Home Games Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles

Altair’s Chronicles

Action Adventure
Releases: 02.05.08
Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft.
ESRB: Teen

Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles

Altair’s crusade to conquer the DS is more of a quaint diversion.

by Sarah Schutz

The appeal of Assassin’s Creed for PS3 and Xbox 360 was largely the expansive and infinitely interactive world along with the visceral and jaw-dropping visual appeal. When Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles was announced for the DS, heads cocked quizzically everywhere as we wondered what gameplay value a title based on a aesthetically pleasing open world romp would hold on the itty bitty Nintendo DS. What, if anything, would the two share in common? The answer is: not much, but the game can still be relatively enjoyable if we forget that it has anything to do with its older, better looking, smarter sibling
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Altair’s Chronicles is another storyline involving the central historical character in the 360/PS3 game, but lacking the science fiction and enticing plotline, focusing instead on the pursuit of some chalice currently in the hands of the Templars. The storyline fails to drive the game in any meaningful manner, allowing it to become primarily a platformer hack ‘n’ slash. Levels are mostly linear, focusing on jumping from rooftop to rooftop and killing soldiers in between. While the visuals and sound effects are done well for the DS’ capabilities, the game can’t quite perform as the 3D platformer it so desperately wants to be. Clunky controls and camera angles often make navigating the 3D environment tediously annoying, so precise stealth assassinations, acrobatic leaps and strategic fighting moves are dramatically simplified. Granted, the feat taken upon by the creators to simplify such a detailed game is admirable in itself, but it could have been simplified even further. At times it tries too hard to be like its big brother and the DS just can’t handle these meek attempts. If you’re familiar with the big brother, you know that a large part of each level is mini-missions in which you pickpocket, interrogate or eavesdrop on targets in each city. This is accomplished in Altair’s Chronicle through odd minigames eerily similar to Elite Beat Agents sans beat or the DS version of Operation. While you’re in the rhythm of the games’ platforming trend, these minigames are annoyingly out of place, forcing you quickly grab your stylus for these overly simplistic and lackluster jaunts. It its moments where it tries not to be too much, the straight forward combat and platforming can be just enough to be a fun little game.

Fans of Advance Wars will no doubt pick up the game regardless of what I have to say. For those who have yet to discover the wonders of the series, it is not for the casual gamer and may take some getting used to, but once an Advance Wars fan, always an Advance Wars fan. And forever a Nintendo classic.

Pleasant platforming diversion

Meaningless minigames and clunky controls

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