements—such as 1080p resolution, brighter colors, and better-preserved historical settings—are appreciated, the lack of substantial graphical overhauls and lingering technical issues (e.g., texture pop-in, outdated character models) left many dissatisfied. Metro GameCentral and IGN Spain noted that the upgrades felt minimal, with GameCritics and CGMagazine explicitly calling out "bottom-tier visual polish" and "dated" aesthetics. Despite occasional praise for specific elements like cityscapes or lighting, the collection was widely seen as a nostalgic but flawed package, failing to fully capitalize on modern hardware capabilities. The reviews collectively suggest that while the games remain visually charming in their own right, the remastering efforts fell short of expectations, leaving fans wanting more significant enhancements.

The sound design and music of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection received widespread acclaim, with critics consistently praising their ability to elevate the games’ immersive qualities. Areajugones highlighted Jesper Kyd’s soundtrack as “exceptional,” noting its memorable themes and narrative-enhancing moments, while Atomix emphasized how the music significantly contributed to the game’s atmosphere. InsideGamer.nl specifically commended the high-quality compositions in AC II and Brotherhood, which amplified their historical appeal. Multiplayer.it described the score as “splendida” (beautiful) and “meraviglioso” (wonderful), underscoring its role in capturing the Renaissance setting. Additionally, Merlin’in Kazanı praised the music’s nostalgic charm, and SpazioGames highlighted the well-executed ambient sounds and clear dialogue, reinforcing the audio’s contribution to the experience. These reviews collectively underscore the soundtrack’s enduring impact as a standout element of the collection. While the majority celebrated the audio, some critics pointed out technical flaws that detracted from the experience. Everyeye.it (PS4) noted issues like sudden sound drops in cutscenes and missing ambient sounds, which disrupted immersion. Impulsegamer mentioned inconsistent accents in voice acting, while Starbit criticized lower-quality voice acting due to audio compression. Nintenderos also pointed out that Spanish voice acting required a separate language pack, highlighting accessibility concerns. Though these critiques were less frequent, they revealed that the sound design was not without its imperfections, particularly in areas like voice acting and technical consistency across platforms. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall consensus among critics was overwhelmingly positive, with the soundtrack and sound design regarded as a major strength of The Ezio Collection. The praise for Jesper Kyd’s work, the atmospheric depth of the music, and the immersive audio environments far outweighed the occasional technical issues. Critics like Areajugones and Multiplayer.it emphasized the music’s lasting legacy, while others, such as SpazioGames and Screen Rant, noted its consistent quality across platforms. While some flaws in voice acting and sound effects were acknowledged, they did not overshadow the broader acclaim for the audio elements, which remain a defining feature of the collection’s appeal.

The majority of reviewers highlight the voice acting in Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection as a standout strength, particularly praising the Spanish and Italian dubs. Hobby Consolas (PS4) emphasizes that the original Spanish voice acting is "praised for its quality," with standout performances from Luis Reina as Ezio and Juan Diego Botto as Leonardo da Vinci, calling it a "highlight despite the games’ age." Similarly, Multiplayer.it lauds the Italian dub as "ottimo" (excellent), noting its richness and ability to immerse players in the game’s historical settings. SpazioGames applauds the clarity of the voice acting, accurate accents, and lack of audio compression, even on the Nintendo Switch’s built-in speakers. Hobby Consolas (Nintendo Switch) goes further, describing the Spanish dub as "un doblaje para quitarse el sombrero" ("a voice acting performance to remove one’s hat"), underscoring its high quality and immersive nature. These reviews collectively paint a picture of the voice work as a significant asset, particularly for fans of the original language tracks. However, some critics express reservations, with Push Square delivering a strong negative assessment by "strongly criticizing the voice acting in Assassin’s Creed II," suggesting it falls short of expectations. Starbit also critiques the voice acting as "lower quality" due to audio compression, which they argue detracts from immersion, particularly on the Switch. While these criticisms are less frequent, they highlight technical limitations or specific issues with certain entries in the collection. Notably, Nintenderos acknowledges that while the Spanish dub is excellent, players must download a language pack to access it—a minor inconvenience that underscores the importance of accessibility for some reviewers. These negative points, though fewer in number, point to areas where the voice acting may not fully meet all expectations. Overall, the consensus leans heavily toward praise, with most critics celebrating the voice acting as a key strength of the collection, especially for its historical and cultural authenticity. The Spanish and Italian dubs receive particular acclaim for their quality, performances, and immersion, while technical issues like compression or accessibility barriers are noted but do not overshadow the general enthusiasm. Critics like Hobby Consolas, Multiplayer.it, and SpazioGames emphasize that the voice acting enhances the experience, even as a few reviewers, such as Push Square and Starbit, point to specific flaws. This mixed reception suggests that while the voice work is largely celebrated, its impact may vary depending on the player’s platform or language preferences.

The technical performance of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection across platforms shows mixed but somewhat positive aspects. On PS4, critics like LaPS4 and Metro GameCentral noted improved load times and reduced texture pop-in compared to original releases, while Hobby Consolas highlighted stable 30fps and better textures. For the Nintendo Switch, SpazioGames praised its consistent 30fps in both docked and handheld modes, and Eurogamer Italy acknowledged efforts to adapt the games for the platform despite hardware limitations. On Xbox One, COGconnected and MondoXbox pointed to stable 30fps and quick load times, with some reviewers like Gaming Age noting fewer hiccups than earlier titles. Overall, while not perfect, these platforms saw incremental improvements in performance and stability over their original iterations. However, the technical shortcomings of The Ezio Collection were widely criticized across all platforms. On PS4, JeuxActu and GameGrin highlighted graphical glitches, texture issues, and a lack of 60fps support, while Merlin’in Kazanı lamented the choppy 30fps experience. The Nintendo Switch faced significant challenges, with Nintendo Life and Hardcore Gamer pointing to crashes, input lag, and NPC bugs, while Multiplayer.it noted inconsistent optimization across games. On Xbox One, IGN Spain and Gaming Age criticized frame drops and unresolved bugs, and ICXM mentioned camera stuttering in Brotherhood. All platforms struggled with outdated mechanics, as InsideGamer.nl and Trusted Reviews pointed out awkward controls and dated AI, which undermined the remaster’s potential. The overall consensus among critics was that The Ezio Collection failed to deliver meaningful technical upgrades despite its nostalgic appeal. While some positives emerged—such as improved load times on PS4 (LaPS4) and stable 30fps on Switch (SpazioGames)—the lack of 60fps support, persistent bugs, and outdated mechanics were recurring complaints. Critics like God is a Geek and IGN Spain emphasized that the remasters felt "dated" compared to modern standards, with no substantial fixes for original flaws. Despite minor improvements in stability and optimization, the collection was seen as a missed opportunity to revitalize its legacy, leaving players to grapple with technical shortcomings across all platforms.

The replay value of Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection is viewed through a lens of nostalgic appeal and substantial content, particularly for newcomers and long-time fans seeking to revisit the trilogy. Many critics highlight the collection’s enduring strengths, such as its engaging stories, historical settings, and expansive gameplay hours. For instance, Jeuxvideo.com notes that the trilogy offers over 45+ hours for main campaigns and more than 100 hours for full completion, with DLCs, collectibles, and side missions adding depth. Hobby Consolas praises the collection’s “variety of collectibles, missions, and optional tasks,” while GameGrin suggests it is “worthwhile for fans” and a good starting point for newcomers. The inclusion of animated films and extra content, as noted by XGN, also adds value for completists, reinforcing the idea that the trilogy’s narrative and world-building remain compelling even upon revisitation. However, several critics argue that the collection’s replayability is limited by its outdated mechanics, repetitive gameplay, and lack of modern updates. CGMagazine and GameCritics criticize the games as “mundane exercises” and a “cash-grab,” while God is a Geek and Stevivor note that veterans may find the experience dated or unexciting due to archaic control schemes and visual design. IGN Adria and Trusted Reviews emphasize that the collection caters more to fans than newcomers, with Gaming Age describing it as feeling like a “history exhibit” for its lack of improvements over original releases. Even some positive reviews, like Vandal, acknowledge that veterans may find minimal incentives to revisit the games, despite praising their historical exploration and DLCs. The consensus here is that while the collection has value for nostalgia-driven players, its repetitive nature and aging systems deter sustained engagement. Overall, the critics present a divided but nuanced view of the collection’s replayability. While GameGrin, Jeuxvideo.com, and Hobby Consolas celebrate its substantial content and nostalgic appeal, others like CGMagazine, GameCritics, and God is a Geek dismiss it as unoriginal or redundant for returning players. The general consensus leans toward the collection being more appealing to newcomers or fans seeking nostalgia than to veterans looking for fresh experiences. As IGN Spain and Vandal note, the trilogy’s value lies in its cohesive package and historical significance, but its lack of modernization and repetitive mechanics limit its long-term appeal. Ultimately, the Ezio Collection is seen as a worthwhile purchase for those new to the series or deeply invested in its lore, but less so for players seeking innovation or depth beyond its original release.