Assassin's Creed introduced the series' first playable protagonist, Altaïr ibn-La'Ahad.
Released in 2007, the original game follows Altaïr, a senior Assassin whose rank is reduced after he breaks the Brotherhood's code during an early mission. He must then complete a series of assignments in the Holy Land while rebuilding his reputation and uncovering a larger conspiracy.
Altaïr's story is presented through the Animus, a device that allows modern characters to experience genetic memories. The historical sections take place during the Third Crusade, with missions in Masyaf, Jerusalem, Damascus, and Acre.
Ezio Auditore became the most extensively developed early hero in the franchise, but he debuted in Assassin's Creed II. Connor, Edward Kenway, and later protagonists were also introduced in subsequent entries, making Altaïr the original playable lead.