Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection has finally made its method to Nintendo Switch. For the first time ever, players can experience Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations on a Nintendo console. The game contains additional features to create full use from the Switch, from HD Rumble to several optimizations for handheld mode. As such, this review will focus more on The Ezio Collection itself, instead of its contents. Just how well will the Switch handle this collection, and just what sacrifices were created to ensure fans could enjoy these classic titles?
Ezio Collection Switch Visuals
The Ezio Collection runs surprisingly well on Switch. In docked mode, the visuals are superb; Ezio along with other main characters look fantastic in both cutscenes and gameplay – if occasionally uncanny, because of the altered models present in all versions from the collection. Handheld mode makes some sacrifices in order to keep each game running smoothly, and this is most notable with minor NPCs. Their models will commonly switch to low-detail versions unless you stand right alongside them. Such compromises can subtract from how immersive the games could possibly get, but it’s a worthy sacrifice based on how well they run.
Each game runs in a consistent 30 frames per second, whether docked or perhaps in handheld mode. While it’s disappointing to see a lack of a choice for 60 FPS, it’s still impressive to determine The Ezio Collection running very well – even just in populated areas. Strangely, cutscenes appear to have variable framerates, prone to keep as much graphical fidelity as you possibly can. There are some moments of garments clipping into bodies and audio occasionally not playing alongside certain visuals. But the gameplay is smooth, and also the visuals are perfectly acceptable; The Ezio Collection might be one of the most well-optimized games for Switch.
Technical Aspects
Unfortunately, the Switch port comes with a major flaw. During gameplay, it’s highly possible for players to come across noticeable input lag. It was tested in both handheld mode (with joy-cons attached) as well as in docked mode (with a pro controller). The problem affects all three games, and it makes certain actions a lot more difficult than they ought to be. While it’s possible a future update might fix this issue, it makes for any somewhat frustrating experience – especially during first-person platforming sections from Revelations.
Additionally, each game has some issues with AI pathfinding. NPCs will commonly block the player in ways they shouldn’t, for example riding their horse up a narrow group of stairs. This pathfinding might modify the player and/or major NPCs during cutscenes, as well. Certain missions gave escort targets a jump, leading to an earlier warning in the game to move closer to them. This problem doesn’t result in the game unplayable, however it adds some unnecessary frustration to otherwise fun or informative missions.
Exclusive Features
When starting The Ezio Collection, players are able to login to Ubisoft Connect. This grants them access to uPlay awards which were obtainable in the initial games, such as the armor of Altaïr and extra weapons. The 3 games come with their single-player DLC in full, as well. Such additions are excellent to determine, especially without further purchases required to experience them.
The Switch form of The Ezio Collection features HD Rumble, an optimized HUD, as well as touch screen capability. While these features are nice, they’re hardly must-have additions. The HD Rumble is underutilized beyond cutscenes, the HUD is just about the same as in other versions from the collection, and also the touchscreen is just readily available for menus. In ways, these exclusive features feel superficial and gimmicky; it would happen to be preferable for the developers to forego these functions in return for further optimization of the Switch port.
The Ezio Collection’s Games and Films
When purchasing The Ezio Collection, players will start out with Assassin’s Creed II all by itself. The rest of the collection will have to be downloaded with the Nintendo eShop. Without the additional downloads, The Ezio Collection takes up around 7 gigabytes of space; with everything included, that number increases close to 35. Anyone thinking about this collection should make sure they have a robust sd card prior to getting their on the job it.
Despite these flaws, each game is still very enjoyable. If you take the role of Desmond Miles, you utilize a machine known as the Animus to relive the lives of your ancestors. While playing as those ancestors, you perform assassinations and battle the villainous Templar To ensure humanity keeps its freedom. The action-adventure gameplay is kept just as the original titles specified for. This may not always be for that better – particularly, Assassin’s Creed II hasn’t aged along with the other games in this collection – but fans can be assured that these games are as faithful as they possibly can be.
The only major feature not included by The Ezio Collection is multiplayer, which was featured within the original releases of Brotherhood and Revelations. When it comes to the previous, this is especially unfortunate, as Brotherhood still uses key art of its multiplayer-exclusive characters when choosing to play it within the Ezio Collection. It’s understandable why this type of feature didn’t return, but it would have been fantastic to re-experience the classic frenzy of taking down other players.
Two short films will also be included as a bonus, however they are not equipped with any media options for example pause or rewind. Pressing any button will simply kick players to the main menu without even keeping their spot. They also don’t keep the Switch from dimming its screen after idling for long enough, so unless you have your power options set otherwise, you’ll need to occasionally jiggle the joystick simply to make sure your movie doesn’t shut off when you watch it. They aren’t bad additions, however their implementation is far under ideal.
Final Verdict
It’s difficult to say whether The Ezio Collection’s Switch port should be considered because the definitive method to play classic Assassin’s Creed titles. Notable issues plague each game, from input lag to messy handheld graphics, and the exclusive features haven't much worth by themselves. But, despite all these problems, The Ezio Collection still offers an incredibly fun experience with great detail and consistent, smooth gameplay. If you’ve never played these Assassin’s Creed games before, you don’t possess a PlayStation or Xbox, or you would like to go ahead and take series on the run, The Ezio Collection’s Switch port is obviously a must-have.
