Review - Assassin’s Creed: Altaïr’s Chronicles for DS
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 12:06pm by David
It was almost an out of place April Fool’s joke. Shortly after its Xbox 360 and PS3 release, a few sites indicated a February 2008 release for Assassin’s Creed on DS. I admit, it made me laugh (sort of like Halo DS). And then the rumor wouldn’t go away. Finally, the actual game came out and I had to play it for myself.
Having never played Assassin’s Creed on either PS3 or 360, I knew very little about the story. What I did know was that it was graphically handsome and looked like a fun action movie you could play on your console. The DS version attempts something similar, wrapping it up as a prequel to its high def big brother.
On first start, I was pretty surprised at the 3D graphics. These are some of the best textures on DS. The wow factor quickly wears off, though, as the controls always feel like you’re a step behind the action on the screen. That said, it’s a blast to run and jump across rooftops once you get a feel for the controls. Fighting is pretty weak and consists of button mashing. The dude has a sword, so why not do something more like the upcoming Shinobi game?
There are a couple mini-games to accomplish various tasks throughout the game. Pickpocketing is handled in a sort of Operation “don’t touch the sides” way. Torturing is done with an Elite Beat Agents style rhythm game on pressure points. Both are pretty weak, but I fully expected to do more of this to break up the action platforming levels.
As a game no one expected, they should’ve taken more time to pick a direction they really wanted to go into and then focus on that path. After playing through a few levels, Assassin’s Creed: Altaïr’s Chronicles feels like a bizarre mash up of some great games, but with a hasty execution.
Rent it if you must, but this is a game you can afford to miss.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Aww, I was looking forward to this. Too bad it apparently sucks.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
For a moment, I thought Ubisoft had done something right.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Yeah, I’ve played it. It’s pretty bland and boring. Not worth it.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
When Ubisoft said that “putting Assasins Creed on the Wii would make it a completely different game” I called foul play; the game was heading to the DS… what made IT so special?
I guess Ubisoft was right, in the end. This game is pure shovelware.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
You know… I like this game!
February 12th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
KillerHeroes: That was called No More Heroes.
February 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I tried out the Ninja Gaiden demo on the DS a couple of days ago… now, THAT was awesome!
If you want a 3D action game on the DS, I think Ninja Gaiden is the way to go.
February 12th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
This originally looked really impressive. Althogh the reviews and videos haven’t been fantastic so far. The video especially, the framerate is awful and the game doesn’t look as though it plays well. Just my observations anyways.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
it sounds good but could someone tell me about the gameplay please!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 5:01 am
why havent you posted any comments??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????please post a comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11