He falls into a pile of hay. It’s a 2009 mechanic that somehow still feels satisfying in 2026. If you grew up with a controller in your hand, you know the sound of that eagle screech. Honestly, the Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection is a weird piece of software because it’s a time capsule that refuses to act like one. It bundles Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations into one package, effectively handing you the entire life of Ezio Auditore da Firenze from his birth to his gray-bearded retirement.
Most games give you a weekend with a hero. This gives you a lifetime.
When Ubisoft first released this remaster on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and later on the Nintendo Switch, people were skeptical. Why buy games we already played? Because the leap from 720p to 1080p—and the subsequent 4K boosts on modern consoles—actually matters when you’re staring at the Duomo in Florence. It isn't just about pixels. It’s about the fact that modern Assassin’s Creed games have become massive, 100-hour RPG slogs that sometimes lose the plot. The Ezio Collection reminds us of a time when the series was actually about being an assassin, not a Viking or a Greek mercenary.
What People Get Wrong About the Remaster
A lot of folks think the Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection is a "remake." It’s not. It’s a remaster. If you go in expecting Resident Evil 4 levels of reimagining, you’re going to be disappointed by the stiff facial animations in the first few cutscenes. Remember the "creepy NPC" meme from the initial launch? Ubisoft patched that out, mostly. But the bones of the game are still from the late 2000s.
The lighting is vastly improved. Global illumination makes the Tuscan sun feel heavy and warm. The textures on Ezio’s robes show the stitching that was just a blur on the PS3. Yet, the parkour is "manual." That’s the big hurdle for new players. In the newer games, you just hold a button and the character scales a mountain like Spider-Man. In the Ezio games, you have to actually aim your jumps. If you mess up, Ezio plunges to his death. It's punishing, sure, but it's also more rewarding because you actually climbed that tower. You didn't just hold "up."
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The Evolution of the Hidden Blade
In Assassin's Creed II, you start with nothing. You're a noble brat in a silk shirt. Watching Leonardo da Vinci—yes, that one—repair your father's broken blade is a core gaming memory for millions. By the time you get to Brotherhood, you're managing a literal syndicate of killers. Then Revelations introduces the hook-blade. "The hook and the blade," the Turkish assassins tell you. "One part stays the same, the other changes." It’s cheesy. It’s brilliant.
The gameplay loop in Brotherhood is arguably the peak of the entire franchise's social stealth. You aren't just a lone wolf. You're a General. Being able to whistle and have a hail of arrows rain down from the rooftops to clear a path is a power trip that the newer, level-gated RPG entries haven't quite replicated.
Rome, Florence, and the Ghost of Constantinople
The cities are the real stars here. Most open worlds today are "wide but shallow." The Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection features maps that are dense. Florence feels claustrophobic in a good way; the narrow alleys make for perfect escape routes. Rome is a sprawling ruin where you spend your money renovating shops to boost the economy.
Then there’s Constantinople in Revelations. It’s often the forgotten city, but the sunset hues and the verticality of the Galata Tower make it one of the most atmospheric locations Ubisoft has ever built.
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- Florence: Romantic, vibrant, the birthplace of the Renaissance.
- Venice: The gondolas aren't just for show; they're essential for avoiding the archers on the bridges.
- Rome: A massive, broken playground that you slowly fix.
- Constantinople: A crossroads of cultures with a totally different color palette.
The collection also includes the short films Lineage and Embers. Don't skip Embers. It’s an animated short that covers the final days of Ezio’s life. It is surprisingly emotional for a video game tie-in and provides a level of closure that we rarely see for protagonists in this industry.
Technical Reality Check: 2026 Standards
Let's talk performance. On a PS5 or Xbox Series X, the Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection runs like a dream, mostly because the hardware is essentially brute-forcing a decade-old engine. The load times are virtually non-existent. You can fast travel across Rome in about three seconds.
However, the AI is "of its time." Guards will still stand in a line to fight you one by one. The "tailing missions"—the bane of every Assassin's Creed fan's existence—are present in abundance. You will spend a significant amount of time walking slowly behind NPCs while they talk about Templar conspiracies. If you don't have the patience for that, the collection might feel like a chore.
But the music? Jesper Kyd’s score is untouchable. "Ezio’s Family" is the theme that defined the entire brand. It’s haunting, ethereal, and perfectly captures the tragedy of a man who lost his family to a corrupt political machine.
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Is the Switch Version Any Good?
Surprisingly, yes. Playing Brotherhood on a plane is a top-tier experience. The Switch port of the Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection holds a steady frame rate, though the resolution takes a hit in handheld mode. It’s better than the Black Flag port, which is saying something because that was already impressive.
The Narrative Weight of a Trilogy
We don't get trilogies like this anymore. Nowadays, every game features a new hero to sell new skins. By sticking with Ezio for three full games, we see the cocky teenager become a vengeful young man, then a wise mentor, and finally a tired elder looking for meaning beyond the blade.
It’s a masterclass in character development. You see his scars. You see him lose friends. When he finally stands in the library at Masyaf at the end of Revelations, the payoff feels earned. It’s not just a "cutscene." It’s the end of a thirty-year journey you took with him.
Practical Steps for New Players
If you're picking up the Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection for the first time in 2026, don't try to 100% these games immediately. You'll burn out. The "feather collecting" in ACII is notoriously tedious and offers very little reward.
- Focus on the Tombs: The platforming puzzles in the Assassin Tombs are some of the best level designs in the series. They feel like Prince of Persia.
- Invest Early: In ACII and Brotherhood, spend your money on renovating the Villa or Rome as soon as possible. It creates a passive income stream that makes the late-game much less of a grind.
- Learn the Counter: The combat is all about timing. Don't button mash. Wait for the enemy to swing, then counter. Once you master the "kill streak" mechanic in Brotherhood, you'll be unstoppable.
- Watch the Shorts: Watch Lineage before starting ACII. It’s a live-action prequel about Ezio’s father, Giovanni. It sets the stakes perfectly.
The Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s a reminder of why we fell in love with this franchise before it became an "RPG-lite" experience. It’s focused, it’s stylish, and despite its age, it still has more heart than most modern blockbusters. Go to the top of the highest cathedral in Venice, jump off, and try not to feel something when the music swells. It's nearly impossible.