Assassins I: Launches, Can't Start New Game

[Rogue181]

I've installed the original Assassin's Creed on my Vista Laptop, but I can't start a new game. I can launch into the main menu and create a profile without incident. When I click the 'new game' button it takes me to this fancy blue animated screen (looks like a loading screen in disguise) but then it just stays there. It doesn't actually freeze or crash, it just sits there making ambient noises and loading screen animations forever.

Any ideas? I really don't want to add this to the list of steam games I've had to give up on (Prince of Persia and Bully so far )