The trailer allows the occasional brief peek at one of the game’s two main characters, but the real focus is on the world. London in the late 1800s was a grimy place, and that is represented here, but that doesn’t make the game look any less impressive. For every plume of greasy smoke there is a purple and orange sunset, for every look at the dirty Thames, we get a glimpse of a green grassy courtyard dotted with trees. England’s green and pleasant land (to quote William Blake) is well represented.
After the multiple issues surrounding the launch of the last game in the series, Assassin’s Creed Unity, Ubisoft has been candid about wanting to make things right with Syndicate. Last month we reported that Ubisoft showed a demo to crowds at San Diego Comic-Con, asking them to be brutally honest when giving feedback.
The dual protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate — a first for the series — offer different styles of gameplay, with Evie playing a bit more like a character in a stealth game than her brother Jacob. A number of new mechanics have been added for this latest entry in the series, and while some have criticized them as being mere gimmicks, they might bring some much-needed variety to the series.
With the release date bearing down, the core gameplay and systems have likely been nailed down and the team will be focusing on ironing out bugs and refining the game mechanics. Hopefully, Ubisoft learned a lesson from the backlash against Assassin’s Creed Unity and will dedicate plenty of time and resources to ensuring the game launches in a polished state.
Barring any unforeseen delays, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will be released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 23. The PC version will arrive sometime later, though no concrete release date has been specified so far.
