We’ve heard a fair old bit about the new Assassin’s Creed, as details leaked from the London setting to the Victorian era and the subtitle of Syndicate, but until today we were yet to see it in action. That changed with the live stream at 5PM, which you can view here:
Right away, they confirmed many of the leaks that we had seen, with the Victorian era London setting in the middle of the industrial revolution. Jacob Frye’s name is also confirmed, as a born and raised assassin as part of the lower class gangs that live within the city. While he is the lead character, his twin sister, Evie, acts as a foil to his brash and reckless nature, as the more level headed of the two siblings.
New series developer Quebec Studios are keen to put their own stamp onto the game though, and are doing this by dramatically increasing the pace of the game. There’s a shift from being able to have a sword on your belt to more concealed knives, with a Kukri in one hand, the traditional assassin’s gauntlet in the other – augmented with a zipline/grappling hook to allow you to reach the rooftops in a matter of seconds and other gadgets – brass knuckles and even a revolver.
Combat is set to take on a new more brawl-like atmosphere, as you’re able to send gangs into gang wars, pitting your gang of assassins, the Rooks, against those led by templars such as Bloody Nora. The brief snippets of combat on show looked like a halfway house between Assassin’s Creed and the Batman Arkham series, with greater fluidity, but not the acrobatic free for all that we see in those games.
Getting around the world is a lot faster, not just through increased mobility on the rooftops, his is sped up even further by being able to ride and drive the horse-drawn carriages in the city. Vehicular combat is another new possibility, as well.
Finally, the game was confirmed for a release on October 23rd for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
So, what do you think?
Tuffcub
Well that looks like Another Assassin’s Creed Game. Really needs a year or two off to get some new ideas.
gazzagb
I was quite impressed by it (although the last AC game I played properly was AC3), so I’m mostly looking forward to running around the streets of London. The combat looks to have changed quite a bit, a lot more focus is on hand-to-hand rather than swords which make sense considering the time period.
The only bad thing was the way they pronounced ‘borough’ arhhhh!
MrYd
It’s got ropes. And correct accents. And trains. And carry-a-jizz. At least, I think that’s what he said.
Lots of new ideas there. Maybe.
Eldur
Agreed TC. Why Ubisoft don’t have a team scrabbling away trying to unpick Arkham’s genius is beyond me.
double-o-dave
I think maybe they should change the sound effects they use for when you get spotted & so forth. Little adjustments like that may actually help to change the feeling of the game, as so far, despite what they said, it just looks like every other Assassins Creed but set in Victorian London.
One thing I did notice though, is the camera seemed a little more further back/zoomed out from the character.
Adam Guest
The environmental attacks are a nice new feature, and it looks like a time period I’d enjoy a nosey around in, but, despite the studio, it smacks of Just Another Creed. Interesting that they mention crafting a “single player” experience – which could mean we wont see a heavy focus on co-op as we did in Unity, despite there being two characters?
Cor blimey, if this game’s any cop, i’ll eat me ‘at, and make no mistake about it, mister!
MrYd
They’ve done multi-player and got it just right with AC4.
They did co-op with Unity, which was lots of fun. Even if some people didn’t seem to understand what was going on and demanded they could play as a woman, despite the fact that you were playing as a man.
A single-player only game could be a good thing.
Adam Guest
I’d much prefer a focused and solid single player game, personally. My “If this game’s any cop” quip just comes from the immediate thoughts of “Oh god, another creed game, looking so much like the last” upon seeing the gameplay here. Don’t get me wrong, I want to be surprised, the setting and such could have massive potential.
themiso
It looks like unity just different city. It seems to have same problems as Unity had although it is pre alfa footage – they will probably fix that. I am still not impressed, looks boring by now. Yeah some new ideas other than grappling hook would be nice.
The most fun I had with AC was climbing buildings but they even take that away with that hook.
Definitely not day one purchase for me.
MrYd
If it’s set in London and doesn’t have any silly naval battles, what are we going to be collecting this time instead of sea shanties? I’m predicting you’ll be based in a pub and have to collect music for a good old cockney sing-song around the piano.
Actually, that’d be rubbish. Let’s hope they don’t do that.
hunterstryfe
Animus fragments probably and maybe for the multi part key to a crypt containing armor could be linked to high ranking masons maybe?
Adam Guest
London? New “fast paced combat”? You’ll be collecting teeth, like a proper cockney geezer!
Starman
I was hoping for a continuation of AC Rogue’s story, quite enjoyed that.
hunterstryfe
Rogue was the end of the na saga, it ended with a prelude to unity
Starman
The way Rogue finished it was setting up the next part of Shay’s story, I think they’ll return to it at some point. Maybe even this year as a last gen AC hasn’t been announced.
camdaz
Unity was a bit disappointing with all it’s little issues but with a new studio I’m hoping AC will be back to it’s best.
Kennykazey
Looks alright, but very much a continuation and not especially ambitious and interesting compared to the first games. I for one miss the older settings.
The big question though, is if it’ll be finished or released in a rubbish state. Ubisoft doesn’t like delays, even if they’re needed.
MrYd
Looks like they’re up to their usual tricks with 5 different versions. Normal version, “gold edition” with a season pass, cheap special box version with soundtrack, artbook and map, and a £75 version with a 26cm statue. Or for just 40 quid more, you can get an extra 4cm of statue. And a hipflask.
And they all come with an extra hour of game, if you preorder. That practice needs to end. Take a chunk of the game, lock it away unless you preorder (and then presumably wait for the updates to fix the game?) or wait a few months and pay extra.
But despite dubious practices and it being just another AC game, I’m quite looking forward to it. They’ve all been at the very least good, enjoyable games. Some bits in some games are more fun than others, but none of them have been bad games.
It’ll probably get more complaining about being more of the same and score lower than certain other yearly games.
beeje13
They’re asking for pre orders already, on the back of pre-rendered footage and considering what happened with Unity?
I don’t mind pre order bonuses generally, as long as they are available at all retailers, and the content isn’t sizeable or important.
I think EA are more innovative and fair than Ubisoft, going by the last couple of years.
I do think that this will be relatively stable and bug free though, they don’t want to be embarrassed again and lose money.
Look forward to more footage…
MrYd
Yes, they want your pre-orders now.
And if you pre-order the Big Ben Collectors Case edition (for just £114.99, exclusively from the Uplay Shop), you can vote on an “exclusive numbered lithography” (or “picture on a bit of card”). If you pre-order by May 26th.
It’s all at http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/en-gb/purchase/assassins-creed-syndicate.aspx
Note the words “non contractual visuals”. I think that means “box and contents may disappoint”.
Clubber Lang
Imagine the limitless possibilities of the horse drawn carriages! I can… I can imagine some very real limits to their use and entertainment value.
I’ll quite happily give a pre release appeal – Meh.
MrYd
You’d think the possibilities were limited in some way, perhaps by the laws of physics.
But after that time I parked a carriage 50 feet up in the air in Red Dead Redemption, I wouldn’t be so sure. (There was an explosion and bits of horse everywhere, then the carriage just kind of floated in mid-air, in case anyone is wondering. Funniest bug I’ve come across, and I could never repeat it. I wish we’d had PS4-style, always recording video back then)