AC3 is probably my favorite soundtrack other than the Ezio trilogy. Lorne Balfe composed it, he helped Jesper Kyd with Revelations. AC3’s soundtrack is goated and sounds like it could be a soundtrack for a feature film. Which makes sense, because the AC3 composer has done a lot of film work.
Just dropping another comment that has some more value to it. This video really speaks towards something that we've all sort of mentioned but has never been presented in this way or articulated so well. Not to mention some really great editing here as well, this was a banger of a video!
I've always seen "Assassin's Creed Theme" from Assassin's Creed Revelations to be the theme of franchise. Because... It literally is, based on the title.
Ezio’s Family as a piece of music is almost a metaphor for the Assassin’s Creed franchise as a whole. It started off as this immensely meaningful piece of music that perfectly fits the themes of the game. But, slowly over the years it has been perverted into nothing more than nostalgia-bait, another call-back to better days in an attempt to further drain the wallets of old fans of this tired franchise. Absolutely superb video, the decline of this piece of music is something I’ve thought about for years but never endeavoured to make a video on. You perfectly put my thoughts into words in this video, absolutely great work man :)
I love it when they reinterpret this classic song. Dont know what to hate. Sure, its used as a bait, but it still sounds awesome, even when played in a different genre. But thats maybe because I love crossovers and genre-swaping in music, in general.
The overuse of 'Ezio's Family' is emblematic of Ubisoft's approach to the series. They keep making those weird games that spit on the original Assassin's Creed ideas, but they also keep including some superficial references to the old games to capitalize on nostalgia and bait old-school AC fans into trying the new titles. 'Ezio's Family' is just one example. A good symbol. But there are other things like that. For example, Ubisoft keeps the Animus in every new game, but it's extremely shallow and pointless because the series hasn't had a proper modern-day storyline since 2012. They could easily just get rid of the Animus, focus on the historic period exclusively and the games would not lose anything important. The series has become an anthology anyway. Nothing really matters anymore, there are no stakes and the modern-day storyline isn't going anywhere. The Animus was an integral part of the story in the Desmond Saga. Now it's just a weird legacy thing Ubisoft uses cuz they feel they have to, not because they want to do anything interesting with it. The same thing can be said about climbing, social stealth, parkour, hidden blade, hoods etc. Elements that were once iconic and integral to the gameplay and story are now "just there"... They are not important anymore, they are way less fleshed out and sometimes they are at odds with the world design and those new RPG mechanics. Like what's the point of having a hidden blade when your new RPG game is stat-based and you can't even stealthily assassinate enemies if they are a few levels above you? It's just weird. AC has become a bizarre mix of The Witcher and God of War with a few superficial things that are supposed to convey the message: "look, it's still Assassin's Creed! We still have hidden blades! Please buy our game!". I used to be the biggest Assassin's Creed fan 10 years ago, but now I can't even take it seriously anymore. I still play the old games from time to time and I can only hope the Desmond Saga gets properly REMADE one day. Another solution would be to reboot the series and start over. Show me the early days of the Animus project and the Subject 1 or something. Brand-new historic periods, brand-new characters and stories, old-school action-stealth gameplay and I'll be back on board.
I’ve never played an Assassin’s Creed I didn’t like, rather there are games I like more than others. That being said: I agree that Ezio’s Family is a theme that should have ended the moment Ezio’s story concluded. The theme is, as you stated, meant for Ezio and his family, and that should be the end of it. But, as we know all to well, to much of one thing can become bad.
The theme became so iconic because the game was so iconic. Being reintroduced into a new story, essentially continuing the lineage AC1 started, but also surpassing it significantly, you realize that with the AC2 title card. But, then ubi decided to just harp on that feeling of nostalgia, and that was it.
Would love to see a similar video on the devaluation of the pieces of Eden. Feel like they have become so common that they don't have any impact anymore.
100%. They serve much more as “excuses” to segue into fantasy than anything else these days, which sucks. Appreciate the idea man, I’ll put it on my list :)
The pieces of eden sparked such major conflicts in the older games because they were artifacts of such great power that stood out from basically everything else available in the known human world (even if some like the Observatory were deemed not worth the trouble by modern times due to nearly-as-good alternatives). At this point you can literally carry them around as your iconic weapon for an entire game (looking at you Odyssey) and think nothing of it, and they crop up every Tuesday as one of the used excuses to have a mythical fantasy RPG experience in your historical science fiction universe...the other being acid trips. Why someone would ever design a spear with a billion unrelated functions that all have nothing to do with spearing things, including making mundane arrows selectively phase through solid surfaces in a society that had swords that shot lightning blasts? Who knows. There's only so many times I can watch a modern day human character insert themselves into the virtual simulation of a historical person _hallucinating_ themselves into a high fantasy scenario before I wonder why they don't just make an actual fantasy series already and stop digging up and mocking this corpse of a series. But I don't have to wonder, because we know why.
Oh my god, THANK YOU. Both this video and this comment have articulated something I haven't been able to put into words for a long time now. It always frustrates me when people say that the new games feel like AC because they have the Isu and the POE all over the place, when their oversaturation is precisely what's wrong with the modern games' lore. Both those things were unique flairs that were used to heighten some of the most climactic moments of the older games. Seeing so much of the Isu and POE makes the series feel like a parody of itself, because they're no longer given the gravitas and enigma that they deserve. Pretty much, fantastical things stop being fantastical when we see them constantly.
a hilarious thing about the devaluation of the pieces of eden. since every single piece had an usage unique to them. the precursor box actually opens up a gigantic can of worms because what it does is actually just a scaled down apple of eden. in other words it's basically an apple of eden without the mind control. so outside of sanctuaries which houses the knowledge the apple probably pulls from, what was the purpose for the precursor box if the apple does the same thing it does? it also opens up a question, why is it that grazing the temple artifact instantly thanos snaps it? if the device is made explicitly to keep tectonic movements in check, why is it so easy to disable? if it's a super weapon why is it so unprotected
@@natchu96 the interesting part is that the animus itself was a piece of eden. though in all seriousness the problem with pieces of eden in later series was that it is apparently no longer a super waepon, or their purpose is never really brought up, like the human isu war was a really big thing which kinda got completely shafted by the idea of hybrids (I frankly don't like hybrids, and I am very vocal about it) and a lot of the human advantage is lost because of it.
Now that you mentioned it, I kinda like the use of Ezio's Family in Rogue due to the irony of the theme being well, family. I really like the irony of it as you mentioned, Shay eviscerates his would be family, which gives a whole new meaning to it
I think Ezio's Family use in Rogue is great. It's not just fanservice. The song starts with it as a meaning of representing the beggings of Shay as an Assassin's who believes in the creed of the Brotherhood Ezio stablished. Then it transitions to the real theme, epic but also dramatic, as the story of Shay turning into a templar (supposedly) is. And finally, in the end, the music transitions into the beggining of AC3's theme because Connor is about to restore the Assassin's brotherhood. Maybe it started a bad trend but it's not Rogue's fault.
What's so frustrating is as the games distance themselves more from the earlier entries to appeal to a wider audience they have increased the use of this theme more and more which just shows how out of touch Ubisoft has got with the sacredness of the franchises themes to cheap nostalgia. Also great video Walshie it's great to see you back after this long.
I think that out of all the assassins, the only other who deserved to reprise Ezio’s melody is Bullfrog (a character who clearly looks up to him & hold the brotherhood dearly as a family even though it’s never explicitly stated.)
I think that Origins is kinda forgivable because Ezio’s and Bayek’s journeys mirror each other with exception of the end. Both of them started off to avenge their families, only to discover something greater and dedicating their lives to it, becoming the leader of their respective orders, which are basically the same
This is so damn true, I've been feeling it for a while and I really do wish it would stop. It feels especially insulting in that very particular way, because it's like they'll willingly ignore everything emblematic of what Assassin's Creed's coolest, most unique traits used to be, _except this one track_ which they'll _happily_ parade around in the most ill-fitting moments because, you know. $$$ :) Assassin's Creed does need a Main Theme, sure, of _course,_ but it shouldn't be this one.
I don't even think that a main theme is necessary. If the game has a good theme song on its own (and good soundtrack in general) it works perfectly. I mean ac 3 and ac 4 have their own unic soundtrack and i totally love it. I am also a big fan of the ac Odyssey theme (legend of the eagle bearer) eventhough i don't really like the game the soundtrack is good.
Never thought I would see this day come. Hearing your voice over home in Florence got me nostalgic for lockdown in 2020 where I was excited af for Valhalla, a game I literally hate now 😭
@@mrmeme2917 i don’t mind about the Isu lore bug there’s no assassins lore they just give u a hidden blade and bam there and ur never an official one just a Viking running across England
This is something I’ve been saying for a while, and it’s great to have a proper video essay to point to when I want to make this argument in the future. Good to hear something from you again, Jack!
Thank you for making this video. I had the same thought for a while now and I couldn't have said it better myself. It's the same thing that's been going on with Star Wars music where they just fall back on old music without respecting the original context of the piece. If anyone is interested in this phenomenon, there's a whole video essay that goes in depth into it by Tantacrul called "Star Wars Music is Getting Worse" that goes in depth into that
God I LOVE the ACII title opening on the church roof overlooking Florence. Fav scene in a Video game ever!!! ❤️ Remember getting goosebumps when playing it the 1st time & still do when I haven’t seen it in a while 😌
Rogue should have composed an inverted version of the “Ezio’s Family” leitmotif but not have it play in the intro, in fact I think the game should have surprised you with the treachery & made it a twist.
Welcome back Walshie, the community missed you. The Assassins Creed soundtracks in the early games especially Ezio's Family are what introduced me the importance of a soundtrack in a game & how it can induce emotions & connections to people, themes, & the game itself. Still got goosebumps multiple times in this video. The Witcher 3 is the only other game with a soundtrack that compares for me.
i think the last time that song worked in context was during origins since ezio's family, became more than just a theme for ezio but the theme of the brotherhood it's self, so having that song play during the moments of it's creation works, but all these other times....yeah no
Honestly, I think that Ezio's Family in rogue is one of the best uses, I did an essay on it and my music teacher even analyzed it. First, you are using what is the theme of the creed for the Assasin that became a templar. That in on itself is powerfull symbolism, and remember that a "soft" version of the song without the vocal parts ingame to make it even heroic (Shay obtaining his templar robes, for example). On the other hand, even the instruments can be interpreted as how Ezio and Shay view things. Ezio's has more instruments, its slow. Ezio sees the whole picture while Shay doesnt or at least ignores it: the song is faster, less instruments qs if shay cant see the whole picture and just sees what the assasins are doing, ignoring the point of view of the templars or the flaws they have. According to my teacher it also sounds more "Adventure like", as if there is some wonder in the Rogue Version. That, in my opinion, is how you use a song in other context
I am baffled that AC 4 Black Flag (objectively one of the best games in the series) didn't get its own version of Ezio's Family, yet Rogue and Syndicate somehow did?
@@unicorntomboy9736 i can respect it. the kenway saga tried to stay away from ezio's shadow, make their own stories. rogue uses it not as a mockery, but to reinforce that templars and assasins are more similar than they think, also that Shay upheld the values of the Brotherhood better than the colonial assasins
@@julianpradarodriguez7336 I am baffled because AC 4 Black Flag's story is thematically more Assassin's Creed than Syndicate and Rogue. It's story is literally about the assassin's creed and what it means to Edward. That and it's one of the most beloved AC games by the fanbase, something that cannot be said for AC Syndicate or Rogue
I've gotta be honest... these days, the theme makes me sad... simply because it reminds me of my childhood, of a time when I first picked up Assassin's Creed all those years ago... and then I'm reminded of what the series is now... Mirage has admittedly sparked a hope I've not had in years.
I have had this exact gripe!! I'm glad i'm not alone in this. I cant say it any better myself. Great vid. The Idea of Revelation's theme made way more sense to me. If yo uwant to use a theme without ruining it. Use the revelations theme.
Great video, saddening af. You missed another great use of the theme, and that was in Origins. I'm not talking about the menu theme (although it's the one I mind the least out of all the menu themes using Ezio's Family), but the one that plays near the end of the game when the Brotherhood is formed. Credit for this also goes to the fact that the themes that Origins explores with Bayek are not very different from those of the Ezio trilogy.
It's also used in "Venice Rooftops," though without the vocals. During the race with the guard at the festival in 2. Maybe because the race on Venice's Roofs is supposed to remind you of the race with the brother just before we heard the music for the first time?
i completely share in your sentiment. Ezio's Family was a theme that suited the game it was made for. even listening to the track on it's own brings me to tears because the series was such a huge staple of my teenage years. it meant so much to me because it was such a beautifully made series that respected history enough for people to get interested in it. it's such a simple thing to teach by making our character our avatar to explore history and learn things we wouldn't have known if this series hadn't made stuff like the crusades or the Italian Renaissance an important part of the game's setting. it's a series that i've played nonstop up until i just got sick and tired of it when Odyssey burned my passion to meager embers and then atomized the ashes. Ezio's Family is a song meant to instill a sense of grandeur but with a melancholic undertone. a triumph that sits on a foundation of sadness. Ezio's journey sees him losing loved ones, experience tragedy after tragedy. and now it's sad for cynical reasons. because it's rehashed and reused for games that suck the life out of players. it's a sign that the series has lost it's creativity, to the point of where the composers can't even make a main theme appropriate to the game they're making. when i had returned to replay AC 1 and the Ezio Trilogy when the pandemic happened it was one of the few times in the last few years i felt genuine happiness playing a video game. reliving happy memories of a masterfully crafted franchise. also as a little tip, move a few inches away from your mic. you're a tad bit too close so it make's your breathing too loud.
I would say that rogue has the underlying theme of Shay finding his family, the Templars of the American Rite, so starting with Ezio's family and distorting it kinda mirrors him leaving and butchering the assassins for his new family.
I gotta say i was really fond of the 2 times its used in AC mirage. Its probably the first time where i felt the theme was used effectively with the added context of the lyrics of that peice.
So good to have you back Walshie! I missed you so much! AC 1 to 3 will always be my favourites no matter what. Black flag, rogue, unity and syndicate are still find too but the Desmond saga is how the series started and how it will always be the only reason where the series is too. Not this watered down Valhalla iron man costume stuff whatever it is. That game literally makes no sense at all!
To be honest, I've tried listening to Revelations theme while looking at the title screen in AC Rouge, and to my surprise, it fits even more than the Ezio family.
“Give me a break, I was 16” Jesus Christ, where did time go? I remember in those days thinking it was cool that there was a UA-camr I watched that was almost as young as I was and now I’m 17.
Personally I like rogue the most out of the new creeds, it's about the necessity of putting duty above familial connection for the sake of the greater society that family is a part of.
until he becomes a hypocrite by bombing the the homestead which likely had a lot of innocents (it's very unlikely achiles planned it since he could only say shay escaped unless some idiot assassin seriously thought bombing his family and mentor was a good idea) and personally (hopefully indirectly) causing the french revolution, one of the bloodiest events in human history. the french revolution part is the most egregious of them all since he's doing what he did in Portugal except instead of by accident, it's basically on purpose.
Personally, I’m fine with the theme in rogue, because I find it like Shay is on the path to being an assassin, and right when the electric guitar in the first one is supposed to play, it veers off, sounding a lot louder and flamboyant, much more like a Templar. Unity’s is fine, I guess, because the game shares quite a lot with ac2, but all others I believe don’t really fit.
They bastardized ezio's family theme as f*CK. It plays a lot in rogue why no reason and also in origins unity syndicate and odyssey again with no reason .
I kind of like that origins uses the theme sparingly only during the ending. Odyssey despite having its own theme uses it all the time to remind us despite playing as a Spartan Demi god this supposed to be an AC game, while I don’t even remember them using the theme in Valhalla. Still the revelations theme should be getting more love, they should use that more
l agree with you. The "problem" is, that there was no AC "theme" introduced with AC1. Jesper Kyd wrote the soundtrack around the experience and the characters. He started with a very mystic approach in AC1 and focused and historical elements to make the world feel real. For AC2, he wrote a theme for Ezio (Earth) which he later revised to Ezio's Family during the game's development. But there was no musical connection between AC1/2. In ACR, it was obvious that Ubisoft felt that they needed a more cinematic, orchestral, epic, mainstream approach to the soundtrack. They introduced Lorne Balfe as composer, mainly for cutscenes. He put a lot of effort into composing an AC Theme, which he also used parts of in AC3's theme. But it never got the popularity of Ezio's Family. I am pretty sure Ubisoft did their homework in market research and realised this, so their sound directors made sure every composer would reuse that theme.
Great video. I understand what you meant. I love Ezio’s family and it’s so good in AC 2. I do prefer if the other games to their own theme, so it represents its game
So, something this video made me realise when I started humming the Assassin's Creed Theme from Revelations... the AC3 theme has a bit of the Revelations theme in it. Like, seriously, listen to them back to back and there's definitely repeated leitmotifs and music patterns. It's not exact, it's not a 1-1 like the Syndicate or Rogue versions of Ezio's Family are, but there's enough reminiscent of what should have been the AC franchise theme that it's clearly inspired by it whilst trying it's own thing. Which... if that ain't emblematic of Assassin's Creed as a franchise, I don't know what is.
After Black flag , subsequent titles have used ezios Family remixed for their trailers and menu themes , rather than coming up with a unique theme that aligns with different eras after black flag
Ah yes, the Return of The King. On another note I just wish they continued to use the Assassin's Creed Theme or parts of it past AC3. It's just sad that they did what they did.
IMO the piano motif in "The bureau" from AC1 that also played in multiple other soundtracks should have been the main theme of Assassin's Creed. It was up until Brotherhood, where it played in Monteriggioni in AC2 and in the Assassin hideout in AC Brotherhood. But due to the success of Ezio they started using that even though it's much less meaningful to the Assassin Order itself.
Thanks man! I recognised your name when I started seeing some of your stuff blow up in the last few weeks. Happy to see you doing so well. 5 mil channel views by the end of the year EASY.
Every other game uses it as a cop out except Origins in my opinion, Aya and Bayek are the parents of the brotherhood. Not to mention it goes hard af lol
I feel like no one talks about how great AC3’s soundtrack is. Also welcome back king
AC3 is probably my favorite soundtrack other than the Ezio trilogy. Lorne Balfe composed it, he helped Jesper Kyd with Revelations. AC3’s soundtrack is goated and sounds like it could be a soundtrack for a feature film. Which makes sense, because the AC3 composer has done a lot of film work.
i love modern assassin and feel it’s very underrated
Homestead is the best track ever
Just dropping another comment that has some more value to it. This video really speaks towards something that we've all sort of mentioned but has never been presented in this way or articulated so well. Not to mention some really great editing here as well, this was a banger of a video!
Indeed
Completely agree.
I've always seen "Assassin's Creed Theme" from Assassin's Creed Revelations to be the theme of franchise. Because... It literally is, based on the title.
Bit shame it was only on Revelations, being such a great theme and all.
Ezio’s Family as a piece of music is almost a metaphor for the Assassin’s Creed franchise as a whole. It started off as this immensely meaningful piece of music that perfectly fits the themes of the game. But, slowly over the years it has been perverted into nothing more than nostalgia-bait, another call-back to better days in an attempt to further drain the wallets of old fans of this tired franchise.
Absolutely superb video, the decline of this piece of music is something I’ve thought about for years but never endeavoured to make a video on. You perfectly put my thoughts into words in this video, absolutely great work man :)
kinda like the force theme in star wars, from that epic binary sunset scene to like whenever rey fucking does anything
Nah I can’t tell by the pfp you’re one of the UA-camrs like lazerrz that loves hating on the new games lmao
I love it when they reinterpret this classic song. Dont know what to hate. Sure, its used as a bait, but it still sounds awesome, even when played in a different genre. But thats maybe because I love crossovers and genre-swaping in music, in general.
@@ACLA23 Casue the new games are trash
@@ACLA23bro get lost
And when the world needed him most...he returned
No cap
Nah it's not cap @MThang
The overuse of 'Ezio's Family' is emblematic of Ubisoft's approach to the series. They keep making those weird games that spit on the original Assassin's Creed ideas, but they also keep including some superficial references to the old games to capitalize on nostalgia and bait old-school AC fans into trying the new titles. 'Ezio's Family' is just one example. A good symbol. But there are other things like that. For example, Ubisoft keeps the Animus in every new game, but it's extremely shallow and pointless because the series hasn't had a proper modern-day storyline since 2012. They could easily just get rid of the Animus, focus on the historic period exclusively and the games would not lose anything important. The series has become an anthology anyway. Nothing really matters anymore, there are no stakes and the modern-day storyline isn't going anywhere. The Animus was an integral part of the story in the Desmond Saga. Now it's just a weird legacy thing Ubisoft uses cuz they feel they have to, not because they want to do anything interesting with it. The same thing can be said about climbing, social stealth, parkour, hidden blade, hoods etc. Elements that were once iconic and integral to the gameplay and story are now "just there"... They are not important anymore, they are way less fleshed out and sometimes they are at odds with the world design and those new RPG mechanics. Like what's the point of having a hidden blade when your new RPG game is stat-based and you can't even stealthily assassinate enemies if they are a few levels above you? It's just weird. AC has become a bizarre mix of The Witcher and God of War with a few superficial things that are supposed to convey the message: "look, it's still Assassin's Creed! We still have hidden blades! Please buy our game!". I used to be the biggest Assassin's Creed fan 10 years ago, but now I can't even take it seriously anymore. I still play the old games from time to time and I can only hope the Desmond Saga gets properly REMADE one day. Another solution would be to reboot the series and start over. Show me the early days of the Animus project and the Subject 1 or something. Brand-new historic periods, brand-new characters and stories, old-school action-stealth gameplay and I'll be back on board.
I’ve never played an Assassin’s Creed I didn’t like, rather there are games I like more than others.
That being said: I agree that Ezio’s Family is a theme that should have ended the moment Ezio’s story concluded. The theme is, as you stated, meant for Ezio and his family, and that should be the end of it.
But, as we know all to well, to much of one thing can become bad.
Finally an Assassin's Creed UA-camr where i do feel at home. I'm glad i found that channel.
Thank you man. That's really nice of you. :)
The theme became so iconic because the game was so iconic. Being reintroduced into a new story, essentially continuing the lineage AC1 started, but also surpassing it significantly, you realize that with the AC2 title card.
But, then ubi decided to just harp on that feeling of nostalgia, and that was it.
I love the speech Ezio gives in Revelations as a letter to Claudia.
Would love to see a similar video on the devaluation of the pieces of Eden. Feel like they have become so common that they don't have any impact anymore.
100%. They serve much more as “excuses” to segue into fantasy than anything else these days, which sucks. Appreciate the idea man, I’ll put it on my list :)
The pieces of eden sparked such major conflicts in the older games because they were artifacts of such great power that stood out from basically everything else available in the known human world (even if some like the Observatory were deemed not worth the trouble by modern times due to nearly-as-good alternatives).
At this point you can literally carry them around as your iconic weapon for an entire game (looking at you Odyssey) and think nothing of it, and they crop up every Tuesday as one of the used excuses to have a mythical fantasy RPG experience in your historical science fiction universe...the other being acid trips.
Why someone would ever design a spear with a billion unrelated functions that all have nothing to do with spearing things, including making mundane arrows selectively phase through solid surfaces in a society that had swords that shot lightning blasts? Who knows.
There's only so many times I can watch a modern day human character insert themselves into the virtual simulation of a historical person _hallucinating_ themselves into a high fantasy scenario before I wonder why they don't just make an actual fantasy series already and stop digging up and mocking this corpse of a series. But I don't have to wonder, because we know why.
Oh my god, THANK YOU. Both this video and this comment have articulated something I haven't been able to put into words for a long time now. It always frustrates me when people say that the new games feel like AC because they have the Isu and the POE all over the place, when their oversaturation is precisely what's wrong with the modern games' lore. Both those things were unique flairs that were used to heighten some of the most climactic moments of the older games. Seeing so much of the Isu and POE makes the series feel like a parody of itself, because they're no longer given the gravitas and enigma that they deserve. Pretty much, fantastical things stop being fantastical when we see them constantly.
a hilarious thing about the devaluation of the pieces of eden. since every single piece had an usage unique to them. the precursor box actually opens up a gigantic can of worms because what it does is actually just a scaled down apple of eden. in other words it's basically an apple of eden without the mind control. so outside of sanctuaries which houses the knowledge the apple probably pulls from, what was the purpose for the precursor box if the apple does the same thing it does?
it also opens up a question, why is it that grazing the temple artifact instantly thanos snaps it? if the device is made explicitly to keep tectonic movements in check, why is it so easy to disable? if it's a super weapon why is it so unprotected
@@natchu96 the interesting part is that the animus itself was a piece of eden. though in all seriousness the problem with pieces of eden in later series was that it is apparently no longer a super waepon, or their purpose is never really brought up, like the human isu war was a really big thing which kinda got completely shafted by the idea of hybrids (I frankly don't like hybrids, and I am very vocal about it) and a lot of the human advantage is lost because of it.
the theme went from being about the core fundamentals of ezios character to "epic" menu music
Now that you mentioned it, I kinda like the use of Ezio's Family in Rogue due to the irony of the theme being well, family. I really like the irony of it as you mentioned, Shay eviscerates his would be family, which gives a whole new meaning to it
That’s why it should have been inverted as a grim reprise in the game itself.
I think Ezio's Family use in Rogue is great. It's not just fanservice. The song starts with it as a meaning of representing the beggings of Shay as an Assassin's who believes in the creed of the Brotherhood Ezio stablished. Then it transitions to the real theme, epic but also dramatic, as the story of Shay turning into a templar (supposedly) is. And finally, in the end, the music transitions into the beggining of AC3's theme because Connor is about to restore the Assassin's brotherhood.
Maybe it started a bad trend but it's not Rogue's fault.
What's so frustrating is as the games distance themselves more from the earlier entries to appeal to a wider audience they have increased the use of this theme more and more which just shows how out of touch Ubisoft has got with the sacredness of the franchises themes to cheap nostalgia. Also great video Walshie it's great to see you back after this long.
I think that out of all the assassins, the only other who deserved to reprise Ezio’s melody is Bullfrog (a character who clearly looks up to him & hold the brotherhood dearly as a family even though it’s never explicitly stated.)
ill be back in a few day's you said the same the last time in your valhalla video 1 f#cking year ago , anyway it's good to have you back mate
I think that Origins is kinda forgivable because Ezio’s and Bayek’s journeys mirror each other with exception of the end. Both of them started off to avenge their families, only to discover something greater and dedicating their lives to it, becoming the leader of their respective orders, which are basically the same
This is so damn true, I've been feeling it for a while and I really do wish it would stop. It feels especially insulting in that very particular way, because it's like they'll willingly ignore everything emblematic of what Assassin's Creed's coolest, most unique traits used to be, _except this one track_ which they'll _happily_ parade around in the most ill-fitting moments because, you know. $$$ :)
Assassin's Creed does need a Main Theme, sure, of _course,_ but it shouldn't be this one.
Well then maybe the fans should get off their knees for ezio and the overrated ac2
I don't even think that a main theme is necessary. If the game has a good theme song on its own (and good soundtrack in general) it works perfectly. I mean ac 3 and ac 4 have their own unic soundtrack and i totally love it. I am also a big fan of the ac Odyssey theme (legend of the eagle bearer) eventhough i don't really like the game the soundtrack is good.
HOLY SHIT WIDESHIE
Oh it’s lazerzz
You're back! Good to see a new video from you in my notifications.
Never thought I would see this day come. Hearing your voice over home in Florence got me nostalgic for lockdown in 2020 where I was excited af for Valhalla, a game I literally hate now 😭
Damn why hate ?
@@mrmeme2917 i don’t mind about the Isu lore bug there’s no assassins lore they just give u a hidden blade and bam there and ur never an official one just a Viking running across England
@@mr.brightside5049 no that's completely wrong actually, Valhalla has probably the deepest lore in the series
@@mrmeme2917 yeah when it comes to isu lore and the whole place ur dna in some someone and be reborn again is nice
@@mrmeme2917 The only thing is that your not an assassin that’s literally the idea of the game
Coming back to this video cause they did it again with all the trailers in Ubisoft Forward
I expected it once, maybe twice... but that was what - five times? lmao
Best notification I’ve had in a year
Welcome back dude!
Thanks man! You've been absolutely killing it over the last year. Keep it up brother 🙏
@@WalshieYT1 2 of my fav AC youtubers!!
@@WalshieYT1 haha Cheers mate, UA-cam is a wild ride as you know! Looking forward to more bangers from you 🤜🏻
the best suprise
The AC2 version for some reason to this day actually makes me tear up.
It's such a perfect piece of music.
I literally yesterday rewatched a bunch of your videos and wondered if we’d see you back and here you are!
ayyy thank you!
This is something I’ve been saying for a while, and it’s great to have a proper video essay to point to when I want to make this argument in the future. Good to hear something from you again, Jack!
is that mr walshie
Jones' editor? In my comment section?
Bro, where tf have u been my dude?? I truly miss your videos man. Anyways happy to have u back bro, keep it up
The misuse of ezio family in a series that has no heart , hurts a lot,
Or lost it
Puberty hit this man like he was the Earth 65 million years ago.
Thank you for making this video. I had the same thought for a while now and I couldn't have said it better myself.
It's the same thing that's been going on with Star Wars music where they just fall back on old music without respecting the original context of the piece. If anyone is interested in this phenomenon, there's a whole video essay that goes in depth into it by Tantacrul called "Star Wars Music is Getting Worse" that goes in depth into that
You're back! And with a great video! Hope you've been doing well mate, also your voice has changed!
God I LOVE the ACII title opening on the church roof overlooking Florence. Fav scene in a Video game ever!!! ❤️
Remember getting goosebumps when playing it the 1st time & still do when I haven’t seen it in a while 😌
Rogue should have composed an inverted version of the “Ezio’s Family” leitmotif but not have it play in the intro, in fact I think the game should have surprised you with the treachery & made it a twist.
Nice to see you back man
I’m replaying AC2, love the game!
Great to have you back
Welcome back Walshie, the community missed you.
The Assassins Creed soundtracks in the early games especially Ezio's Family are what introduced me the importance of a soundtrack in a game & how it can induce emotions & connections to people, themes, & the game itself. Still got goosebumps multiple times in this video. The Witcher 3 is the only other game with a soundtrack that compares for me.
"Activate an emotional connection with vapid nostalgia" beautifully put and applicable to so much more, then just Ezio's family
i think the last time that song worked in context was during origins since ezio's family, became more than just a theme for ezio but the theme of the brotherhood it's self, so having that song play during the moments of it's creation works, but all these other times....yeah no
Honestly, I think that Ezio's Family in rogue is one of the best uses, I did an essay on it and my music teacher even analyzed it.
First, you are using what is the theme of the creed for the Assasin that became a templar. That in on itself is powerfull symbolism, and remember that a "soft" version of the song without the vocal parts ingame to make it even heroic (Shay obtaining his templar robes, for example).
On the other hand, even the instruments can be interpreted as how Ezio and Shay view things. Ezio's has more instruments, its slow. Ezio sees the whole picture while Shay doesnt or at least ignores it: the song is faster, less instruments qs if shay cant see the whole picture and just sees what the assasins are doing, ignoring the point of view of the templars or the flaws they have. According to my teacher it also sounds more "Adventure like", as if there is some wonder in the Rogue Version.
That, in my opinion, is how you use a song in other context
I am baffled that AC 4 Black Flag (objectively one of the best games in the series) didn't get its own version of Ezio's Family, yet Rogue and Syndicate somehow did?
@@unicorntomboy9736 i can respect it. the kenway saga tried to stay away from ezio's shadow, make their own stories.
rogue uses it not as a mockery, but to reinforce that templars and assasins are more similar than they think, also that Shay upheld the values of the Brotherhood better than the colonial assasins
@@julianpradarodriguez7336 I am baffled because AC 4 Black Flag's story is thematically more Assassin's Creed than Syndicate and Rogue. It's story is literally about the assassin's creed and what it means to Edward.
That and it's one of the most beloved AC games by the fanbase, something that cannot be said for AC Syndicate or Rogue
Imagine my shock to discover that Ezio's family plays when you are on the pause menu in Odyssey -_-
This was such a good video, hope to see more of your videos pop up soon!
I've gotta be honest... these days, the theme makes me sad... simply because it reminds me of my childhood, of a time when I first picked up Assassin's Creed all those years ago... and then I'm reminded of what the series is now...
Mirage has admittedly sparked a hope I've not had in years.
Everybody gangsta till Walshie finally uploads again
Great video; perfectly hit the spot!
I have had this exact gripe!! I'm glad i'm not alone in this. I cant say it any better myself. Great vid. The Idea of Revelation's theme made way more sense to me. If yo uwant to use a theme without ruining it. Use the revelations theme.
Great video, saddening af. You missed another great use of the theme, and that was in Origins. I'm not talking about the menu theme (although it's the one I mind the least out of all the menu themes using Ezio's Family), but the one that plays near the end of the game when the Brotherhood is formed. Credit for this also goes to the fact that the themes that Origins explores with Bayek are not very different from those of the Ezio trilogy.
It's also used in "Venice Rooftops," though without the vocals. During the race with the guard at the festival in 2.
Maybe because the race on Venice's Roofs is supposed to remind you of the race with the brother just before we heard the music for the first time?
ac1 has the most underrated of all the soundtracks aswell as the most unique
For me home in florence is the theme. Every time when I hear it I feel like home and just feel comfortable
i completely share in your sentiment. Ezio's Family was a theme that suited the game it was made for. even listening to the track on it's own brings me to tears because the series was such a huge staple of my teenage years. it meant so much to me because it was such a beautifully made series that respected history enough for people to get interested in it. it's such a simple thing to teach by making our character our avatar to explore history and learn things we wouldn't have known if this series hadn't made stuff like the crusades or the Italian Renaissance an important part of the game's setting. it's a series that i've played nonstop up until i just got sick and tired of it when Odyssey burned my passion to meager embers and then atomized the ashes. Ezio's Family is a song meant to instill a sense of grandeur but with a melancholic undertone. a triumph that sits on a foundation of sadness. Ezio's journey sees him losing loved ones, experience tragedy after tragedy. and now it's sad for cynical reasons. because it's rehashed and reused for games that suck the life out of players. it's a sign that the series has lost it's creativity, to the point of where the composers can't even make a main theme appropriate to the game they're making. when i had returned to replay AC 1 and the Ezio Trilogy when the pandemic happened it was one of the few times in the last few years i felt genuine happiness playing a video game. reliving happy memories of a masterfully crafted franchise.
also as a little tip, move a few inches away from your mic. you're a tad bit too close so it make's your breathing too loud.
welcome back mate.
I would say that rogue has the underlying theme of Shay finding his family, the Templars of the American Rite, so starting with Ezio's family and distorting it kinda mirrors him leaving and butchering the assassins for his new family.
One if the best video intros ever. Keep up the great content!
I gotta say i was really fond of the 2 times its used in AC mirage. Its probably the first time where i felt the theme was used effectively with the added context of the lyrics of that peice.
So good to have you back Walshie! I missed you so much! AC 1 to 3 will always be my favourites no matter what. Black flag, rogue, unity and syndicate are still find too but the Desmond saga is how the series started and how it will always be the only reason where the series is too. Not this watered down Valhalla iron man costume stuff whatever it is. That game literally makes no sense at all!
To be honest, I've tried listening to Revelations theme while looking at the title screen in AC Rouge, and to my surprise, it fits even more than the Ezio family.
walllshieeee!!!! i missseeddd you!!!! Your voice is so much deeper now!
This was a straight banger and brilliant return king keep it up
“Give me a break, I was 16” Jesus Christ, where did time go? I remember in those days thinking it was cool that there was a UA-camr I watched that was almost as young as I was and now I’m 17.
Yo OMG! I literally subscribed about a month ago after discovering you but you were mia for a while. I'm glad to see you back!!
Personally I like rogue the most out of the new creeds, it's about the necessity of putting duty above familial connection for the sake of the greater society that family is a part of.
until he becomes a hypocrite by bombing the the homestead which likely had a lot of innocents (it's very unlikely achiles planned it since he could only say shay escaped unless some idiot assassin seriously thought bombing his family and mentor was a good idea) and personally (hopefully indirectly) causing the french revolution, one of the bloodiest events in human history. the french revolution part is the most egregious of them all since he's doing what he did in Portugal except instead of by accident, it's basically on purpose.
Personally, I’m fine with the theme in rogue, because I find it like Shay is on the path to being an assassin, and right when the electric guitar in the first one is supposed to play, it veers off, sounding a lot louder and flamboyant, much more like a Templar. Unity’s is fine, I guess, because the game shares quite a lot with ac2, but all others I believe don’t really fit.
The king is back
Nice having you back man
Have a good day
Hey Walshie is back nice to hear from you again!!!!!
I was waiting for a comeback for a year bro.
They bastardized ezio's family theme as f*CK. It plays a lot in rogue why no reason and also in origins unity syndicate and odyssey again with no reason .
I kind of like that origins uses the theme sparingly only during the ending. Odyssey despite having its own theme uses it all the time to remind us despite playing as a Spartan Demi god this supposed to be an AC game, while I don’t even remember them using the theme in Valhalla.
Still the revelations theme should be getting more love, they should use that more
l agree with you. The "problem" is, that there was no AC "theme" introduced with AC1. Jesper Kyd wrote the soundtrack around
the experience and the characters. He started with a very mystic approach in AC1 and focused and historical elements to make
the world feel real. For AC2, he wrote a theme for Ezio (Earth) which he later revised to Ezio's Family during the game's
development. But there was no musical connection between AC1/2.
In ACR, it was obvious that Ubisoft felt that they needed a more cinematic, orchestral, epic, mainstream approach to the soundtrack. They introduced Lorne Balfe as composer, mainly for cutscenes. He put a lot of effort into composing an AC Theme, which he also used parts of in AC3's theme. But it never got the popularity of Ezio's Family. I am pretty sure Ubisoft did their homework in market research and realised this, so their sound directors made sure every composer would reuse that theme.
Good to see you back
Great video. I understand what you meant. I love Ezio’s family and it’s so good in AC 2. I do prefer if the other games to their own theme, so it represents its game
You had my like at " Rock bottom a few more times."
Ezio's Family shouldn't use too often for every AC game
Glad you are back brother
It’s been years! Used to grind your channel everyday after school in 7th grade
you're making me feel old haha, thanks dude.
9:33 I remember that moment so clearly, I was there at the live stream and i was a shocked as Jackie was
Ok.. what the F..😂 i though you had stopped posting or something (glad you are back)
Assassin's creed should've ended with Origins
So, something this video made me realise when I started humming the Assassin's Creed Theme from Revelations... the AC3 theme has a bit of the Revelations theme in it. Like, seriously, listen to them back to back and there's definitely repeated leitmotifs and music patterns. It's not exact, it's not a 1-1 like the Syndicate or Rogue versions of Ezio's Family are, but there's enough reminiscent of what should have been the AC franchise theme that it's clearly inspired by it whilst trying it's own thing. Which... if that ain't emblematic of Assassin's Creed as a franchise, I don't know what is.
After Black flag , subsequent titles have used ezios Family remixed for their trailers and menu themes , rather than coming up with a unique theme that aligns with different eras after black flag
I missed u big walsh
Ah yes, the Return of The King.
On another note I just wish they continued to use the Assassin's Creed Theme or parts of it past AC3. It's just sad that they did what they did.
I just assumed they started using it as the series’s theme because Ezio became regarded as the definitive example a character they should write.
i use a remix of it as my workout music but sometimes it just makes me think back
Welcome back man
Ahhh...the return of the King.
Welcome back Walshie I know this is gonna be worth the wait.
IMO the piano motif in "The bureau" from AC1 that also played in multiple other soundtracks should have been the main theme of Assassin's Creed.
It was up until Brotherhood, where it played in Monteriggioni in AC2 and in the Assassin hideout in AC Brotherhood.
But due to the success of Ezio they started using that even though it's much less meaningful to the Assassin Order itself.
this is NOT A DRILL everyone, Return of the King
Thanks man! I recognised your name when I started seeing some of your stuff blow up in the last few weeks. Happy to see you doing so well. 5 mil channel views by the end of the year EASY.
@@WalshieYT1 thank you dude, so grateful to hear that. Looking forward to your MTX video
Can... can this be..? Walshie...? In my sub box??
For real though, that was a great video Jack. Hope to see more from you soon
Love this video please please PLEASE keep it up! I want to hear about your opinion on micro transactions ASAP
Holy shit he alive also yes we all had some hype for valhalla when we saw the gameplay showcase
Glad to have you back man!
Every other game uses it as a cop out except Origins in my opinion, Aya and Bayek are the parents of the brotherhood. Not to mention it goes hard af lol
The only exception I find it fitting, was AC Origins moment, but that was more of the exception that strentghens the argument.
@1:41 that song isn’t Ezio’s Family. It is Earth