I purchased Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, because it was 30 dollars. However, I underestimated how attached I would grow to Ezio after so many hours playing as him. After beating Revelations, I was at a loss, as I was finished playing as Ezio, so I went and watched Embers. It broke my heart to see Ezio limping, coughing, and in such a bad way. At the end, when Ezio is sitting in Florence, in the same plaza where his father and brothers were killed 40 years prior, his wife, Sofia, tells him he should've stayed home. He responds by saying that he is home, before dying of a heart attack. This moment brought me to tears. Everything about it was on point. One great thing about it is his daughter's reaction. She is standing with her mother, and looks back to see Ezio, and the expression on her face goes from happy to sad in a matter of seconds. The film perfectly sets up Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, and gives a great end to Ezio's story. The big fight scene is very well done, and shows that Ezio can still fight, despite being 65 and crippled by a chest infection. It makes me feel sorry for Ezio. He spends 25+ years of his life alone, fighting the Templars and the Borgia, and finally finds love at the age of 55, before retiring and having children, only to die a mere ten years later. Spero che tu trovi la pace, amico mio. Requiescat in pace, Ezio.

"Embers" is an animated short film from 4 years ago that runs for roughly 20 minutes and tells us the story of an aging assassin and his new protégé. Let me begin by saying that I am not familiar at all with the numerous video games from this series, but that's not a problem at all. You will understand the story and there are not too many characters, so this should not confuse you either. Both the director and writer also worked on many of the games, which probably helped in making this more realistic. I liked this short film. There's nothing disappointing about it. The story is fine (including the pretty brave final twist) and the animation I enjoyed even more. All in all, I must say this was quite a positive surprise. The actors do a fine job too with voicing the characters and it becomes obvious that they all have worked for quite a while in the business. Thums up. Recommended.

The short films that accompany the Assassin's Creed games have been a mixed bag to say the least. Some of them have mixed life-action with animation and the most recent one featured really ugly animation for some reason; the one thing they generally have in common is that they don't ever seem to be worthy of the games they support. Things are a little different with Embers because it does look good and it does compliment the game well. Having just finished Revelations I came to this film to conclude the story of Ezio. The plot sees him as an old man with a family around him and his assassin days in his past. He knows his time is short, although things change when a young assassin from China seeks him out.The details of the plot are not specifically important though, because most of it is done to create an overall impression of Ezio as he approaches his death. The strand with the young assassin allows us to see that he does (just about) still have all the keenness and skills that he did when he was younger while the quieter moments show his thoughts. This aspect is well done and connects well with the games and it pleased me to see him with Sofia and finally able to capture a small sense of his own life, having previously acknowledged that he was part of something bigger that he perhaps doesn't fully understand. The ending is open to interpretation but however you read it there is a sense of peace to the end of the short that works very well and seems fitting to the character.Embers probably won't offer much to those unfamiliar with the character of Ezio but to fans of the series it is a great little film that focuses on the heart as much as the action and hands us a fitting end to his story and his life. Looks good and works well – by far the strongest short film in the series yet.

Assassin's Creed games have one of the most beautiful stories and as a gamer I find this story as the best end of the character for whom I have some sort of respect. I only wish if it was longer. There are some killings not suitable for all eyes. Those who have played the games, they know the assassins for their perfection to kill in any style. Though it is connected to the game but the story is completely disconnected and a new one. The most beautiful part of this film was the ending. Death seemed so peaceful and Ezio was content. I loved it to the end. I wish the movie version will have a similar touch. I think the movie could have a better rating if all the viewers were gamers. Otherwise it will not be fair as the movie is intended for the gamers.