This bonus DVD that shipped with certain editions of Assassin's Creed II in 2009 contains a curated selection of Jesper Kyd's masterful Renaissance score. At just 14 tracks it's a highlights reel rather than a complete soundtrack, but what a highlights reel it is.
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"Ezio's Family" alone justifies the disc's existence -- it became arguably the most iconic theme in the entire Assassin's Creed franchise, covered and re-arranged across nearly every subsequent game in the series. The Florence and Venice tracks form the emotional core of this collection.
"Ezio In Florence" and "Home In Florence" establish the warmth and beauty of Ezio's origin city, while "Venice Rooftops," "Tour In Venice," and the stunning "Flight Over Venice" transport you to the canals and campaniles with an almost tactile sense of place.
Kyd's ability to blend period-appropriate instrumentation with modern production is on full display here. "Leornardo Inventions Part 1" captures the playful curiosity of Da Vinci's workshop segments perfectly. The more functional gameplay tracks hold up remarkably well too.
"Approaching Target 1" and "Approaching Target 2" build tension with masterful restraint as you stalk your assassination targets through crowded streets, and "Stealth" keeps the pulse low and tight during infiltration sequences.
"Earth" opens the collection with vocal grandeur, "Sanctuary" provides the Auditore crypt's mysterious ambiance, and "Darkness Falls" closes with appropriate gravity. Even as a sampler, this remains essential Jesper Kyd.