Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles is a part of the popular Assassin's Creed video game series, known for its rich lore and intriguing storytelling. Within this particular installment, the blue orbs play a significant role in the game's narrative, connecting to the larger lore of the Assassin's Creed universe. In this essay, we will explore how these blue orbs function within the lore of Assassin's Creed. The blue orbs, also known as "Chalice of the Gods," are mystical artifacts scattered throughout the game world. They possess immense power, and their origins can be traced back to the First Civilization, an ancient and advanced precursor race that predates humanity. In the Assassin's Creed universe, this First Civilization created humanity and played a pivotal role in shaping human history through various technological advancements. The blue orbs act as a link between Altair, the game's protagonist, and his ancestors. They hold the memories of Altair's legendary ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a prominent figure in the Assassin's Creed series. By interacting with these orbs, Altair can relive Ezio's memories, gaining access to his knowledge and skills. This ability is known as "Eagle Vision," a form of extrasensory perception that allows Altair to perceive the world differently and identify hidden enemies and clues. Moreover, the blue orbs serve as a narrative device, driving the story forward. As Altair seeks to retrieve the Chalice of the Gods, he must unravel ancient secrets, follow cryptic clues, and face various challenges, leading him on an epic adventure that delves into the history of the First Civilization and its connection to the Assassin Brotherhood. The blue orbs are not merely a plot device, but they also offer insights into the greater philosophical themes present in the Assassin's Creed lore. Throughout the series, the concept of free will versus determinism is explored, and the blue orbs play a role in this existential debate. The artifacts hold the memories of the past, indicating a predestined path for humanity, yet the Assassins believe in shaping their own destinies and breaking free from the chains of fate. Furthermore, the blue orbs represent the eternal struggle between the Assassins and the Templars, two secret societies that have been at odds for centuries. The Templars seek to control the blue orbs and the powerful knowledge they possess, believing that this control will bring about peace through control. On the other hand, the Assassins strive to keep these artifacts away from the hands of the Templars, understanding the dangers of such power in the wrong hands. This conflict forms the backbone of the Assassin's Creed narrative and showcases the eternal battle between control and freedom. In conclusion, the blue orbs in Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles are essential elements that drive the game's plot while connecting it to the larger lore of the Assassin's Creed universe. As mystical artifacts from the First Civilization, they hold the memories of Altair's ancestor, Ezio, allowing him to access valuable knowledge and skills. Additionally, they serve as a metaphorical representation of the ongoing philosophical and ideological conflict between the Assassins and Templars. With their profound impact on the narrative and thematic depth, the blue orbs contribute significantly to the immersive and thought-provoking experience that the Assassin's Creed series is renowned for.
Altair in revelations: When I was young, I believed that our creed could bring an end to conflict. If only I possessed the humility to say 'I have done enough for one life'. Altair in chronicles: I have no choice but to launch myself out of a fucking catapult.
@@huytungnguyen119 "And I did use a fucking bomber plane to kill templars, drive a tank once, pull up with a gat on some horse guys, control an actual battle cruiser boat and on top of it all: I used a metallic ball to mind control my enemies and bend their will to fight"
@@Agentshadling AC Bloodlines takes about 6 hours to beat doing everything and just under 3 hours if you just b line the story so if they added the usual Assassin's Creed bloat of side missions it could easily be too much to just add to the main game.
One of the coolest things I find with AC Bloodlines is that it shows how little is actually needed on a technical level to make a compelling Assassin's Creed game and how feasible an indie spiritual successor to the old good assassin's creed's could be.
The entirety of Altair's Chronicles feels like a reskinned Prince of Persia game. And yes, I do know AC was originally a PoP spin off, my point is that AC games have their own identity: AC games are about conspiracies and ancient artifacts, Altair's Chronicles is about a girl companion and magic. Now which franchise features girl companions and magic? Prince of Persia! Or at the least the Sands games and PoP 08 do. I feel that Chronicles was either: a) a PoP spin off for the DS, which was reskinned into an AC game later in development (the reference to the girl from Chronicles in the og AC was not there in the original PS360 release, was only added later in the PC release), or b) since AC1 was still in development when they started developing Chronicles, they had no clue what it was going to be, so since they knew AC1 was originally a PoP spin off, they just decided to borrow narrative elements from PoP hoping it would match what AC1 was going to be.
Fun fact, Bloodlines was my first entry into Assassins Creed. Not even joking about that. And then funny enough, Revelations. Strange order, I know. Quick story, my older cousin was a big fan who introduced me to the games, we play Revelations, get to Altair's third flashback mission and he says, "Who the hell is this chick?". And then I said, "Is that Maria? DUDE, THAT'S ALTAIR'S WIFE!!" And he's like, "WHAT!?!?" It was a very rare moment where I knew a piece of AC lore he didn't. A secret card in the deck only a nerd could appreciate.
~30:50 My assumption has always been that Desmond was supposed to have gone through these memories between the end of AC1 and when Lucy came back to break him out in the opening of AC2. I'm not sure if there's a canon amount of time that passed between the games, but I assume it was at the very least a few hours, if not a few days, and Bloodlines only takes about 6 hours to complete, so if we assume it would take the same length of time in-universe it tracks. And Desmond definitely has to have relived the Bloodlines memories at some point, because he recognizes Maria by name in AC2, when her name is never stated in AC1 as far as I remember
It's meant to be immediately after Desmond looks at the scribblings in his room, when the credit roll of AC1 begins. When Lucy bursts into the room, bloodstained tank top and all, Desmond was still looking at that wall. It really has no place within the modern day plot
@@JHenry-nz7hy Maybe he was looking at the wall again? Lucy left the room right as Desmond activated Eagle Vision for the first time, so either Desmond would have had to spend a really long time looking at that wall, or Lucy would have needed to change her clothes and head back really fast lmao. Also, when Lucy shows up Desmond says "Lucy, where have you been?" which implies it's been some time.
@@JHenry-nz7hyLucy also mentions during the elevator down that she rigged the footage during their escape to loop. She states she did this for Desmond during his night time snooping which is probably when Desmond actually was experiencing these memoriesx
@@Joe-gi5qqYeah but that doesn't tell us how long passed between the end of AC1 and the start of AC2, since a day or two would only be a small fraction of that, let alone a few hours.
I was at around 21:15 where you started talking about the codex and I happen to have a AC Brotherhood collector's edition Codex book and grabbed it to check if it was in there too. AND IT WAS!! It's not only canon but realized in actual merchandise Ubisoft sold as part of AC Brotherhood. I was amazed!
The way you broke down Chaos and how the observation of the same is the foundation of the Creed spoke to me! Very nicely put and it is exactly what it is, as Ezio has said; the order was born out of observing the nature of the world (paraphrasing). There is beauty in Chaos, there is peace of mind in it, but its all about perspective at the end of the day. Depending on how much you as a human focus on negative aspects of life in general will determine your interpretation of reality, so thats how you can get a smart man like Haytham take the opposite side with Ezio on the other one. Both figures with traumatic pasts and lives fueled by revenge and seeking meaning, and both ending up at completely different points. Great video James! In an avid reader but I never actually read the AC Novels, in fear of them being a marketing cash grab... But I might give Secret Crusade and Forsaken a shot!
I always considered Bloodlines was Desmond accessing the memories after AC1. He had free reign to re-enter the Animus as he wished after the game ended, and while AC2 starts as if Lucy busts in immediately after AC1 ends, for all we know it's been several hours or maybe even another day.
Always feel a sense of belonging when I find a fellow Altair Stan. Grew up playing these games and the nostalgia is all that's left of the good old days. Amazing video💜
If AC1 ever gets a remake I think these side games should be in it, not part of the main story but as a separate tab that play afterwards, maybe get the RE2 treatment y'know
Seeing more locations around the Levant like Aleppo, Tyre, and Cyprus would be awesome. Heck, even his time in exile outside Masyaf would be great. Plus, the original voice actor with an Arabic accent would be badass.
So you follow a 5 hr masterpiece up with another 45 mins on Altaïr? Dude, you’re killing it. As an AC1 fan, I’m hyped (I don’t care what people say, it was a perfect game at the time)
Assassin's Creed 1 is a masterpiece and even looking at it today some of the character models and their faces might not be that great and maybe looking in the distance isn't that great but up close I mean the clothes and the characters and the buildings they look fantastic in the cities look amazing and the gameplay is phenomenal even by today's standards and I really wish they would give it a remake or at least a remaster for PS4 and PS5
My theory is that the secret Templar order were founded during the earlier crusader campaigns but went public as the Holy order of the Knights Templar as their front company to gain a military force in the East to further their goals, indoctrinating others into their true inner circle ( the antagonist to the assassins)
That's the actual Canon. They were "the order" of.. something from Origins onwards and took their goals more public during the crusades. The Hidden ones under Al Mualim became more public as Hashashin. You're right
Bloodlines was the starting point of my AC adventure (which has sadly all but ended at this point) I never understood why people compared it to its bigger home console brethren and trashed it over that comparison
Narrative is the only area where you can compare legitimately, but even still, Bloodlines is fun despite its short comings that can definitely be forgiven due to the platform
Little tidbit about the PSP Assassin's Creed game: When I bought it, I remember reading the back of the box over and over on the way home, and it advertises itself as an "open world" experience. I was super excited--open-world on the PSP? Yes please. When I loaded it, not only did I learn it wasn't true open-world, instead of acting more like open-zone and the zones were each incredibly small, but it took ages to load another zone. Not only that, but one of the back-of-the box pictures shows a zone without the loading fog, which means that, at some point, it really was open-world, and I am still salty about that.
This vid brings me nostalgia, I remember young me played Altair's Chronicles on iPhone 4 and iPad 2 back in 2010s, loved the absurd yet flourish triple jump he made and some of the cheesy voice lines like "Not you you fool, ladies you have to excuse me" -some merchant in the beginning of the game and "Damn you Basilik, come now let's get this over with!" -Altair fighting the boss near the end.
If you're going to multiple places in Italy I definitely recommend seeing Venice. I've never been there, but it won't be there much longer. Have a nice time, you deserve a break. You make some great content :)
Man, cool to see you bring up "The Secret Crusade", I actually left the vid with 5 Mins left for the last 20 or so Mins looking at listings for the AC Novels, just before you mentioned it, cause I've seen them for years and was always curious about the Ezio Trilogy Novelizations. Snagged a pack of 8 (The AC2 through to Syndicate Novels) for like $50 New (would have been anywhere between $20-$40 to get just the Ezio Trilogy ones Used otherwise) and so I'll also have The Secret Crusade... Actually so keen to go through the Ezio Trilogy again, but READING it 🤣
The blue orbs in Altair's Chronicles can be explained like this: they are the missing or unrendered synchronizations by the Animus. İt's apparent that we're still in the Animus as indicated by the abstergo logo on the top left corner. Since the graphics are ass, we can understand that this is an early, faulty build of the Animus. And due to this Animus being early and faulty, it doesn't load up all the synchronizations perfectly like the one in Assassin's Creed 1 does. So these orbs are the missing synchronization points which are spread all around the program, Altair gains them and unlocks abilities, which further enhances the synchronization to be more accurate. But hey that's just the way İ personally see it.
I played bloodlines for the first time last yesr with a psp with a broken screen and even then I found it worth enduring through the pain of playing on a system with a flickering screen.
I feel like Darby is the only person who goes in depth into the philosophical side of the conflict between the assassin and the templar. It's evident in every game that he writes. The way the characters talk about their believes and how they explain what their creed means to them are unmistakably him. Other games are just wishy washy about all of it.
15:49 wait, what are you actually talking about? The templars where explicitly NOT a shadow organization in this time period. This is the time period where they were the most open. The templars here are the literal knights templar
I used to absolutely love playing Altairs Chronicles growing up. I would play it over and over and over again and it still sits in my mind as a true gem of a gem. Im scared to play it again
I'd like to point out that Ahda's death is part of his character arc in AC1 and how he starts the way he does, but that means the informant in Acre that asks about Ahda either doesn't know she died, or is just openly mocking Altair and that he wasn't fast enough to save her, which is kind of hilarious.
I'll always have a soft spot for Bloodlines. One of my favorite parts about it back in the day was the connectivity with ACII. You didn't mention it here, but you could unlock upgrades for Altair's hidden blade that somewhat mirrored Ezio's; most notably: the ability to shoot throwing knives out of your gauntlet just like the hidden gun.
@@LazerzZ Yeah, and on Ezio’s end you got the weapons from Bloodline’s bosses. Not as game changing, but still neat. They’re there by default in the Ezio Trilogy, once you get to Mario’s.
Despite the flaws you mentioned on Bloodlines (which I also agree lmao), I loved this game. Thanks for making this retrospective, and enjoy your break, Lazerzz!
Man finally someone talks about bloodlines. It felt like i was the only one who played this game since no one seems to mention it on any AC video. It was my 1st AC game and i really enjoyed it even though some tailing and stealth missions were a pain to get through because of the janky controls. I played it so many times that I actually started doing combat with the hidden blade which only allows u to do counter kills meaning u have to be extremely focused and precise. It was really fun.
I would argue against that everything is chaos. For example a waterfall may seem like chaos with a force of water flowing down, splashing around. However all that follows a mathematical order. What would be chaos is if i threw a flower to a mountain and the mountain crumbling.
Was waiting for this! Weirdly enough, Bloodlines was the second AC game I ever played lol (first being AC 3). It was years ago when I knew nothing about the series. I kept replaying it like crazy on my PSP as I didn't have many games back then, certainly not other AC games. Good times
Altairs Chronicles was the first AC game I ever played and I'm very happy I gave the series an honest second chance with the mainline games years later
Great review! I have a serious,if very hard to play, game. It was called Backstab. It was an iPhone, and Xperia apparently, game. I am convinced it started as a prequel for Assassins Creed 4 and they couldn't get the rights but released the game anyway. It's no longer available to buy but I think there are some let's plays online and emulators might work.
The ring finger blade lore thing is mostly a Mandela effect; people misheard Leonardo say "though the blade once required a sacrifice, it's been modified" as "I've modified the device".
Bloodlines was my first AC game on original hardware and I never forgot how mindblowing it is that you can climb and parkour on practically anything. I played it again recently (after becoming a fan of the series, though not anymore) and it still holds up well enough.
Okay to help make this fit cannon, my headcanon theory is that Chronicles is the first game Abstergo made. They changed names and gameplay in Altair's life to make it more fun. There's some truth to its story but not all of it
I played Altair's Chronicles as a kid and I remember at the time it was very difficult. However I do remember the pickpocket "minigame" being kinda cool.
They should combine AC1, these two spin offs, and his parts in AC revelations, in chronological order, with a remake engine into one massive Altair throwback game.
The Xperia Play was just running an Android operating system, so it is covered by Android on the wiki page. The page is missing a release date for Android as a whole, but it wouldn’t be a separate entry for the Xperia Play
"Its role is to unite the factions of whoever holds it, the Crusaders or the Saracens" I think this sentence means, there are two sides, but each side is also internally divided into factions. So in order for one of the sides of conflict to achieve victory, they must unite and be stronger than the opposing side, that's what the artifact's for. Not to unite Saracens with Crusaders
In the game Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles, the blue orbs are known as "Pieces of Eden" and are an important part of the Assassin's Creed lore. The Pieces of Eden are ancient artifacts created by a highly advanced civilization known as the Isu or Precursors. These artifacts possess incredible powers and were used by the Isu to control humanity and shape its destiny. The blue orbs specifically contain a concentrated form of Isu energy and are sought after by various factions within the Assassin's Creed universe. In Altair's Chronicles, the blue orbs play a crucial role in the story. Altair, the protagonist, is tasked with retrieving the orbs to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. The orbs are said to have the ability to manipulate minds and control individuals, making them dangerous weapons in the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and the Templars. Throughout the game, Altair must navigate ancient cities, solve puzzles, and face enemies to acquire these orbs and prevent their misuse. The orbs not only provide gameplay mechanics but also contribute to the larger narrative of the Assassin's Creed series, shedding light on the ancient civilization and its impact on human history. It's worth noting that the blue orbs in Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles are just one example of the Pieces of Eden in the wider Assassin's Creed franchise. The lore surrounding these artifacts is explored in-depth across various games, books, and other media within the Assassin's Creed universe.
The reason there are grappling hooks and oil slicks is that this is a late-late-late-released sequel to Aladdin from the Genesis, which if I recall, was also set in the Middle East.
The new character designs in Altair’s Chronicles are hilarious like the artists just drew the first thing they could think of when they hear “middle eastern”
30:51 He could've accessed these memories after the events of AC1, since after both Doc and Lucy leave the game lets you jack into the Animus to replay missions. Maybe Desmond happened upon this segment while they were debating his usefulness to the Templar cause... for probably a month?
Between AC1 and AC2 there's a time skip of 7 days, where Viddic put Desmond in the animus to relieve Altair's Bloodlines story, but without Lucy. Confirmed in the AC2 manual.
14:45 you misunderstood this sentence. "Saracen" is widely used as a term for any north african or middle eastern muslim. "Crusader" is any christian (mainly european) who took part on the crusades. Both were extremely disunified factions of people of many philosophies, ethnicities, cultures and languages. Many consider the lack of unity and infighting to be the cause of failure in the later crusades. This is where the apple comes in. If the crusaders get the apple, they could brainwash the rest of europe into one government, one army, and one king instead of dealing with unending feudal bullshit like they did irl, and any other faction wouldnt stand a chance. Its a pretty clear sentence honestly but you probably just didnt understand what the context. Same way with "i cannot do so of my own volition." Hes saying that he *would,* but he doesnt make decisions for himself. Likely referring to his allegiance to the assassins. Another really simple sentence.
Okay that definitely explains the first line a lot better, and although I understand what "i cannot do so of my own volition" means, it's still such a funny way of wording it
Fun fact: AC Bloodlines is the only noticable AC game where the characters actually have scabbards for their weapons. From AC1 to Ezio Trilogy, Kenway Saga, Initiative Duology, the RPG trilogy and even the new Mirage, the swords magically floats on the side of their belts.
Bruh I love you assassin creed content you have made me have my own revelations about the series I love I agree with a lot you say and disagree with some but you have a way with words that I find unique and profound I am quite sad that you put assassin creed on the back burner but I understand I have gained a great appreciation for Altair and am currently mid way through the secret crusade and I thank you for that.
I went even deeper. I used to play the Gameloft Assassin Creed games on Nokia phones. Ironically the Gameloft version of AC3 is what got me into Assassin's Creed in the first place. I had no idea what it was before that
I think for Bloodlines, Desmond is the one viewing the memories. It might be just after Lucy and Vidic left and Desmond sees 16/Clay's blood message, that he hops in the animus for a bit and sees these memories. Altair sees Maria in Acre in Bloodliens, and Desmond specifically says in AC 2, referring to her, "woman form Acre", which is weird considering in AC 1 she was in Jeruselum when Altair encounters her.
The thing with that though implies he saw all the bloodlines memories and only took “she’s a woman from acre” which doesn’t really make sense given he’d have seen her entire story play out and know her name, “the woman from acre” is weirdly reductive after that. I believe in reality he just assumed she was from acre given the crusaders occupied it during the crusades, so she was, in a way, from Acre.
@LazerzZ Bloodlines aside, it's a bit weird that Desmond says "woman from Acre" because he only ever saw her in Jerusalem. Might have been a bit of a writing issue in AC2, or the fact that she was in Acre during that dream sequence? That's kind of the only reason why I think lorewise, Desmond saw these memories prior to being rescued by Lucy because otherwise, he would've said Jerusalem instead of Acre, due to Bloodlines events, meets Maria in Acre again.
"Worry not! This will be quick and painless" says Altair to the guy that's already dead, also where did his olympic level gymnastics go to between games? I bet that quadruple jump with mario 64 levels of elevation would have been really useful during AC 1, it was probably Al Mualin's shanking that nerfed him in such a way, he realized that he was too powerful to be left with something like that. A tragedy for sure
I don’t think it was Desmond at all in Bloodlines because in AC2 he seems really surprised that Altair and Maria were hooking up during his bleeding effect memory.
I remember assasins creed bloodlines being one of the games that i played the most and i am happy that i played all the classics of the psp gta liberty stories and vice stories asassins creed etc im happy i had a good childhood with games
Where is the linked guide to do the analogue stick and frame rate? It's exactly what I need, but I can't find it or anything else for the analogue stick.
Never had anything on these games recommended, for memory unlocked dude. I figured out these games existed because my action replay had them listed and I was like hell yeah assassins creed
Blue orb is apiphany. Like when you're having a shower or taking a shit and you think about life and FINALLY realise where it all went wrong only to forget all about it as soon as you leave the room. Altair has epiphanies when he moves through the blue orb. Not 500 words but we'll call this essay a Ubisoft product. I couldn't be bothered finishing it but I expect you to appreciate it.
I loved bloodlines so much. Ill never forget coming home from school and my mom showing me what she had bought me for my psp after i had begged for the game for a long time and you better believe I played that game day in and day out
Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles is a part of the popular Assassin's Creed video game series, known for its rich lore and intriguing storytelling. Within this particular installment, the blue orbs play a significant role in the game's narrative, connecting to the larger lore of the Assassin's Creed universe. In this essay, we will explore how these blue orbs function within the lore of Assassin's Creed.
The blue orbs, also known as "Chalice of the Gods," are mystical artifacts scattered throughout the game world. They possess immense power, and their origins can be traced back to the First Civilization, an ancient and advanced precursor race that predates humanity. In the Assassin's Creed universe, this First Civilization created humanity and played a pivotal role in shaping human history through various technological advancements.
The blue orbs act as a link between Altair, the game's protagonist, and his ancestors. They hold the memories of Altair's legendary ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a prominent figure in the Assassin's Creed series. By interacting with these orbs, Altair can relive Ezio's memories, gaining access to his knowledge and skills. This ability is known as "Eagle Vision," a form of extrasensory perception that allows Altair to perceive the world differently and identify hidden enemies and clues.
Moreover, the blue orbs serve as a narrative device, driving the story forward. As Altair seeks to retrieve the Chalice of the Gods, he must unravel ancient secrets, follow cryptic clues, and face various challenges, leading him on an epic adventure that delves into the history of the First Civilization and its connection to the Assassin Brotherhood.
The blue orbs are not merely a plot device, but they also offer insights into the greater philosophical themes present in the Assassin's Creed lore. Throughout the series, the concept of free will versus determinism is explored, and the blue orbs play a role in this existential debate. The artifacts hold the memories of the past, indicating a predestined path for humanity, yet the Assassins believe in shaping their own destinies and breaking free from the chains of fate.
Furthermore, the blue orbs represent the eternal struggle between the Assassins and the Templars, two secret societies that have been at odds for centuries. The Templars seek to control the blue orbs and the powerful knowledge they possess, believing that this control will bring about peace through control. On the other hand, the Assassins strive to keep these artifacts away from the hands of the Templars, understanding the dangers of such power in the wrong hands. This conflict forms the backbone of the Assassin's Creed narrative and showcases the eternal battle between control and freedom.
In conclusion, the blue orbs in Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles are essential elements that drive the game's plot while connecting it to the larger lore of the Assassin's Creed universe. As mystical artifacts from the First Civilization, they hold the memories of Altair's ancestor, Ezio, allowing him to access valuable knowledge and skills. Additionally, they serve as a metaphorical representation of the ongoing philosophical and ideological conflict between the Assassins and Templars. With their profound impact on the narrative and thematic depth, the blue orbs contribute significantly to the immersive and thought-provoking experience that the Assassin's Creed series is renowned for.
Now this is what I’m fucking talking about 😂
I also find it funny that this essay constantly refers to Ezio as Altair’s ancestor 😭😭
@@LazerzZik It was kinda hard to keep it actually accurate
How tf doesn’t this have more likes?
Amazing. As soon as an essay was assigned, I went to the comments and was not disappointed.
Congratulations, you have graduated the Bachelor of Relics, University of Assassin with flying colors.
Altair in revelations: When I was young, I believed that our creed could bring an end to conflict. If only I possessed the humility to say 'I have done enough for one life'.
Altair in chronicles: I have no choice but to launch myself out of a fucking catapult.
And do flips that would make Watch Dog characters blush.
Living up to his name,
Ezio in Revelations ending: "I have seen enough for one life."
@@huytungnguyen119 "And I did use a fucking bomber plane to kill templars, drive a tank once, pull up with a gat on some horse guys, control an actual battle cruiser boat and on top of it all: I used a metallic ball to mind control my enemies and bend their will to fight"
@@NiCoNiCoNiColaaltair is him ffs
Was not expecting this gem, hyped to watch
Same here
Ye same here
heey buddy! i somewhat expected you to be here
If they ever remastered/remade AC1 it would be to see the concepts/story beats of these two games be expanded and made into DLC
Or just put it in the game instead of making it a dlc
@@Agentshadlingit works too but it would be a huge ass game tho unless if they can make them shorter
@@beowulf_bateman ac1 was pretty short, a graphical upgrade and adding psp ports to the game wouldn't add much since psp games were even shorter too.
@@Agentshadling AC Bloodlines takes about 6 hours to beat doing everything and just under 3 hours if you just b line the story so if they added the usual Assassin's Creed bloat of side missions it could easily be too much to just add to the main game.
One of the coolest things I find with AC Bloodlines is that it shows how little is actually needed on a technical level to make a compelling Assassin's Creed game and how feasible an indie spiritual successor to the old good assassin's creed's could be.
That combo at 9:00 feels like such a prince of Persia kind of attack combo
That makes sense, considering Assassin's Creed was originally conceptualised as a PoP spin-off.
Bruh i clicked on the time stamp with no knowledge of what you were talking about and landed directly on the time in the video i was already at lmao.
The entirety of Altair's Chronicles feels like a reskinned Prince of Persia game. And yes, I do know AC was originally a PoP spin off, my point is that AC games have their own identity: AC games are about conspiracies and ancient artifacts, Altair's Chronicles is about a girl companion and magic. Now which franchise features girl companions and magic? Prince of Persia! Or at the least the Sands games and PoP 08 do. I feel that Chronicles was either: a) a PoP spin off for the DS, which was reskinned into an AC game later in development (the reference to the girl from Chronicles in the og AC was not there in the original PS360 release, was only added later in the PC release), or b) since AC1 was still in development when they started developing Chronicles, they had no clue what it was going to be, so since they knew AC1 was originally a PoP spin off, they just decided to borrow narrative elements from PoP hoping it would match what AC1 was going to be.
AC Bloodlines was my first AC game I have played.
That game got me interested in the whole franchise.
same here
Same. Somehow I forgot I played it until now but it really was the first I played.
Fun fact, Bloodlines was my first entry into Assassins Creed. Not even joking about that. And then funny enough, Revelations. Strange order, I know.
Quick story, my older cousin was a big fan who introduced me to the games, we play Revelations, get to Altair's third flashback mission and he says, "Who the hell is this chick?".
And then I said,
"Is that Maria? DUDE, THAT'S ALTAIR'S WIFE!!"
And he's like,
"WHAT!?!?"
It was a very rare moment where I knew a piece of AC lore he didn't. A secret card in the deck only a nerd could appreciate.
~30:50 My assumption has always been that Desmond was supposed to have gone through these memories between the end of AC1 and when Lucy came back to break him out in the opening of AC2. I'm not sure if there's a canon amount of time that passed between the games, but I assume it was at the very least a few hours, if not a few days, and Bloodlines only takes about 6 hours to complete, so if we assume it would take the same length of time in-universe it tracks. And Desmond definitely has to have relived the Bloodlines memories at some point, because he recognizes Maria by name in AC2, when her name is never stated in AC1 as far as I remember
It's meant to be immediately after Desmond looks at the scribblings in his room, when the credit roll of AC1 begins. When Lucy bursts into the room, bloodstained tank top and all, Desmond was still looking at that wall. It really has no place within the modern day plot
@@JHenry-nz7hy Maybe he was looking at the wall again? Lucy left the room right as Desmond activated Eagle Vision for the first time, so either Desmond would have had to spend a really long time looking at that wall, or Lucy would have needed to change her clothes and head back really fast lmao. Also, when Lucy shows up Desmond says "Lucy, where have you been?" which implies it's been some time.
@@JHenry-nz7hyLucy also mentions during the elevator down that she rigged the footage during their escape to loop. She states she did this for Desmond during his night time snooping which is probably when Desmond actually was experiencing these memoriesx
The whole Desmond Saga plays in 3 month, that's what AC Origins says
@@Joe-gi5qqYeah but that doesn't tell us how long passed between the end of AC1 and the start of AC2, since a day or two would only be a small fraction of that, let alone a few hours.
I was at around 21:15 where you started talking about the codex and I happen to have a AC Brotherhood collector's edition Codex book and grabbed it to check if it was in there too. AND IT WAS!! It's not only canon but realized in actual merchandise Ubisoft sold as part of AC Brotherhood. I was amazed!
The way you broke down Chaos and how the observation of the same is the foundation of the Creed spoke to me! Very nicely put and it is exactly what it is, as Ezio has said; the order was born out of observing the nature of the world (paraphrasing). There is beauty in Chaos, there is peace of mind in it, but its all about perspective at the end of the day. Depending on how much you as a human focus on negative aspects of life in general will determine your interpretation of reality, so thats how you can get a smart man like Haytham take the opposite side with Ezio on the other one. Both figures with traumatic pasts and lives fueled by revenge and seeking meaning, and both ending up at completely different points. Great video James! In an avid reader but I never actually read the AC Novels, in fear of them being a marketing cash grab... But I might give Secret Crusade and Forsaken a shot!
My first Ac was bloodlines on the psp this brought me back.
Same for me. It did not age so well but I loved it back then
I always considered Bloodlines was Desmond accessing the memories after AC1. He had free reign to re-enter the Animus as he wished after the game ended, and while AC2 starts as if Lucy busts in immediately after AC1 ends, for all we know it's been several hours or maybe even another day.
Always feel a sense of belonging when I find a fellow Altair Stan. Grew up playing these games and the nostalgia is all that's left of the good old days. Amazing video💜
If AC1 ever gets a remake I think these side games should be in it, not part of the main story but as a separate tab that play afterwards, maybe get the RE2 treatment y'know
Seeing more locations around the Levant like Aleppo, Tyre, and Cyprus would be awesome. Heck, even his time in exile outside Masyaf would be great.
Plus, the original voice actor with an Arabic accent would be badass.
Would be so epic to get DS or PSP games remade for PS5
Yeah
This was awesome man great work!
So you follow a 5 hr masterpiece up with another 45 mins on Altaïr? Dude, you’re killing it. As an AC1 fan, I’m hyped (I don’t care what people say, it was a perfect game at the time)
It was beautiful in its limitations and perfect for its time and still holds up now in its own way.
Assassin's Creed 1 is a masterpiece and even looking at it today some of the character models and their faces might not be that great and maybe looking in the distance isn't that great but up close I mean the clothes and the characters and the buildings they look fantastic in the cities look amazing and the gameplay is phenomenal even by today's standards and I really wish they would give it a remake or at least a remaster for PS4 and PS5
I love that James’ dad’s contact is Pierce Brosnan 😭
Dude legit looks like him 😭
@@LazerzZ that is a HIGH compliment 😂
Thanks for making a video on this James! Its good to see Altair get all the love and care he deserves. Also have fun on your vacay ❤
My theory is that the secret Templar order were founded during the earlier crusader campaigns but went public as the Holy order of the Knights Templar as their front company to gain a military force in the East to further their goals, indoctrinating others into their true inner circle ( the antagonist to the assassins)
That's the actual Canon. They were "the order" of.. something from Origins onwards and took their goals more public during the crusades. The Hidden ones under Al Mualim became more public as Hashashin. You're right
Bloodlines was the starting point of my AC adventure (which has sadly all but ended at this point)
I never understood why people compared it to its bigger home console brethren and trashed it over that comparison
Narrative is the only area where you can compare legitimately, but even still, Bloodlines is fun despite its short comings that can definitely be forgiven due to the platform
Little tidbit about the PSP Assassin's Creed game:
When I bought it, I remember reading the back of the box over and over on the way home, and it advertises itself as an "open world" experience.
I was super excited--open-world on the PSP?
Yes please.
When I loaded it, not only did I learn it wasn't true open-world, instead of acting more like open-zone and the zones were each incredibly small, but it took ages to load another zone.
Not only that, but one of the back-of-the box pictures shows a zone without the loading fog, which means that, at some point, it really was open-world, and I am still salty about that.
This vid brings me nostalgia, I remember young me played Altair's Chronicles on iPhone 4 and iPad 2 back in 2010s, loved the absurd yet flourish triple jump he made and some of the cheesy voice lines like "Not you you fool, ladies you have to excuse me" -some merchant in the beginning of the game and "Damn you Basilik, come now let's get this over with!" -Altair fighting the boss near the end.
If you're going to multiple places in Italy I definitely recommend seeing Venice. I've never been there, but it won't be there much longer. Have a nice time, you deserve a break. You make some great content :)
Man, cool to see you bring up "The Secret Crusade", I actually left the vid with 5 Mins left for the last 20 or so Mins looking at listings for the AC Novels, just before you mentioned it, cause I've seen them for years and was always curious about the Ezio Trilogy Novelizations.
Snagged a pack of 8 (The AC2 through to Syndicate Novels) for like $50 New (would have been anywhere between $20-$40 to get just the Ezio Trilogy ones Used otherwise) and so I'll also have The Secret Crusade... Actually so keen to go through the Ezio Trilogy again, but READING it 🤣
Let’s go! Just finished the AC1 retrospective yesterday, now time to start this beauty.
The blue orbs in Altair's Chronicles can be explained like this: they are the missing or unrendered synchronizations by the Animus. İt's apparent that we're still in the Animus as indicated by the abstergo logo on the top left corner. Since the graphics are ass, we can understand that this is an early, faulty build of the Animus. And due to this Animus being early and faulty, it doesn't load up all the synchronizations perfectly like the one in Assassin's Creed 1 does. So these orbs are the missing synchronization points which are spread all around the program, Altair gains them and unlocks abilities, which further enhances the synchronization to be more accurate.
But hey that's just the way İ personally see it.
I played bloodlines for the first time last yesr with a psp with a broken screen and even then I found it worth enduring through the pain of playing on a system with a flickering screen.
I feel like Darby is the only person who goes in depth into the philosophical side of the conflict between the assassin and the templar. It's evident in every game that he writes. The way the characters talk about their believes and how they explain what their creed means to them are unmistakably him. Other games are just wishy washy about all of it.
Did Darby wrote AC 2, I forgot.
@@nnnnmhughuuhhjiijj9457 Yes, Darby wrote AC2
@@ayushmishra1457 No he did not he started in Bloodlines
Did he do AC4? That game handles the philosophy side well tbh.
15:49 wait, what are you actually talking about? The templars where explicitly NOT a shadow organization in this time period. This is the time period where they were the most open. The templars here are the literal knights templar
I used to absolutely love playing Altairs Chronicles growing up. I would play it over and over and over again and it still sits in my mind as a true gem of a gem. Im scared to play it again
15:30 your commentary/ reaction is killing me bro. Made me laugh my ass off😂😂. Thx James seriously!! Keep it up bro 🔥🔥
I'd like to point out that Ahda's death is part of his character arc in AC1 and how he starts the way he does, but that means the informant in Acre that asks about Ahda either doesn't know she died, or is just openly mocking Altair and that he wasn't fast enough to save her, which is kind of hilarious.
I have good memories of bloodlines*
Now I want it to get roasted to oblivion
I'll always have a soft spot for Bloodlines. One of my favorite parts about it back in the day was the connectivity with ACII. You didn't mention it here, but you could unlock upgrades for Altair's hidden blade that somewhat mirrored Ezio's; most notably: the ability to shoot throwing knives out of your gauntlet just like the hidden gun.
I did not know that, that's really cool actually.
@@LazerzZ Yeah, and on Ezio’s end you got the weapons from Bloodline’s bosses. Not as game changing, but still neat. They’re there by default in the Ezio Trilogy, once you get to Mario’s.
The blue balls are actually Pieces of Eden that give the user enhanced ability, the more you use them the better you are.
Your content is absolutely brilliant, can’t wait for the algorithm gods to bless you
Despite the flaws you mentioned on Bloodlines (which I also agree lmao), I loved this game. Thanks for making this retrospective, and enjoy your break, Lazerzz!
When you jokingly teased this in the AC retrospective I was begging, I loved that silly psp game 😢.
Man finally someone talks about bloodlines. It felt like i was the only one who played this game since no one seems to mention it on any AC video. It was my 1st AC game and i really enjoyed it even though some tailing and stealth missions were a pain to get through because of the janky controls. I played it so many times that I actually started doing combat with the hidden blade which only allows u to do counter kills meaning u have to be extremely focused and precise. It was really fun.
I would argue against that everything is chaos. For example a waterfall may seem like chaos with a force of water flowing down, splashing around. However all that follows a mathematical order.
What would be chaos is if i threw a flower to a mountain and the mountain crumbling.
Was waiting for this! Weirdly enough, Bloodlines was the second AC game I ever played lol (first being AC 3). It was years ago when I knew nothing about the series. I kept replaying it like crazy on my PSP as I didn't have many games back then, certainly not other AC games. Good times
Altairs Chronicles was the first AC game I ever played and I'm very happy I gave the series an honest second chance with the mainline games years later
Great review! I have a serious,if very hard to play, game. It was called Backstab. It was an iPhone, and Xperia apparently, game. I am convinced it started as a prequel for Assassins Creed 4 and they couldn't get the rights but released the game anyway. It's no longer available to buy but I think there are some let's plays online and emulators might work.
the best way to describe the gameplay of assassin's bloodlines is by saying it's ac 1 but it feels like it was released in 2001
Of all the AC mcs that deserved more than one game, I think Altair is the most egregious. He could’ve done a mainline trilogy, easy.
Ezio hitting the griddy is the foulest thing i ever saw
The ring finger blade lore thing is mostly a Mandela effect; people misheard Leonardo say "though the blade once required a sacrifice, it's been modified" as "I've modified the device".
6:39 Altaïr doing the Mario jumps 😂
Bloodlines was my first AC game on original hardware and I never forgot how mindblowing it is that you can climb and parkour on practically anything. I played it again recently (after becoming a fan of the series, though not anymore) and it still holds up well enough.
Okay to help make this fit cannon, my headcanon theory is that Chronicles is the first game Abstergo made. They changed names and gameplay in Altair's life to make it more fun. There's some truth to its story but not all of it
I played Altair's Chronicles as a kid and I remember at the time it was very difficult. However I do remember the pickpocket "minigame" being kinda cool.
They should combine AC1, these two spin offs, and his parts in AC revelations, in chronological order, with a remake engine into one massive Altair throwback game.
Idk about his part in AC revelations but yeah they should totally do a remake of ac 1 and the spin offs
Let’s get the forgotten stories of Ezio. Love your content dude. I’m a Lazerzz fan.
Bloodlines was my very first Assassin's Creed game ever. Good times
Great Video🖤🔥
This is like a DLC for an amazing game which in this case is the ac1 video
Nobody talking about how the Eden apple in Bloodlines looks like a fucking grenade
Damn I never experienced this omgg thanks so much for helping Lazerrz only heard of the the mobile one.congrrats my guy 🎉🎉🎉made me day
The Xperia Play was just running an Android operating system, so it is covered by Android on the wiki page. The page is missing a release date for Android as a whole, but it wouldn’t be a separate entry for the Xperia Play
2 Assassins Creed Videos in a week! James must really need that Rent Money! 😂
Enjoy the vacation bro
Altaïr had a busy life bro
I loved chronicles on my family’s gen 1 iPad… the disguised mission was the best lmao… great stuff lazerzz, nostalgia trip on ac I didn’t expect
What's this Greeny, back to back AC Vids?
"Its role is to unite the factions of whoever holds it, the Crusaders or the Saracens" I think this sentence means, there are two sides, but each side is also internally divided into factions. So in order for one of the sides of conflict to achieve victory, they must unite and be stronger than the opposing side, that's what the artifact's for. Not to unite Saracens with Crusaders
In the game Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles, the blue orbs are known as "Pieces of Eden" and are an important part of the Assassin's Creed lore. The Pieces of Eden are ancient artifacts created by a highly advanced civilization known as the Isu or Precursors.
These artifacts possess incredible powers and were used by the Isu to control humanity and shape its destiny. The blue orbs specifically contain a concentrated form of Isu energy and are sought after by various factions within the Assassin's Creed universe.
In Altair's Chronicles, the blue orbs play a crucial role in the story. Altair, the protagonist, is tasked with retrieving the orbs to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. The orbs are said to have the ability to manipulate minds and control individuals, making them dangerous weapons in the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and the Templars.
Throughout the game, Altair must navigate ancient cities, solve puzzles, and face enemies to acquire these orbs and prevent their misuse. The orbs not only provide gameplay mechanics but also contribute to the larger narrative of the Assassin's Creed series, shedding light on the ancient civilization and its impact on human history.
It's worth noting that the blue orbs in Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles are just one example of the Pieces of Eden in the wider Assassin's Creed franchise. The lore surrounding these artifacts is explored in-depth across various games, books, and other media within the Assassin's Creed universe.
This reads like ai
@@polytanksan5761 it is
The statement "even gods are fallable" is so contradictory it's insane. But that section of the vid was funny
The reason there are grappling hooks and oil slicks is that this is a late-late-late-released sequel to Aladdin from the Genesis, which if I recall, was also set in the Middle East.
Really excited to hop into this, never really looked into the side games so I'm curious to see what they're like!
i knew you werent kidding i was waiting for it ;)
12:02 wait so this game is saying that up till Revalations Altair was BALD!?
Also that "Whaaaaaaa!" just reminds me of Super Mario.
The new character designs in Altair’s Chronicles are hilarious like the artists just drew the first thing they could think of when they hear “middle eastern”
30:51 He could've accessed these memories after the events of AC1, since after both Doc and Lucy leave the game lets you jack into the Animus to replay missions. Maybe Desmond happened upon this segment while they were debating his usefulness to the Templar cause... for probably a month?
Between AC1 and AC2 there's a time skip of 7 days, where Viddic put Desmond in the animus to relieve Altair's Bloodlines story, but without Lucy. Confirmed in the AC2 manual.
I enjoyed this a lot, good job. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
14:45 you misunderstood this sentence. "Saracen" is widely used as a term for any north african or middle eastern muslim. "Crusader" is any christian (mainly european) who took part on the crusades. Both were extremely disunified factions of people of many philosophies, ethnicities, cultures and languages. Many consider the lack of unity and infighting to be the cause of failure in the later crusades.
This is where the apple comes in. If the crusaders get the apple, they could brainwash the rest of europe into one government, one army, and one king instead of dealing with unending feudal bullshit like they did irl, and any other faction wouldnt stand a chance.
Its a pretty clear sentence honestly but you probably just didnt understand what the context.
Same way with "i cannot do so of my own volition." Hes saying that he *would,* but he doesnt make decisions for himself. Likely referring to his allegiance to the assassins. Another really simple sentence.
Okay that definitely explains the first line a lot better, and although I understand what "i cannot do so of my own volition" means, it's still such a funny way of wording it
@LazerzZ I have no excuses for the informant guy lmao. He might actually just be insane. Maybe hes one of the lunatics who slap you in ac1.
Fun fact: AC Bloodlines is the only noticable AC game where the characters actually have scabbards for their weapons. From AC1 to Ezio Trilogy, Kenway Saga, Initiative Duology, the RPG trilogy and even the new Mirage, the swords magically floats on the side of their belts.
Bruh I love you assassin creed content you have made me have my own revelations about the series I love I agree with a lot you say and disagree with some but you have a way with words that I find unique and profound I am quite sad that you put assassin creed on the back burner but I understand I have gained a great appreciation for Altair and am currently mid way through the secret crusade and I thank you for that.
I went even deeper. I used to play the Gameloft Assassin Creed games on Nokia phones. Ironically the Gameloft version of AC3 is what got me into Assassin's Creed in the first place. I had no idea what it was before that
I think for Bloodlines, Desmond is the one viewing the memories. It might be just after Lucy and Vidic left and Desmond sees 16/Clay's blood message, that he hops in the animus for a bit and sees these memories.
Altair sees Maria in Acre in Bloodliens, and Desmond specifically says in AC 2, referring to her, "woman form Acre", which is weird considering in AC 1 she was in Jeruselum when Altair encounters her.
The thing with that though implies he saw all the bloodlines memories and only took “she’s a woman from acre” which doesn’t really make sense given he’d have seen her entire story play out and know her name, “the woman from acre” is weirdly reductive after that.
I believe in reality he just assumed she was from acre given the crusaders occupied it during the crusades, so she was, in a way, from Acre.
@LazerzZ Bloodlines aside, it's a bit weird that Desmond says "woman from Acre" because he only ever saw her in Jerusalem. Might have been a bit of a writing issue in AC2, or the fact that she was in Acre during that dream sequence?
That's kind of the only reason why I think lorewise, Desmond saw these memories prior to being rescued by Lucy because otherwise, he would've said Jerusalem instead of Acre, due to Bloodlines events, meets Maria in Acre again.
Altair's Chronicles was the first one I ever played, and it's what got me into the series, so I still love it lol
I played these games as a kid. Absolutely loved them. Definitely a big time killer, but train rides and car rides. Definitely made them more bareable.
Ac bloodlines will always have a special place in my heart, I couldn’t afford a ps3 and had a psp. Lot of great moments
So thats why the Ezio journal scenes in between sequences in revelations felt so familiar.
Ahda was presumed to be altars love interest in 1, it looks like chronicles just took everything they could from ac1 to patch up their sinking story
"Worry not! This will be quick and painless" says Altair to the guy that's already dead, also where did his olympic level gymnastics go to between games? I bet that quadruple jump with mario 64 levels of elevation would have been really useful during AC 1, it was probably Al Mualin's shanking that nerfed him in such a way, he realized that he was too powerful to be left with something like that. A tragedy for sure
This is a great video bro nice job
I don’t think it was Desmond at all in Bloodlines because in AC2 he seems really surprised that Altair and Maria were hooking up during his bleeding effect memory.
I played AC mobile version and 2 and Brotherhood and oh man.
I tell you, Chronicles was just like tgat thanks for reminding me .
I remember assasins creed bloodlines being one of the games that i played the most and i am happy that i played all the classics of the psp gta liberty stories and vice stories asassins creed etc im happy i had a good childhood with games
Where is the linked guide to do the analogue stick and frame rate? It's exactly what I need, but I can't find it or anything else for the analogue stick.
Never had anything on these games recommended, for memory unlocked dude. I figured out these games existed because my action replay had them listed and I was like hell yeah assassins creed
Blue orb is apiphany. Like when you're having a shower or taking a shit and you think about life and FINALLY realise where it all went wrong only to forget all about it as soon as you leave the room. Altair has epiphanies when he moves through the blue orb. Not 500 words but we'll call this essay a Ubisoft product. I couldn't be bothered finishing it but I expect you to appreciate it.
5:26 Assassin’s Creed Chronicles? Yet another thing I’ve never heard of.
8:57 Actually, X X Y allows you to insta-kill the heavies, which is super useful, but yeh. Those are the only two combos you need to know.
Just watched the ac1 video and this comes out, huge
I loved bloodlines so much. Ill never forget coming home from school and my mom showing me what she had bought me for my psp after i had begged for the game for a long time and you better believe I played that game day in and day out
Oh hot damn. Now all we need is a retrospective on Ezio's DS game and we're golden
My Nokia N8 running symbian OS actually got a port of Altair's chronicles and it was only years later I really found out it was a DS game
James is at it again with another slapper