The new "Assassin's Creed" game is out and so are the reviews. Called "Assassin's Creed Syndicate," it is the ninth outing of the hit AC series. "Syndicate" is set in London during the Industrial Revolution era, it follows the story of twins Jacob and Evie Frye, who are caught in between organized crime groups controlled by the Templars.
Developers have teased fans with jaw-dropping screenshots prior to the game's release. And it did not disappoint. "Syndicate's" graphics are indeed amazing. Artwork aside, though, did the game fulfill its expectations?
Philip Kollar of Polygon gives the game a thumb's up sign with an 8.5 over 10 rating. He compared it to 2014's "Assassin's Creed Unity," which he described as one of the lowest points of the franchise. "Syndicate," he said, is a major improvement.
"The open-world bloat that Assassin's Creed has been known for is trimmed considerably here, leading to a more streamlined experience. Meanwhile, the core world design has improved as well, shifting away from the focus on realism in its virtual London and focusing instead on playability," he said.
Similarly, GameSpot's Alexa Ray Corriea praised its beautiful, "intimate" story-telling and the rich character profiles of Jacob and Evie.
"Ziplining through London is thrilling, and the game allows you to organically discover missions and leaves you open-ended solutions lets you to create a meaningful, personal experience within its world. Coupled with strong, loveable leads and a seemingly endless procession of ways to leave your (fictional) mark on London's history, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a shining example of gameplay and storytelling," she concluded.
While there are praises, there are also gamers who weren't impressed. Kirk McKeand of Telegraph UK, for one, called the game "an unfortunate misstep" and gave it two out of five stars. While he praised the game's "meticulously crafted" graphics, he rated the story as predictable.
"The story is that simple, and it never really pays off. Much of the exposition comes from your main assassination targets who give a moralising monologue before they die. We have heard it all before," McKeand said.
He further dissed the gameplay and controls. "Even the main missions, or 'sequences', are mostly forgettable. You know the drill: tail the man, stab the man, find the man, climb the thing, stab the other man," he stated. "The game is constantly guessing what you mean when you press a button and you often feel like you are fighting the controls."
Interestingly, "Assassin's Creed Syndicate" marks the first time for the series to allow players to switch from one protagonist to another. It is also the first time a playable female protagonist is featured. However, unlike its predeessors, multiplayer option is not allowed.
The verdict? If you are into historical drama and appreciate outstanding graphics, the game may be worth your $60. Check out the game's trailer below and you be the judge.
"Assassin's Creed" is now out for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The PC version will be released on Nov. 19.
