Let's be honest: Assassin's Creed Unity wasn't the most well-received entry in the franchise. Many thought that the game was a step backwards for the series, especially after Assassin's Creed IV. Unfortunately, it only got worse for Ubisoft, as the game's thematic changes were marred even further by a host of technical glitches and generally horrendous performance. Assassin's Creed games are usually some of the biggest releases of the year, but in 2014, Unity was one of the most broken games to hit store shelves.
Ubisoft knows this, and it's learning from the mistakes it made. Its clear that the developer isn't just turning its nose up at the previous game's bad reviews, but actively trying to address them. It's not about proving fans wrong, but taking what they said to heart and building a better game.
Whether or not this actually pays off in the long run has yet to be seen, but at the very least, Ubisoft is aware of and consciously trying to fix its mistakes.
The result? Assassin's Creed Syndicate, a game that builds on the foundations of Unity...and will hopefully put one of gaming's biggest franchises back on track.
The Story
The year is 1868, and the Industrial Revolution has changed the face of London. Kings and churches no longer rule the land - the power is now in the hands of the wealthy. A select few now control the fate of an entire nation, while an army of hungry and poor rot in the slums. As Jacob Frye, players are tasked with assembling an army of criminals and gangsters in order to take down the Templars of London, one body at a time.
It's a structure that Assassin's Creed is familiar with: there's a cast of colorful characters, both ally and villain, and the game's pseudo-historical take on the world returns yet again. It's the setting itself that proves most interesting: Assassin's Creed could almost be considered steampunk at this point, and few would actually challenge that. There's steam and metal and factories everywhere - a far cry from the dusty streets of French Revolution-era Paris.
All in all, there seems to be a renewed focus on making the games as detailed as possible. Yes, Unity's version of France featured an extremely detailed environment, but much of it felt hollow. While there may not be gigantic crowds in Syndicate, the people of the city react much more believably when a man in a black, hooded robe starts creeping through the streets. NPCs dive out of the way of a moving carriage, citizens back away nervously from a fight - it all feels real, which is something that Unity wasn't quite as successful with.
Going by the demo that Ubisoft has shown, Assassin's Creed Syndicate could be the game that puts the franchise back on the right track. Ubisoft's been quick to acknowledge Unity's failings, and from what fans have seen, Syndicate looks like a much more focused experience - hopefully, that sentiment holds true when the game hits store shelves later this year.
If you're looking to watch the gameplay demo, you can see the entire video below:
Assassin's Creed Syndicate is due out on Oct. 23.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page!
