Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles

Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles was developed by studio Gameloft as a companion title to the first major game in the series and, story-wise, functions as a prequel to the events the player later knows from the console game. Unlike the 3D action-adventure of the main series, the DS title was designed as a side-view 2.5D action game with platforming elements, in which Altaïr moves through period settings of the Middle East, climbs buildings, jumps between ledges, and fights opponents with a sword and daggers. The game tried to preserve the series' key motifs, such as stealthy movement at height and fast, fluid combat, even within the more limited scope of a handheld console, while adding its own puzzle sections that made use of the Nintendo DS's specific features.

The Nintendo DS's dual screen was used mainly for an overview map and supplementary information, while the actual action played out on the main screen; some sequences, such as lock-picking minigames or special attacks, also relied on stylus touch controls. The graphical presentation was solid for a handheld of its time, with smooth character animation and varied city environments, though it naturally couldn't compete with the expansive open locations of its console counterpart. The music and sound effects drew on the atmosphere of the main series and helped convey a sense of kinship with the big game, even though it was a fully standalone title with its own levels and enemies.

Altaïr's Chronicles was received as a decent, if not groundbreaking, side product of a successful brand that managed to offer entertaining action inspired by the main game within the constraints of limited hardware. For fans of the series, it was a welcome expansion of the story and an opportunity to experience an Assassin's Creed adventure on the go, away from the home console, and the game still serves today as a reminder of an era when major brands regularly received their own handheld spin-offs tailored to the given hardware.