There’s a good chance that fans of Assassin’s Creed are still trying to process the closing moments of Revelations, but it’s important to remember that the story of Ezio Auditore doesn’t end with the most recent Ubisoft release. That honor belongs to the animated short film Assassin’s Creed: Embers, developed by Ubi Workshop to coincide with the launch of last month’s title. But does the film do justice to the Master Assassin of both Rome and Constantinople, or should die-hard fans stick with the story crafted by the developers?
First off, it needs to be pointed out that the spoiler-filled ending to Revelations should be seen before any fan starts to think towards Assassin’s Creed 3 or entertain purchasing Embers. The most important questions that have lingered in the series, and the epilogue for the legendary Altair are delivered with as much style and skill as any plot point in modern gaming. And while the game expertly ties up the role that Ezio Auditore plays in the fate of humanity, the franchise’s mythology unfortunately forbids any player from one again walking in his shoes (in the video game series, that is).
For those who have developed as much affection for Ezio as the series in general then, Embers is a must-see. As was explained in the Embers launch trailer, the story revolves around Ezio years after the events of Revelations, enjoying his life with wife and children running a Tuscan vineyard. The tales of Ezio’s unequaled leadership and wisdom have apparently spread as far as China, bringing the young assassin Shao Jun to learn the values that have steered the Assassin Order under both Altair and Ezio himself.
Considering the fact that Ezio has remained relatively tight-lipped about the justification for his various actions throughout the last two games, it’s likely that players may have as many questions about the man as terms of endearment for him. Why did Ezio not assassinate Cesare or Rodrigo Borgia when he had the chance? Why did Ezio feel he could leave the Order to grow itself when he did? Is it ever possible to leave the enemies of the past behind? These are the questions explored with Embers, giving attention to the man that until now has played second fiddle to Desmond.
Another chance to hear Ezio’s personal mission and understanding of right and wrong is worth the price of admission alone, but the new insights provided by the film – in typical Ubisoft writing and execution – make the film a necessary end to Ezio’s saga. For all the recruiting and apprenticing that made Ezio’s games in the series stand apart, the assassin’s teachings have never been fully explained. The film may not include an extensive explanation or re-telling of Ezio’s life in his own words – that just wouldn’t be Ezio – but seeing how the passing of time has granted a clarity that the young and violent Auditore only longed for is a joy to watch:
“The life of an assassin is pain, Jun. You suffer it, you inflict it, you watch it happen in the hope that you can make it disappear in time. A terrible irony, but there you go.”
The last days of Ezio Auditore may or may not be what the fans would like to see, but there is no arguing that the single-minded narrative the team at Ubi Workshop delivered does justice to the source material. With more than a few nods and winks for long-time fans, the short film may not be an absolute necessity for players to grasp the overall story, but it is no doubt a worthy addition.
The most striking feature of the film is the art style, blending computer animation with a painted aesthetic for a refreshing and underutilized look that we certainly hope to see more of in the future. While the fight choreography may not be as well-crafted as that seen in the Revelations E3 trailer, the connection that players have no doubt formed with Ezio more than makes up for it.
Running at just over twenty minutes, the film is surely going to be leaving fans longing for more, but not due to a lack of story or closure. The ending created is everything that the climax of Revelations was: poignant, touching, suspenseful, and bittersweet. The short may not be lauded as a masterpiece in the genre, or in terms of animation, but for fans of Ezio Auditore in particular seeing the love and happiness that he finally achieved is the best ending that one could ask for.
It’s hard to accept that Ezio’s story is truly over, and we would give anything for it not to be so, but it’s hard to think of a better or more fitting ending than that of Embers.
Assassin’s Creed: Embers is available now for $3.99 on PSN and 320 MS Points on Xbox Live, which is a relatively small price to pay to bring both Ezio’s tale to a close and further support to the developers behind it.
What did you think of the film? Did it draw Ezio’s tale to a close in the way you’d hope, or did you hope the developers would take a different direction? Leave us your thoughts in the comments.
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Good review Andrew, I am going to pick this up now. And thanks for setting it up Rob.
I got it free with my Signature Edition for PS3..but was kinda hussle activating the codes on PC…weird links and whatnot. Anyway, nice review, I personnaly almost cried in the end, even for Altair’s ending and *Spoiler*Yousuf’s death also*Spoiler*. Embers is a beautiful short, will worth the $4 if for you guyz who haven’t picked it up yet. It features very familiar characters, setting, and music which you’ll instantly remember from the past AC games, and specially the soundtrack and Florence itself. The ending will surely bring many people to tears, it was ana amazing ending for Ezio Auditore de Firenze, even my mom almost cried. lol pick it up, it’s awesome, AC in general is awesome.
Is it just me, or does Ezio kinda look like Obi-Wan Kenobi in that one pic? (Or maybe like an old Nathan Drake?)
What I’m saying here is that he doesn’t really look like Ezio (from that angle) IMO.
Still, I haven’t played Revelations yet, so I wouldn’t dream of watching this movie until I’ve done that — I didn’t finish reading the review either (too scared for spoilers
).
If there aren’t any spoilers in this review, can someone please let me know? I’d love to finish reading, if there aren’t…
I love the way Ubisoft is distributing this! Maybe they can tackle a Rayman Origins cartoon next?
I personally would of rather not seen Embers, as it was very sad and deppressing, but it was good to finally see closure to Altair and Ezio. I personally loved Ezio he was one the greatest video game characters of all time, and a great mentor. When ezio died it felt like i lost a familey member or a best friend im not kidding, you grow up with Ezio as a child to a player teenager to a blood thirsty adult seeking revenge, to a old mentor teaching his ways of the Creed. Its sad he only got to live in peace for so short time, Altair lived till 92 and he chose to die in the library, Ezio was nearly 70 and he dies of a heart attack or poisend not sure but still sad, i wish we there was more to play with EZIO he made assassins creed what it was. But it shows Ezio could not get killed he was truley a master he just could’nt beat death.
Requiescat in pace Ezio Aditore da firenze
Things to mention about AC Embers (The animated short film that ****ed up end game even more at least for me):
Its not enough that the game is a big disappointment by itself, but noooo… they went and finished it off with this crappy unnecessary film and ending.
The whole game felt so distant from Ezio as a main character and hell other characters in this series, in addition to poor character controls, undeveloped very short main storyline, stupid tower defense feature and many others…
I downloaded AC Embers long ago but waited till I am done with ACR to watch it and I wish I did not!
It is a huge DISAPPOINTMENT as well for EZIO’s fans! you better off without it!
Why the hell did they end him in such bitter way? He abandoned his creed and lived regretting that he never took advantages of his precious life..
What the hell was he doing then all that time in AC2, ACB and ACR. Playing around? don’t all that count for anything. Only Sofia and his children what made him keep going, seriously?
I could not stop thinking about Sofia, a character that forced into game to be a reason Ezio fled his creed… A reason to kill Ezio…
Ezio has grown tired of running after something beyond his understanding, something that would never end. After all his hard work he discovered that he is merely a messenger, I guess that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
An old bitter man (1st screenshot in the video), sick and too tired to even run the shortest distance. Is that Ezio?!
And the way he died? you can distinguish a RED CROSS thingy on the young man’s hand that sat next to him on the bench before he passed away… (3rd screenshot).
I kept watching the scene over and over trying to look for any signs that proves him poisoning Ezio when he put his hard over Ezio’s but I could not see any, I heard though what seemed like a tick of whatever used to poison him if that was true. (5th screenshot)
Why the hell they wanted to kill an old dying man that is as good as dead anyway..
The look that Ezio gave that young man -6th screenshot- (was he wondering if he got poisoned by that man or maybe he did recognize him?) and the very REASSURING look he received back from the annoying young man before leaving him there to die and then disappear -7th screenshot- (was he saying: Its over, we finally got you.. or maybe: you ran a long way and you get to rest now, It’s all over.. was he assuring him that his family will not be targeted now that he is going to die?)..
What about the drowsy gaze Ezio gave his wife and daughter before departing, he looked so.. relieved.. (8th screenshot)
Just comparing Altair death with Ezios’s..Altair protecting the Apple of Eden and fighting for the creed till his last breath for Ezio to receive his messages, but Ezio had to leave everything behind and went dying as a bitter aging man who is clearly tried all his best to escape his life as an assassin and ended up killed by a random young templar..
At the end of the movie they showed us his letter to Sofia with an assassins insignia seal, did not he leave the creed?!
I wanna keep on playing the game (for trophies and other activities in game) but every time I remember Ezio’s ending I just feel mad..
Forgot to remove screenshots part as it was written for my video I made on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdDQwpNiSOU&feature=youtu.be
Things to mention about AC Embers (The animated short film that ****ed up end game even more at least for me):
Its not enough that the game is a big disappointment by itself, but noooo… they went and finished it off with this crappy unnecessary film and ending.
The whole game felt so distant from Ezio as a main character and hell other characters in this series, in addition to poor character controls, undeveloped very short main storyline, stupid tower defense feature and many others…
I downloaded AC Embers long ago but waited till I am done with ACR to watch it and I wish I did not!
It is a huge DISAPPOINTMENT as well for EZIO’s fans! you better off without it!
Why the hell did they end him in such bitter way? He abandoned his creed and lived regretting that he never took advantages of his precious life..
What the hell was he doing then all that time in AC2, ACB and ACR. Playing around? don’t all that count for anything. Only Sofia and his children what made him keep going, seriously?
I could not stop thinking about Sofia, a character that forced into game to be a reason Ezio fled his creed… A reason to kill Ezio…
Ezio has grown tired of running after something beyond his understanding, something that would never end. After all his hard work he discovered that he is merely a messenger, I guess that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
An old bitter man, sick and too tired to even run the shortest distance. Is that Ezio?!
And the way he died? you can distinguish a RED CROSS thingy on the young man’s hand that sat next to him on the bench before he passed away…
I kept watching the scene over and over trying to look for any signs that proves him poisoning Ezio when he put his hard over Ezio’s but I could not see any, I heard though what seemed like a tick of whatever used to poison him if that was true.
Why the hell they wanted to kill an old dying man that is as good as dead anyway..
The look that Ezio gave that young man (was he wondering if he got poisoned by that man or maybe he did recognize him?) and the very REASSURING look he received back from the annoying young man before leaving him there to die and then disappear (was he saying: Its over, we finally got you.. or maybe: you ran a long way and you get to rest now, It’s all over.. was he assuring him that his family will not be targeted now that he is going to die?)..
What about the drowsy gaze Ezio gave his wife and daughter before departing, he looked so.. relieved..
Just comparing Altair death with Ezios’s..Altair protecting the Apple of Eden and fighting for the creed till his last breath for Ezio to receive his messages, but Ezio had to leave everything behind and went dying as a bitter aging man who is clearly tried all his best to escape his life as an assassin and ended up killed by a random young templar..
At the end of the movie they showed us his letter to Sofia with an assassins insignia seal, did not he leave the creed?!
I wanna keep on playing the game (for trophies and other activities in game) but every time I remember Ezio’s ending I just feel mad..