Issue #1 Review: Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad
By Colum Blackett
Issue #1 of Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection focusses on Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (1165-1257).
Inside issue #1.
- Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad Figurine.
- Character Profile.
- Friends and Enemies.
- Assassin's Abilities.
- Mythology.
- Weaponry & Equpiment.
- Environments
Figurine Review
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I was pleasantly surprised with the Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad figurine. The robes are incredibly accurate, and the weapons are highly detailed.
I was particularly impressed with the Short Blade, which looks like it's straight out of the games.
I also noticed that Altair has four fingers on his left hand, something that is incredibly accurate.
My favourite part of the figurine is the knife belt, as it perfectly replicates what we saw in the games.
The Altair figurine is a must have for Assassin's Creed Merchandise Collectors.
Magazine Review
I thoroughly enjoyed issue #1 of Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection. The magazine feels like a database, packed full of information on Altair and The Assassin Brotherhood.
Issue #1 starts with an Altair profile, featuring everything from his Eagle Vision to Assassin Robes. (As shown above). This page looks at Altair's equipment and abilities, but also gives us an overview of how his quest for redemption began. The next section looks at the Journeys and Challenges faced by Altair. I was extremely impressed to see details on both of Altair's parents, who too were Assassins. Reading this section reminded me that Altair had a difficult childhood, as he was an orphan, raised by the Brotherhood. This section details the struggles faced by Altair, and the consequences of his actions. Pages 6 and 7 focus on Altair's Friends and Enemies, of which he had many. The Nine Templars and Al Mualim all appear in this section. Each character profile looks at the motives and methods of targets, and the reasons for their actions. Although I did enjoy reading this section, I did however notice that two other important characters were missing. Malik and Abbas play a big role in AC1, and should have been in this section. Pages 8 and 9 focus on the iconic Leap of Faith, an acrobatic manouver practiced by members of the Assassin Order. The concept art is from AC1, and shows Al Mualiam commanding the Assassins to jump from Masyaf tower. It was nice to see the first ever leap of faith (seen in the games) captured in concept art format. This is truly an important moment for Altair, and for the protection of Masyaf. The next section focusses on The Assassin Brotherhood. Motivations, Goals, Historical Events and Key Members are all identified. I was glad to see that the Three Tenets of the Creed (and Ironies) are all referenced in this section. I found this section to be very interesting, as it detailing much of the Assassin Brotherhood History. The Hidden Blade is the signature weapon used by members of the Brotherhood, so I was pleased to see that the magazine features two pages detailing the changes and upgrades made throughout history. The first recorded use of a Hidden Blade was by an Assassin named Darius, and I was happy to see this mentioned. The Shock Blade (as seen in AC Syndicate) also has concept art in this section, and makes me wonder how the Hidden Blade will change in future games. The last section details the locations visited by Altair during his travels. Masyaf, Jerusalem, Damascus and Acre are all featured, and concept art and screenshots surround the pages. Altair's journey takes him all over the Levant, and this section makes it clear that his missions required plenty of travelling. I really enjoyed Issue #1 of Assassin's Creed: The Official Collection, and hope that future issues go into as much depth and expansion as this one. Until next time. Stay Vigilant Assassins. - Col |
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