This rare tracks collection from Jesper Kyd's iconic Assassin's Creed II score is a goldmine for fans who thought they'd heard everything the Renaissance had to offer. The "Earth Song Demo" featuring Melissa Kaplan is a fascinating look at the creative process behind one of the game's most memorable vocal pieces, and hearing two versions of "Leo & Ezio's Friendship" -- the refined version and the original -- reveals how Kyd shaped the warmth of that relationship through iteration.
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The alternate takes are where things get really interesting. "Flight Over Venice (Alt Version)" offers a different angle on one of the most beloved tracks in the entire franchise, while "Vatican Sci Fi (Chant)" pulls back the curtain on the eerie vocal work that made the game's climax so unsettling.
"Florence Tarantella (Extended)" lets that infectious Italian dance energy run longer than the in-game version ever could, and "Approaching Target 2 (Ambient Mix)" strips the tension down to its atmospheric bones. The collection also preserves some functional pieces that completionists will appreciate: the "Complete Mission" stinger, "Treasure Locate," and "Pickup Sound" are the kind of audio design elements you heard hundreds of times playing the game without ever consciously noticing them.
The "Assassin's Creed 2 Official Trailer" track and "Minerva" round out a release that feels like a love letter to one of gaming's most celebrated soundtracks. Essential listening for anyone who considers Kyd's AC2 work a high-water mark for the medium.