Toy Review: NECA Assassin's Creed Ezio Auditore's Hidden Blade

gabriel.knight (32)in #photography • 7 years ago

Presently, McFarlane Toys holds the license for Assassin's Creed collectibles. But before McFarlane Toys, NECA held the license up until 2012-2014. The only prop replica NECA released for Assassin's Creed was Ezio Auditore da Firenze's Hidden Blade.

In the games, Ezio's blade changed in each of the chapters of the Ezio trilogy. NECA released the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood variation. After the events of Assassin's Creed II, the game was set in Renaissance Rome, where Ezio wore new robes and a new blade. Here, the game developers introduced a new feature where Ezio can recruit oppressed civilians to join the Assassin Brotherhood, hence, the title.

The box only includes the hidden blade itself, encased in a plastic clamshell container. The hidden blade is divided into the blade itself and the vambrace. Sculpted on the vambrace is the insignia of the Italian Renaissance Brotherhood, which is impressive.

The vambrace, the vambrace belt, and the actual blade are made of soft plastic. Despite the soft plastic, the blade itself can still inflict injury as the tip is sharp enough to pierce soft material.

The blade housing, vambrace belt buckle, and the faux leather arm brace attached underneath are made of hard plastic.

The blade is secured on the arms of the wearer via two Velcro straps.

The details and the paint job are impressive, though there some parts where the paint is chipped off. For me, I just treat them as the result of wear and tear. ;)

The blade is deployed by pressing a button located at the upper part of the housing, surrounded by the circular design pattern. A safety lock is also built in the mechanism, located at the top of the blade housing to prevent misfires.

Unfortunately for some people, NECA's design of the hidden blade limits its arm size range to persons of semi-mesomorphic to ectomorphic build. Luckily enough, my arms are a perfect fit and I hope they won't get any bigger!

Because the vambrace makes it a little tight, my arms are always bound to sweat. Sometimes, I wear arm sleeves while wearing the blade.

Overall, the blade looks awesome and is perfect for Ezio cosplayers! Like Edward Kenway's Hidden Blades that I already have, they cost $25 but it may be higher in some internet stores.

As you can see in my picture, which is my profile picture, I'm wearing two of those blades and they were part of my costume during a Christmas party I attended!