@@tejeswartejeswar8949 in my opinion you should play all of them, but if you can only play two of them, then play ac2 and acb, because the best way to appreciate the Ezio trilogy in my opinion is to see where he started by playing ac2, and then see him in his prime in acb
That moment when Ezio came to realize that he was just "a conduit for a message that eludes [his] understanding" and told Desmond that they both were blessed to share their stories and speak across the centuries...is one of the most beautiful and somber moments I've experienced.
It's a shame that Desmond storyline is practically concluded in AC III. I never actively follow AC storyline after that, although I did played through Black Flag, because of how fun I think it was.
You could interpret the white tulip misson as Ezio not being able to do the most mundane things in life without turning them into assassin missions, since he is not used to normality. It kinda plays into the themes of the game if you look at it like that.
You can see all of the missions throughout the Ezio series that aren't dierectly Assassin related this way actually. After he discovers the Creed, it ooverwhelms and permeates everything in his life until he ends up fully and utterly sick of the whole kit and caboodle.
@@GirishManjunathMusic "go bury your dad and brothers". Turns into kicking the shit out of guards, and sneaking through an ally with dead bodies. Side mission flashback from Brotherhood.
When i was younger i always said that Brotherhood was my favourite AC game and i never saw anything topping it, but as i got older i started to appreciate Revelations a lot more for what it did and how it so beautifully wrapped up both Altair and Ezio's stories. I think looking back now id say Revelations is my favourite because of its outstanding emotional writing and soundtrack, i really cant get enough of this game.
Speaking of Suleiman, another thing to appreciate about old Assassins Creed is the way it treated it's historical figures. Nowadays historical figures are treated more like cameos instead of actual characters. Da Vinci, Machiavelli, Suleiman, Black Beard, all feel like distinct character and that was done so well that you feel compelled by their character instead of going 'hey look a famous historical figure, that's neat'
Not really Unity had Marquis de sade who was his own character part of main missions and side missions with Arno and in Origins Cleopatra is fundamental to the main story
@@00Batmanmaybe a few characters are good, but in the ezio trilogy every historical character felt like they were there for the right reasons, that they had personality. Then you have Syndicate which pretty much included Marx, Dickens, Darwin just to check off a few boxes and had no idea what they were like or what to do with them
This video reminded me so much of why I love videogames, why I love history, why I love many old epics, because that's what the Ezio trilogy is. Gameplays that makes you imagine more than what's in front of you, an atmosphere that makes you feel a grand journey, and most importantly a meaningful and philosophical story without the flaws and inconsistencies of the many old epics.
It's because of assassins creed that became interested in history. Learning what actually happened and then replaying them and understanding the tiniest and intelligent tweeks ubisoft made with real historical events was insane. A huge part of why I loved these games. Top tier writing.
I'm very happy to see James decided to complete his retrospective trilogy! I understand his position on ubisoft and agree wholeheartedly but as a longtime fan of his work I'm incredibly excited to watch this!
@@skaxavatar6393 I think it's to do with the sexual harassment female employees have been receiving in Ubisoft and other places and how James said in a video that he won't support a company that just lets it happen
I must have played hundreds of games in my life and I must have forgotten most of them but there is one scene that I will never ever forget and that is the library one at the end of Revelations, the combination of soundtrack, dialogue, camera movement and everything else has made it unforgettable!
The scene that gets me more now that ever is the scene with Ezio and Desmond, not just because of its place in the franchise as the culmination of three games, this amazing character and being an emotional moment in and of itself… but of how it relates to me and, I suppose most relevant of all, how I look at the franchise. Sort of like the Isu artefacts being what unites Altair, Ezio and Desmond, this game has been with me through the changes in my life and how I view this franchise; From hyped optimism in 2011 to renewed faith with Black Flag to excuse making with Syndicate to false hope in Origins and finally acceptance with Odyssey but always looking back on this batch of four games that had packed in them so much love, care, character and story that I was hoping all the subsequent releases would return to but… never did. And every time I replayed them to remember what was good, it was like looking back on all those past versions of myself all over again. Who are we, who have been blessed to have been shared stories like this? To speak across game generations? Maybe one day all this suffering will be worth something in the end. But nah. That special thing this franchise was is long since over and while it might have been one of the most popular franchises in history, while Desmond might have grown to be one of the most popular video game characters of all time… it wasn’t to be, and now it’s a shell and husk of what it was but unlike Ezio himself, it is not permitted the dignity of a peaceful and graceful end.
I vividly remember everyone bitching and complaining about the modern story and Desmond and how they wanted him gone. Then when they got their wish in AC3, everyone started backpedaling 😂🤡🤡only to somewhat bring him back in the Grey at the end of Valhalla.
@@RenegadeX025 most old timers and fans didn’t want Desmond to go, it was the casuals who didn’t care for MD who wanted him gone. The same people who loved BF & Valhalla/Odyssey.
“My story is but one of thousands, and the world will not suffer if it ends too soon.” No, but the AC franchise _will_ suffer, Ezio… more than I thought any of us could possibly have imagined when we said goodbye to him in 2011.
Yeah, I’ve always thought it was weird how little impact meeting 16 had on Desmond. I remember thinking I’d have had 100 questions for him, simply about wtf any of his clues mean - we still don’t know who Eve is or what she has to do with anything thanks Ubi - but it was instead very expositional which still annoyed me ngl. It honestly reminds me of Arby and Chief reuniting in 5 and how little impact a meeting of that significance should have had.
James I came to relive nostalgic euphoria not be depressed about how bad the current games are, pls stop 😂 (But you’re right, the shoving of past AC content to the back as the current thing being more important, allegedly, is a depressing turn for this series ironically focused around history :///)
I think the fact that the development of Revelations was so rushed explains why Constantinople feels so subtle, as you put it, compared to the previous cities as it feels a lot less distinctive and developed compared to them. I wish I could agree that it has its own charm but I don’t really find much about it I enjoy and if it weren’t for the music, the open world gameplay might have started to get tedious for me.
When i was a kid I bought this game cuz the cover looked cool. But with my limited knowledge on ezios life and assassins creed as whole, Ezios speech STILL got me. EVERYTHING it wanted to convey, I felt. Even without the full context. That's something. It's incredible story telling
1:40 This hurt so bad for me. To this day, Yusuf is my favorite side character, tied there with Adewale and Achilles. When I saw him die, I nearly threw my controller in rage
This brings me an overwhelming nostalgic feeling... I remember that this was my very last AC game in my childhood, I played the very first 4 games and give a shot to Bloodlines then on PSP. Brotherhood was always my favorite one. Never tried or give a chance to the rest of them, mostly for money problems back then, but looking back I feel that you can't get more epic and exciting than this. Altair/Ezio's saga is just Assassins Creed at his truly best.
I wish the old Ubisoft would come back every game was good even splinter cell chaos theory and double agent, I let them off with conviction because it made sense sam fisher was like fuck this spy shit and fucked everyone up to save his daughter 😂
This was a beautiful retrospective, James. The edit at the beginning with Altaïr’s line “the end of an era” coming in right at the end hit particularly hard, because, yea, this game really was the end of an era for Assassin’s Creed. Still, no matter how fucked the series has gotten since then, we’ll always have these games to come back to. Also, thank you for the shoutout, it’s much appreciated :D
@@jcers I'd argue that AC3 has an amazing villain. Haytham is developed pretty good. I don't dislike Conor as much as other people tend to, but I can see how someone might not like him at all. Had they gone all with Haytham, it would be a really decent game. I'd also argue that Origins was pretty decent as well, altho I didn't like the idea behind the creation of the assassins and their symbol
@@arshiaaghaei Of the three newest games, Origins is the only one worth a damn. Even then... the writing could have been better, and also Bayek deserves a trilogy himself.
Oh snap, what a pleasant surprise! Glad to see you decided to keep up the old AC content. We need more people reminding us of what Assassins Creed used to be, if there is to be any hope of it returning some day.
@@dylanrinker6831 true. I think it’s time for ac fans to just look at the old games and be like “ah the good old days” and don’t worry about it getting back to what it was or not. It’s dead in the water people. There are game franchises out there that are way more interesting and better made then the current ac’s. We can just look at the older games as pieces of entertainment that we feel really nostalgic for and there’s no need for wondering what’s next to come
I think the only hope the franchise would have if the IP gets bought by a different developer/company which actually gives a shit about making a good game to actually finish the series instead of just making another shallow, micro-transaction filled 'game', which tries to appeal to a larger market to make more money but chucks a bunch of cheap references in to please long time fans.
Ezio's story is so great here especially the diaries he writes and narrates between sequences. I love his interaction between him and Desmond. And how he tries to be like altair. Drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon…man the lines written are so awesome.
I wasn’t a kid playing this game. I was 20 years old and had grown up with a PS1 and PS2 and honestly when I look back now turning 30, this felt to me like the pinnacle of gaming. COD and AC both cared about their releases and I could always talk to mates about what game I was playing. Todays next gen graphics are obviously better, but gaming never felt as fun and meaningful as it was between 2007-2012. For me the golden age of gaming with your friends and incredible story writing. Thanks for the video James!
Agreed...I was abit younger at 16...but I was blown away. Games just aren't made the same...in a world of money and greed quality will forever be put on the backburner to fatten those pockets.
I was the same age, and can relate to and agree wholeheartedly. I think age is a big factor, I just cannot find the time or the focus now like I could then to just immerse myself in games, and that plays into that feeling that it was the golden era. It was just a perfect storm of time of our life, evolution of the industry where hardware intertwined with story telling and creative vision. I find myself now enjoying games in the increasingly fleeting periods I get to play them but I never feel that sheer immersion I did back then. Possibly only Red Dead 2 in recent times has given me that feeling, which is possibly also a testament to truly great story telling being to me the all important aspect of what makes me enjoy games. This was a phenomenal retrospective in that regard, capturing the feeling and meaning of the story superbly and delivering a stunning character and narrative analysis. A true masterpiece and i am so glad I stumbled on this video.
Thank you so much for this video. It reminded me just how much this franchise really meant for me. I remember being a kid, sitting on forums and endlessly speculating about where Revelations will take us next, if Ezio will even be the main character. Concerns about whether or not it will even be good, if it could pay off such an insane cliffhanger in Brotherhood. In the end, Revelations did that and so much more. It paid off the unanswered questions from all the games that came before, questions that we didn't even know to ask. It wrapped up the story of Altair and Ezio, finally passing the torch to Desmond. And while I do like Assassin's Creed 3 a lot, Revelations is where the story ended for me. 3 characters that we've grown to love, all coming together and talking to each other through centuries, sharing their memories. The ending really makes me cry every time. It was a beautiful journey and I don't think any following AC game has surpassed it.
James, what a video man. Going through this game and the old days was truly emotional and special Going in I was still feeling a bit weird and uncomfortable because of the whole stuff with Ubisoft, but the beginning of the video, how you said you needed to let go really helped me overcome that. The whole video itself was a masterpiece and I was so into it. Seeing those amazing moments again and thinking back to those days was a blessing. I never expected to feel something like that with this again. The editing work, the explanations behind character actions/motivations, the parts you took from secret crusade, and so much more in this video was perfect. This is you at your best. Thank you so much for making this video. You have done a perfect job.
@N7Andy Mainky because I just cut myself off from anything Ubisoft when all the shit went down. The franchise became kind of tainted for me because it was made by this company. That’s just something I struggled with myself and many others have as well.
There are probably many 100 of people that worked on the AC games. Punish the company and the people involved in doing wrong things is one thing but it is wrong to punish all those people who did no wrong and made legendary games and stories.
Dude. James. Lazerzz. Thank you for this. Ive always thought Revelations had the best writing and story telling in the entirety of the AC series. Getting to revisit this now, gave me the feeling that AC used to give me. That same feeling only exists in small portions in select games from the series. This philosophy, this exploring of these ideologies against and paralleling each other, this character depth and arc, these settings and eras helping to lift up, frame and support and add another layer to the core pillars of this story. Thanks for reminding me why this series, well parts of this series, is among my favorite stories and anything ever, why i love it so much, why it inspires me as a thinker, as a writer and story teller, as a person to a degree as well. Tf happened to the series right? Why did this depth and level of brilliance and conveying and thought provoking just.....ah man. Thank you for this James. Keep up the good work. Thank you for the time and energy you put into these videos and everything else you do. Continue to be well.
This video was so beautiful, especially the ending from sequence 9 through to embers. Looking back on Ezio's story, the connections shared through Altair and Desmond across centuries, nothing will ever be as beautiful or as poetic as what this quadriology of games managed to achieve. Your words narrated this perfectly. Ezio will always be one of my favourite video game characters.
Always thought the tulip mission was Ezio going the distance for Sofia. Him tailing the flower guy is the boyish part of Ezio showing in his refusal to wait, especially for the women he loves. I love it, it reminds me of him in AC2 when he goes to see Cristina, even though Federico tells him it’s a bad idea.
Man…that last 10-15mins of this video got me good. AC1-Revelations all finished perfectly with this game. All though Black Flag was an unreal game, the series did plummet (from a real AC fan perspective) after this game. I felt they tried to bring it back with modern day snippets (like that “I’m trying to save you” in Valhalla but it just feels to far gone. These first four games though really showed what this series was and could of been. Kinda bitter sweet how good they were they set a standard that Ubisoft won’t ever reach. Thank you for an absolutely unreal retrospective. All three of them in this series. Your ability to tell this story, beyond what the game even tells us. This was a masterclass to watch from someone who hasn’t played the series in a while. Out done yourself!
Loved this video. I agree with a lot of what you say, especially about how impressive it is that this game was made in such a short time. I also came to a similar place where I don't feel like I want to buy AC anymore, and I also ended up replaying the Ezio Collection late last year. I think Revelations is in my top 2 or 3 stories in AC. I really love Black Flag and Edward's story there, so it probably falls behind that for me overall, especially since I think Black Flag does better in many ways at the game part. Although I think we disagree on AC3 and Syndicate based on what you said. I think they're better than they get credit for, and I think Syndicate was the last AC game that truly showed promise for where the series could have gone. I think if AC3 had a different ending, it might have ended up as my favorite. Thankfully, I think Valhalla retroactively improves the ending for me, but I still don't like that we never really saw a full on modern day assassin vs templar battle that the series had seemed to be suggesting leading up to that. With AC3 developing the tech for mass crowd simulation, it would have been the perfect place to culminate the story in an epic battle like that. Sure the modern day missions had some cool stuff in them, but they just didn't live up to where I thought the series was heading. I do love the historical setting and story, unlike some people. With some minor tweaks to the modern day story though, I think AC3 could have been my favorite. It just fell short.
@Walker I think there are good elements in the game. I actually like the issue stuff, because I think it does expand the lore, but I also like like doing it from the perspective of ancient mythologies. To be fair, even in the original games, the Isu were still representing Roman mythology. I think the modern day story, while too brief, actually works well in Valhalla. I think some of the Viking and English history stuff works well in Valhalla, but I think it's way too overly stuffed and poorly paced. Ultimately, the game is too long, and the gameplay is not fun enough. These two things make it one of the weakest entries overall, even though it does have some redeemable qualities to it. I'm not interested in buying the next AC right now. IF Ubisoft can show me that they're willing to create smaller, more focused stories, put great care into the lore, have gameplay that feels better with more cinematic flare and better parkour, then they might draw me back. Until they can show me that they know what AC needs to be and are willing to move away from the current design philosophies, they won't be having me back as a consumer. I know Darby came back, but that alone isn't enough to bring me back anymore. I think one major thing they also need to do is allow characters to develop, like Ezio, Altair, and Desmond did. Even Layla COULD have developed well, if they actually gave any care to modern day in her games rather than have it show up at the beginning and end of those games. They actually need to allow characters to develop over the course of multiple stories, giving them enough focus in each story that it feels like we are growing with them.
I think this is my favourite AC game in story aspect despite all issues it has. Episodes with Altair was the best part of the game, It was nice to see him again and to managed him a little. The story is perfect. Connection between Altair and Ezio is really felt uniqe after their separate stories. Seeing like Ezio threat to Altair like wise mentor and brother was really great. The ending of game was... Brilliant! Really emotional moment.
This has to be one of the greatest most beautiful videos I've ever seen. Especially embers bit and the end. Just brings us all full circle with an ezio we know so well!
@LazerzZ DUDE The editing compilation of all those spectacular moments during the intro... I'm at a loss of words man... I had goosebumps for the whole time.. it made me nostalgic and sad.. but I had tears of joy that I could experience such a magnificent creation of art. The perfect interwoven synch of Altair, Ezio & Desmond and an even perfect depiction by you... perfect score and scenes editing man.. truly appreciate it fratello mio.
This game a masterpiece and deserves to be preserved for as long as possible. Ezio's letters to Claudia are actually a callback to the underrated Bloodlines. The ending scene with Ezio and the Sultan also mirrors the scene with Maria but with a different outcome.
I think/hope Darpy will watch this masterpiece of a video. you put it beautifully, james, this game was the perfect end to two amazing characters, that we hold so dear. coming back to this game after getting older and maturing is truly an amazing experience - i couldn’t really comprehend the story at 11 whilst speaking a foreign language, but coming back to this game and taking something meaningful away from experience is remarkable. we should never let Ubisoft have the power to make us not wanna remember this feeling, we need to hold on to this and just be so thankful we even had this story at all. Thank you, James, this was so needed! And thank you Darpy for an ending we’ll never forget.
You are a gem to do this James. For all the disconnect and disappointment I feel towards ubisoft and AC today for what it has become I am so glad that you could share this with us. The love for AC, what it stood for (or rather stands for in my heart) and the way it has affected my personal life is indescribable. I salute you my man for putting so much time and effort into this and the result u have produced is outstanding. I don't know if in the future, we will see more work like this from you with regards to AC, but in saying that I know for sure I will always have time for what you deliver. For these stories , these philosophies and ideals , and these characters have given us irreplaceable memories that we cherish and love and more importantly inspire us and like Ezio (also a nod to Robin Williams) mentions makes life worth living for.
Okay, I'm just at the end of the beginning montage, but that's a beautifully edited tribute. I'm grinning like a madman and have goosebumps all over me. I'm excited to hear the rest of your retrospective of AC:R.
I've been waiting for a free 2 hours to watch this and my god was it worth the wait, this retrospective is exquisite. I remember sitting down to play Revelations for the first time when it came out and how blown away by it I was. I don't think I've played it since and this video has brought all those emotions back and reminded me how much Ezio's story meant to me. Thank you for making this and sharing your passion for what was an excellent conclusion to a brilliant story.
This was a masterful retrospective of one of the greatest Assassins Creed games of all time. This game holds so much emotion & wraps up Altair & Ezio's stories beautifully. The scene at the end with Ezio finding Altair & talking to Desmond is indeed the greatest moment in video game history & my God the soundtrack for this game will never be matched.
First off, thank God you came back to finish you retrospective of the Ezio trilogy James! I'm happy to see you decided to remember a better time in Ubisoft's history. Secondly, it is a breath of fresh air to hear you speak of the original Assassin's Creed games with so much love. I feel like you and I had a very similar experience growing up with these games given that you started with AC1 and feel in love with the story right off the bad just like I did. I love hearing your support for the importance of modern day elements, I love hearing your support for the Desmond's Journey Puzzles, and I love your understanding of Ezio's conclusion. I know we see eye to eye on just about all things Assassin's Creed but incredible job all the same!
Your voice is the most important I’ve had, I sense growing up the same way. Looking at these games in awe when I was a small child learning English, learning these periods, learning about life. The conflict and philosophy is the most important thing Ive had to learn in my life, this is beyond nerdy reminiscent love. The orders creed is one I truly follow and agree with, it’s the best part of these games. It’s a shame it has been tainted over these years, belittled to nothing but micro transactions and stat scores. It’s a different world, we grow up with these characters. Stuck with you since day 1 Love the content
I never comment on videos on youtube, but this video was just perfect. I sat down and watched it from start to finish. The nostalgia was always going to be there for me but nearly every point made having meaning behind it, made this video special. AC Revelations is by far one of the best games made, from the soundtrack to the story to the messages. If anyone disagrees, this will be my go to video I would direct them to. I have watched LazerzZ content for a while now and did initially find him through his analysis' of AC games. This is by far my favourite video on his channel and I think his content is underrated. The time and effort that is quite clearly conveyed within the editing and length of the videos proves that there is real care. The retrospective videos have been a rewarding watch every time and I even go back to rewatch some of the older ones in my free time. When it comes to AC Revelations, it is a game that stands out from the rest (especially from the more modern installments into the franchise). It stands out for a plethora of reasons that this video covers perfectly from start to finish. I am lucky to have a connection with this game as it was the first AC game I properly played. Having now played every game in the franchise, I can clearly say that this is by far the best, despite its flaws which I feel are more quirks anyway. Thank you for this, what a watch! You may never see this comment but I feel I had to leave something as this is a masterpiece. Thank you again.
Revelations is my favourite AC game, it has my favourite soundtrack of any game ever made and I believe it tells one of the best stories ever written. That ending will forever be ingrained in my mind. This video may well be the last piece of AC content I consume just as revelations was the last game I played and I’d be fine with that. Thanks for the nostalgia trip James.
Wow. This was simply... incredible. I was hooked from the beginning and it kept my attention the whole way through. It delivered the same emotional beats while giving commentary which still felt like it added to the video. I have no words. Just wow.
This is a criminally underrated channel and deserves far more attention. Revelations was a game I remember begging my step-dad to get for me and I had recently finished brotherhood just before it came out. Got it the same day and while I didn't appreciate it as much at the time. Being years older with essentially fresh and new eyes gives me a whole new perspective of it and what it means as a closing chapter for an entire story. All in all, I love this video and I'm glad you've made these. Ezio has been and probably always will be one of my favorite characters in any games (right next to Geralt) never change ❤
Just completed my Ezio Trilogy Completionist playthrough and well I'm an emotional wreck. I'm glad you put this out in a weirdly timely manner for me. Thanks dog.
This was absolutely the most amazing video ever. I loved Ezio and Altair as well.. but honestly, at 25 when I played this game I must have lacked the understanding and wisdom of this story. With what you poured into this video, it makes me want to play revelations one more time myself just to take it all in one more time atleast.. You're a master of your craft and it took me back 10 years just watching and listening to you talk while I worked tonight. I literally had to sit down for the last 30 minutes just to take it in. Thanks for this!
I completely had the same love for the series as you did! I fell in love with it the moment i saw altair freerunning! There was so much love put into these first 4 games, people will never truly and fully understand why the new games will never live up to the first 4. No other game after revelations made me cry xD
Revelations is probably my favorite game in the whole franchise so this retrospective was fun to see. I do think that if Ubisoft gets their act together they could continue to make really good games again, but I guess we'll see. If AC were to have another game like Revelations, I wouldn't mind seeing a game centered around Arno looking into Bayek's past while also working with Shay, trying to compromise with the Templar while also dealing with the revelation that Shay murdered his father. Perhaps Arno and Bayek could have a sideplot in their stories where they're acting as fathers to Leon from the Dead Kings DLC and some young soul who learns of the Creed through Bayek. The end to the game could also have one of those moments like the end of Revelations; perhaps an Isu artifact that Shay and Arno were attempting to locate acts as a means of communication between time much like how Minerva communes to Ezio and Desmond in AC2. It would be interesting to see Arno talk about the Assassins of his time and have Bayek talk of the Creed and how he thinks the Parisan Templars can improve from where they are. It could be a great game if Ubisoft ever wanted to attempt it; even more so if Darby wrote it and Ubisoft worked through their bullshit.
I love the shot in the intro when they pull Ezio's hood down, seeing this weathered master Assassin, having out lived most of his family, and the rope being tightened, the same thing that took his father and brothers. I almost get the feeling that Ezio almost considers letting it end. Being at peace and seeing his father again, before snapping back and escaping.
You're retrospectives are amazing. The sheer love put into these videos is amazing. Appreciate you so much James, this has to be one of my favorite videos you've put out. Keep it up, much love.
I have been awaiting this video since after your Brotherhood retrospective. I recently played the trilogy again and Revelations is the most underrated game in the series it feels like.
Watching this brought tears to my eyes, not only because it reminded me of my teenage years and how much this franchise means to me, but also because it made it so clear of how majestic the story of Assassins Creed used to be compared to what came after Black Flag. Thank you for paying this hommage to a perfect the story that was the one of Ezio Auditore, it truly warmths my heart to know there are people out there with the same love of this series as me. I honestly hope Ubisoft can one day change for better, so you can go back to cover the games as you once did, and even though that doesn't seem very likely, one can only hope, until then, I'll see you in your other videos! Amazing work! Keep it up!
One thing I appreciate about this game is that all throughout, there's this subtle feeling of dread that Ezio is running out of time. I couldn't put my finger on it when it released, but now, in 2023, it's a kind of death anxiety. Ezio is 52 here, and I'm fairly sure most people didn't live to be that age at the time, and I so desperately wanted him to find love and have a family before it was over. And that added to the tension considerably. When Sophia is kidnapped, I remember freaking out, thinking that she was quite possibly the last semblance of family Ezio might ever have.
That’s a really good point, I feel that too. You want him to have some sort of closure. His family, something that was so important to him and who he is, was ripped away from him at 17, at 52, we want to see him regain that lost piece of himself.
I've never finished watching something of this kind, this is well written, well made. It gives light to the Creed in so many ways. As an older fan like you, this gave more depth to how much I loved this series before. Thank you for making this!
This was such a brilliant video. I’ve always loved this game and it’s story. The scene of ezio talking to Desmond has always given me chills every time I think or see the scene.
After discovering your channel a few days ago, and literally watching your Ezio retrospectives in a loop, (as it happens, right when I started replaying the Ezio collection, yet again, no less), I wanna say thank you!! Those videos give me goosebumps every time, and reassure me that I’m not the only one missing the older AC games and the lore that comes with it!!
Excellent video. I primarily came to this channel because of the AC content, and I'm a little gutted we won't get any kind of Valhalla broke me video (because it definitely deserves one) but respect you sticking to your guns.
You maybe wont see this comment, but if you actually do, i want to thank you very much for making this and other Assassins Creed retrospective videos. And thank you for making me remember times when i played older Assassins Creed games for the first time. Im a little sad because i will never have the same feelings that i had for the first time back in 2011 when i started playing this games, but im also happy that i got to enjoy them when i was a kid. I havent played newer AC games since i went to college and got a job, so i forgot how much this old games were beautiful and how much happiness and joy they gave me, and now, after watching and listening to your videos, i was again filled with those same feelings that made me cry a little. Again, i will thank you James, give a sub and like, and i wish you good luck in future. Im sorry if english is bad at some points, since it is not my native language, but i really wanted to write this. Thank you for reading. *It is a good life we lead brother* *The best. May it never change* *And may it never change us*
Im probably a bit older than you James but I remember this moment too. Was my fav franchise and that hype moment of revelations and ac3 was a great moment. Im glad to see you make this revelation retrospective. Pure Nostalgia! Thanks bro 👍
What a masterpiece, loved Ezio’s trilogy with all my heart and I always will. I will always go and play them and value what we got back then. I am grateful that we got a great conclusion to Ezios and Altair’s stories before we got what we have now. Thanks for these series of videos mate. Love them all!
2 hours 18 minutes 40 seconds. i can not skip a single seconds of this video. i have played everything even the archived dlc for subject 16 in revelation. 100% completion in ac 1 until revelation. this video sums up my feeling in my years of investing myself in ac universe. im glad for everyone that has given the chance to dive in this amazing experience from a game at least once in their life. and i just wanted to say thank you for making this video
I only watched the 7 1/2 minute intro, and I'm already wanting to pull this game out again. You sure know how to make a hype video! Altair, Ezio, Desmond, even Clay. The four people who were centered at this series for so many years, all having such pivotal moments in this game. Altair destroyed the corruption inside the Brotherhood and rebuilt it to be better. Ezio lost everything he knew before he was an Assassin. Clay was tortured to death and beyond because of his ancestry. Desmond sacrificed the ordinary life he knew to stop the apocalypse. This game took four crucial stories and made them one. Revelations has my favorite ending in the series because it took everything we've learned over the years and finalized it so flawlessly. We saw Altair rebuild the Brotherhood after AC I, Ezio learning from Altair one final time before making his own recordings and retiring, Clay as a fully fleshed out character after years of mystery, and Desmond, learning from all three of them, while having to deal with the trauma of murdering Lucy against his will and control. All of it just becomes even more heartbreaking in AC III. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton succeeds in defeating the colonial Templars, but fails to bring peace and liberty to the people, there was Desmond, who stopped the solar flare and killed Vidic, but did not defeat the Templar Order. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton killed his father, there was Desmond, risking everything he and his team worked for to save his own father. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton lost his mother, father, best friend, and mentor along his journey, there was Desmond, taking his own life to save the world. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton was left to bury his loved ones, there was Desmond, a still warm corpse left behind by his friends and family, so that they would have more time to escape the Templars' grasp. Holy shit, the first five games in this franchise are everything to me. I never realized how much love I had for Desmond's story until I started watching your reviews of these games (and I've only seen AC2 and Brotherhood so far!). I don't just want to play a game, I want to be told a story. One that has a twist at every turn and never misses a beat. Assassin's Creed hasn't had that story since AC III, and I wish they would return to the narrative gameplay that keeps you on the edge of your seat for hours, always wanting to know what happens next.
18:05 it should be noted that the Revelations theme did become the AC main theme for one game, namely Assassin’s Creed 3. Their main theme is an alternative version of the Revelations theme, only sped up. Also, actual Revelations soundtrack plays in the mission where Haytham infiltrates the Redcoat fort in the prologue (the sunny one, not the snowy one). I wish it had stayed that way.
This is the best retrospective I've seen from you James, loved it. The upgrades in the video's structure and writing are awesome. I couldn't even hold my tears while we were going to the end of the video, it was harder and harder. I broke up of cooooourse at the ending, I never watched that without crying (I also have to add I watch it rarely when I feel I need those feelings and I have a bad time IRL). The whole was round whole storytelling even anyone who doesn't know these games would cry. Next day I'll show it to my friend.:) Keep up the good work and have hope that Ubisoft changes one day.
I have to say thank you so much for this video. The Ezio trilogy is why I became a major fan so to see this retrospective brings a lot of fond memories and emotions. Thank you so much for all the years of content
What's this, James? Assassin Christmas? Really beautiful retrospective. I compulsively watched the whole thing and then cried at the end because I remembered how amazing AC used to be. It's such a shame that the series became a pointless anthology without overarching plot. The first 5 games were really amazing as a whole story.
A remarkable video. I don’t normally comment but this was done beautifully. Reliving the nostalgia and brilliance of AC Revelations alongside great commentary was splendid. Watched the whole thing one sitting.
I loved that in the end the templar guy who was sent to kill ezio just let him have his dignity while in his last moments. There's a sense of human respect that I just feel for it. Who know's what crazy stories this guy has been told about this man. A total legend. And there he is dying on a bench only a couple yards from his wife and daughter. It's just nice I guess. Makes the words he leaves behind hit a little harder.
James, I simply want to say thank you for the all three retrospectives. I was in tears at the end of this one when I remembered what these games meant to me.
Man, I just started this video, but the intro alone gave me goosebumps and made me feel hype for a game I played a decade ago. Pure gold! I can already see the passion you feel for this game. Bravo! Edit: Just finished it. Superb work, and an emotional reminder of why I loved this franchise until this point. Even discovered new subtle things that went over my head back in the day, mostly about the parallels between Ezio and Altair in the last part of their journeys. I think I want to replay this once again in my 360. And I agree with you, the ending of the Sync Nexus, where the lives of the 3 protagonists collide perfectly are an incredible way to tie everything nicely. That's the Endgame scene of AC. In my humble opinion, definitely the most special moment in the entire franchise. If only AC3 would've delivered to the massive build up that came with this game...
I wonder if an AC game where Ezio's daughter is the assassin would help bring the 'feel' of the series back to it's origins? I can envision so many cool flashback scenes of her father beginning to train her before he died. She was a child when he died in Embers, so you could create a whole story around how she came to join the Order after discovering old letters Ezio left for her; letters that shared some of the incredible wisdom he gained over a lifetime of being part of the Order himself. Perhaps include side missions where she seeks out these letters similar to the way Ezio sought out the Masyaf keys in Revelations. How cool would it be to play as Ezio in a next gen. version of Assassin's Creed?
Don't know if I'm the only one that feels this, but whenever I finish Revelations I always get this feeling like I'm still waiting for a true sequel, a new beggining for the series, as if everything that came after never existed to begin with. Maybe in some other universe that true sequel came, who knows. In a way I miss being so hyped for Assassins Creed like I used too. It's sad, cause when Assassins Creed really tries it can be something beyond special.
Oh man, thank you SO much for making this. The passion and love you have really shines here, and the way you analyse these games is always flawless. A brilliant end to a brilliant trilogy.
I have never been this hooked to a video in my life.... 2 Hours have gone by, But I could still hear more. The ADMIRATION, the DETAILS you remembered, The ONE AC fan I can never get JEALOUS of, You are a true fan of this EPIC of a game, which are the first FOUR installations of the game . JAMES, I respect you from the core of my heart to present this BEAUTIFUL, HEARTFELT experience you shared. THANK YOU, Fratello mio
James, this gift you've given us in the form of a retrospective is much more valuable than many realize. Much like Ezio, the Assassins that came before him, and a few who would come long after, you faced something difficult and uncomfortable, and saw it through to end. Not because you stubbornly held to a creed, but in spite of it. You took time to examine the information at hand and to reflect on it, and came to a decision as to how to forge ahead. That's admirable, and something to be celebrated. The situation at Ubisoft (among other places) is awful, full stop, but nothing will change if we, ourselves, do not change. I feel many could learn from your example, if only they had to courage to look at their own creed and realize, much like Ezio, that just because something served its purpose does not mean we must live by it forever. (To put it another way...what has been may not always be.)
From Masiaph to Itali, to Roma, to Konstantonopol, and then going back to where it all have began. To witness these men's jurney from arogance and lust for vengance to becoming one of the greatest mentors of their time. And to see them finaly meeting each other in person. It was a great conclusion for Ezio and his story as an assassin. To finaly retire and start living for himself and for the woman he fell in love with after fighting for more than 30 years in a war with no end or even with no begining.
Now that I really think about it, Shao Jun should have been the protagonist of AC3 which would have been the start of a new trilogy. Maybe she could have been connected to Eve somehow and started a rebellion of her own.
The Ezio Trilogy is my favourite in the AC franchise and since I got older, I'd say that storywise, Revelations is my favourite of the three. It's so melancholic and emotional, yet epic and mature. The cross over between Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond is such an emotional and nostalgic moment and the end, when the three are connected in Altaïrs library, I get goosebumps to this day. I agree with you that I wish they had picked the Assassin's Creed Theme song as the official Assassin's Creed theme and not Ezio's Family, as much as I love Ezio's Family, but Assassin's Creed Theme hits different. The intro of Revelations is the best intro of a video game to this day. My only complain about the game is how they changed the looks of Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond. They suddenly looked so weird, with their elongated faces. It was especially a bummer since the attractiveness of the three was always an important plot point, especially for Ezio (and the three look basically the same).
The mentions of Shenmue, Squiddish, Hexy, Rainy and the other AC UA-camrs from back in the day made me so nostalgic I actually ran into HelterSeltzer on DBD a few months back and he recognised my name cause I was pretty active in AC multiplayer and I followed all of those creators back in the day
"No. I have seen enough for one life."
The motto of every classic Assassin's Creed fan when a new AC game is released...
well when odyssey came out this was definitely my reaction
Bro which should i rather play ac2 and acb or acb and acr ( i wil see the unplayed game on youtube)
@@tejeswartejeswar8949 in my opinion you should play all of them, but if you can only play two of them, then play ac2 and acb, because the best way to appreciate the Ezio trilogy in my opinion is to see where he started by playing ac2, and then see him in his prime in acb
@@venomous8700 is ezio trilogy worth playing over gta5
how long will it take to complete ac2 and acb with dlcs.
For an average guy who does decent amount of side quests
That moment when Ezio came to realize that he was just "a conduit for a message that eludes [his] understanding" and told Desmond that they both were blessed to share their stories and speak across the centuries...is one of the most beautiful and somber moments I've experienced.
I feel you, it literally gave me goosebumps. I miss the old AC games man 🤦🏻♂️
Felt like a clearing! Respectfully! 🙏🏽
Dude seriously. It was an amazing story moment. For me it was the end of Assassin's Creed.
Man I do miss the Original Assassin's Creed game with Ezio
It's a shame that Desmond storyline is practically concluded in AC III. I never actively follow AC storyline after that, although I did played through Black Flag, because of how fun I think it was.
You could interpret the white tulip misson as Ezio not being able to do the most mundane things in life without turning them into assassin missions, since he is not used to normality.
It kinda plays into the themes of the game if you look at it like that.
You can see all of the missions throughout the Ezio series that aren't dierectly Assassin related this way actually. After he discovers the Creed, it ooverwhelms and permeates everything in his life until he ends up fully and utterly sick of the whole kit and caboodle.
@@GirishManjunathMusic "go bury your dad and brothers". Turns into kicking the shit out of guards, and sneaking through an ally with dead bodies.
Side mission flashback from Brotherhood.
Kinda like a meta commentary thing like spec ops the line?
When i was younger i always said that Brotherhood was my favourite AC game and i never saw anything topping it, but as i got older i started to appreciate Revelations a lot more for what it did and how it so beautifully wrapped up both Altair and Ezio's stories. I think looking back now id say Revelations is my favourite because of its outstanding emotional writing and soundtrack, i really cant get enough of this game.
I really tried to enjoy it but for some reason I had not much fun with it, idk why but I never had any connection to the characters in Revelations.
Na assasins creed 2 was my best. Related with ezio so much
Damn I might have to play this one again my favourite is ac2 I got few memories on revelations I remember it being the worst out the 3
Yep. Revelations ended up being my favorite of the trilogy too…
Speaking of Suleiman, another thing to appreciate about old Assassins Creed is the way it treated it's historical figures. Nowadays historical figures are treated more like cameos instead of actual characters. Da Vinci, Machiavelli, Suleiman, Black Beard, all feel like distinct character and that was done so well that you feel compelled by their character instead of going 'hey look a famous historical figure, that's neat'
Not really Unity had Marquis de sade who was his own character part of main missions and side missions with Arno and in Origins Cleopatra is fundamental to the main story
@@00Batmanmaybe a few characters are good, but in the ezio trilogy every historical character felt like they were there for the right reasons, that they had personality. Then you have Syndicate which pretty much included Marx, Dickens, Darwin just to check off a few boxes and had no idea what they were like or what to do with them
This video reminded me so much of why I love videogames, why I love history, why I love many old epics, because that's what the Ezio trilogy is. Gameplays that makes you imagine more than what's in front of you, an atmosphere that makes you feel a grand journey, and most importantly a meaningful and philosophical story without the flaws and inconsistencies of the many old epics.
It's because of assassins creed that became interested in history. Learning what actually happened and then replaying them and understanding the tiniest and intelligent tweeks ubisoft made with real historical events was insane. A huge part of why I loved these games. Top tier writing.
I have to say i owe the fact i study history in university right now to the original assassins creed games
I'm very happy to see James decided to complete his retrospective trilogy! I understand his position on ubisoft and agree wholeheartedly but as a longtime fan of his work I'm incredibly excited to watch this!
hey can you explain too me what was going on with ubisoft idk what is going on that front
@@skaxavatar6393 I think it's to do with the sexual harassment female employees have been receiving in Ubisoft and other places and how James said in a video that he won't support a company that just lets it happen
@@majimasimp thank you
@@skaxavatar6393 np
Bro which should i rather play ac2 and acb or acb and acr ( i wil see the unplayed game on youtube)
I must have played hundreds of games in my life and I must have forgotten most of them but there is one scene that I will never ever forget and that is the library one at the end of Revelations, the combination of soundtrack, dialogue, camera movement and everything else has made it unforgettable!
The scene that gets me more now that ever is the scene with Ezio and Desmond, not just because of its place in the franchise as the culmination of three games, this amazing character and being an emotional moment in and of itself… but of how it relates to me and, I suppose most relevant of all, how I look at the franchise.
Sort of like the Isu artefacts being what unites Altair, Ezio and Desmond, this game has been with me through the changes in my life and how I view this franchise; From hyped optimism in 2011 to renewed faith with Black Flag to excuse making with Syndicate to false hope in Origins and finally acceptance with Odyssey but always looking back on this batch of four games that had packed in them so much love, care, character and story that I was hoping all the subsequent releases would return to but… never did. And every time I replayed them to remember what was good, it was like looking back on all those past versions of myself all over again.
Who are we, who have been blessed to have been shared stories like this? To speak across game generations? Maybe one day all this suffering will be worth something in the end.
But nah. That special thing this franchise was is long since over and while it might have been one of the most popular franchises in history, while Desmond might have grown to be one of the most popular video game characters of all time… it wasn’t to be, and now it’s a shell and husk of what it was but unlike Ezio himself, it is not permitted the dignity of a peaceful and graceful end.
I love how you are writing this before vthr video is even up
@@mallerschwab980 It’s up now and I stand by it. :p
We meet again, King.
I vividly remember everyone bitching and complaining about the modern story and Desmond and how they wanted him gone. Then when they got their wish in AC3, everyone started backpedaling 😂🤡🤡only to somewhat bring him back in the Grey at the end of Valhalla.
@@RenegadeX025 most old timers and fans didn’t want Desmond to go, it was the casuals who didn’t care for MD who wanted him gone. The same people who loved BF & Valhalla/Odyssey.
AC 1, Ezio trilogy and black flag truly were something else. Banger games.
“My story is but one of thousands, and the world will not suffer if it ends too soon.”
No, but the AC franchise _will_ suffer, Ezio… more than I thought any of us could possibly have imagined when we said goodbye to him in 2011.
“Ah, the end of an era.”
Altair’s words should not have been anywhere near as prophetic as that.
Yeah, I’ve always thought it was weird how little impact meeting 16 had on Desmond. I remember thinking I’d have had 100 questions for him, simply about wtf any of his clues mean - we still don’t know who Eve is or what she has to do with anything thanks Ubi - but it was instead very expositional which still annoyed me ngl.
It honestly reminds me of Arby and Chief reuniting in 5 and how little impact a meeting of that significance should have had.
James spoiling today us with the whole opening scene 😩😩😩
James I came to relive nostalgic euphoria not be depressed about how bad the current games are, pls stop 😂
(But you’re right, the shoving of past AC content to the back as the current thing being more important, allegedly, is a depressing turn for this series ironically focused around history :///)
I think the fact that the development of Revelations was so rushed explains why Constantinople feels so subtle, as you put it, compared to the previous cities as it feels a lot less distinctive and developed compared to them.
I wish I could agree that it has its own charm but I don’t really find much about it I enjoy and if it weren’t for the music, the open world gameplay might have started to get tedious for me.
When i was a kid I bought this game cuz the cover looked cool.
But with my limited knowledge on ezios life and assassins creed as whole, Ezios speech STILL got me. EVERYTHING it wanted to convey, I felt. Even without the full context. That's something. It's incredible story telling
Lol same, It’s my favorite AC out of all of them
1:40 This hurt so bad for me. To this day, Yusuf is my favorite side character, tied there with Adewale and Achilles. When I saw him die, I nearly threw my controller in rage
Same. It was so tragic to just see him there slumped over, blade in his back.
This brings me an overwhelming nostalgic feeling... I remember that this was my very last AC game in my childhood, I played the very first 4 games and give a shot to Bloodlines then on PSP. Brotherhood was always my favorite one. Never tried or give a chance to the rest of them, mostly for money problems back then, but looking back I feel that you can't get more epic and exciting than this. Altair/Ezio's saga is just Assassins Creed at his truly best.
Is this true ? Is James giving us old AC content ? Ah just like those days😍😍
And 2 hours long?? Beatiful
This is the final so I feel empty now
I wish the old Ubisoft would come back every game was good even splinter cell chaos theory and double agent, I let them off with conviction because it made sense sam fisher was like fuck this spy shit and fucked everyone up to save his daughter 😂
Ubisoft misunderstood why we liked conviction then made splintercell blacklist Eww 🤢
This was a beautiful retrospective, James. The edit at the beginning with Altaïr’s line “the end of an era” coming in right at the end hit particularly hard, because, yea, this game really was the end of an era for Assassin’s Creed. Still, no matter how fucked the series has gotten since then, we’ll always have these games to come back to.
Also, thank you for the shoutout, it’s much appreciated :D
Black Flag was still good though.
@@silvanvanderhorst7366 absolutely. But it wasn’t like this.
@@jcers I'd argue that AC3 has an amazing villain. Haytham is developed pretty good. I don't dislike Conor as much as other people tend to, but I can see how someone might not like him at all.
Had they gone all with Haytham, it would be a really decent game.
I'd also argue that Origins was pretty decent as well, altho I didn't like the idea behind the creation of the assassins and their symbol
@@arshiaaghaei Of the three newest games, Origins is the only one worth a damn. Even then... the writing could have been better, and also Bayek deserves a trilogy himself.
Oh snap, what a pleasant surprise! Glad to see you decided to keep up the old AC content. We need more people reminding us of what Assassins Creed used to be, if there is to be any hope of it returning some day.
It won't, it's only memories
@@dylanrinker6831 true. I think it’s time for ac fans to just look at the old games and be like “ah the good old days” and don’t worry about it getting back to what it was or not. It’s dead in the water people. There are game franchises out there that are way more interesting and better made then the current ac’s. We can just look at the older games as pieces of entertainment that we feel really nostalgic for and there’s no need for wondering what’s next to come
It’s only memories yeah that’s the game
I think the only hope the franchise would have if the IP gets bought by a different developer/company which actually gives a shit about making a good game to actually finish the series instead of just making another shallow, micro-transaction filled 'game', which tries to appeal to a larger market to make more money but chucks a bunch of cheap references in to please long time fans.
Your going to need an animus to relive these games because the series died when they decided to go RPG (even if Origins was a good game).
Ezio's story is so great here especially the diaries he writes and narrates between sequences. I love his interaction between him and Desmond. And how he tries to be like altair. Drawn forward like a moth to a distant moon…man the lines written are so awesome.
I wasn’t a kid playing this game. I was 20 years old and had grown up with a PS1 and PS2 and honestly when I look back now turning 30, this felt to me like the pinnacle of gaming. COD and AC both cared about their releases and I could always talk to mates about what game I was playing. Todays next gen graphics are obviously better, but gaming never felt as fun and meaningful as it was between 2007-2012. For me the golden age of gaming with your friends and incredible story writing. Thanks for the video James!
Agreed...I was abit younger at 16...but I was blown away. Games just aren't made the same...in a world of money and greed quality will forever be put on the backburner to fatten those pockets.
Nah. Golden eye N64 was and is the best game
@@jtboss8139 geez that was another banger! I still remember the music on facility like it was yesterday. Awesome game 🙌🏼
@@Ilovewafflelina yeah man that’s it hey. I realise companies need to make profit nowadays but micro transactions are utter BS
I was the same age, and can relate to and agree wholeheartedly. I think age is a big factor, I just cannot find the time or the focus now like I could then to just immerse myself in games, and that plays into that feeling that it was the golden era. It was just a perfect storm of time of our life, evolution of the industry where hardware intertwined with story telling and creative vision. I find myself now enjoying games in the increasingly fleeting periods I get to play them but I never feel that sheer immersion I did back then. Possibly only Red Dead 2 in recent times has given me that feeling, which is possibly also a testament to truly great story telling being to me the all important aspect of what makes me enjoy games.
This was a phenomenal retrospective in that regard, capturing the feeling and meaning of the story superbly and delivering a stunning character and narrative analysis. A true masterpiece and i am so glad I stumbled on this video.
Thank you so much for this video. It reminded me just how much this franchise really meant for me. I remember being a kid, sitting on forums and endlessly speculating about where Revelations will take us next, if Ezio will even be the main character. Concerns about whether or not it will even be good, if it could pay off such an insane cliffhanger in Brotherhood. In the end, Revelations did that and so much more. It paid off the unanswered questions from all the games that came before, questions that we didn't even know to ask. It wrapped up the story of Altair and Ezio, finally passing the torch to Desmond. And while I do like Assassin's Creed 3 a lot, Revelations is where the story ended for me. 3 characters that we've grown to love, all coming together and talking to each other through centuries, sharing their memories. The ending really makes me cry every time. It was a beautiful journey and I don't think any following AC game has surpassed it.
I'll always say it, AC3 should have been all in modern day with Desmond.
@@davidstinger1134 yeah and it should have been the last game of the franchise
James, what a video man. Going through this game and the old days was truly emotional and special
Going in I was still feeling a bit weird and uncomfortable because of the whole stuff with Ubisoft, but the beginning of the video, how you said you needed to let go really helped me overcome that. The whole video itself was a masterpiece and I was so into it. Seeing those amazing moments again and thinking back to those days was a blessing. I never expected to feel something like that with this again. The editing work, the explanations behind character actions/motivations, the parts you took from secret crusade, and so much more in this video was perfect. This is you at your best.
Thank you so much for making this video. You have done a perfect job.
@N7Andy Mainky because I just cut myself off from anything Ubisoft when all the shit went down. The franchise became kind of tainted for me because it was made by this company. That’s just something I struggled with myself and many others have as well.
This video had me in tears after the intro alone. James did it again
There are probably many 100 of people that worked on the AC games. Punish the company and the people involved in doing wrong things is one thing but it is wrong to punish all those people who did no wrong and made legendary games and stories.
Bro which should i rather play ac2 and acb or acb and acr ( i wil see the unplayed game on youtube)
@N7Andy yeah
Dude. James. Lazerzz. Thank you for this. Ive always thought Revelations had the best writing and story telling in the entirety of the AC series. Getting to revisit this now, gave me the feeling that AC used to give me. That same feeling only exists in small portions in select games from the series. This philosophy, this exploring of these ideologies against and paralleling each other, this character depth and arc, these settings and eras helping to lift up, frame and support and add another layer to the core pillars of this story. Thanks for reminding me why this series, well parts of this series, is among my favorite stories and anything ever, why i love it so much, why it inspires me as a thinker, as a writer and story teller, as a person to a degree as well.
Tf happened to the series right? Why did this depth and level of brilliance and conveying and thought provoking just.....ah man.
Thank you for this James. Keep up the good work. Thank you for the time and energy you put into these videos and everything else you do. Continue to be well.
This video was so beautiful, especially the ending from sequence 9 through to embers. Looking back on Ezio's story, the connections shared through Altair and Desmond across centuries, nothing will ever be as beautiful or as poetic as what this quadriology of games managed to achieve. Your words narrated this perfectly. Ezio will always be one of my favourite video game characters.
Always thought the tulip mission was Ezio going the distance for Sofia. Him tailing the flower guy is the boyish part of Ezio showing in his refusal to wait, especially for the women he loves. I love it, it reminds me of him in AC2 when he goes to see Cristina, even though Federico tells him it’s a bad idea.
Man…that last 10-15mins of this video got me good. AC1-Revelations all finished perfectly with this game. All though Black Flag was an unreal game, the series did plummet (from a real AC fan perspective) after this game. I felt they tried to bring it back with modern day snippets (like that “I’m trying to save you” in Valhalla but it just feels to far gone.
These first four games though really showed what this series was and could of been. Kinda bitter sweet how good they were they set a standard that Ubisoft won’t ever reach.
Thank you for an absolutely unreal retrospective. All three of them in this series. Your ability to tell this story, beyond what the game even tells us. This was a masterclass to watch from someone who hasn’t played the series in a while. Out done yourself!
Bro which should i rather play ac2 and acb or acb and acr ( i wil see the unplayed game on youtube)
@@tejeswartejeswar8949 ac2 then AcB
the automatic walking alonside someone feature was the greatest thing ever
Loved this video. I agree with a lot of what you say, especially about how impressive it is that this game was made in such a short time. I also came to a similar place where I don't feel like I want to buy AC anymore, and I also ended up replaying the Ezio Collection late last year. I think Revelations is in my top 2 or 3 stories in AC. I really love Black Flag and Edward's story there, so it probably falls behind that for me overall, especially since I think Black Flag does better in many ways at the game part.
Although I think we disagree on AC3 and Syndicate based on what you said. I think they're better than they get credit for, and I think Syndicate was the last AC game that truly showed promise for where the series could have gone. I think if AC3 had a different ending, it might have ended up as my favorite. Thankfully, I think Valhalla retroactively improves the ending for me, but I still don't like that we never really saw a full on modern day assassin vs templar battle that the series had seemed to be suggesting leading up to that. With AC3 developing the tech for mass crowd simulation, it would have been the perfect place to culminate the story in an epic battle like that. Sure the modern day missions had some cool stuff in them, but they just didn't live up to where I thought the series was heading. I do love the historical setting and story, unlike some people. With some minor tweaks to the modern day story though, I think AC3 could have been my favorite. It just fell short.
@Walker I think there are good elements in the game. I actually like the issue stuff, because I think it does expand the lore, but I also like like doing it from the perspective of ancient mythologies. To be fair, even in the original games, the Isu were still representing Roman mythology. I think the modern day story, while too brief, actually works well in Valhalla. I think some of the Viking and English history stuff works well in Valhalla, but I think it's way too overly stuffed and poorly paced. Ultimately, the game is too long, and the gameplay is not fun enough. These two things make it one of the weakest entries overall, even though it does have some redeemable qualities to it.
I'm not interested in buying the next AC right now. IF Ubisoft can show me that they're willing to create smaller, more focused stories, put great care into the lore, have gameplay that feels better with more cinematic flare and better parkour, then they might draw me back. Until they can show me that they know what AC needs to be and are willing to move away from the current design philosophies, they won't be having me back as a consumer. I know Darby came back, but that alone isn't enough to bring me back anymore.
I think one major thing they also need to do is allow characters to develop, like Ezio, Altair, and Desmond did. Even Layla COULD have developed well, if they actually gave any care to modern day in her games rather than have it show up at the beginning and end of those games. They actually need to allow characters to develop over the course of multiple stories, giving them enough focus in each story that it feels like we are growing with them.
I think this is my favourite AC game in story aspect despite all issues it has.
Episodes with Altair was the best part of the game, It was nice to see him again and to managed him a little.
The story is perfect. Connection between Altair and Ezio is really felt uniqe after their separate stories.
Seeing like Ezio threat to Altair like wise mentor and brother was really great.
The ending of game was... Brilliant! Really emotional moment.
Did you not do the flash back missions in brotherhood? Felt like revelations was more about the order less about ezio
This has to be one of the greatest most beautiful videos I've ever seen. Especially embers bit and the end. Just brings us all full circle with an ezio we know so well!
Thank you so much!
Man that intro you made is beautiful. I can tell how much the series means to you, up until 3.
This surely is the best ac story ever told with the best dialogue and story immersion. No one can prove me otherwise
100% agree
@LazerzZ DUDE The editing compilation of all those spectacular moments during the intro... I'm at a loss of words man... I had goosebumps for the whole time.. it made me nostalgic and sad.. but I had tears of joy that I could experience such a magnificent creation of art. The perfect interwoven synch of Altair, Ezio & Desmond and an even perfect depiction by you... perfect score and scenes editing man.. truly appreciate it fratello mio.
This game a masterpiece and deserves to be preserved for as long as possible.
Ezio's letters to Claudia are actually a callback to the underrated Bloodlines. The ending scene with Ezio and the Sultan also mirrors the scene with Maria but with a different outcome.
I think/hope Darpy will watch this masterpiece of a video.
you put it beautifully, james, this game was the perfect end to two amazing characters, that we hold so dear.
coming back to this game after getting older and maturing is truly an amazing experience - i couldn’t really comprehend the story at 11 whilst speaking a foreign language, but coming back to this game and taking something meaningful away from experience is remarkable.
we should never let Ubisoft have the power to make us not wanna remember this feeling, we need to hold on to this and just be so thankful we even had this story at all.
Thank you, James, this was so needed!
And thank you Darpy for an ending we’ll never forget.
You are a gem to do this James. For all the disconnect and disappointment I feel towards ubisoft and AC today for what it has become I am so glad that you could share this with us. The love for AC, what it stood for (or rather stands for in my heart) and the way it has affected my personal life is indescribable. I salute you my man for putting so much time and effort into this and the result u have produced is outstanding. I don't know if in the future, we will see more work like this from you with regards to AC, but in saying that I know for sure I will always have time for what you deliver. For these stories , these philosophies and ideals , and these characters have given us irreplaceable memories that we cherish and love and more importantly inspire us and like Ezio (also a nod to Robin Williams) mentions makes life worth living for.
Okay, I'm just at the end of the beginning montage, but that's a beautifully edited tribute. I'm grinning like a madman and have goosebumps all over me. I'm excited to hear the rest of your retrospective of AC:R.
I've been waiting for a free 2 hours to watch this and my god was it worth the wait, this retrospective is exquisite. I remember sitting down to play Revelations for the first time when it came out and how blown away by it I was. I don't think I've played it since and this video has brought all those emotions back and reminded me how much Ezio's story meant to me. Thank you for making this and sharing your passion for what was an excellent conclusion to a brilliant story.
When Ezio greets Altaïr as Fratello Mio and even says requiescat in pace to him, makes me ugly cry
This was a masterful retrospective of one of the greatest Assassins Creed games of all time. This game holds so much emotion & wraps up Altair & Ezio's stories beautifully. The scene at the end with Ezio finding Altair & talking to Desmond is indeed the greatest moment in video game history & my God the soundtrack for this game will never be matched.
First off, thank God you came back to finish you retrospective of the Ezio trilogy James! I'm happy to see you decided to remember a better time in Ubisoft's history. Secondly, it is a breath of fresh air to hear you speak of the original Assassin's Creed games with so much love. I feel like you and I had a very similar experience growing up with these games given that you started with AC1 and feel in love with the story right off the bad just like I did. I love hearing your support for the importance of modern day elements, I love hearing your support for the Desmond's Journey Puzzles, and I love your understanding of Ezio's conclusion. I know we see eye to eye on just about all things Assassin's Creed but incredible job all the same!
This was and still is my favourite ac game, had a little cry at the end, it was beautiful
Mee to bro but my favorite ac it's AC4 and then this trilogy and for the parkour unity but but the best hiden blades remains ezios
Your voice is the most important I’ve had, I sense growing up the same way. Looking at these games in awe when I was a small child learning English, learning these periods, learning about life. The conflict and philosophy is the most important thing Ive had to learn in my life, this is beyond nerdy reminiscent love. The orders creed is one I truly follow and agree with, it’s the best part of these games. It’s a shame it has been tainted over these years, belittled to nothing but micro transactions and stat scores. It’s a different world, we grow up with these characters.
Stuck with you since day 1
Love the content
I never comment on videos on youtube, but this video was just perfect. I sat down and watched it from start to finish. The nostalgia was always going to be there for me but nearly every point made having meaning behind it, made this video special. AC Revelations is by far one of the best games made, from the soundtrack to the story to the messages. If anyone disagrees, this will be my go to video I would direct them to. I have watched LazerzZ content for a while now and did initially find him through his analysis' of AC games. This is by far my favourite video on his channel and I think his content is underrated. The time and effort that is quite clearly conveyed within the editing and length of the videos proves that there is real care. The retrospective videos have been a rewarding watch every time and I even go back to rewatch some of the older ones in my free time.
When it comes to AC Revelations, it is a game that stands out from the rest (especially from the more modern installments into the franchise). It stands out for a plethora of reasons that this video covers perfectly from start to finish. I am lucky to have a connection with this game as it was the first AC game I properly played. Having now played every game in the franchise, I can clearly say that this is by far the best, despite its flaws which I feel are more quirks anyway.
Thank you for this, what a watch!
You may never see this comment but I feel I had to leave something as this is a masterpiece.
Thank you again.
Revelations is my favourite AC game, it has my favourite soundtrack of any game ever made and I believe it tells one of the best stories ever written. That ending will forever be ingrained in my mind. This video may well be the last piece of AC content I consume just as revelations was the last game I played and I’d be fine with that. Thanks for the nostalgia trip James.
Wow. This was simply... incredible. I was hooked from the beginning and it kept my attention the whole way through. It delivered the same emotional beats while giving commentary which still felt like it added to the video. I have no words. Just wow.
This is a criminally underrated channel and deserves far more attention. Revelations was a game I remember begging my step-dad to get for me and I had recently finished brotherhood just before it came out. Got it the same day and while I didn't appreciate it as much at the time. Being years older with essentially fresh and new eyes gives me a whole new perspective of it and what it means as a closing chapter for an entire story. All in all, I love this video and I'm glad you've made these. Ezio has been and probably always will be one of my favorite characters in any games (right next to Geralt) never change ❤
Just completed my Ezio Trilogy Completionist playthrough and well I'm an emotional wreck. I'm glad you put this out in a weirdly timely manner for me. Thanks dog.
This was absolutely the most amazing video ever. I loved Ezio and Altair as well.. but honestly, at 25 when I played this game I must have lacked the understanding and wisdom of this story. With what you poured into this video, it makes me want to play revelations one more time myself just to take it all in one more time atleast.. You're a master of your craft and it took me back 10 years just watching and listening to you talk while I worked tonight. I literally had to sit down for the last 30 minutes just to take it in. Thanks for this!
Thank you for making this. The end really brought a tear to my eye
I completely had the same love for the series as you did! I fell in love with it the moment i saw altair freerunning! There was so much love put into these first 4 games, people will never truly and fully understand why the new games will never live up to the first 4. No other game after revelations made me cry xD
Revelations is probably my favorite game in the whole franchise so this retrospective was fun to see. I do think that if Ubisoft gets their act together they could continue to make really good games again, but I guess we'll see. If AC were to have another game like Revelations, I wouldn't mind seeing a game centered around Arno looking into Bayek's past while also working with Shay, trying to compromise with the Templar while also dealing with the revelation that Shay murdered his father. Perhaps Arno and Bayek could have a sideplot in their stories where they're acting as fathers to Leon from the Dead Kings DLC and some young soul who learns of the Creed through Bayek. The end to the game could also have one of those moments like the end of Revelations; perhaps an Isu artifact that Shay and Arno were attempting to locate acts as a means of communication between time much like how Minerva communes to Ezio and Desmond in AC2. It would be interesting to see Arno talk about the Assassins of his time and have Bayek talk of the Creed and how he thinks the Parisan Templars can improve from where they are. It could be a great game if Ubisoft ever wanted to attempt it; even more so if Darby wrote it and Ubisoft worked through their bullshit.
I love the shot in the intro when they pull Ezio's hood down, seeing this weathered master Assassin, having out lived most of his family, and the rope being tightened, the same thing that took his father and brothers. I almost get the feeling that Ezio almost considers letting it end. Being at peace and seeing his father again, before snapping back and escaping.
Can’t wait for this 🤩🤩 Christmas came early 🎅
You're retrospectives are amazing. The sheer love put into these videos is amazing. Appreciate you so much James, this has to be one of my favorite videos you've put out. Keep it up, much love.
I have been awaiting this video since after your Brotherhood retrospective. I recently played the trilogy again and Revelations is the most underrated game in the series it feels like.
Watching this brought tears to my eyes, not only because it reminded me of my teenage years and how much this franchise means to me, but also because it made it so clear of how majestic the story of Assassins Creed used to be compared to what came after Black Flag.
Thank you for paying this hommage to a perfect the story that was the one of Ezio Auditore, it truly warmths my heart to know there are people out there with the same love of this series as me.
I honestly hope Ubisoft can one day change for better, so you can go back to cover the games as you once did, and even though that doesn't seem very likely, one can only hope, until then, I'll see you in your other videos!
Amazing work! Keep it up!
One thing I appreciate about this game is that all throughout, there's this subtle feeling of dread that Ezio is running out of time.
I couldn't put my finger on it when it released, but now, in 2023, it's a kind of death anxiety.
Ezio is 52 here, and I'm fairly sure most people didn't live to be that age at the time, and I so desperately wanted him to find love and have a family before it was over.
And that added to the tension considerably.
When Sophia is kidnapped, I remember freaking out, thinking that she was quite possibly the last semblance of family Ezio might ever have.
That’s a really good point, I feel that too. You want him to have some sort of closure. His family, something that was so important to him and who he is, was ripped away from him at 17, at 52, we want to see him regain that lost piece of himself.
@@LazerzZ Cheers for the response. Been binging all the videos. Would love to hear your thoughts on AC3 through Rogue. Would watch them :)
I've never finished watching something of this kind, this is well written, well made. It gives light to the Creed in so many ways. As an older fan like you, this gave more depth to how much I loved this series before. Thank you for making this!
This was such a brilliant video. I’ve always loved this game and it’s story. The scene of ezio talking to Desmond has always given me chills every time I think or see the scene.
After discovering your channel a few days ago, and literally watching your Ezio retrospectives in a loop, (as it happens, right when I started replaying the Ezio collection, yet again, no less), I wanna say thank you!! Those videos give me goosebumps every time, and reassure me that I’m not the only one missing the older AC games and the lore that comes with it!!
Thank you so much! really glad they resonated with you, I loved making them. Huge thank you!
Excellent video. I primarily came to this channel because of the AC content, and I'm a little gutted we won't get any kind of Valhalla broke me video (because it definitely deserves one) but respect you sticking to your guns.
You maybe wont see this comment, but if you actually do, i want to thank you very much for making this and other Assassins Creed retrospective videos. And thank you for making me remember times when i played older Assassins Creed games for the first time. Im a little sad because i will never have the same feelings that i had for the first time back in 2011 when i started playing this games, but im also happy that i got to enjoy them when i was a kid. I havent played newer AC games since i went to college and got a job, so i forgot how much this old games were beautiful and how much happiness and joy they gave me, and now, after watching and listening to your videos, i was again filled with those same feelings that made me cry a little.
Again, i will thank you James, give a sub and like, and i wish you good luck in future.
Im sorry if english is bad at some points, since it is not my native language, but i really wanted to write this. Thank you for reading.
*It is a good life we lead brother*
*The best. May it never change*
*And may it never change us*
Im probably a bit older than you James but I remember this moment too. Was my fav franchise and that hype moment of revelations and ac3 was a great moment. Im glad to see you make this revelation retrospective. Pure Nostalgia! Thanks bro 👍
The pan around for Altair in the library gets me every fucking time
What a masterpiece, loved Ezio’s trilogy with all my heart and I always will. I will always go and play them and value what we got back then. I am grateful that we got a great conclusion to Ezios and Altair’s stories before we got what we have now. Thanks for these series of videos mate. Love them all!
Damn this video made me miss the series. Such a great vid. Well explained and easily worth the 2 hour watch
2 hours 18 minutes 40 seconds. i can not skip a single seconds of this video. i have played everything even the archived dlc for subject 16 in revelation. 100% completion in ac 1 until revelation. this video sums up my feeling in my years of investing myself in ac universe.
im glad for everyone that has given the chance to dive in this amazing experience from a game at least once in their life. and i just wanted to say thank you for making this video
Thank you for watching! So glad it resonated with you 🙌🏻
I only watched the 7 1/2 minute intro, and I'm already wanting to pull this game out again. You sure know how to make a hype video! Altair, Ezio, Desmond, even Clay. The four people who were centered at this series for so many years, all having such pivotal moments in this game.
Altair destroyed the corruption inside the Brotherhood and rebuilt it to be better.
Ezio lost everything he knew before he was an Assassin.
Clay was tortured to death and beyond because of his ancestry.
Desmond sacrificed the ordinary life he knew to stop the apocalypse.
This game took four crucial stories and made them one. Revelations has my favorite ending in the series because it took everything we've learned over the years and finalized it so flawlessly. We saw Altair rebuild the Brotherhood after AC I, Ezio learning from Altair one final time before making his own recordings and retiring, Clay as a fully fleshed out character after years of mystery, and Desmond, learning from all three of them, while having to deal with the trauma of murdering Lucy against his will and control.
All of it just becomes even more heartbreaking in AC III. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton succeeds in defeating the colonial Templars, but fails to bring peace and liberty to the people, there was Desmond, who stopped the solar flare and killed Vidic, but did not defeat the Templar Order. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton killed his father, there was Desmond, risking everything he and his team worked for to save his own father. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton lost his mother, father, best friend, and mentor along his journey, there was Desmond, taking his own life to save the world. Where Ratonhnhaké:ton was left to bury his loved ones, there was Desmond, a still warm corpse left behind by his friends and family, so that they would have more time to escape the Templars' grasp.
Holy shit, the first five games in this franchise are everything to me. I never realized how much love I had for Desmond's story until I started watching your reviews of these games (and I've only seen AC2 and Brotherhood so far!). I don't just want to play a game, I want to be told a story. One that has a twist at every turn and never misses a beat. Assassin's Creed hasn't had that story since AC III, and I wish they would return to the narrative gameplay that keeps you on the edge of your seat for hours, always wanting to know what happens next.
18:05 it should be noted that the Revelations theme did become the AC main theme for one game, namely Assassin’s Creed 3. Their main theme is an alternative version of the Revelations theme, only sped up. Also, actual Revelations soundtrack plays in the mission where Haytham infiltrates the Redcoat fort in the prologue (the sunny one, not the snowy one). I wish it had stayed that way.
Dude the intro holds up so well still. Such a technical feat for the time. Absolutely gorgeous to this day.
This is the best retrospective I've seen from you James, loved it. The upgrades in the video's structure and writing are awesome. I couldn't even hold my tears while we were going to the end of the video, it was harder and harder. I broke up of cooooourse at the ending, I never watched that without crying (I also have to add I watch it rarely when I feel I need those feelings and I have a bad time IRL). The whole was round whole storytelling even anyone who doesn't know these games would cry. Next day I'll show it to my friend.:) Keep up the good work and have hope that Ubisoft changes one day.
I have to say thank you so much for this video. The Ezio trilogy is why I became a major fan so to see this retrospective brings a lot of fond memories and emotions. Thank you so much for all the years of content
Beautiful retrospective, man! Really enjoyed it! Revelations is definitely a staple in the AC library!
The "End of an Era" line at the end of the intro got me. It hits so much harder than it did in 2011.
This i feel is greatest game storywise,
That moment when old Altair sees the memory projections of his own past is damn emotional.....
Seriously one of the most well put together videos I’ve watched in some time, enjoyed every second
What's this, James? Assassin Christmas? Really beautiful retrospective. I compulsively watched the whole thing and then cried at the end because I remembered how amazing AC used to be. It's such a shame that the series became a pointless anthology without overarching plot. The first 5 games were really amazing as a whole story.
That whole beginning intro was fantastic. Great editing!!
i will always say altair pulled up to masyaf in the 1200s with a glock attached to his wrist at 80 something years old
A remarkable video. I don’t normally comment but this was done beautifully.
Reliving the nostalgia and brilliance of AC Revelations alongside great commentary was splendid. Watched the whole thing one sitting.
Man, this was a beautiful tribute. There were lumps down my throat and tears streaming down my cheeks. Couldn't have said it any better.
the desmond/altair/ezio meetup is one of my favorite moments in gaming history
I loved that in the end the templar guy who was sent to kill ezio just let him have his dignity while in his last moments. There's a sense of human respect that I just feel for it. Who know's what crazy stories this guy has been told about this man. A total legend. And there he is dying on a bench only a couple yards from his wife and daughter. It's just nice I guess. Makes the words he leaves behind hit a little harder.
James, I simply want to say thank you for the all three retrospectives. I was in tears at the end of this one when I remembered what these games meant to me.
Yes.
EDIT: Just finished. A beautiful video. Thank you.
Man, I just started this video, but the intro alone gave me goosebumps and made me feel hype for a game I played a decade ago. Pure gold! I can already see the passion you feel for this game. Bravo!
Edit: Just finished it. Superb work, and an emotional reminder of why I loved this franchise until this point. Even discovered new subtle things that went over my head back in the day, mostly about the parallels between Ezio and Altair in the last part of their journeys. I think I want to replay this once again in my 360.
And I agree with you, the ending of the Sync Nexus, where the lives of the 3 protagonists collide perfectly are an incredible way to tie everything nicely. That's the Endgame scene of AC. In my humble opinion, definitely the most special moment in the entire franchise. If only AC3 would've delivered to the massive build up that came with this game...
Glad to hear it man, so happy this resonated with you! ❤️
I wonder if an AC game where Ezio's daughter is the assassin would help bring the 'feel' of the series back to it's origins? I can envision so many cool flashback scenes of her father beginning to train her before he died. She was a child when he died in Embers, so you could create a whole story around how she came to join the Order after discovering old letters Ezio left for her; letters that shared some of the incredible wisdom he gained over a lifetime of being part of the Order himself. Perhaps include side missions where she seeks out these letters similar to the way Ezio sought out the Masyaf keys in Revelations. How cool would it be to play as Ezio in a next gen. version of Assassin's Creed?
That is a good idea but consider the fact that the story writing and the overall gameplay must be good in order for that to succeed
@@rogue8363 I have some great story ideas for this premise. Amalgamating Ezio to next-gen. gameplay would be a fantastic!
@@Jedi4Life-u5y Yeah,But first I want them to return to the the old stealth gameplay🙁
@@rogue8363 Agreed. Stealth is the foundation of the gameplay in A.C. and needs to be re-introduced.
I would love to see this!!
Don't know if I'm the only one that feels this, but whenever I finish Revelations I always get this feeling like I'm still waiting for a true sequel, a new beggining for the series, as if everything that came after never existed to begin with. Maybe in some other universe that true sequel came, who knows. In a way I miss being so hyped for Assassins Creed like I used too.
It's sad, cause when Assassins Creed really tries it can be something beyond special.
Oh man, thank you SO much for making this. The passion and love you have really shines here, and the way you analyse these games is always flawless. A brilliant end to a brilliant trilogy.
I have never been this hooked to a video in my life....
2 Hours have gone by, But I could still hear more. The ADMIRATION, the DETAILS you remembered, The ONE AC fan I can never get JEALOUS of, You are a true fan of this EPIC of a game, which are the first FOUR installations of the game .
JAMES, I respect you from the core of my heart to present this BEAUTIFUL, HEARTFELT experience you shared.
THANK YOU, Fratello mio
I'm 50 minutes through it's amazing so far I'll have to come back and finish it later
James, this gift you've given us in the form of a retrospective is much more valuable than many realize. Much like Ezio, the Assassins that came before him, and a few who would come long after, you faced something difficult and uncomfortable, and saw it through to end. Not because you stubbornly held to a creed, but in spite of it. You took time to examine the information at hand and to reflect on it, and came to a decision as to how to forge ahead. That's admirable, and something to be celebrated.
The situation at Ubisoft (among other places) is awful, full stop, but nothing will change if we, ourselves, do not change. I feel many could learn from your example, if only they had to courage to look at their own creed and realize, much like Ezio, that just because something served its purpose does not mean we must live by it forever. (To put it another way...what has been may not always be.)
From Masiaph to Itali, to Roma, to Konstantonopol, and then going back to where it all have began.
To witness these men's jurney from arogance and lust for vengance to becoming one of the greatest mentors of their time. And to see them finaly meeting each other in person. It was a great conclusion for Ezio and his story as an assassin. To finaly retire and start living for himself and for the woman he fell in love with after fighting for more than 30 years in a war with no end or even with no begining.
"They also tell you 16's name, We'll get to that later too."
Next sentance: "Clay tells desmond..."
Now that I really think about it, Shao Jun should have been the protagonist of AC3 which would have been the start of a new trilogy. Maybe she could have been connected to Eve somehow and started a rebellion of her own.
The Ezio Trilogy is my favourite in the AC franchise and since I got older, I'd say that storywise, Revelations is my favourite of the three. It's so melancholic and emotional, yet epic and mature.
The cross over between Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond is such an emotional and nostalgic moment and the end, when the three are connected in Altaïrs library, I get goosebumps to this day.
I agree with you that I wish they had picked the Assassin's Creed Theme song as the official Assassin's Creed theme and not Ezio's Family, as much as I love Ezio's Family, but Assassin's Creed Theme hits different.
The intro of Revelations is the best intro of a video game to this day.
My only complain about the game is how they changed the looks of Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond. They suddenly looked so weird, with their elongated faces. It was especially a bummer since the attractiveness of the three was always an important plot point, especially for Ezio (and the three look basically the same).
Wow I remember playing this game for the first time and it brings back such good memories! I was 11 😅
I got teary eyed during the intro scene! Especially when Altair said "End of an era".
Holy shit I’ve been waiting for this one
The mentions of Shenmue, Squiddish, Hexy, Rainy and the other AC UA-camrs from back in the day made me so nostalgic I actually ran into HelterSeltzer on DBD a few months back and he recognised my name cause I was pretty active in AC multiplayer and I followed all of those creators back in the day