Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines hit the PlayStation Portable in November 2009, a spin-off from the main series that picks up right where the first game left off. Developed by Griptonite Games and published by Ubisoft, it’s set between 1191 and 1193, following Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad as he chases the last Templar holdouts to Cyprus. Along the way, the story digs into his relationship with Maria Thorpe, a Templar agent he spared earlier—she’d later become his wife. Ubisoft announced the title at E3 in June 2009, and it launched alongside *Assassin’s Creed II* and *Assassin’s Creed II: Discovery*. Critics gave it mixed reviews. The next spin-off in the series, *Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation*, wouldn’t arrive until October 2012—though other spin-offs like *Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy* (2010) bridged the gap.

**Gameplay** This is an action-adventure stealth game in an open world, with controls nearly identical to the original *Assassin’s Creed*—though tweaked for the PSP’s limited buttons. Eagle Vision got cut. You explore Cyprus, specifically the cities of Limassol and Kyrenia, but the map’s smaller, so horseback riding is gone. Fewer people roam the streets, explained in-game as civilians staying home under the Templars’ new rule. Altaïr still climbs high points to synchronize and reveal side missions, even though the map’s already drawn. Instead of flags, you collect Templar Coins—bronze, silver, and gold—to upgrade health and weapon damage. Side missions now include saving civilians, delivering letters, and intercepting couriers, rewarding coins instead of allies like scholars or vigilantes. Stealth and blending took a hit due to system limits; you can’t hide among scholars anymore, and blending just lets you slip past guards without suspicion. Climbing’s faster and simpler, with downgraded animations. High and low profile moves are still there, but scaled back. New assassination techniques appear, like ledge kills where you silently yank an enemy off a ledge. Weapons from the first game return—sword, Hidden Blade, throwing knives, fists—but knives can’t be pickpocketed; you refill from knife boxes in safehouses or pick them up off the ground. Story missions are more straightforward, replacing eavesdropping and pickpocketing with a task-by-task structure like *Assassin’s Creed II*.