Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles on DS is one of those handheld spin-offs that actually holds up. You're sneaking through crowded streets, climbing towers like it's second nature, and pulling off assassinations with that satisfying hidden blade—just like the console games, but scaled down smartly for the DS.

The touchscreen handles lockpicking and pickpocketing in a way that feels natural, not gimmicky. And yeah, the graphics are obviously simpler, but the atmosphere still nails that Crusades-era vibe—dusty markets, guarded rooftops, all that good stuff. Combat's a bit clunky compared to later entries, but you learn to work with it.

If you're into the series and missed this one, it's way better than it had any right to be for a DS title. Just don't expect Brotherhood-level polish.