"Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" is a multi-platform computer game in the adventure action genre, developed by Ubisoft Quebec for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The release of the console versions took place on October 23, 2015. The release of the PC version, as is always the case with games in the Assassin's Creed series, was delayed. "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" is the ninth game in the series.
The dark romance of steampunk, Victorian England, and the social contrasts of the early capitalist era is a theme that is increasingly exploited by video game creators every year. Ubisoft seems to have decided to follow the trend, and thus chose the British capital in 1868 as the setting for the new assassin story. The rapid growth of industry and international trade made England not only the largest global economic and political center but also facilitated the activation of criminal elements of all kinds. Street gangs and organized crime groups literally flooded London. Controlled by the Templars, they rob and exploit ordinary workers for their own gain and in the interests of their masters. To survive and win in the prevailing conditions, the assassins must play by the enemies' rules, create their own network of street gangs, their own syndicate, and gradually, district by district, bring the city under their control.
For the first time in the history of the series, we will play as two heroes – the Fry twins, Jacob and Evie. They were purposefully prepared from childhood to join the Brotherhood and trained in the rules of the Creed. Although the heroes are twins and received the same upbringing, their methods of solving tasks differ. Jacob is impulsive and impatient; he loves to take risks and relies on forceful means to achieve his goals. Evie, on the other hand, prefers tactics and flexible use of available resources; she is stealthy and tries to avoid open confrontations. However, despite all their differences and the arguments that sometimes arise from them, the young Frys complement each other perfectly. Together, they make a great cohesive team.
The time and place of "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" dictate the gameplay features of the game and the arsenal of its heroes. In the mid-19th century, openly carrying swords, rapiers, etc., was no longer practiced. They were replaced by short blades, sometimes hidden in seemingly innocent objects, such as a gentlemen's cane. The cane blade is Mr. Fry's weapon of choice but not the only one. An exotic kukri knife, a brass knuckle, a compact revolver, and, of course, a hidden blade make up the set of deadly devices that help Jacob withstand the unequal struggle against London’s criminal elements. He also has a sheng biao, which now serves not only as a weapon for murder but also as a means for quick ascents to the rooftops of tall buildings and creating a hanging passage between buildings.
And still, the main gameplay feature of "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate" is the ability to move around the city not on foot, as before, but in carriages and carts. You can hide from pursuers in them, or even drive them yourself. Chases and fights on rooftops and in cab saloons will make you sweat. The cherry on top will be missions involving speeding trains and steam boats navigating the waters of the Thames. Scientific and technological progress does not stand still. Along with it, the means and methods of fighting eternal enemies – the assassins and the Templars – change. Only the Creed remains unaffected by the influence of time: even in the age of the Industrial Revolution, nothing is true and everything is permitted.