{{Youmay|the first video game in the series|[[Assassin's Creed (series)]]}}
{{Youmay|the first video game in the series|[[Assassin's Creed (series)]]}}
{{Quote|Jerusalem, the twelfth century. Amidst the chaos of the Third Crusade, a Brotherhood of warriors rose to power. Shrouded in secrecy, feared for their ruthlessness, they alone would save the Holy Land, or destroy it. They were the Assassins.|''Assassin's Creed'' pre-E3 2006 Trailer.}}
{{Quote|Jerusalem, the twelfth century. Amidst the chaos of the Third Crusade, a Brotherhood of warriors rose to power. Shrouded in secrecy, feared for their ruthlessness, they alone would save the Holy Land, or destroy it. They were the Assassins.|''Assassin's Creed'' 2006 trailer voiceover|:File:Assassin's Creed - Pre-E3 2006 Trailer}}
'''''Assassin's Creed''''' is an action-adventure game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the first installment in the ''Assassin's Creed'' series. The video game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A Microsoft Windows version titled Assassin's Creed: Director's Cut Edition containing additional content.
'''''Assassin's Creed''''' is a {{Wiki|Open world|sandbox style}} action-adventure-stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by [[Ubisoft]]. The game was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2007 and for PC in April 2008.
The plot is set in a fictional history of real-world events, taking place primarily during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land in 1191. The player character is a modern-day man named Desmond Miles who, through a machine called the Animus, relives the genetic memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. Through this plot device, details emerge about a millennia-old struggle between two factions: the Assassin Brotherhood (inspired by the real-life Order of Assassins), who fight to preserve peace and free will, and the Templar Order (inspired by the Knights Templar military order), who seek to establish peace through order and control. Both factions fight over powerful artifacts of mysterious origins known as Pieces of Eden to gain an advantage over each other. The 12th-century portion of the story follows Altaïr, an Assassin, who embarks on a quest to regain his honour after botching a mission to recover one such artifact from the Templars; he does so by finding and assassinating nine targets across the Holy Land.
The game centers around the use of a machine dubbed the "[[Animus]]", which allows its user to view the [[Genetic memory|genetic memories]] of their ancestors. The protagonist is a bartender named [[Desmond Miles]], who is abducted by the company [[Abstergo Industries]] and forced to relive the memories of his ancestor [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], an [[Assassins|Assassin]]. As Desmond explores Altaïr's story in the [[Kingdom|Holy Land]] during the [[Third Crusade]], details of a [[Assassin-Templar War|battle]] between two ancient sects—the [[Templars|Knights Templar]] and the Assassin Order—emerge as both scour for artifacts known only as "[[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]]."
The gameplay focuses on using Altaïr's combat, stealth, and parkour abilities to defeat enemies and explore the environment. The game features counter-based hack-and-slash combat, social stealth (the ability to use crowds of people and the environment to hide from enemies), and a large open world comprising various regions of the Holy Land, primarily the cities of Masyaf, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, all of which have been accurately recreated to fit the game's period. While most of the game takes place within a simulation based on Altaïr's memories, the player will occasionally be forced out of the Animus to play as Desmond in the modern day. Here, they are restricted to exploring a small laboratory facility, as Desmond has been kidnapped by a shady corporation looking for specific information within Altaïr's memories that will further their enigmatic goals.
''Assassin's Creed'' received primarily positive reviews, for both its story and its gameplay, and received several awards at 2006's E3. In November 2009, a sequel in the form of ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' was released, building on the foundation set by ''Assassin's Creed''.
Upon release, Assassin's Creed received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its storytelling, visuals, art design, and originality, while criticism mostly focused on the repetitive nature of its gameplay. Assassin's Creed won several awards at the 2006 E3 and several end-year awards after its release.
==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
''Assassin's Creed'' is an action-adventure game, set in an open-world environment, which is played from a third-person view in which the player primarily assumes the role of Altaïr, as experienced by protagonist Desmond Miles. The game's primary goal is to carry out a series of assassinations ordered by Al Mualim, the Assassins' leader. To achieve this goal, the player must travel from the Brotherhood's headquarters in Masyaf, across the terrain of the Holy Land known as the Kingdom, where the player can freely ride a horse, to one of three cities—Jerusalem, Acre, or Damascus—to find the Brotherhood agent in that city. There, the agent, in addition to providing a safe house, gives the player minimal knowledge about the target and requires them to perform additional reconnaissance missions before attempting the assassination. These missions include eavesdropping, interrogation, pickpocketing, and completing tasks for informers and fellow Assassins. The player may also take part in several side objectives, including climbing tall towers to map out the city and saving citizens being threatened or harassed by the city guards. There are also various additional memories that do not advance the plot, such as hunting down and killing Templar Knights and flag collecting. After completing each assassination, the player is returned to the Brotherhood and rewarded with a better weapon or upgrade before going after the next target or given another set of targets, with the player free to select the order of certain targets.
[[File:AltaïrCloseup.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, one of the game's protagonists]]
''Assassin's Creed'' is a non-linear action-adventure video game, during which the player controls the 12th-century [[Levantine Brotherhood of Assassins|Levantine Assassin]] Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, whose life during the Third Crusade is experienced through the Animus by his 21st century descendant, Desmond Miles. The game's overall goal is to rise through the Assassins' [[Assassin rank|ranks]] by carrying out [[Hunt for the Nine|a series]] of [[assassination]]s given by the Order's leader, [[Al Mualim]]. In doing so, Altaïr travels from [[Masyaf]] to cities in the Holy Land, specifically, [[Jerusalem]], [[Acre]], and [[Damascus]].
The player is made aware of how noticeable Altaïr is to enemy guards and the state of alert in the local area via the Social Status Icon. To perform many assassinations and other tasks, the player must consider the use of actions distinguished by their type of profile. Low-profile actions allow Altaïr to blend into nearby crowds, pass by other citizens, or perform other non-threatening tasks that can be used to hide and reduce the alertness level; the player can also use Altaïr's retractable hidden blade to attempt low-profile assassinations. High-profile actions are more noticeable and include running, scaling the sides of buildings to climb to higher vantage points, and attacking foes; performing these actions at certain times may raise the local area's awareness level. Once the area is at high alert, crowds run and scatter while guards attempt to chase and bring down Altaïr; to reduce the alert level, the player must control Altaïr as to break the guards' line of sight and then find a hiding space, such as a haystack or rooftop garden, or blend in with the citizens sitting on benches or wandering scholars.[8] Should the player be unable to escape the guards, they can fight back using swordplay maneuvers.
Upon arrival in any of the cities, Altaïr must locate an [[Assassin bureau]] and discuss his tasks with the local [[rafiq]], a Brotherhood agent, gaining basic knowledge of his target. From there, it is up to Altaïr to perform additional reconnaissance via [[eavesdropping]], [[interrogation]]s, meeting with [[informer]]s, and [[Pickpocketing|gathering important items]]. It is only after Altaïr has gathered enough information that he can carry out the assassination. After successfully completing an assassination, Altaïr returns to Masyaf to debrief with Al Mualim, and is subsequently rewarded with better equipment, before he is given the names of his next targets.
The player's health is described as the level of synchronization between Desmond and Altaïr's memories; should Altaïr suffer injury, it is represented as a deviation from the actual events of the memory rather than physical damage. If all synchronization is lost, the current memory that Desmond is experiencing will be restarted at the last checkpoint. When the synchronization bar is full, the player has the additional option to use the Eagle Vision, which allows the computer-rendered memory to highlight all visible characters in colours corresponding to whether they are allies (blue), foes (red), neutral (white), or the target of their assassination (gold). Due to Altaïr's memories being rendered by the computer of the Animus project, the player may experience glitches in the rendering of the historical world, which may help the player to identify targets, or can be used to alter the viewpoint during in-game scripted scenes should the player react fast enough when they appear.
[[File:AC1 Altair Viewpoint Damascus.png|thumb|250px|High vantage points allow the player to map out portions of the city]]
Between main memories, Desmond must direct Altaïr to [[Viewpoints|high points]] in the city to further [[Synchronization|synchronize]] his surroundings and map out the city that Altaïr is currently located in. Other side memories include tracking and killing [[Templars]], collecting [[flag]]s, and [[Save Citizen|saving]] [[civilian]]s who are being threatened by city [[guards]].
Because Altaïr's memories are rendered by the Animus software, "[[glitches]]" may often be experienced with nucleotides and error messages appearing. These glitches can be used to help identify targets and if the player reacts quickly enough, may be used to provide other vantage points during cut-scenes.
Accompanying this, Altaïr needs to carry out most of his actions without being noticed by officials. The game uses a meter dependent on [[social stealth]] to inform the player of how noticeable Altaïr is to surrounding individuals, including the guards, by changing the color and shape of the Abstergo logo; performing certain actions at certain times may or may not raise the local area's awareness level.
==Synopsis==
If an area is on high alert, indicated by the logo becoming red and the entire synchronization interface earning a red tinge and background, guards will be always vigilant and citizens will scatter in various directions in the event that the guards chase and attempt to bring down Altaïr. To reduce his notoriety, Altaïr must break the guards' line of sight and then find a [[Hiding spots|hiding place]], [[Blending|blend]] in with wandering scholars, or join citizens sitting on benches.
===Plot===
In 2012, bartender Desmond Miles is kidnapped by agents of Abstergo Industries, the world's largest pharmaceutical conglomerate, and is taken to their headquarters in Rome. Under the supervision of Dr. Warren Vidic and his assistant Lucy Stillman, Desmond is forced to enter a machine called the Animus, which can translate his ancestors' genetic memories into a simulated reality. Vidic instructs Desmond to relive the early years of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a senior member of the Assassin Brotherhood during the Third Crusade.
In 1191, Altaïr and two fellow Assassins—brothers Malik and Kadar Al-Sayf— are sent to Solomon's Temple to retrieve an artifact known as the Apple of Eden from the Brotherhood's sworn enemies, the Knights Templar. Blinded by arrogance, Altaïr botches the mission, resulting in Kadar's death; however, Malik is able to grab the Apple before escaping. Although Altaïr later partially redeems himself by fighting off a Templar attack on the Assassin home base of Masyaf, his mentor and superior, Al Mualim, demotes and orders him to assassinate nine individuals in order to regain his previous position and honour:
[[File:Altair free-run.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Altaïr's freerunning abilities allow for greater exploration]]
To conduct many of the assassinations and various other tasks, Altaïr is capable of both high and low profile commands, both of which affect the alertness level. Low profile commands will allow Altaïr to blend into crowds, hide, and use Altaïr's [[Hidden Blade]] to attempt quiet and low profile assassinations. High profile commands increase alertness at a greater level and include [[freerunning]], attacking foes, and high profile assassination attempts. In the event that the player finds themself faced with multiple enemies, one can utilize Altaïr's sword-fighting abilities to combat guards.
1- Tamir, an arms merchant in Damascus selling weapons to both the Crusaders and Saracens.
Health in ''Assassin's Creed'' is measured as the level of synchronization between Desmond and Altaïr's memories. Whenever Altaïr is injured, it is experienced as a deviation from the actual memory that occurred and synchronization decreases. If there is complete desynchronization, the current memory that Desmond is experiencing dematerializes and restarts at the last stable checkpoint.
2- Garnier de Nablus, the leader of the Knights Hospitalier, who conducts mind-altering experiments on patients at his hospital in Acre.
Because Altaïr's memories are rendered by the Animus software, "[[glitch]]es" may often be experienced with nucleotides and error messages appearing. These glitches can be used to help identify targets and if the player reacts quickly enough, may be used to provide other vantage points during cut-scenes.
3- Talal, the leader of a gang of slavers in Jerusalem.
==Synopsis==
=== Setting ===
[[Desmond Miles]], a seemingly ordinary bartender, is kidnapped by the company [[Abstergo Industries]] for use as a [[Animus Project|test subject]] in the [[Animus]], a device that can simulate [[genetic memory]]. Abstergo intends to put Desmond in the device to relive the memories of his ancestor [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], a member of the [[Assassins|Assassin Brotherhood]] who lived during the [[Third Crusade]] in the [[Kingdom|Holy Land]]. Initially, Desmond has trouble adjusting to the device, but eventually relives Altaïr's exploits over the next several days. The game then primarily changes to Altaïr's point-of-view, with occasional transitions to Desmond, due to problems with the Animus or onset of the [[Bleeding Effect]].
4- Abu'l Nuquod, a pompous trader and regent of Damascus stealing money intended to fund the war.
===Plot===
[[File:AssassinsCreed Vidic Animus.png|thumb|250px|Warren Vidic of Abstergo Industries overlooks Desmond inside the Animus]]
5- William V, Marquess of Montferrat, Acre's cruel and abusive regent.
The game opens with Desmond entering Altaïr's memory, but he soon faces [[synchronization]] problems. On this, [[Lucy Stillman]] and [[Warren Vidic]]'s voices can be heard, arguing over Desmond's safety within the Animus. After experiencing a few problems, Desmond exits the virtual machine and Vidic briefs him about the Animus' inner workings, before initializing the machine's tutorial program. After Desmond is done with the tutorial, he enters Altaïr's closest memory that he can synchronize with; Lucy adds that Desmond has to relive key moments of Altaïr's life to increase his synchronization, before reaching the final memory which holds the information that Abstergo is seeking.
6- Majd Addin, a tyrant who rules Jerusalem through fear by holding public executions.
7-Master Sibrand, the paranoid leader of the Knights Teutonic, who plans to betray the Crusaders by blocking the ports of Acre.
In 1191, Altaïr attempts to retrieve one of a series of artifacts known as the "[[Piece of Eden|Pieces of Eden]]" from [[Solomon's Temple]] alongside two fellow Assassins, [[Malik Al-Sayf]] and his brother [[Kadar Al-Sayf|Kadar]]. However, the trio are beaten to the treasure by [[Robert de Sablé]], [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master of the Knights Templar]] and the Assassins' sworn enemy. While attempting to recover the treasure from the [[Templars]] and kill Robert, Altaïr breaks all three tenets of the [[The Creed|Assassins' Creed]] and is forced to escape empty-handed after being overpowered by Robert. In the following battle, Kadar is killed and Malik's left arm is crippled and later amputated. When Altaïr returns to the Assassins' stronghold at [[Masyaf]] with apologies, Malik, who survived the Templars' attack, comes back with the artifact and disparages Altaïr because of his arrogance.
8-Jubair al Hakim, a scholar using his position to seize and destroy all written knowledge in Damascus.
[[File:Glory 5.png|thumb|left|250px|Altaïr, Rauf and another Assassin performing the Leap of Faith]]
After narrowly defeating a [[Defense of Masyaf|retaliatory attack]] by the Templars, the Assassins' leader [[Al Mualim]] demotes Altaïr to a [[novice]] but gives him another chance to rise through the Brotherhood's [[Assassin rank|ranks]]. Al Mualim assigns Altaïr the task of assassinating nine key figures across the Holy Land in [[Jerusalem]], [[Acre]], and [[Damascus]], aiming to bring peace between the [[Crusaders|Crusader]] and [[Saracens|Saracen]] forces. Each target is based on an actual historical figure from the Third Crusade.
9-Robert de Sablé, the Grand Master of the Templars, who has been taking advantage of the Crusade to further his Order's ideological goals.
Altaïr completes each task, learning how each target is connected to Robert and the Templars, and how they all aim to end the Crusades and place the Holy Land under [[New World Order|their own control]]. With men on both sides killed, he discovers that Robert's last plot is to attempt to unite the Christian and Muslim forces against their new common enemy, the Assassins themselves. Altaïr eventually slays Robert before King [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] of [[England]], ending the Templars' plans but failing to convince the King that an end to the war would be welcome to both sides. From a dying Robert, Altaïr learns that Al Mualim had helped the Templars locate the Piece of Eden in Solomon's Temple but eventually betrayed them, just as he had the Assassins, in order to keep the artifact for himself.
As Altaïr eliminates each target, he discovers all nine are Templars who had conspired to retrieve the Apple, revealed to be a relic of a long-forgotten civilization said to possess god-like powers. He also comes to question the nature of Al Mualim's orders while slowly becoming more humble and wise and making amends with Malik. During his assassination attempt on Robert, Altaïr is tricked with a decoy: a Templar named Maria Thorpe. Maria reveals that Robert had anticipated the Assassins would come after him and went to negotiate an alliance between the Crusaders and Saracens against them.
[[File:AC-AltairMalikMap.png|thumb|250px|Altaïr discovers a map detailing the locations of other Pieces of Eden]]
Altaïr quickly returns to Masyaf and [[Retaking of Masyaf|confronts]] his master, who reveals the truth to him: the Piece of Eden is not a supernatural artifact but rather creates illusions. He denounces religion and other seemingly supernatural events (e.g. the {{Wiki|Plagues of Egypt|Ten Plagues of Egypt}}, the {{Wiki|Crossing the Red Sea|parting of the Red Sea}}, and the presence of the Greek Gods in the [[Trojan War]]) as illusions caused by the Piece, and then states his intention to use the artifact to compel [[human]]ity into a brainwashed state, and in doing so, bringing an end to all conflict. Altaïr is eventually able to see through the deceptions created by the artifact and kill Al Mualim. When Altaïr recovers the artifact, the Piece of Eden activates, showing a holographic view of [[Earth]] with the locations of countless other Pieces of Eden marked across the globe.
Sparing Maria's life, Altaïr confronts Robert in the camp of King Richard I and exposes his crimes. Unsure of whom to believe, Richard suggests a duel to determine the truth, remarking that God will decide the victor. After Altaïr mortally wounds him, Robert identifies Al Mualim as the final conspirator, revealing that the latter has betrayed both the Assassins and Templars to acquire the Apple. Altaïr returns to Masyaf, where Al Mualim has used the Apple to enthrall the population, as part of his plan to end the Crusade and all conflict in the world by imposing order by force. With the help of Malik and several Assassins brought for backup, Altaïr storms the citadel and confronts Al Mualim in the gardens, resisting the Apple's powers and killing his mentor. He then tries to destroy the artifact, but instead unlocks a map showing the locations of countless other Pieces of Eden around the world.
When the process is complete, Desmond learns that Abstergo is the Templars' modern-day front and that they are already seeking the Pieces of Eden from the locations identified in Altaïr's memories. Furthermore, he learns that the modern-day Assassins tried to rescue him due to him once being an Assassin himself, but failed. Following this, Desmond is to be killed after an order from the high-ranking Templar [[Alan Rikkin]], but Lucy saves him by convincing Rikkin and the others that Desmond can still be useful to them. Before Lucy leaves with Vidic, she indicates to Desmond that she is an undercover Assassin by tucking her ring finger into her palm, referring to the Assassins' [[Initiation into the Assassin Order|tradition]] of severing their finger in order to join them and operate their signature weapon, the [[Hidden Blade]].
In the present, the Assassins launch an unsuccessful attack on the Abstergo facility to rescue Desmond, resulting in most of them being killed. After completing Altaïr's memories, Vidic reveals to Desmond that Abstergo is a front for the modern-day Templars, seeking to find the remaining Pieces of Eden. With Desmond no longer useful, Vidic's superiors order him killed, but Lucy, who is implied to be an Assassin mole, convinces them to keep him alive for further testing. Desmond is left alone in his room, where he discovers strange drawings describing an upcoming catastrophic event.
[[File:Abs Room.png|thumb|250px|left|Clay's blood messages in Desmond's room]]
Though Desmond remains trapped in the [[Animus Project laboratory|Abstergo laboratory]], his experience in the Animus has created a Bleeding Effect of Altaïr's life in his own, allowing Desmond to use Altaïr's [[Eagle Vision]]. In turn, this allows him to see [[Cryptic Messages|strange messages]] painted on the walls of his room and the floor of the lab. The messages deal with various forms of the end of the world from different cultures, including several references to [[Second Disaster|21 December 2012]], the date when Abstergo plans to launch a [[Eye-Abstergo|satellite]] that will "permanently end the war". It is hinted that this method will be similar to how Al Mualim hypnotized Masyaf, but on a larger scale. The game ends with Desmond wondering what the images mean and [[Clay Kaczmarek|who]] could have drawn them.
==Development==
==Development==
===Game development===
{{Video game requirements
{{Video game requirements
|collapse = collapsed
|collapse=collapsed
|useminandrec = yes
|useminandrec=yes
|platform1 = Microsoft Windows
|platform1=Microsoft Windows
|os1 = Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista
|os1=Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista
|cpu1 = Intel Pentium D 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual Core) processor
|cpu1=Intel Pentium D 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual Core) processor
|cpu1rec = Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz or better/AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ or 4400+
|cpu1rec=Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz or better/AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ or 4400+
|memory1 = 512MB (XP), 1GB (Vista)
|memory1=512MB (XP), 1GB (Vista)
|memory1rec = 2GB
|memory1rec=2GB
|gpu1 = 256MB DirectX 9.0c Graphics Card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher.
|gpu1=256MB DirectX 9.0c Graphics Card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher.
|gpu1rec = 512MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card.
|gpu1rec=512MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card.
|sound1 = DirectX 9.0 or 10.0–compliant
|sound1=DirectX 9.0 or 10.0–compliant
|sound1rec = 5.1 channel surround
|sound1rec=5.1 channel surround
|hdspace1 = 9.0GB}}
|hdspace1=9.0GB}}
After the 2003 release of ''{{Wiki|Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time}}'', creative director [[Patrice Désilets]] developed a spin-off entitled ''Prince of Persia: Assassin'' about an Assassin in Jerusalem protecting a prince with magical powers.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-assassins-creed/ |title=The Making Of: Assassin’s Creed| author=Edge Staff| work={{Wiki|Edge}}| date=27 August 2012| accessdate=27 June 2013| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829012943/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-assassins-creed/| archivedate=29 August 2012}}</ref>
After the 2003 release of ''{{Wiki|Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time}}'', creative director [[Patrice Désilets]] developed a spin-off entitled ''Prince of Persia: Assassin'' about an Assassin in Jerusalem protecting a prince with magical powers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-assassins-creed/ |title=The Making Of: Assassin's Creed|author=Edge Staff|publisher=''{{Wiki|Edge}}''|date=27 August 2012|accessdate=27 June 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829012943/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-assassins-creed/|archivedate=29 August 2012}}</ref>
The first details on what would become ''Assassin's Creed'' came in mid-September 2005 during the [[Tokyo]] {{Wiki|Tokyo Game Show|Game Show}}, when ''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}'' reported on Ubisoft's trailer for a new game in production with the working title of "Project Assassins".<ref name="Gamespot">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-project-assassins-impressions/1100-6133403/|title=TGS 2005: Project Assassins Impressions|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222003901/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-project-assassins-impressions/1100-6133403/|archivedate=21 December 2021|author=Gerstmann, Jeff|date=16 September 2005|publisher=''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}''|accessdate=21 December 2021}}</ref> No further word was heard until {{Wiki|E3|E3 2006}}, when an updated version of the trailer was shown under the name ''Assassin's Creed''. When ''{{Wiki|GamesRadar}}'' pressed Ubisoft for comment after they previously claimed ''Assassin's Creed'' had never been previewed before, a representative confirmed that "Project Assassins" and ''Assassin's Creed'' were indeed the same.<ref name="GamesRadar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/assassins-creed-exposed/|title=Assassin's Creed exposed|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314144006/https://www.gamesradar.com/assassins-creed-exposed/|archivedate=14 March 2016|author=Richardson, Ben|date=17 May 2006|publisher=''{{Wiki|GamesRadar}}''|accessdate=21 December 2021}}</ref>
The first details on what would become ''Assassin's Creed'' came in mid-September 2005 during the [[Tokyo]] {{Wiki|Tokyo Game Show|Game Show}}, when ''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}'' reported on Ubisoft's trailer for a new game in production with the working title of "Project Assassins".<ref name="Gamespot">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-project-assassins-impressions/1100-6133403/|title=TGS 2005: Project Assassins Impressions|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222003901/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-project-assassins-impressions/1100-6133403/|archivedate=21 December 2021|author=Gerstmann, Jeff|date=16 September 2005|publisher=''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}''|accessdate=21 December 2021}}</ref> No further word was heard until {{Wiki|E3|E3 2006}}, when an updated version of the trailer was shown under the name ''Assassin's Creed''. When ''{{Wiki|GamesRadar}}'' pressed Ubisoft for comment after they previously claimed ''Assassin's Creed'' had never been previewed before, a representative confirmed that "Project Assassins" and ''Assassin's Creed'' were indeed the same.<ref name="GamesRadar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/assassins-creed-exposed/|title=Assassin's Creed exposed|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314144006/https://www.gamesradar.com/assassins-creed-exposed/|archivedate=14 March 2016|author=Richardson, Ben|date=17 May 2006|publisher=''{{Wiki|GamesRadar}}''|accessdate=21 December 2021}}</ref>
In one of the original interviews with IGN, game producer [[Jade Raymond]] described Altaïr as a "medieval hitman" with a "mysterious past" and definitely not a time traveler.{{Cite|21 Dec 2021. When/where?}} In October 2007, an IGN Australia interview described the lead character's ability to climb and free-run as being designed by the individuals who developed the mechanic for the ''Prince of Persia'' series.{{Cite|21 Dec 2021. When/where?}}
In a September 2006 interview with ''IGN'', game producer [[Jade Raymond]] described Altaïr as a "medieval hitman with a mysterious past" and definitely not a time traveler.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/736/736393p1.html|title=Assassin's Creed Preview|author=Miller, Jonathan|publisher=''{{Wiki|IGN}}''|date=28 September 2006|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070301172007/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/736/736393p1.html|archivedate=1 March 2007}}</ref> In October 2007, in an ''IGN Australia'' interview, [[Patrice Désilets]] described the lead character's ability to climb and free-run as being designed by the individuals who developed the mechanic for the ''Prince of Persia'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/22/assassins-creed-au-interview-patrice-desilets|title=Assassin's Creed AU Interview: Patrice Desilets|author=Kolan, Patrick|publisher=''{{Wiki|IGN|IGN Australia}}''|date=22 October 2007|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014074942/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/22/assassins-creed-au-interview-patrice-desilets|archivedate=14 October 2014}}</ref>
In December 2006, Kristen Bell, who voiced Abstergo researcher and employee Lucy Stillman, gave the first concrete information about the plot, confirming a focus on genetic memory and a corporation's search for descendants of an assassin.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/750/750843p3.html| title=IGN Exclusive Interview: Kristen Bell| first=Eric| last=Goldman| work=IGN| accessdate=21 January 2010| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216054550/http://tv.ign.com/articles/750/750843p3.html|archivedate=16 December 2006}}</ref> Ubisoft also released a 5-part series of "Developer Diaries" videos on the game's website with members of the development team, including creative director Patrice Désilets and producer Jade Raymond, explaining the thought processes behind the various aspects of the game.
In December 2006, Kristen Bell, who voiced Abstergo researcher and employee Lucy Stillman, gave the first concrete information about the plot, confirming a focus on genetic memory and a corporation's search for descendants of an assassin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/750/750843p3.html|title=IGN Exclusive Interview: Kristen Bell|author=Goldman, Eric|publisher=''{{Wiki|IGN}}''|date=13 December 2006|accessdate=21 January 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216054550/http://tv.ign.com/articles/750/750843p3.html|archivedate=16 December 2006}}</ref> Ubisoft also released a 5-part series of "Developer Diaries" videos on the game's website with members of the development team, including creative director Patrice Désilets and producer Jade Raymond, explaining the thought processes behind the various aspects of the game.
The game initially had a multiplayer mode, though it was cut during development.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-experimented-with-multiplayer-for-first-as/1100-6433342/| title=Ubisoft Experimented With Multiplayer for First Assassin's Creed - Report| first=Eddie| last=Makuch| work=GameSpot| date=23 December 2015|accessdate=25 December 2015}}</ref>
The game initially had a multiplayer mode, though it was cut during development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-experimented-with-multiplayer-for-first-as/1100-6433342/|title=Ubisoft Experimented With Multiplayer for First Assassin's Creed - Report|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|publisher=''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}''|date=23 December 2015|accessdate=25 December 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430125421/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-experimented-with-multiplayer-for-first-as/1100-6433342/|archivedate=30 April 2024}}</ref> In an interview with ''IAMAG Inspiration'' to promote the release of ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'', [[Raphael Lacoste]], the Art Director and Production Designer of ''Assassin's Creed'', revealed one of the key inspirations for the initial vibe of the series was Orientalist paintings, particularly the lithographs of the Holy Land and Syria by David Roberts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iamag.co/assassins-creed-the-origins-of-art-exclusive-interview-with-artistic-director-raphael-lacoste/|title=Assassin’s Creed: The Origins of Art – Exclusive Interview with Artistic Director Raphael Lacoste|publisher=IAMAG.co|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812122618/https://www.iamag.co/assassins-creed-the-origins-of-art-exclusive-interview-with-artistic-director-raphael-lacoste/|archivedate=12 August 2020}}</ref>
===Soundtrack development===
==Music==
The [[Assassin's Creed soundtrack|musical score]] for ''Assassin's Creed'' was composed by [[Jesper Kyd]] and the entire soundtrack was developed to "''capture the gruesome atmosphere of medieval warfare but also be edgy and contemporary.''"<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2007/10/assassins_creed_score_is_bafta/| title=Assassin's Creed Score Is BAFTAstic| first=Michael| last=McWhertor| work=Kotaku| date=17-10-2007| accessdate=21 January 2010}}</ref> The score was written to contain orchestral music with dark and ominous overtones. Many of the tracks also contain choruses and vocal tracks in Latin to cement the darker elements of the game and the time period of the game's setting. Six tracks were released on the Ubisoft website for those who purchased the game. The soundtrack is also available on iTunes and Amazon.
The [[Assassin's Creed soundtrack|musical score]] for ''Assassin's Creed'' was composed by [[Jesper Kyd]] and the entire soundtrack was developed to "capture the gruesome atmosphere of medieval warfare but also be edgy and contemporary."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kotaku.com.au/2007/10/assassins_creed_score_is_bafta/|title=Assassin's Creed Score Is BAFTAstic|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|work={{Wiki|Kotaku}}|date=17 October 2007|accessdate=21 January 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708215610/http://kotaku.com/gaming/soundtracks/assassins-creed-score-is-baftastic-311580.php|archivedate=8 July 2008}}</ref> The score was written to contain orchestral music with dark and ominous overtones. Many of the tracks also contain choruses and vocal tracks in Latin to cement the darker elements of the game and the time period of the game's setting. Six tracks were released on the Ubisoft website for those who purchased the game. The soundtrack is also available on iTunes and Amazon.
==Prequels and sequels==
==Prequels and sequels==
In February 2008, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' was released for Nintendo DS as a prequel for ''Assassin's Creed''. Developed by [[Gameloft]], a mobile version was also released for the iPhone and iPod Touch in April 2009.
In February 2008, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]'' was released for Nintendo DS as a prequel for ''Assassin's Creed''. A non-canon mobile version developed by [[Gameloft]] was also released for the iPhone and iPod Touch in April 2009.
In January 2009, Ubisoft confirmed the production of ''Assassin's Creed II'', which was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2009. The sequel continued the story started in ''Assassin's Creed'' with a different set of genetic memories created to be explored by the player.
In January 2009, Ubisoft confirmed the production of ''Assassin's Creed II'', which was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2009. The sequel continued the story started in ''Assassin's Creed'' with a different set of genetic memories created to be explored by the player.
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In October 2013, ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' was released. The game told the story of [[Edward Kenway]], the father of [[Haytham Kenway]] and grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton from ''Assassin's Creed III''.
In October 2013, ''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' was released. The game told the story of [[Edward Kenway]], the father of [[Haytham Kenway]] and grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton from ''Assassin's Creed III''.
In November 2014, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' were released. ''Unity'' followed [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassin]] [[Arno Dorian]] on his path for redemption during the [[French Revolution]]. ''Rogue'' took place during the [[Seven Years' War]] and told the tale of an Assassin, [[Shay Cormac]], who turned to the Templars after being betrayed by his former brothers.
In November 2014, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]'' and ''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' were released. ''Unity'' followed the [[Parisian Brotherhood of Assassins|French Assassin]] [[Arno Dorian]] on his path for redemption during the [[French Revolution]], while ''Rogue'' took place during the [[Seven Years' War]] and told the tale of the Assassin [[Shay Cormac]] who turned to the Templars after being betrayed by his former comrades.
In October 2015, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' was released. Set in the [[Victorian era]], ''Syndicate'' was the first game to feature two playable protagonists, the twins [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye]].
In October 2015, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]'' was released. Set in the [[Victorian era]], ''Syndicate'' was the first game to feature two playable protagonists, the twins [[Jacob Frye|Jacob]] and [[Evie Frye]].
In October 2017, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' was released. Set in [[Egypt|Ancient Egypt]], the player follows the story of [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] and the [[Hidden Ones|birth of the Assassins]].
In October 2017, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]'' was released. Set in [[Ptolemaic dynasty|Ptolemaic]] [[Egypt]], the player follows the story of [[Bayek]] of [[Siwa]] and the birth of the Assassins.
In October 2018, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' was released. Set during the [[Peloponnesian War]], players follow the story of the ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]].
In October 2018, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' was released. Set during the [[Peloponnesian War]], players follow the story of the [[Sparta]]n ''[[Mercenary|misthios]]'' [[Kassandra]] and the [[Order of the Ancients|birth of the Templars]].
In November 2020, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' was released. Set during the [[Viking expansion]] into Europe, players follow the story of the [[Vikings|Viking]] [[Eivor Varinsdottir]].
In November 2020, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' was released. Set during the [[Viking expansion]] into Europe, players follow the story of [[Raven Clan]] [[shieldmaiden]] [[Eivor Varinsdottir]].
In October 2023, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Mirage]]'' was released. Set during the [[Islamic Golden Age]] in the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], players follow the story of a younger [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]], a major side character first introduced in ''Valhalla''.
==Awards==
==Awards==
{{col-begin}}
{|{{Prettytable}}
{{col-2}}
|-
;{{Wiki|Game Critics Awards}}
!Date
*'''Won:''' ''Best Action/Adventure Game''.
!Award
!Category
;{{Wiki|IGN}}
!Recipient(s)
*'''Won:''' ''Best Action Game'', ''PS3 Game of the Show'', ''Best PS3 Action Game'', ''Best PS3 Graphics''
!Result
*'''Runner-up:''' ''Best Console Game'', ''Best PS3 Artistic Design'', ''PS3 Award for Technological Excellence''
|-
*'''Nominations:''' ''Game of the Show'', ''Best Graphics Technology''
|rowspan="3"|2006
|rowspan="4"|{{Wiki|Game Critics Awards}}
;{{Wiki|GameSpy}}
|Best Action/Adventure Game
*'''Won:''' ''Best PS3 Game of the Show''
|rowspan="5"|''Assassin's Creed''
{{col-2}}
|style="text-align: center;"|Won<ref name="IMDB">{{Imdb|title/tt0932936/awards/|Assassin's Creed (2007 Video Game) - Awards}}</ref>
''Assassin's Creed'' was releashed on {{Wiki|Xbox 360}} and {{Wiki|PlayStation 3}} on 13 November 2007, in [[North America]], 16 November in [[Europe]], and 21 November in [[Australia]] and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web|author=GameSpot Staff|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-golden/1100-6181699/|title=Assassin's Creed golden|publisher=''{{Wiki|GameSpot}}''|date=29 October 2007|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507003453/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creed-golden/1100-6181699/|archivedate=7 May 2018}}</ref> The PC version of Assassin's Creed was released in North America on 8 April 2008 as a ''Director's Cut Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.spong.com/article/14941/Assassins_Creed_PC_New_Investigation_Types?cb=496|title=Assassin's Creed PC: New Investigation Types|author=Beauchemin, Charles|publisher=Spong|date=4 March 2008|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102200459/http://news.spong.com/article/14941/Assassins_Creed_PC_New_Investigation_Types?cb=496|archivedate=2 January 2009}}</ref> A DRM-free version was later made possible by GOG Games, a digital distribution service and subsidiary owned by CD Projekt. The game is available on the GOG Games store and GOG Galaxy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gog.com/en/game/assassins_creed_directors_cut|title=Assassin's Creed: Director's Cut|accessdate=5 May 2024|publisher={{Wiki|GOG.com}}|archivedate=12 March 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312140810/https://www.gog.com/en/game/assassins_creed_directors_cut}}</ref>
*'''Runner-up:''' ''Game of the Show'', ''Best Trailer'', ''Best Graphics'', ''Best Action Adventure Game''
;{{Wiki|Gametrailers}}
''Assassin's Creed'' was later included in the ''[[Assassin's Creed: Anthology]]'', exclusive to PAL regions and released on 29 November 2012, alongside the compiled ''[[Assassin's Creed II]], [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]], [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', and ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/assassins-creed-anthology-includes-5-games-dlc|title=Assassin's Creed Anthology includes five games, DLC|publisher=''{{Wiki|Eurogamer}}''|author=Phillips, Tom|date=6 November 2012|accessdate=5 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704231553/https://www.eurogamer.net/assassins-creed-anthology-includes-5-games-dlc|archivedate=4 July 2022}}</ref> The ''[[Assassin's Creed: Heritage Collection|Heritage Collection]]'', a PAL-region exclusive released on 8 November 2013, contained the same as the ''Anthology'' apart from the DLC.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/04/assassins-creed-heritage-collection-announced-for-europe| title=Assassin's Creed Heritage Collection Announced For Europe| author=Karmali, Luke| work={{Wiki|IGN}}| date=4 October 2013| accessdate=12 May 2024| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108080227/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/04/assassins-creed-heritage-collection-announced-for-europe| archivedate=8 January 2015}}</ref>
*'''Runner-up:''' ''Best Visuals'', ''Game of the Show''
{{col-end}}
==Editions==
<tabber>
<tabber>
Limited Edition=
|-|Limited Edition=
[[File:AC - limited edition.jpg|right|200px]]
[[File:AC - limited edition.jpg|right|200px]]
A limited collector's edition of the game was released in North America alongside the standard release. The North American edition contains a collectible three inch Altaïr figurine, a [[Assassin's Creed (webcomic)|Penny Arcade comic]], a mini strategy guide and a bonus disc. The bonus disc includes behind-the-scenes videos, developer diaries, trailers, production team interviews, and the winners of the ''Assassin's Creed'' short film contest. A European limited edition of the game was also released which includes a twelve inch Altaïr figurine, art book, and bonus disc. The bonus disc contains several short films and content similar to the North American version.
A limited collector's edition of the game was released in North America alongside the standard release. The North American edition contains a collectible three inch Altaïr figurine, a [[Assassin's Creed (webcomic)|Penny Arcade comic]], a mini strategy guide, and a bonus disc. The bonus disc includes behind-the-scenes videos, developer diaries, trailers, production team interviews, and the winners of the ''Assassin's Creed'' short film contest. A European limited edition of the game was also released which includes a 12" Altaïr figurine, art book, and bonus disc. The bonus disc contains several short films and content similar to the North American version.
In addition to the game, a steelbox was released, which holds the [[Assassin's Creed (comic)|''Assassin's Creed'' graphic novel]], a bonus disc and a certificate of authenticity. It is decorated with the [[Assassin insignia]] and Animus effect symbols, while on its back a picture of Altaïr is displayed. The steelbox provided space to insert the game case of any platform.
In addition to the game, a steelbox was released, which holds the [[Assassin's Creed (comic)|''Assassin's Creed'' graphic novel]], a bonus disc, and a certificate of authenticity. It is decorated with the [[Assassin insignia]] and Animus effect symbols, while on its back a picture of Altaïr is displayed. The steelbox provided space to insert the game case of any platform.
|-|
|-|Director's Cut Edition (PC Only)=
Director's Cut Edition (PC Only)=
[[File:Acdc.jpg|right|200px]]
[[File:Acdc.jpg|right|200px]]
The Director's Cut Edition of ''Assassin's Creed'' features four types of PC-exclusive Informer Challenge investigations, named Archer Stealth Assassination, Escort, Merchant Stand Destruction, and Rooftop Race. These investigation missions replace some of the original memories in the console versions to provide a greater variety of gameplay. Modifications have also been made to existing missions based on player feedback.<ref>[https://store.ubi.com/us/assassins-creed-directors-cut-edition/575ffd8fa3be1633568b4cea.html?lang=en_US Assassin's Creed Directors Cut Edition for PC (Ubisoft Store)]</ref>
The Director's Cut Edition of ''Assassin's Creed'' features four types of PC-exclusive Informer Challenge investigations, named Archer Stealth Assassination, Escort, Merchant Stand Destruction, and Rooftop Race. These investigation missions replace some of the original memories in the console versions to provide a greater variety of gameplay. Modifications have also been made to existing missions based on player feedback.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.ubi.com/us/assassins-creed-directors-cut-edition/575ffd8fa3be1633568b4cea.html?lang=en_US|title=Assassin's Creed Directors Cut Edition for PC|publisher=Ubisoft Store|accessdate=31 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703032702/http://store.ubi.com/us/assassins-creed-directors-cut-edition/575ffd8fa3be1633568b4cea.html|archivedate=3 July 2017}}</ref>
A DRM-free version was later made possible by GOG Games, a digital distribution service and subsidiary owned by CD Projekt. The game is available on the GOG Games store and GOG Galaxy.
{{-}}
{{-}}
</tabber>
</tabber>
==Trivia==
*The Assassins are based on an Islamic sect known as the ''Order of the Hashshashin'' from which the term "assassin" originates, the idea for it coming from ''Blitzkrieg to Desert Storm: The Evolution of Operational Warfare'' by {{Wiki|Robert M. Citino}}, along with {{Wiki|Vladimir Bartol}}'s novel ''{{Wiki|Alamut (Bartol novel)|Alamut}}''.<ref>{{WP|Assassins}}</ref>
*The siege of Masyaf borrows elements from Vladimir Bartol's novel. In the novel, the leader of the Assassins orders two of his men to kill themselves as a demonstration of his power. The two men jump from a tower with smiles on their faces, much in the same way Altaïr performed a [[Leap of Faith]] from Masyaf Castle.
*One of the key inspirations of [[Raphael Lacoste]], the Art Director and Production Designer of ''Assassin's Creed'', was Orientalist paintings, particularly the lithographs of the Holy Land and Syria by David Roberts.
*The game starts shortly after the [[Siege of Acre|siege of Acre]] and ends just before the [[Battle of Arsuf|battle of Arsuf]], thus making the narration span from July to September 1191.
*The popular phrase used to describe the Assassins' maxim "Laa shay'a waqui'n moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine" is Arabic for "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." This quote is generally attributed to the founder of the Hashshashin, {{Wiki|Hassan-i Sabbah}}.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/85121/exclusive-assassins-creed-q-a/| title=Exclusive Assassin's Creed Q&A| author=Tenacious Moses| publisher=GamePro.com| date=01-11-2006| accessdate=10 October 2007| archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090103070349/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/85121/exclusive-assassins-creed-q-a/| archivedate=03-01-2009}}</ref>
*''Assassin's Creed'' was later released in the ''[[Assassin's Creed: Anthology]] Collector's Edition'' box, consisting of the main games in the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]].
*[[Marcel Jeannin]] as [[Richard I of England|Richard I]]
*[[Marcel Jeannin]] as [[Richard I of England|Richard I]]
*[[Jennifer Seguin]] as [[Animus]]
*[[Jennifer Seguin]] as [[Animus]]
{{!}}
{{!}}
*[[Shirin Amini]]
*[[Shirin Amini]]
Latest revision as of 16:51, 2 November 2025
This article is about the first video game in the series. You may be looking for Assassin's Creed (series).
"Jerusalem, the twelfth century. Amidst the chaos of the Third Crusade, a Brotherhood of warriors rose to power. Shrouded in secrecy, feared for their ruthlessness, they alone would save the Holy Land, or destroy it. They were the Assassins."
Assassin's Creed is a sandbox style action-adventure-stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. The game was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2007 and for PC in April 2008.
The game centers around the use of a machine dubbed the "Animus", which allows its user to view the genetic memories of their ancestors. The protagonist is a bartender named Desmond Miles, who is abducted by the company Abstergo Industries and forced to relive the memories of his ancestor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, an Assassin. As Desmond explores Altaïr's story in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade, details of a battle between two ancient sects—the Knights Templar and the Assassin Order—emerge as both scour for artifacts known only as "Pieces of Eden."
Assassin's Creed received primarily positive reviews, for both its story and its gameplay, and received several awards at 2006's E3. In November 2009, a sequel in the form of Assassin's Creed II was released, building on the foundation set by Assassin's Creed.
Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, one of the game's protagonists
Assassin's Creed is a non-linear action-adventure video game, during which the player controls the 12th-century Levantine Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, whose life during the Third Crusade is experienced through the Animus by his 21st century descendant, Desmond Miles. The game's overall goal is to rise through the Assassins' ranks by carrying out a series of assassinations given by the Order's leader, Al Mualim. In doing so, Altaïr travels from Masyaf to cities in the Holy Land, specifically, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus.
Upon arrival in any of the cities, Altaïr must locate an Assassin bureau and discuss his tasks with the local rafiq, a Brotherhood agent, gaining basic knowledge of his target. From there, it is up to Altaïr to perform additional reconnaissance via eavesdropping, interrogations, meeting with informers, and gathering important items. It is only after Altaïr has gathered enough information that he can carry out the assassination. After successfully completing an assassination, Altaïr returns to Masyaf to debrief with Al Mualim, and is subsequently rewarded with better equipment, before he is given the names of his next targets.
High vantage points allow the player to map out portions of the city
Between main memories, Desmond must direct Altaïr to high points in the city to further synchronize his surroundings and map out the city that Altaïr is currently located in. Other side memories include tracking and killing Templars, collecting flags, and savingcivilians who are being threatened by city guards.
Accompanying this, Altaïr needs to carry out most of his actions without being noticed by officials. The game uses a meter dependent on social stealth to inform the player of how noticeable Altaïr is to surrounding individuals, including the guards, by changing the color and shape of the Abstergo logo; performing certain actions at certain times may or may not raise the local area's awareness level.
If an area is on high alert, indicated by the logo becoming red and the entire synchronization interface earning a red tinge and background, guards will be always vigilant and citizens will scatter in various directions in the event that the guards chase and attempt to bring down Altaïr. To reduce his notoriety, Altaïr must break the guards' line of sight and then find a hiding place, blend in with wandering scholars, or join citizens sitting on benches.
Altaïr's freerunning abilities allow for greater exploration
To conduct many of the assassinations and various other tasks, Altaïr is capable of both high and low profile commands, both of which affect the alertness level. Low profile commands will allow Altaïr to blend into crowds, hide, and use Altaïr's Hidden Blade to attempt quiet and low profile assassinations. High profile commands increase alertness at a greater level and include freerunning, attacking foes, and high profile assassination attempts. In the event that the player finds themself faced with multiple enemies, one can utilize Altaïr's sword-fighting abilities to combat guards.
Health in Assassin's Creed is measured as the level of synchronization between Desmond and Altaïr's memories. Whenever Altaïr is injured, it is experienced as a deviation from the actual memory that occurred and synchronization decreases. If there is complete desynchronization, the current memory that Desmond is experiencing dematerializes and restarts at the last stable checkpoint.
Because Altaïr's memories are rendered by the Animus software, "glitches" may often be experienced with nucleotides and error messages appearing. These glitches can be used to help identify targets and if the player reacts quickly enough, may be used to provide other vantage points during cut-scenes.
Desmond Miles, a seemingly ordinary bartender, is kidnapped by the company Abstergo Industries for use as a test subject in the Animus, a device that can simulate genetic memory. Abstergo intends to put Desmond in the device to relive the memories of his ancestor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Assassin Brotherhood who lived during the Third Crusade in the Holy Land. Initially, Desmond has trouble adjusting to the device, but eventually relives Altaïr's exploits over the next several days. The game then primarily changes to Altaïr's point-of-view, with occasional transitions to Desmond, due to problems with the Animus or onset of the Bleeding Effect.
Warren Vidic of Abstergo Industries overlooks Desmond inside the Animus
The game opens with Desmond entering Altaïr's memory, but he soon faces synchronization problems. On this, Lucy Stillman and Warren Vidic's voices can be heard, arguing over Desmond's safety within the Animus. After experiencing a few problems, Desmond exits the virtual machine and Vidic briefs him about the Animus' inner workings, before initializing the machine's tutorial program. After Desmond is done with the tutorial, he enters Altaïr's closest memory that he can synchronize with; Lucy adds that Desmond has to relive key moments of Altaïr's life to increase his synchronization, before reaching the final memory which holds the information that Abstergo is seeking.
In 1191, Altaïr attempts to retrieve one of a series of artifacts known as the "Pieces of Eden" from Solomon's Temple alongside two fellow Assassins, Malik Al-Sayf and his brother Kadar. However, the trio are beaten to the treasure by Robert de Sablé, Grand Master of the Knights Templar and the Assassins' sworn enemy. While attempting to recover the treasure from the Templars and kill Robert, Altaïr breaks all three tenets of the Assassins' Creed and is forced to escape empty-handed after being overpowered by Robert. In the following battle, Kadar is killed and Malik's left arm is crippled and later amputated. When Altaïr returns to the Assassins' stronghold at Masyaf with apologies, Malik, who survived the Templars' attack, comes back with the artifact and disparages Altaïr because of his arrogance.
Altaïr, Rauf and another Assassin performing the Leap of Faith
After narrowly defeating a retaliatory attack by the Templars, the Assassins' leader Al Mualim demotes Altaïr to a novice but gives him another chance to rise through the Brotherhood's ranks. Al Mualim assigns Altaïr the task of assassinating nine key figures across the Holy Land in Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, aiming to bring peace between the Crusader and Saracen forces. Each target is based on an actual historical figure from the Third Crusade.
Altaïr completes each task, learning how each target is connected to Robert and the Templars, and how they all aim to end the Crusades and place the Holy Land under their own control. With men on both sides killed, he discovers that Robert's last plot is to attempt to unite the Christian and Muslim forces against their new common enemy, the Assassins themselves. Altaïr eventually slays Robert before King Richard I of England, ending the Templars' plans but failing to convince the King that an end to the war would be welcome to both sides. From a dying Robert, Altaïr learns that Al Mualim had helped the Templars locate the Piece of Eden in Solomon's Temple but eventually betrayed them, just as he had the Assassins, in order to keep the artifact for himself.
Altaïr discovers a map detailing the locations of other Pieces of Eden
Altaïr quickly returns to Masyaf and confronts his master, who reveals the truth to him: the Piece of Eden is not a supernatural artifact but rather creates illusions. He denounces religion and other seemingly supernatural events (e.g. the Ten Plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the presence of the Greek Gods in the Trojan War) as illusions caused by the Piece, and then states his intention to use the artifact to compel humanity into a brainwashed state, and in doing so, bringing an end to all conflict. Altaïr is eventually able to see through the deceptions created by the artifact and kill Al Mualim. When Altaïr recovers the artifact, the Piece of Eden activates, showing a holographic view of Earth with the locations of countless other Pieces of Eden marked across the globe.
When the process is complete, Desmond learns that Abstergo is the Templars' modern-day front and that they are already seeking the Pieces of Eden from the locations identified in Altaïr's memories. Furthermore, he learns that the modern-day Assassins tried to rescue him due to him once being an Assassin himself, but failed. Following this, Desmond is to be killed after an order from the high-ranking Templar Alan Rikkin, but Lucy saves him by convincing Rikkin and the others that Desmond can still be useful to them. Before Lucy leaves with Vidic, she indicates to Desmond that she is an undercover Assassin by tucking her ring finger into her palm, referring to the Assassins' tradition of severing their finger in order to join them and operate their signature weapon, the Hidden Blade.
Clay's blood messages in Desmond's room
Though Desmond remains trapped in the Abstergo laboratory, his experience in the Animus has created a Bleeding Effect of Altaïr's life in his own, allowing Desmond to use Altaïr's Eagle Vision. In turn, this allows him to see strange messages painted on the walls of his room and the floor of the lab. The messages deal with various forms of the end of the world from different cultures, including several references to 21 December 2012, the date when Abstergo plans to launch a satellite that will "permanently end the war". It is hinted that this method will be similar to how Al Mualim hypnotized Masyaf, but on a larger scale. The game ends with Desmond wondering what the images mean and who could have drawn them.
Intel Pentium D 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual Core) processor
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz or better/AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ or 4400+
Memory
512MB (XP), 1GB (Vista)
2GB
Hard drive space
9.0GB
Graphics hardware
256MB DirectX 9.0c Graphics Card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher.
512MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card.
Sound hardware
DirectX 9.0 or 10.0–compliant
5.1 channel surround
After the 2003 release of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, creative director Patrice Désilets developed a spin-off entitled Prince of Persia: Assassin about an Assassin in Jerusalem protecting a prince with magical powers.[1]
The first details on what would become Assassin's Creed came in mid-September 2005 during the TokyoGame Show, when GameSpot reported on Ubisoft's trailer for a new game in production with the working title of "Project Assassins".[2] No further word was heard until E3 2006, when an updated version of the trailer was shown under the name Assassin's Creed. When GamesRadar pressed Ubisoft for comment after they previously claimed Assassin's Creed had never been previewed before, a representative confirmed that "Project Assassins" and Assassin's Creed were indeed the same.[3]
In a September 2006 interview with IGN, game producer Jade Raymond described Altaïr as a "medieval hitman with a mysterious past" and definitely not a time traveler.[4] In October 2007, in an IGN Australia interview, Patrice Désilets described the lead character's ability to climb and free-run as being designed by the individuals who developed the mechanic for the Prince of Persia series.[5]
In December 2006, Kristen Bell, who voiced Abstergo researcher and employee Lucy Stillman, gave the first concrete information about the plot, confirming a focus on genetic memory and a corporation's search for descendants of an assassin.[6] Ubisoft also released a 5-part series of "Developer Diaries" videos on the game's website with members of the development team, including creative director Patrice Désilets and producer Jade Raymond, explaining the thought processes behind the various aspects of the game.
The game initially had a multiplayer mode, though it was cut during development.[7] In an interview with IAMAG Inspiration to promote the release of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Raphael Lacoste, the Art Director and Production Designer of Assassin's Creed, revealed one of the key inspirations for the initial vibe of the series was Orientalist paintings, particularly the lithographs of the Holy Land and Syria by David Roberts.[8]
The musical score for Assassin's Creed was composed by Jesper Kyd and the entire soundtrack was developed to "capture the gruesome atmosphere of medieval warfare but also be edgy and contemporary."[9] The score was written to contain orchestral music with dark and ominous overtones. Many of the tracks also contain choruses and vocal tracks in Latin to cement the darker elements of the game and the time period of the game's setting. Six tracks were released on the Ubisoft website for those who purchased the game. The soundtrack is also available on iTunes and Amazon.
In February 2008, Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles was released for Nintendo DS as a prequel for Assassin's Creed. A non-canon mobile version developed by Gameloft was also released for the iPhone and iPod Touch in April 2009.
In January 2009, Ubisoft confirmed the production of Assassin's Creed II, which was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in November 2009. The sequel continued the story started in Assassin's Creed with a different set of genetic memories created to be explored by the player.
At the same time, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines was released for the PSP. It was comprised as another spin-off game in the same vein as Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles, where the story of Altaïr continued a month after Assassin's Creed. The style of the graphics and the gameplay also resembled the first game more than its predecessor Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles.
In November 2011, Assassin's Creed: Revelations was released. The story of Ezio came to a close when he traveled to Constantinople to find the five keys to Altaïr's library under Masyaf's castle. The keys also allowed Ezio to see memories of Altaïr's life preceding and following the events of the first game. This also allows the player to once again play as Altaïr.
In October 2012, Assassin's Creed III was released. Although having almost nothing about Altaïr, it continued Desmond's story in the form of Ratonhnhaké:ton. However, Altaïr's outfit was available when Desmond completed each main story mission with full synchronization.
Assassin's Creed was releashed on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 13 November 2007, in North America, 16 November in Europe, and 21 November in Australia and New Zealand.[11] The PC version of Assassin's Creed was released in North America on 8 April 2008 as a Director's Cut Edition.[12] A DRM-free version was later made possible by GOG Games, a digital distribution service and subsidiary owned by CD Projekt. The game is available on the GOG Games store and GOG Galaxy.[13]
A limited collector's edition of the game was released in North America alongside the standard release. The North American edition contains a collectible three inch Altaïr figurine, a Penny Arcade comic, a mini strategy guide, and a bonus disc. The bonus disc includes behind-the-scenes videos, developer diaries, trailers, production team interviews, and the winners of the Assassin's Creed short film contest. A European limited edition of the game was also released which includes a 12" Altaïr figurine, art book, and bonus disc. The bonus disc contains several short films and content similar to the North American version.
In addition to the game, a steelbox was released, which holds the Assassin's Creed graphic novel, a bonus disc, and a certificate of authenticity. It is decorated with the Assassin insignia and Animus effect symbols, while on its back a picture of Altaïr is displayed. The steelbox provided space to insert the game case of any platform.
The Director's Cut Edition of Assassin's Creed features four types of PC-exclusive Informer Challenge investigations, named Archer Stealth Assassination, Escort, Merchant Stand Destruction, and Rooftop Race. These investigation missions replace some of the original memories in the console versions to provide a greater variety of gameplay. Modifications have also been made to existing missions based on player feedback.[16]
