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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}}{{Era|ACAC|RW}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Game Infobox
{{Game Infobox
|name = Assassin's Creed
|name = Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles
|image = AltairsChronicles.jpg|
|image = Cover-ACAC.jpg
|imageSize = 250
|Developer = [[Gameloft|Gameloft Bucharest]]
|Developer = Ubisoft Montreal
|Publisher = [[Ubisoft]]
|Publisher = Ubisoft
|Composer = [[Mathieu Vachon]]
|US Date Released =  
|Released = '''Nintendo DS'''
|UK Date Released =
*5 February 2008 ([[North America|NA]])
|Genre = Historic Action-Adventure
*3 April 2008 ([[Australia|AU]])
|Game modes = Single-Player
*11 April 2008 ([[Europe|EU]])
|ESRB = Mature (M)
'''iOS'''
|Platform = DS  
*23 April 2009
|Media =
'''Palm WebOS'''
|Website = http://assassinscreed.us.ubi.com/agegate.php?destURL=/index.php/
*25 January 2010
'''Windows Phone 7'''
*11 November 2010
|Genre = Action-Adventure, stealth
|Game modes = Single-player
|ESRB = Teen (T)
|Platform =  
*{{Wiki|Nintendo DS}}
*{{Wiki|Android (operating system)|Android}}
*{{Wiki|iOS}}
*{{Wiki|webOS}}
*{{Wiki|Symbian}}
*{{Wiki|Java Platform, Micro Edition|Java 2 ME}}
*{{Wiki|Windows Phone 7}}
|Website =  
}}
}}
'''''Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles''''' is the first spin-off title of the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]]. It was published by [[Ubisoft]] and developed by [[Gameloft]].<ref name="Gamepro">"''Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles''", ''GamePro'' issue #235 - April 2008</ref> The game is a prequel to ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', and it is set in 1190, one year prior to ''Assassin's Creed''. Player's control [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] as he searches for the legendary [[Adha|Chalice]].


'''''Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles''''' is a prequel to the game [[Assassin's Creed]], and is published by Ubisoft and developed by Gameloft for the Nintendo DS. It was released in the United States on February 5th, 2008. It features 2 new cities, Tyre and Alep, and the 3 original cities, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, but does not include Masyaf. Unlike the original ''Assassin's Creed'', this game is not told through the perspective of Desmond Miles which is set in the year 2012, but rather is told directly by [[Altaïr]]. Though it should be noted the the menu screens take place on the Animus.
==Gameplay==
[[File:Altaïr Fighting a Templar.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr fighting a Templar Guard]]
''Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles'' takes advantage of the Nintendo DS' features by utilizing the touch-screen for mini-games, like [[interrogation]] and [[pickpocketing]], as well as for displaying a map during standard gameplay. The game's main gameplay is primarily a 2.5D platformer, mixed with stealth and combat.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gamervision.com/gamer/coop/reviews/article/assassin_s_creed_alta_r_s_chronicles_ds| title=Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles| author=Coop| publisher=''Gamer Vision''| date=22 February 2008| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207100922/http://gamervision.com/users/coop/articles/assassin_s_creed_alta_r_s_chronicles_ds| archivedate=7 February 2010| accessdate=26 February 2023}}</ref> The [[Abstergo Industries]] logo that acts as a visibility indicator, which is present in the loading screen, shows that an Abstergo [[Animus]] is being used. The Animus-theme menu and HUD, including a DNA-style synchronization bar for health, further supports this.<ref name="Chronicles">''Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles''</ref>


==Plot==
The game's combat system consists predominantly of weak attacks, strong attacks, and combos of the two, as well tools like bombs and projectile weapons. Seven different weapons are available: the [[Hidden Blade]], a [[sword]], a [[crossbow]], explosive and smoke [[bomb]]s, [[throwing knives]], and a [[grappling hook]] which can be used to pull enemies' feet from underneath them and to swing across gaps.<ref name="IGN Review">{{Cite web| url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/06/assassins-creed-altairs-chronicles-review| title=Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles Review| publisher=''{{Wiki|IGN}}''| date=6 February 2008| author=Harris, Craig| accessdate=26 February 2023| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026074439/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/02/06/assassins-creed-altairs-chronicles-review| archivedate=26 October 2012}}</ref>
The game starts with Altaïr reaching the end of a journey, though it is untold what journey.  He arrives in a settlement on his way to Alep.  He uses the rooftops to make his way to the gate.  He leaves the settlement and enters the village just before the citadel of Alep, to find it in flames, destroyed and looted by Templars. He fights his way through the village, into Alep’s citadel.  He informs Al Mualim about the attack on the village, and Al Mualim informs him the attack happened because a man of theirs had information, and was being followed.  Al Mualim informs Altaïr of a Chalice, and tells him to find it, and bring it back.


Altaïr departs from Alep to Damascus in search of information regarding the location of the Chalice.  Rafik tells him of a merchant named Tamir, who has ties to Templars that might know of the Chalice’s location.  Although Rafik doesn’t know a way into Tamir’s heavily-protected house, a man, named Misbah, on Lowend Street potentially might.  Altaïr makes his way through Lowend street, via rooftops to find Misbah, who he interrogates.  The guards catch on to Altaïr, giving Misbah the opportunity to run and leaving Altaïr without information.  Altaïr escapes to the rooftops, pursuing Misbah. Misbah is about to escape when the roof under him collapses, and he barely survives the fall by grabbing a rope.  Altaïr takes advantage of the situation by convincing Misbah that he will get him down if he gives up information.  Altaïr learns that Tamir is receiving a shipment of oil on his roof, and quickly sets out to find it.  Altaïr arrives at Tamir’s house and sets fire to the oil barrels, distracting the guards, and causing Tamir to come outside.  Altaïr then confronts Tamir about the Chalice, and Tamir reveals that the Chalice lies in the desert, and Altaïr will need 3 keys to retrieve it.  He also reveals to Altaïr can learn more from a dancer named Fajera.  Altaïr kills Tamir and reports back to Rafik.
Weapons and skills can be upgraded or unlocked by using orbs found throughout the game.<ref name="IGN Review" /> [[Snake]]s are present in the game as traps and can be killed with a precise sword strike or by dropping a box on them.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Rafik tells Altaïr that the “dancer” he seeks is actually a circus dancer.  Altaïr goes to the circus in search of Fajera, who he finds.  She has a man named Madr attack him, though, and narrowly escapes. Altaïr kills Madr and pursues Fajera on the rooftops.  She finally stops chase, revealing she was just testing Altaïr.  She gives him the first key to the desert temple and asks him to kill a man named Alaat in the baths of the Northern District of Noble Street.  She also informs him of a man who has been to the desert temple and knows where the Chalice is; he’s inside the Templar Hospital of Tyre.  She takes him to the Northern District and tells him he can use the sewers to get into the baths and kills Alaat.  Altaïr gets through the sewers and kills Alaat, who alerts the guard.  Altaïr swiftly escapes the baths and passes on the rooftops of the next building to a courtyard where he once again finds Fajera.  Fajera tells Altaïr he must go to Tyre next.
==Plot summary==
In the year 1190, the wars of the [[Third Crusade]] engulfed the Holy Land, and [[Crusaders]] clashed with [[Saracens]] for the control of the Holy City, [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Right when Altaïr enters Tyre, he notices one thing: the increase in the number of guards. He seeks Hamid, the keeper of the Creed in Tyre.  Hamid, at the end of the street, informs that the soldiers now holding up in Tyre are there to guard their hospital. He tells Altaïr they must split up and meet somewhere else.  Altaïr follows the rooftops to the location where they meet.  Altaïr arrives and Hamid tells him to find Roland Napule, the man in charge of the hospital.  Altaïr takes a drained fountain to the sewers to infiltrate the hospital.  Altaïr encounters guards in the sewers, indicating that this route into the hospital is known.  Altaïr successfully infiltrates the hospital and finds a hidden crypt by stumbling upon a body chute.  He notices something wrong with the coffins; they are actually switches.  The switches activate the lift to a hidden room where Roland is torturing a victim who he suspects knows the location of the second key.  Altaïr kills Roland, and talks to the man he was torturing.  Altaïr is given the second key and informed that the Templars already have the third and know the location of the door they open.  Altaïr heads to Jerusalem.
===Coming home===
[[File:Altair's Chronicles 1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Altaïr eavesdropping on a conversation]]
[[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], a renowned [[Master Assassin]] of the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]], arrived at [[Alep]] from an arduous journey and found it under attack by the sworn enemies of the Assassins, the [[Templars|Knights Templar]]. Left with no choice but to repel the attack, the Assassin defeated many of them, even killing a low-ranking captain before the attack was halted.


In Jerusalem, Altaïr finds Kadar, the keeper of the Creed.  He asks the location of Lord Basilisk, the Templar who has the third key.  Kadar tells Altaïr that Lord Basilisk is inside the castle of Jerusalem, and warns him that infiltrating that castle is no small feat.  However, Altaïr arrived in Jerusalem at the right time, because the king will be holding a party, and will be out of his fortress and somewhere in the city.  Kadar doesn’t know where the party will be held but tells Altaïr to try the gardens, it is good for learning gossip and picking up information.  Kadar also assigns Altaïr with the task of finding an assassin that is working for the king that they have not heard from.  Altaïr makes his way to the gardens where he eavesdrops on two men having a conversation about their friend who got invited to the king’s party.  Altaïr confronts this friend, Ayman, who tells him that the party will be held at Lacoeur’s villa, in the north part of the city.  He makes his way to the entrance, which is heavily guarded, and narrowly makes it in.  Altaïr encounters the assassins in the king’s ranks, who needs help getting a gate open, and also informs Altaïr that there is a secret passage in and out of the castle. Altaïr finds and enters this passage, encountering heavy resistance along the way.  Altaïr runs briefly through the sewers until he finds a wall, which moves, revealing Lord Basilisk himself.  After a short confrontation, Altaïr grabs the third key from around his neck and runs.
Afterwards, tasked by [[Al Mualim]], the [[Mentor]] of the [[Levantine Assassins]], Altaïr was sent to find and retrieve a sacred object known as [[Adha|the Chalice]], which was said to have the power to unite all the factions under one flag of whichever side possessed it, ending the Third Crusade in victory for either the Crusaders or the Saracens. Setting off immediately, Altaïr embarked on his new [[Quest for the Chalice|quest]].<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Altaïr then sets out to find Hazad’s shop but walked in just an instant too late, Templars beat him there and took a map showing the way to the desert temple. Altaïr follows the Templars back to their tower, meeting heavy resistance from both citizens and guards along the way. He learns that Lord Basilisk himself requested the map. Altaïr chases the map carrier through the fortress before cornering him and killing him. Altaïr then moves to their master, who gives him an offer to join the Templars, which he refuses. He then chases and kills the Templar with the map, and departs for the Temple of Sand.
===The quest for the Chalice===
====Assassination of Tamir====
Altaïr began his journey in [[Damascus]] and met with the [[Rafiq|keeper]] [[Rafik]], who tested his skills on an easy target. With the target dead, Rafik informed Altaïr that the merchant, [[Tamir (merchant)|Tamir]], had connections to the Templars in the area. After interrogating [[Misbah]], a man with connections to Tamir, Altaïr confronted and killed the merchant, but not before learning that the Chalice was kept in the [[Temple of Sand]], and that three keys would be needed to enter.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Altaïr makes his way through the obstacles of the Temple of Sand, meeting a lot of Templar resistance. When Altaïr finally comes to the room containing the Chalice, he opens the container, to discover the Chalice gone. Lord Basilisk strides in and gives an explanation. He says that the Chalice is actually flesh and bone, a woman. Lord Basilisk calls in guards, but then the Temple collapses. Altaïr finds himself in a desert valley, being chased by a cloud of sand. He narrowly escapes the obstacles and departs for Tyre.
====The dancer====
[[File:AltairtalkingtoFajera-AltairsChronicles.png|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr talking to the dancer, Fajera]]
Altaïr then visited the circus dancer [[Fajera]], though she was unwilling to help him and left the Assassin to fight a circus brute known as [[Badr]]. After defeating the man and catching Fajera, she gave Altaïr the first of the three keys and told him that a man at the Templar hospital in [[Tyre]] could help him find the other two. Before he left, Fajera tasked Altaïr with killing a man named [[Alaat]] as payment for the information she gave, which he successfully managed to do.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


In Tyre, Altaïr meets with Hamid once again on the docks. Hamid explains that only two men have access to the Templar’s Hold in the city, but they were captured. Hamid tells Altaïr that he can access the men by travelling along the wall to their left.  As he progresses, Altaïr find a man in a cage and frees him. The man’s brother knows how to get into the Templar’s Hold, and tells him where to find his brother.  Altaïr frees his brother, who tells him how to get into the Templar’s Hold; the gate on the other side of the wall has a guard guarding it that has a key to it.  Altaïr gets to the gate and opens goes through it, he is in the Templar’s Hold.  He starts search for Basilisk on the rooftops.  He interrogates a man who tells him Basilisk is eastward, around the city gate.  When Altaïr finally finds Basilisk, he decides to run, and, of course, Altaïr pursues him. Altaïr finds him in a building and confronts him.  Altaïr defeats him at combat, at which point he offers information in exchange for his life.  He tells Altaïrs the Chalice is in Jerusalem, in Don Carvaggio’s Villa; he also says there’s a plan to poison every water source in the city of Acre, killing everyone before sunrise.  Altaïr, wanting to get the Chalice, yet also wanting to ensure the safety of Acre, destroys Lord Basilisk’s ships so he cannot escape, giving Altaïr time to save Acre, and then gather the Chalice. Altaïr then departs for Acre.
====The red hospital====
[[File:HamidtoAltairDialogue-AltairsChronicles.png|thumb|right|250px|Hamid telling Altaïr about Roland Napule]]
Later arriving in Tyre, Altaïr first sought [[Hamid (Tyre)|Hamid]], the keeper of the city, from whom he learned that [[Roland Napule]], the head of the hospital and a Templar, had been questioning someone. In order to infiltrate the hospital, Altaïr navigated his way through the sewers, gaining entry to the building from below, before proceeding to assassinate Roland. Altaïr was then given the second key that he needed by a prisoner of Roland, an old man who had been to the mysterious Temple where the Chalice was contained.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Altaïr arrives in Acre, a city under siege.  He takes the rooftops across the city to a Templar camp, rescuing many citizens along the way.  He disguises himself as a Templar and infiltrates the camp, however, he comes to an area where he must remain absolutely hidden, dismantling all their weapons besieging Acre.  He disguises himself as a scholar and assassinates the leader who was about to give orders to poison the water supply.  The guards catch onto him and he makes a hasty escapes on a catapult.
====The hidden party====
From there, Altaïr traveled to Jerusalem and spoke with its keeper, [[Kadar]], where he learned that the Templar leader of the region, [[Basilisk|Lord Basilisk]], was frequently at the royal palace with the king, and that he had the third key for the Temple of Sand.


Altaïr then rides to Jerusalem in search of the Chalice.  He discovers a woman named Adha is the Chalice and is being escorted out of the city by guards.  Altaïr quickly decides if he wants to stop them, he must close the gates before they get there.  The guards tell the gatekeeper to raise the gate, which he does.  Altaïr swiftly stalks his prey, sticking to the rooftops.  He rescues Adha from the guards but is separated from her.  He tells her to go through the sewers and he’ll meet her there, so she does. They help each other through the sewers and she informs him that the Templars bought off a man named Harash from the assassins.  Harash turns out to be the keeper of the whole Order of assassins, with only Al Mualim above him.
The king of Jerusalem was going to throw a party somewhere soon that day, and in order to get closer to Basilisk, Altaïr decided to investigate for the location, so that he could sneak inside. After Altaïr overheard some of the noblemen's conversations, he then questioned [[Ayman]], a guest for the party, and found out where it was due to begin.


Altaïr heads back to Alep to kill Harash, then run away with Adha.  Altaïr makes his way through Alep, and into the main forum, where he finds Harash, negotiating with a Templar.  After a long struggle, Harash falls and Altaïr travels to Tyre.
Infiltrating the celebration with the help of one of Kadar's men, the two of them encountered Lord Basilisk for the first time, and after a brief battle with him, Altaïr obtained the key, but had no time to kill the Templar master before he retreated.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


In Tyre, Altaïr discovers Templars have found Adha and taken her.  He dispatches them and goes to find her.  He travels across the boats and docks to find Adha being taken away by none other then Lord Basilisk.  Altaïr gives chase and soon find Lord Basilisk on a boat waiting for Altaïr to come and challenge him. Altaïr dispatches him and kills him, but he discovers Adha on another ship that is sailing away.  He attempts to board it but fails and swims back to land.  The last scene depicts Altaïr watching the boat containing Adha sail away and saying “I’ll find you, Adha!”
====Storming the tower====
[[File:Altair's Chronicles 2.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Altaïr talking]]
After the confrontation with Lord Basilisk, a group of Templars attacked an Assassin shopkeeper named [[Hazad]] and stole a map to the desert temple where the Chalice was supposedly located. Altaïr chased them to their tower and climbed to the top, while facing heavy resistance in the form of catapults, [[archer]]s, and a mindless man known as 'The Brute', whom Altaïr faced off against in a courtyard.


== Gameplay ==
After making his way through the tower's defenses and killing the archer captain in charge, Altaïr encountered the [[Master of the Tower|commander]], an Assassin-like figure who was actually a high-ranking Templar. Having no choice, Altaïr fought his way through the tower, killing the Templar's guards and his [[Apprentice of the Tower|disciple]], until he finally reached the man himself. After slaying him in mortal combat, Altaïr retrieved the temple map from his body.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


Assassin's Creed takes full use of the Nintendo DS features.  It utilizes the touch-screen for pickpocketing and interrogation mini-games.  It uses the control-pad for general gameplay such as running, etc.  There is a selection of nearly a dozen different weapons, including daggers, explosives, swords, crossbows, smoke bombs, and throwing knives. There are two upgrades to the sword weapon and three upgrades to health.  Combat consists of small, swift attacks (Y button), strong, slow attacks (X button), and blocks (R button).  The A button is used to interact with objects and people, and the L button allows you to crouch and roll under certain obstacles.  The R button works similarly to the "Blend" function on the original [[Assassin's Creed]]; it makes you walk to avoid suspicion from guards.  Whenever walking across beams you also have to hold the R button or you will lose balance and fall.  Smoke bombs instantly blind guards, but not Altaïr, giving you the chance to escape. Regular explosives can be either thrown or planted, to throw them you must run and push Y, and to plant them you must be still and push Y.  When you plant them they have a timer that must run out before they explode.  If you throw them they explode instantly.  There is an Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty setting.  When you complete the game, you unlock in the main menu "Memories", which allows you to replay any level you want to on any difficulty.  Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles features interesting use of the touch-screen.  For standard gaming, it act as a map, where it shows the locations of Altaïr and all the guards. However, when engaging a suspected information carrier, you enter an interesting mini-game called "Interrogation".  The touch screen will show a picture of a person's back, and will have spheres with red circles closing in on them.  You must touch the sphere with the stylus when the surrounding circle touches it. If you press it too early, or too late you lose time.  Losing all your time will result in losing the mini-game and having to engage the suspect once again.  The second interesting use of the touch-screen is through the mini-game "pickpocketing".  In this, you must run the stylus back and forth across the touch screen to clear the darkness in a person's purse. After you have cleared out the darkness, you will notice a key, you must drag it to the entrance of the person's purse, without touching the edges or other objects.  Touching edges or other objects will result in losing time, and losing time has the same principle as interrogation.
====The Temple of Sand====
Leaving the tower afterwards and following the map he obtained from the Master, Altaïr arrived at the Temple of Sand. There, he fought his way through Templar forces to get to the antechamber, finally entering it after dispatching a large brute carrying an axe. Inside, he found an empty chest and Basilisk, who hinted to the Assassin that the Chalice was in fact a woman. Basilisk further taunted Altaïr and fled once more, leaving the temple to crumble around him. Managing to escape, Altaïr made his way to Tyre as the temple collapsed.<ref name="Chronicles"/>


==Reception==
====Infiltrating a Templar stronghold====
The game has been received with mixed opinions: IGN gave it a 7/10, Xplay gave it a 2/5, and Gamespot gave it 6/10. Many reviewers on Gamefaqs have given it quite low scores.
[[File:AltairMeetingHamid-AltairsChroniclesiPad.png|thumb|right|250px|Altaïr meeting up with Hamid]]
In Tyre, Hamid told Altaïr that in order to infiltrate the local Templar stronghold, he would need to free two captured men. After Altaïr found and freed the two captive brothers, who pinpointed the entrance for him, Altaïr infiltrated the hold, encountering another brute along the way.


==Technical Issues==
Making his way inside, the Assassin came across Basilisk and engaged into a fight with the Templar leader, badly wounding him in the process. From there, Altaïr proposed to Basilisk that in exchange for his life, he would be required to give the Assassin information, and Altaïr listened as Basilisk revealed that the Chalice was in Jerusalem and that the Templars were besieging [[Acre]]. He also revealed that the Templars planned to poison the water supply of Acre in order to speed up their assault. Before he left for Acre, Altaïr set fire to Basilisk's ships, disadvantaging him so that he could not reach the Chalice before Altaïr.<ref name="Chronicles"/>
Many people have been complaining about glitches that have caused them to fall through a platform and die, or get hit by an arrow and die.


==External links==
====Infiltrating the siege camp====
* [http://www.1191ad.com/link.html?i=pW1w2F 1191 A.D. Preview]
[[File:Altair's Chronicles 3.jpg|right|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr on the rooftops]]
* [http://ds.ign.com/objects/906/906298.html IGN Preview]
Altaïr then journeyed to the besieged Acre and helped the city by fighting off attacking Templar soldiers, before sneaking into the siege camp in the disguise of a soldier, and then as a scholar. When he had finally assassinated the commander, Altaïr managed to escape the camp by using a catapult.<ref name="Chronicles"/>
[[Category:2008 video games]]
 
[[Category:Nintendo DS games]]
====Discovering a traitor====
[[Category:Nintendo DS-only games]]
After leaving Acre and arriving at Jerusalem, Altaïr successfully rescued the Chalice from a group of Templars. Identifying the Chalice as Adha, a woman whom he knew from his past, Altaïr learned from her that the Templars had paid off [[Harash]], the second-in-command of the Assassins.<ref name="Chronicles"/>
 
====Duel on Basilisk's ship====
[[File:AltaïrkillingBasilisk.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Altaïr fighting Basilisk]]
After cumulating a plan to attack Alep – the Assassin fortress – and kill Harash, before running away with Adha, things did not go as Altaïr had hoped.
 
After Altaïr made his way through Harash's Assassin guards and killed him, Adha was kidnapped by Basilisk and taken to the Templar port in Tyre. Tracking her down, Altaïr fought through the Templar forces and killed Basilisk in one final confrontation on his ship. However, with Adha nowhere to be found, he was disheartened to learn that she was on a different ship, which escaped from Altaïr before he could catch it. Swimming to shore and seeing the Templar ship far off in the distance, he yelled out a promise of "''I will find you, Adha!''" into the sky, as the vessel sailed further and further away towards the horizon.<ref name="Chronicles"/>
 
==Development==
The existence of ''Altaïr's Chronicles'' was first hinted in late 2007 via online retailer listings by GameStop with Nintendo DS as the platform. It was later confirmed by Ubisoft in January 2008 as a prequel to ''Assassin's Creed''. It was announced to consist of many of the core gameplay mechanics while adding the touch stylus support of the DS. In a statement by Ubisoft's [[John Parkes]], he described the game as intended to appeal to players who "played the console version as well as those who have yet to discover the secrets of ''Assassin's Creed''".<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/01/assassins-creed-ds-confirmed-dated-priced/| title=Assassin’s Creed DS confirmed, dated, priced| publisher=Ars Technica| author=Caron, Frank| date=16 January 2008| accessdate=26 February 2023| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202013237/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2008/01/assassins-creed-ds-confirmed-dated-priced/| archivedate= 2 December 2012}}</ref>
 
==Release==
The game was originally released in the United States on 5 February 2008 for the Nintendo DS. A port with improved graphics and gameplay was made for iOS by Ubisoft and released on 23 April 2009.<ref name="App Store">{{Cite web| url=http://www.qj.net/Assassin-s-Creed-now-on-App-Store/pg/49/aid/130668| title=Assassin's Creed now on App Store| author=B., Karl | publisher=''QJ.net''| accessdate=7 July 2009| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426124829/http://www.qj.net/Assassin-s-Creed-now-on-App-Store/pg/49/aid/130668 | archivedate=26 April 2009}}</ref> Later ports included Symbian Mobile, Windows Phone 7, and Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The iOS and Android versions were removed from the App Store and Play Store in 2013.
 
==Gallery==
<tabber>
Screenshots=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACC World Map DS.png|The world map of the DS version
ACC World Map iPhone.png|The same map on the iPhone
</gallery>
|-|Concept artwork=
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACAC Environment Concepts.jpg|Concept art of various environments
</gallery>
</tabber>
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACAC}}
{{ACSeries}}
 
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[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]
[[Category:Real world video games|Altaïr's Chronicles]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed series|Altaïr's Chronicles]]

Latest revision as of 01:40, 25 May 2026

Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles is the first spin-off title of the Assassin's Creed series. It was published by Ubisoft and developed by Gameloft.[1] The game is a prequel to Assassin's Creed, and it is set in 1190, one year prior to Assassin's Creed. Player's control Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad as he searches for the legendary Chalice.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Altaïr fighting a Templar Guard

Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles takes advantage of the Nintendo DS' features by utilizing the touch-screen for mini-games, like interrogation and pickpocketing, as well as for displaying a map during standard gameplay. The game's main gameplay is primarily a 2.5D platformer, mixed with stealth and combat.[2] The Abstergo Industries logo that acts as a visibility indicator, which is present in the loading screen, shows that an Abstergo Animus is being used. The Animus-theme menu and HUD, including a DNA-style synchronization bar for health, further supports this.[3]

The game's combat system consists predominantly of weak attacks, strong attacks, and combos of the two, as well tools like bombs and projectile weapons. Seven different weapons are available: the Hidden Blade, a sword, a crossbow, explosive and smoke bombs, throwing knives, and a grappling hook which can be used to pull enemies' feet from underneath them and to swing across gaps.[4]

Weapons and skills can be upgraded or unlocked by using orbs found throughout the game.[4] Snakes are present in the game as traps and can be killed with a precise sword strike or by dropping a box on them.[3]

Plot summary[edit | edit source]

In the year 1190, the wars of the Third Crusade engulfed the Holy Land, and Crusaders clashed with Saracens for the control of the Holy City, Jerusalem.[3]

Coming home[edit | edit source]

Altaïr eavesdropping on a conversation

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a renowned Master Assassin of the Assassin Order, arrived at Alep from an arduous journey and found it under attack by the sworn enemies of the Assassins, the Knights Templar. Left with no choice but to repel the attack, the Assassin defeated many of them, even killing a low-ranking captain before the attack was halted.

Afterwards, tasked by Al Mualim, the Mentor of the Levantine Assassins, Altaïr was sent to find and retrieve a sacred object known as the Chalice, which was said to have the power to unite all the factions under one flag of whichever side possessed it, ending the Third Crusade in victory for either the Crusaders or the Saracens. Setting off immediately, Altaïr embarked on his new quest.[3]

The quest for the Chalice[edit | edit source]

Assassination of Tamir[edit | edit source]

Altaïr began his journey in Damascus and met with the keeper Rafik, who tested his skills on an easy target. With the target dead, Rafik informed Altaïr that the merchant, Tamir, had connections to the Templars in the area. After interrogating Misbah, a man with connections to Tamir, Altaïr confronted and killed the merchant, but not before learning that the Chalice was kept in the Temple of Sand, and that three keys would be needed to enter.[3]

The dancer[edit | edit source]

Altaïr talking to the dancer, Fajera

Altaïr then visited the circus dancer Fajera, though she was unwilling to help him and left the Assassin to fight a circus brute known as Badr. After defeating the man and catching Fajera, she gave Altaïr the first of the three keys and told him that a man at the Templar hospital in Tyre could help him find the other two. Before he left, Fajera tasked Altaïr with killing a man named Alaat as payment for the information she gave, which he successfully managed to do.[3]

The red hospital[edit | edit source]

Hamid telling Altaïr about Roland Napule

Later arriving in Tyre, Altaïr first sought Hamid, the keeper of the city, from whom he learned that Roland Napule, the head of the hospital and a Templar, had been questioning someone. In order to infiltrate the hospital, Altaïr navigated his way through the sewers, gaining entry to the building from below, before proceeding to assassinate Roland. Altaïr was then given the second key that he needed by a prisoner of Roland, an old man who had been to the mysterious Temple where the Chalice was contained.[3]

The hidden party[edit | edit source]

From there, Altaïr traveled to Jerusalem and spoke with its keeper, Kadar, where he learned that the Templar leader of the region, Lord Basilisk, was frequently at the royal palace with the king, and that he had the third key for the Temple of Sand.

The king of Jerusalem was going to throw a party somewhere soon that day, and in order to get closer to Basilisk, Altaïr decided to investigate for the location, so that he could sneak inside. After Altaïr overheard some of the noblemen's conversations, he then questioned Ayman, a guest for the party, and found out where it was due to begin.

Infiltrating the celebration with the help of one of Kadar's men, the two of them encountered Lord Basilisk for the first time, and after a brief battle with him, Altaïr obtained the key, but had no time to kill the Templar master before he retreated.[3]

Storming the tower[edit | edit source]

Altaïr talking

After the confrontation with Lord Basilisk, a group of Templars attacked an Assassin shopkeeper named Hazad and stole a map to the desert temple where the Chalice was supposedly located. Altaïr chased them to their tower and climbed to the top, while facing heavy resistance in the form of catapults, archers, and a mindless man known as 'The Brute', whom Altaïr faced off against in a courtyard.

After making his way through the tower's defenses and killing the archer captain in charge, Altaïr encountered the commander, an Assassin-like figure who was actually a high-ranking Templar. Having no choice, Altaïr fought his way through the tower, killing the Templar's guards and his disciple, until he finally reached the man himself. After slaying him in mortal combat, Altaïr retrieved the temple map from his body.[3]

The Temple of Sand[edit | edit source]

Leaving the tower afterwards and following the map he obtained from the Master, Altaïr arrived at the Temple of Sand. There, he fought his way through Templar forces to get to the antechamber, finally entering it after dispatching a large brute carrying an axe. Inside, he found an empty chest and Basilisk, who hinted to the Assassin that the Chalice was in fact a woman. Basilisk further taunted Altaïr and fled once more, leaving the temple to crumble around him. Managing to escape, Altaïr made his way to Tyre as the temple collapsed.[3]

Infiltrating a Templar stronghold[edit | edit source]

Altaïr meeting up with Hamid

In Tyre, Hamid told Altaïr that in order to infiltrate the local Templar stronghold, he would need to free two captured men. After Altaïr found and freed the two captive brothers, who pinpointed the entrance for him, Altaïr infiltrated the hold, encountering another brute along the way.

Making his way inside, the Assassin came across Basilisk and engaged into a fight with the Templar leader, badly wounding him in the process. From there, Altaïr proposed to Basilisk that in exchange for his life, he would be required to give the Assassin information, and Altaïr listened as Basilisk revealed that the Chalice was in Jerusalem and that the Templars were besieging Acre. He also revealed that the Templars planned to poison the water supply of Acre in order to speed up their assault. Before he left for Acre, Altaïr set fire to Basilisk's ships, disadvantaging him so that he could not reach the Chalice before Altaïr.[3]

Infiltrating the siege camp[edit | edit source]

Altaïr on the rooftops

Altaïr then journeyed to the besieged Acre and helped the city by fighting off attacking Templar soldiers, before sneaking into the siege camp in the disguise of a soldier, and then as a scholar. When he had finally assassinated the commander, Altaïr managed to escape the camp by using a catapult.[3]

Discovering a traitor[edit | edit source]

After leaving Acre and arriving at Jerusalem, Altaïr successfully rescued the Chalice from a group of Templars. Identifying the Chalice as Adha, a woman whom he knew from his past, Altaïr learned from her that the Templars had paid off Harash, the second-in-command of the Assassins.[3]

Duel on Basilisk's ship[edit | edit source]

Altaïr fighting Basilisk

After cumulating a plan to attack Alep – the Assassin fortress – and kill Harash, before running away with Adha, things did not go as Altaïr had hoped.

After Altaïr made his way through Harash's Assassin guards and killed him, Adha was kidnapped by Basilisk and taken to the Templar port in Tyre. Tracking her down, Altaïr fought through the Templar forces and killed Basilisk in one final confrontation on his ship. However, with Adha nowhere to be found, he was disheartened to learn that she was on a different ship, which escaped from Altaïr before he could catch it. Swimming to shore and seeing the Templar ship far off in the distance, he yelled out a promise of "I will find you, Adha!" into the sky, as the vessel sailed further and further away towards the horizon.[3]

Development[edit | edit source]

The existence of Altaïr's Chronicles was first hinted in late 2007 via online retailer listings by GameStop with Nintendo DS as the platform. It was later confirmed by Ubisoft in January 2008 as a prequel to Assassin's Creed. It was announced to consist of many of the core gameplay mechanics while adding the touch stylus support of the DS. In a statement by Ubisoft's John Parkes, he described the game as intended to appeal to players who "played the console version as well as those who have yet to discover the secrets of Assassin's Creed".[5]

Release[edit | edit source]

The game was originally released in the United States on 5 February 2008 for the Nintendo DS. A port with improved graphics and gameplay was made for iOS by Ubisoft and released on 23 April 2009.[6] Later ports included Symbian Mobile, Windows Phone 7, and Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The iOS and Android versions were removed from the App Store and Play Store in 2013.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • The world map of the DS version
    The world map of the DS version
  • The same map on the iPhone
    The same map on the iPhone

  • Concept art of various environments
    Concept art of various environments

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles", GamePro issue #235 - April 2008
  2. ↑ Coop (22 February 2008). Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles. Gamer Vision. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved on 26 February 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harris, Craig (6 February 2008). Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles Review. IGN. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved on 26 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Caron, Frank (16 January 2008). Assassin’s Creed DS confirmed, dated, priced. Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2 December 2012. Retrieved on 26 February 2023.
  6. ↑ B., Karl. Assassin's Creed now on App Store. QJ.net. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved on 7 July 2009.

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