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Over the years, theAssassin’s Creedseries has become synonymous with breathtaking, immersive cities/landscapes, where historic architecture comes alive. Since the series’ inception, Ubisoft has committed to keeping a fine balance between a historically rich open world and its fluid yet diverse gameplay.
However, in the case ofAssassin’s Creed Syndicate, something went horribly wrong. Despite the effort put into researching the setting: Victorian London and the rich details of the world, the end result was far from perfect. This failure even led some to call it one of the most disappointing entries in the franchise.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicatelost its identity in pursuit of authenticity
In an interview withGame Developer,Assassin’s Creed Syndicate‘s world director, Jonathan Dumont, shared some insights into the research behind recreating Victorian London. He explained that crafting an authentic 19th-century London started with a serious commitment to research from the team.
This includedgoing through countless historicaldocuments, photographs, maps, and even movies and TV shows showcasing the era. Dumont shared that the team even consulted historical experts to make sure every detail was accurate. He said:
We wanted to get a good detailed read on our setting. Our team historian, Jean-Vincent Roy, was really helpful guiding us […] As far as world design goes, we consulted maps of London to help guide us through our early world layout.
On paper, this was the perfect strategy and showedthe studio’s commitment to the project. However, the end result doesn’t match the world described by Dumont. While the buildings felt authentic and of the correct period, there was no life in the world.
Syndicate‘s world turned out to be an empty hollow version of what fans expected from the franchise. The city felt flat, which made its vastness superficial, and the worst part was the streets, which were vast but empty.
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Take the slums, for example. Despite being connected toSyndicate’snarrative and setting, there was no real sense of desperation, the area almost felt sanitized. This suggests that the development team may have done extensive research, but they failed to convey the experience effectively.
Why did this happen? It all boils down to the developer’s endless pursuit of authenticity. This obsession to it led to making the experience become disconnected from the very essence that the team worked so hard to capture.
Developers missed the real ingredient: Gameplay and Storytelling
While the world ofSyndicateis packed with accurate detail, the gameplay itself seems to miss the mark. It’s a game that constantly struggles to keep up with its ambition thanks to its poor delivery.
The narrative, though compelling in concept, often feels overshadowed by an overwhelming focus on side content that distracts from the main plot. This made the game lose its cohesive connection with the world-building and storytelling.
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Sure, players could argue that there’s plenty of content to explore beyond the main story. And to its credit,some side missions were great fun, but the sheer amount of them made them feel like filler rather than integral parts of the experience.
Ubisoft missing the main point of the game’s attraction: its gameplay and narrative. Yes, the world is accurate but without the engaging gameplay and narrative to make it meaningful, it falls apart. And that’s what happened, the game failed to deliver.
In the end,Syndicatemay have wanted to get a good “detailed read” on its setting, but it’s a great shame that the game didn’t take the same level of care with its gameplay, pacing, and emotional resonance.
Shubham Chaurasia
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1368
At FandomWire, Shubham has spent over a year diving into the evolving world of live-service, action, and open-world games. Whether it’s the democratic galaxy of Helldivers 2 or finishing enemies in titles like Assassin’s Creed or Ghost of Tsushima, Shubham brings a sharp eye and genuine enthusiasm to everything he writes.When he’s not writing, you’ll probably catch him clutching rounds in Valorant or leaping off virtual cliffs into a pile of enemies for the perfect finisher. Outside of gaming, Shubham recharges by hitting the gym or heading out on long, spontaneous bike rides, always chasing the next open road. No matter the game or the gear, he’s always committed to bringing readers timely, accurate, and engaging updates from across the gaming industry.
