‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ is bloody amazing

It’s one of gaming’s most recognizable brands, but “Assassin’s Creed”’s success is marred by well-intentioned blunders. Case in point: last year’s “Assassin’s Creed Unity.” With its backdrop of Paris during the bloody French Revolution, it had all the makings of a superlative experience. Sadly, it was an experience beleaguered by a slew of technical issues and an unsatisfying plot.

Thankfully, as we’ve come to expect from Ubisoft, another year brings with it a new chapter in the illustrious series. This time, we enter Industrial Revolution-era London in “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.” But are new characters and a different setting sufficient to help us recover from the letdown that is “Assassin’s Creed Unity?”



Taking London

The year is 1868. Its skyline choked with chimney stacks belching black smoke, and railway tracks meandering through the metropolis like the arteries of a gargantuan machine, London is an engine of industry. But progress comes at a cost. For every train station bustling with commuters, there’s a factory in which filthy children toil. Penniless vagrants wander slums littered with all manner of detritus. A vicious gang called the “Blighters” rules the streets, striking terror into all. And behind the proverbial curtain, the ruthless master of puppets pulls the strings attached to every corrupt politician, merchant, and lowlife, ensuring the city is kept bleeding for the Templar cause.

Into this tangle of conspiracy and Victorian drama steals the Frye twins, Jacob and Evie. As accomplished members of the Assassin Brotherhood, they’ve come to London to do what Assassins do best: dismantle the Templars’ hold on the city, and retrieve another piece of Eden before it falls into the wrong hands.

Unfortunately for the siblings, they can never seem to see eye to eye. Evie is serious and committed to her order; her priority is the acquisition of the pieces of Eden. Jacob wants more immediate solutions to their problems, which in this case entails starting a gang and wresting control of the city from the Templars one Blighter territory at a time.

Much of “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate”’s humor stems from the twins’ rivalry and banter. Jacob, ever the loveable rogue, never hesitates to trade barbs with Evie, who in turn endures his impertinence with the air of an overbearing big sister. Together, they are the most compelling “Assassin’s Creed” protagonists since Ezio Auditore da Firenze. And, as a first in the series, you get to control them both.



Joining the revolution

In terms of gameplay, the siblings start off feeling quite similar. This changes, however, as they level up.

Evie is the stealthier of the two, with a set of unlockable skills aimed at producing a master sneak. She is tougher to spot, especially since one of her most powerful abilities renders her completely invisible when immobile. She is the better choice for tasks requiring secrecy, such as kidnapping missions. Jacob, on the other hand, enjoys his fisticuffs, and is armed with combos and deadly techniques designed to take enemies down faster. He’s the ideal pick for gang wars.

Campaign missions lock you into assuming the role of a specific twin; to the disappointment of Evie fans, most of them will have you running around in Jacob’s shoes. It’s a good thing extracurricular endeavors free you to play as either. So you could be slinking around a factory as Evie, picking off targets one by one in child liberation missions, or you could be Jacob pursuing Victorian boogeyman Spring-Heeled Jack.

You’ll meet other figures not quite as mythical as Spring-Heeled Jack, but definitely more historical, such as eminent biologist Charles Darwin, revolutionary socialist Karl Marx, and the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. They’ll provide you with some of the most memorable missions in the entire franchise. Charles Dickens, for instance, will task you with investigating supernatural curiosities. You’ll escort Mary Anne Disraeli and her pet Corgi through some of the dingiest, most dangerous back alleys in town. And in return for your assistance, Alexander Graham Bell himself supplies you with useful gadgets.

Thus we come to the new mechanic that’ll change “Assassin’s Creed” forever: the rope launcher. This device, which Bell repairs for you early in the game, is the Victorian equivalent of Batman’s grappling hook. It launches you into the air, allowing you to scale tall walls and towers within seconds. It can also be deployed as a zipline, so your feet will never have to touch the ground when travelling between buildings. You’ll still be doing a lot of free-running, which, while generally great, remains prone to unwieldiness.

Speeding travel along the roads are the new horse-drawn carriages, which can be hijacked and used to your liking. Because you can ram your carriage into foes and even climb on top of their roofs to fight off attackers, “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’s” vehicular chases can be as exhilarating as those in “Grand Theft Auto V.”



Travelling around London is made even more convenient with the fast travel option. It’s a system you’ll rarely use, however; aside from the optional missions, this enormous open world is jam-packed with other activities. As you take over territories from the Blighters, you’ll find the streets increasingly populated by members of your gang, who’ll assist you in brawls, steal for you, sabotage enemy carriages, and more. Of course, you’ll need money if you’re going to expand your personal army of thugs. That means you’ll have to raid boats, rob trains, and bloody your fists in brutal fight clubs.

Combat is as stylish as it is savage, and feels much faster and more fluid than ever. You’ll be slaying targets with weapons such as the classy yet lethal cane sword, bone-crunching brass knuckles, and throwing daggers. With such a diversity of skills and items at your disposal, you’ll often find yourself with more than one way to approach each objective. Do you drive your enemies insane with hallucinogenic darts so that they turn on each other? Or do you leap into the fray, detonate a smoke bomb, and slaughter them in their moment of vulnerability? And as if you weren’t deadly enough, you can enhance your gear using crafting resources found in chests all over London.

Another reason that’ll keep your from using fast travel is the city itself. London is beautifully realized, with buildings ranging from the massive – such as gorgeous architectural icons like Big Ben and Saint Paul’s Cathedral – to the sorry, dilapidated tenements of ghettos. As magnificent as the views are, the city’s streets, corners, passages, and parks are also buzzing with life. Passersby will comment on your appearance and cower at the sight of a grisly murder.

“Assassin’s Creed Syndicate” sounds as marvelous as it looks. The score’s frisky fiddling turns dour when the situation calls for it, and the main characters are voiced by some exceptional artists.

Last but not least, “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate” has a secret mission that can only be appropriately described as bloody amazing. So do yourself a favor and find it.



Take it from here, lads

Though it hardly improves the occasionally wonky free-running controls that have plagued these games since their inception, “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate” is another high point in the series. Zipping above the rooftops with your rope launcher is thrilling, as are the varied missions and encounters with historical luminaries. Exploring a London that is brimming with color and energy is breathtaking. And perhaps most important of all, Jacob and Evie Frye are simply wonderful protagonists – ones you’ll immediately fall in love with, and miss terribly the moment it all comes to an end. — TJD, GMA News

Rating – 9/10
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One