Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate Review

I am a positive guy. I try to be hopeful, see the best in people. And that’s why, I was truly optimistic for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.

I had even somehow managed to enjoy Unity, if nothing else, just for how gorgeous Paris looked. And when Ubisoft promised me a better game in London, I almost believed them.

Well, fuck.

The game looks like a let-down from the very start. The visuals have been toned down big-time when compared to Unity. Sure, that lessens the number of bugs experienced. But when some interesting element of a game causes problems, removing that element instead of fixing it, isn’t much of a solution.

Might as well kill yourself now, before delving any deeper into this shitpile.

And the crowds (when there are any) still behave oddly, performing tele-portations and other unstable activities. The people and the environment seem like they’re just there to fill the space. The world lacks richness in terms of liveliness, and immersion. The game-world (London) feels empty. This observation comes after having played better games this year, like the Witcher 3, Bloodborne, etc. It’s nothing new for Assassin’s Creed lately.

It’s not all bad though. The combat has been ‘Batman-ed’, if you know what I mean. Well, which game hasn’t, you might ask. Anyways, the combat is definitely an improvement, and fun. The movement really put me off at the start. It felt slow, imprecise, and even laggy. But then I realised, this is how Assassin’s Creed has always been, it was I who had played a precisely controlled game (Metal Gear Solid V) barely days ago. My fault really, definitely not yours, Ubi.

Still boring, but a bit more vibrant.

Anyways, once I got used to it, moving around felt a lot more easier, thanks to the grapple hook, which reduces the climbing and missteps. Once again, Batman, saves the day. But, to be honest, the grapple hook is fun, and makes zipping across London quite enjoyable. Speaking of combat, the stealth is also not that bad (it’s the best compliment I’ll give it). It works, when it does, and can be enjoyed.

The characters, Evie and Jacob Frye, the twins, are a big step-up from Arno. The way they talk and behave, makes their actions, including the combat and the fact that they are Assassins, feel believable. However, lack of anything about their past, and any significant story in the game, wears off any personality they might have had.

Behold the three dumb-fucks..

Which finally brings me to the story. The only reason, I still play this game. I was hopeful that Ubisoft would get back on track with the story, especially since they do away with most of the parallel, modern day story elements. Well, fuck me again. The story is dull, and almost irrelevant. The Assassins are chasing another piece of Eden, and some Templar bloke is after it too. So you’re set out to stab folks till you get your hands on it. Same shit, different arsehole.

I won’t even go into talking about the side characters, like Darwin and Dickens, cuz the game sure didn’t.

Cool beard, dull character. Sorry Dawrin (or was it Marx? Eh, who cares) ..

What else is there to talk about..? Oh, yes, London. Well, it’s like Paris, with some colors washed off. Nothing noteworthy. The regions around the river Thames shows some sign of activity. There’s one section in the game where you get to play in the World War I era, which looks visually impressive (compared to the rest of the debacle, still can’t hold a candle to the better releases this year), but then fills it with dull missions, and insignificant additions to the story. I am only surprised that Ubisoft didn’t try selling this as a DLC, so kudos there, I guess.

Verdict: I usually don’t feel so let down by a game. I even enjoyed Arkham Knight this year. But when you’ve been under-delivering for years, enough is enough. Ubisoft, you should be ashamed of bringing out such a prosaic game in a series that could be so much more.

I still look back fondly at Revelations and AC3, and the wonderful tales they told. With the amazing titles released this year, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate sits, shamelessly, near the bottom of the pile, and is definitely not worth your time. Unless you’re a series fan like me, there’s no cure for the likes of us.

This review is entirely my opinion of the game. If you disagree, I respect your poor taste in Video Games, and will take joy (albeit little and fleeting) in the fact the you enjoyed the game. For more news and reviews keep checking back at Gaming Central.