As new IP launches go, Ubisoft have to be commended for setting the hype meter insanely high for the original Assassin's Creed. While many will argue that the game never quite lived up to its early promise, very few original titles have the success and lasting appeal that Creed did. With the only follow-up so far being the abysmal Altair's Chronicles on DS, Ubisoft have a lot riding on the first true continuations of the series, one on the home consoles and one for the PSP. Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines is looking to be Altair's true debut on handheld. We take a look at what is making this look like a PSP title to look forward to.

The major problem with the DS version of the game was that the console couldn't handle a game with the same visual style as the original. This is no longer a worry in Bloodlines, as one look at the trailer shows a gorgeous art style and full 3D engine. At points it's indistinguishable from its HD counterparts; Altair moves with such grace and flow that many won't be able to tell the difference. Obviously some concessions have been made, the faces of characters no longer have that textured, faded look they did, but luckily for Altair he wears a hood throughout so it won't be a problem. This really is a portable version of the original game's style and graphics, a trait that developers have stated continues into the gameplay too.

Bloodlines is said to retain everything that made Assassin's Creed so impressive, which should make any fan pleased. The Open World traversal, along with the non linear progression that let players decide how they wanted to complete each assassination is intact, as is the timing based combat. Looking for opportunities to block attacks from enemies, and countering incoming blows will be essential for survival when in trouble, but as always, stealth is the preferred method of assassination. Blending into the environment and using crowds to your advantage should feel as good as it did on PS3 and 360, as will the simplicity of the free running that made the original so interesting to begin with. Hopefully the lack of a second analogue stick won't make things too complicated on the PSP, the death of many home console style games released on the system thus far.

Set between the original Assassin's Creed and the sequel that will be flying off the shelves come Christmas time, Bloodlines is designed to bridge the gap between games, and explain links between the 3 characters the games let you take control of. This emphasis on explaining complex story elements could be the thing to sway some fans of the series to buy the PSP game, yet another reason why Bloodlines is looking to be a must have.

With an influx of great looking PSP titles coming in the next few months, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines is set to have some competition when it's released at the end of November. Hopefully this will be a great accompaniment to the upcoming Assassin's Creed II (with exclusive content interchangeable between PSP and PS3 games). If so, Ubisoft may have struck gold with this.

Previewed by Sam Atkins for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).