Developed by Ubisoft Quebec in collaboration with eight other Ubisoft studios, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is the latest instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, with a release date set for the 23rd October of this year.
The game relocates the action of the previous game in the series (Assassin’s Creed: Unity) and moves it from revolutionary era France, to London during the height of the Industrial Revolution.
Taking full advantage of the new opportunities offered up by this period change, the game introduces innovative new transportation possibilities for navigating its open world, including a rope launcher for scaling tall Victorian buildings, a new zip-lining ability, horse-drawn carriages and steam boats.
Other new facets to the gameplay include the ability to use the environment against your foes. One such instance in the gameplay walkthrough shows the player cut loose an elevated stock of barrels, in order to take out an enemy.
Along with new gameplay features the game also utilises this fresh setting for narrative purposes. Drawing on the era’s notorious wealth divide, the story will focus on the lower classes as they fight for survival and form “a new kind of family.” Amidst this class war, players will take control of a pair of twins named Jacob Frye and Evie Frye, both of whom are Assassins and members of one of these families/gangs. The pair are reputed to have different personality types, with Jacob being a “determined” and “hot-headed” leader, whilst Evie is contrastingly described as a “a relentless Assassin who has perfected the silent, swift, invisible strike.” Together, Jacob and Evie will team up to liberate the masses from poverty, with the ultimate aim of wrestling back control of London.
As with any other sequel, there is a distinct emphasis on increasing the scale in every important area. As a result of this, players will have the chance to explore the largest open-world city ever created for an Assassin’s Creed game. Meanwhile, the combat system has been completely reworked and is now “more brutal than ever,” as players can combat rival gangs using new weapons, ranging from brass knuckles, a kukri knife, a revolver and the series’ signature Assassin’s gauntlet.
Generally there seems to be a conscious effort on distinguishing this latest entry from its forbears. On this note, Marc-Alexis Côté, director of Ubisoft, has stated that “the ability to lead an underground gang, commandeer any vehicle on hand and use modern tools to take on an expansive and fast-paced Victorian London sets this game apart.“ With only a brief wait until Fall, players will soon have the chance to experience this fresh take on the Assassins’ Creed universe for themselves.
Watch the trailer below.
