'''''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 2007 {{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, who fight to preserve peace and free will, and the Templar 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, centering around the protagonist, a bartender named [[Desmond Miles]]. As Desmond relives the memories of one of his ancestors, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] who lived 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 an artifact known only as a "[[Pieces of Eden|Piece 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-stealth 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 a 12th-century [[Levantine Assassins|Levantine Assassin]] named Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad during the Third Crusade, whose life is experienced through the Animus by his 21st century descendant, Desmond Miles. The overall goal of the game is to rise through the ranks of the Assassin Order by carrying out a series of [[Hunt for the Nine|assassinations]] given by the leader of the Order, [[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. 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|Assassins' Bureau]] and discuss his tasks with the local [[Rafiq]], an agent of the Brotherhood, gaining basic knowledge of his target. From there, it is up to Altaïr to perform additional reconnaissance via [[eavesdropping]], [[interrogation]], meeting with [[informants]], 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.
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]], [[Flags|flag]] collecting, and [[Save Citizen|saving]] [[Civilians|citizens]] 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.
[[File:AC1 Altair Viewpoint Damascus.png|thumb|250px|High vantage points allow the player to map out portions of the city]]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 spots|hiding place]], [[Blending|blend]] in with wandering [[scholars]], or join citizens sitting on benches.
==Synopsis==
[[File:Altair free-run.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Altaïr's freerunning abilities allow for greater exploration]]
===Plot===
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|free-running]], 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.
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:
This game introduces air assassinations and chain-kills. To do so, one must equip the Hidden Blade, climb to the top of a short building or hang from a ledge at an appropriate point, then look back, hold the high profile button and finally, press the attack button toward the desired target while running, hanging from a ledge, performing a wall eject or remaining close to the target from a suitable height. For chain-kills, one must equip the Hidden Blade while locked onto an enemy; hold the high profile button and counter-attack them with the Blade, and while another enemy reacts in surprise or is distracted, dash forward to assassinate them in turn.
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, "[[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.
3- Talal, the leader of a gang of slavers in Jerusalem.
==Synopsis==
===Plot===
4- Abu'l Nuquod, a pompous trader and regent of Damascus stealing money intended to fund the war.
[[File:AssassinsCreed Vidic Animus.png|thumb|250px|Warren Vidic of Abstergo Industries overlooks Desmond inside the Animus]]
Desmond Miles, a 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 recall the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Assassin Brotherhood in the year 1191, 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]].
5- William V, Marquess of Montferrat, Acre's cruel and abusive regent.
6- Majd Addin, a tyrant who rules Jerusalem through fear by holding public executions.
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 the closest synchronizable memory of Altaïr; 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.
7-Master Sibrand, the paranoid leader of the Knights Teutonic, who plans to betray the Crusaders by blocking the ports of Acre.
Altaïr is first shown attempting to retrieve one of a series of artifacts known as the "Pieces of Eden" from [[Solomon's Temple]] with the help of [[Malik Al-Sayf]], and his brother [[Kadar Al-Sayf|Kadar]], but they are stopped by [[Robert de Sablé]], [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master of the Knights Templar]] and sworn enemy of the Assassins. While retrieving the treasure, Altaïr breaks all three tenets of the [[The Creed|Assassins' Creed]] in an attempt to kill Robert, but he ultimately fails. In the following commotion, Malik's brother 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 de Sablé, 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 Leap of Faith]]
After narrowly defeating a [[Defense of Masyaf|retaliatory attack]] by the Templars, Al Mualim, leader of the Assassins, demotes Altaïr to a [[novice]] but gives him another chance to rise through the [[ranks]] of the Brotherhood. 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, including [[Majd Addin]], [[Garnier de Naplouse]], [[Jubair al Hakim]], [[Abu'l Nuqoud]], [[Sibrand]], [[William of Montferrat]], and Robert de Sablé.
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 together they 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 defeats de Sablé before [[Richard I of England|Richard the Lionheart]], failing to convince the King that an end to the war would be welcome to both sides, but ending Robert's plot. From de Sablé, Altaïr discovers that Al Mualim was himself a member of the Templars and used the Assassin to kill the other members who held the secret to the treasure's power, so that he could selfishly 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 approaches his master, who reveals the truth to him: the Piece of Eden, which he had recovered through the help of Altaïr directly before his transgression, 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 {{Wiki|Trojan War}}) as illusions caused by the Piece, and then states his intention to use the artifact to compel [[Humans|mankind]] 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 to kill Al Mualim. When Altaïr recovers the artifact, the Piece of Eden activates, showing a holographic view of the [[Earth|world]] with numerous locations of 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 a modern-day front of the Templars, and they are already seeking other artifacts at locations identified in Altaïr's memories. Further, he learns that the modern-day Assassins had tried to rescue him before the memory had completed but had failed. Following this, Desmond was to be killed after an order from a high-ranking Templar, [[Alan Rikkin]], but Lucy Stillman saves him from death and, at one point, tucks her ring finger into her palm, referring to the Assassins' tradition of cutting off the finger.
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, which, in turn, allows him to see [[Cryptic Messages|strange messages]] painted on the walls of his room and the floor of the lab. The messages all deal with various forms of the end of the world from different cultures, including several references to [[Second Disaster|21 December 2012]], the date that Abstergo plans to launch [[Eye-Abstergo|a satellite]] that will "permanently end the war." It is hinted that this method would be by the same method that Al Mualim hypnotized Masyaf, only on a larger scale. Finally, the game ends with Desmond wondering what the images all mean and [[Clay Kaczmarek|who]] could have drawn them.
==Development==
==Development==
Revision as of 23:48, 12 June 2023
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 pre-E3 2006 Trailer.
Assassin's Creed is a 2007 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, centering around the protagonist, a bartender named Desmond Miles. As Desmond relives the memories of one of his ancestors, the AssassinAltaïr Ibn-La'Ahad who lived 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 an artifact known only as a "Piece 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 a 12th-century Levantine Assassin named Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad during the Third Crusade, whose life is experienced through the Animus by his 21st century descendant, Desmond Miles. The overall goal of the game is to rise through the ranks of the Assassin Order by carrying out a series of assassinations given by the leader of the Order, 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 Assassins' Bureau and discuss his tasks with the local Rafiq, an agent of the Brotherhood, gaining basic knowledge of his target. From there, it is up to Altaïr to perform additional reconnaissance via eavesdropping, interrogation, meeting with informants, 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.
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, flag collecting, and savingcitizens who are being threatened by city guards.
High vantage points allow the player to map out portions of the city
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 free-running, 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.
This game introduces air assassinations and chain-kills. To do so, one must equip the Hidden Blade, climb to the top of a short building or hang from a ledge at an appropriate point, then look back, hold the high profile button and finally, press the attack button toward the desired target while running, hanging from a ledge, performing a wall eject or remaining close to the target from a suitable height. For chain-kills, one must equip the Hidden Blade while locked onto an enemy; hold the high profile button and counter-attack them with the Blade, and while another enemy reacts in surprise or is distracted, dash forward to assassinate them in turn.
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.
Synopsis
Plot
Warren Vidic of Abstergo Industries overlooks Desmond inside the Animus
Desmond Miles, a 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 recall the memories of his ancestor, Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, a member of the Assassin Brotherhood in the year 1191, 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.
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 the closest synchronizable memory of Altaïr; 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.
Altaïr is first shown attempting to retrieve one of a series of artifacts known as the "Pieces of Eden" from Solomon's Temple with the help of Malik Al-Sayf, and his brother Kadar, but they are stopped by Robert de Sablé, Grand Master of the Knights Templar and sworn enemy of the Assassins. While retrieving the treasure, Altaïr breaks all three tenets of the Assassins' Creed in an attempt to kill Robert, but he ultimately fails. In the following commotion, Malik's brother 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 de Sablé, comes back with the artifact and disparages Altaïr because of his arrogance.
Altaïr, Rauf and another Assassin performing Leap of Faith
After narrowly defeating a retaliatory attack by the Templars, Al Mualim, leader of the Assassins, demotes Altaïr to a novice but gives him another chance to rise through the ranks of the Brotherhood. 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, including Majd Addin, Garnier de Naplouse, Jubair al Hakim, Abu'l Nuqoud, Sibrand, William of Montferrat, and Robert de Sablé.
Altaïr completes each task, learning how each target is connected to Robert and the Templars and how together they 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 defeats de Sablé before Richard the Lionheart, failing to convince the King that an end to the war would be welcome to both sides, but ending Robert's plot. From de Sablé, Altaïr discovers that Al Mualim was himself a member of the Templars and used the Assassin to kill the other members who held the secret to the treasure's power, so that he could selfishly keep the artifact for himself.
Altaïr discovers a map detailing the locations of other Pieces of Eden
Altaïr quickly returns to Masyaf and approaches his master, who reveals the truth to him: the Piece of Eden, which he had recovered through the help of Altaïr directly before his transgression, 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 mankind 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 to kill Al Mualim. When Altaïr recovers the artifact, the Piece of Eden activates, showing a holographic view of the world with numerous locations of other Pieces of Eden marked across the globe.
When the process is complete, Desmond learns that Abstergo is a modern-day front of the Templars, and they are already seeking other artifacts at locations identified in Altaïr's memories. Further, he learns that the modern-day Assassins had tried to rescue him before the memory had completed but had failed. Following this, Desmond was to be killed after an order from a high-ranking Templar, Alan Rikkin, but Lucy Stillman saves him from death and, at one point, tucks her ring finger into her palm, referring to the Assassins' tradition of cutting off the finger.
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, which, in turn, allows him to see strange messages painted on the walls of his room and the floor of the lab. The messages all deal with various forms of the end of the world from different cultures, including several references to 21 December 2012, the date that Abstergo plans to launch a satellite that will "permanently end the war." It is hinted that this method would be by the same method that Al Mualim hypnotized Masyaf, only on a larger scale. Finally, the game ends with Desmond wondering what the images all mean and who could have drawn them.
Development
Game development
System requirements
Minimum
Recommended
Microsoft Windows
Operating system
Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista
CPU
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 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. [citation needed] 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. [citation needed]
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.[4] 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.[5]
Soundtrack development
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."[6] 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
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 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.
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 twelve inch 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.[7]
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.
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 Robert M. Citino, along with Vladimir Bartol's novel Alamut.[8]
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 and ends just before the 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, Hassan-i Sabbah.[9]
