Finally! Assassin's Creed DS gameplay

by Christopher Grant { Feb 7th 2008 at 4:00AM }

Usually, when a movie is kept under wraps until it's released to the public – meaning no screenings for critics amongst other things – it's almost always a sure sign that it's terrible. Like ... crap. So, it was with little hesitation that we assumed the closely guarded Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles for DS was going to be, well ... crap. But after being released yesterday, we checked out the above video and, you know what? It doesn't look that terrible.

Okay, sure, all Altair does is walk on a straight path ... with no enemies anywhere ... collecting glowing gems. Oh, and then there's a minigame. But, really, we were expecting something somewhere between Superman 64 and being murdered, so consider us impressed. With no reviews available to reference (see above note about avoiding critics) we're left wondering if any of you have risked some coin on Ubisoft's secret lovechild.

Tags: Assassins-Creed, Ubisoft

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jon @ Feb 7th 2008 4:26AM

Visually it looks impressive. Gameplay looks good too (the combat one, the one Joystiq forgot to post). Dunno about the stylus rubbing mini-game though...

Boss Tempo @ Feb 7th 2008 8:37AM

"Visually it looks impressive"

Seriously? Hmmm. They must have took down the "impressive visuals" video and replaced it with the one I just watched because that thing is a stinker.

AirIntake @ Feb 7th 2008 9:29AM

The DS may sell like hotcakes, but it has the graphics of a PS1.

Jon @ Feb 7th 2008 11:24AM

Visually it looks impressive, for a DS and Gameloft game.

There happy?

GRANTED @ Feb 7th 2008 12:57PM

haha it looks like shit no matter what system it's on. prince of persia on my cell phone looks better, and has less linear gameplay. also any game that periodically flashed "YOU WIN!" across the screen is stuck in the early 90's.

You Lose!

Exo @ Feb 7th 2008 4:31AM

thats the worst thing I have ever seen, and I once saw a baby seal getting clubd

ThornedVenom @ Feb 7th 2008 4:36AM

Not true: IGN gave it a 7.0 rating.

http://ds.ign.com/articles/850/850139p1.html

rv @ Feb 7th 2008 10:49AM

Not a game meant for ds. You need to play 360 or ps3 version to get the experience of this game. Not that its any better...

Mr.ESC @ Feb 7th 2008 11:33AM

Don't you mean PC version?

Ubisoft sucks, first they sell Ps3 and XB360 owners a crappola version of AC with the worst ending ever (Ok Episode 2 ending was infuriating but hell is Half-life).

Spoilers

The ending is this: Buy the sequel

It seems Ubisoft wants people to believe that AC is the next Halo so they can sell Altair lunchboxes, AC the Breakfast cereal, Ac Guides, Ac the official assassins’ flamethrower(I'm aware children will love this) and other stuff but where they fail is that AC is not Halo, Halo 3 was enjoyable, Assassins’ creed is a second job. Yes there are parts that are enjoyable but these are extremely brief.

All around AC wouldn’t be such a bad game if it wasn’t because the ending, hell the whole sci-fi thing screwed everything, it was like one of those cheap cliffhangers used sci-fi tv shows but what really pissed me of was Ubisoft attitude.

Jared @ Feb 7th 2008 4:43AM

Did i just hear those guards with the Zzz of their head snoring???? THEY WERE STANDING UP!?!?!?!?! This game sucks.

jdeuel @ Feb 7th 2008 4:50AM

yeah, metal gear solid sucked too!

oh, wait!

Demaar @ Feb 7th 2008 4:48AM

There's a combat video too, with a weird EBA style mini game...

ill trooper @ Feb 7th 2008 4:52AM

Dude the DS Phat version of this game looks so much better than the DS Lite version, just watch the 'comparison' video

oh they took the link down

well trust me then

FoxKit @ Feb 7th 2008 4:55AM

"we were expecting something somewhere between Superman 64 and being murdered"

Being murdered being the higher end of the spectrum.
Can't say I like the looks of this video, but hey- I haven't played it yet...

SovietSpartan @ Feb 7th 2008 5:04AM

I actually have been playing this game today. The only thing i dont like is that no matter now many times you knock down bystanders they do nothing to you. Also the kick button is not very responsive and you have to stand still for it to work. Another problem is while in combat Altair does not lock on to enemies which sucks because you can be busting out a cool combo and not hitting anything, they should have used more visual indentifiers to show you hit your target like they do in tekken.

Also ive been suffering from a migraine the last two days so its saying alot that i actually been putting up with this game :)

Patty @ Feb 7th 2008 5:59AM

Just beat it. Pretty short but what can you expect from a DS version right? Overall, it was pretty fun. A little easy, once you unlock certain combos they're all you really need to kill enemies in 2-3 blows. Altair's animations flow really well (usually, except when doing the downward thrust link-esque stab) and the mini games are actually few and far between.

The amount puzzles and traps really reminded me of Prince of Persia and to an extent Aladdin. (SNES/Genesis) There were a couple parts where I found myself dying a couple times and experiencing the whole trial and error fun game 'mechanic.' :( Thankfully there are checkpoints pretty much every 10 feet.

The end was pretty terrible, but I wasn't expecting much, all in all a pretty fun game and if you're a fan of Prince of Persia or just platformers in general I'd pick it up.

Jedijoe9 @ Feb 7th 2008 7:44AM

Does it give you any semblance of a story? I'd interested as to whether it is about Altair or Desmond or what.

moo @ Feb 7th 2008 12:37PM

echoing patty's sentiments, it is extremely similar to the old PC/Amiga Prince of Persia, set in a 3D environment. the pickpocketting gameplay is like a game of operation -- pull out an object without bumping the sides. and the sleeping guards, i guess that's a gameplay element reminiscent of the first NES metal gear.
graphically pretty cool animations with drop-downs when you're descending a ledge (i.e. a parkour hanging-drop), and crawling on all fours across planks (i.e. parkour cat-crawling)

koehler83 @ Feb 7th 2008 2:16PM

How do games like this get away with being on DS and not PSP? Why is it that portable games simply dont go cross platform?

I wouldnt play this game on my PSP.. it looks absolutely horrid (imo).. I'd much rather play the console version.. but still.. if it will run on the DS, the PSP will kick its ass.. SO DO IT!

Darcrequiem @ Feb 7th 2008 5:19PM

Have you seen PSP software sales? Last year PSP hardware sales were up 33% and the software sales were down 14%. I mean PSP software sales have always been bad and they managed to go down in spite of improving hardware sales. PSP games cost more to develop than DS games and they sell worse, thats why you don't see many multiplatform portable games.