7/10
Lately
I’ve been playing Assassins Creed Syndicate on Xbox One. While I could do a
review of it, talking about its strong points like much improved traversal, supplemented
by grappling hooks, its combat system and its technical issues such as the way
it often drops frames and how many things just… don’t make sense, however, I
have a different focus today. I want to talk about the Jack the Ripper DLC.
So
Starting out, I’m a little confused who the Main character is. Opening with a
cut scene of Jacob (one of the main game playable character) investigating a
murder committed by Jack the Ripper. Suddenly the ripper himself appears and,
well I’m playing as Him. The Ripper. The most infamous serial killer of all time
is in my control, and I’m on the hunt for Jacob. So from the start I’m
wondering “Is Jack the main character”? That though is quickly overshadowed by
the strange change in Gameplay. First off, I don’t only kill as Jack; I use
abilities that incite fear in the hearts of my enemies. Second is the strange
words that appear all over the screen. Jack is clearly mentally unstable, and
so the screen will randomly glitch out with words appearing all over it in what
can be best described as serial killer hand writing. The words are basically
vague suggestions at objectives. Things like “don’t let him escape” and “No
witnesses”. So… no witnesses. I start killing everyone in the area. Then on the
bottom of the screen comes the warning for not killing civilians Jack did not
compromise his plans by killing civilians”. Well… that sort of makes sense, ok.
Anyway,
so as not to give away too much plot, I finish the Level and after a series of cut
scenes I get dropped into the shoes of Evie (Jacob’s sister and the other main
game playable Character). Now I’m EXTREMELY confused who the main character is.
The plot has me absorbed though. I can now see the Map and it is much smaller
than the main game, encompassing only the northern most districts from the main
games Map. Evie, confusingly, has almost all the same Fear based abilities as
Jack used (That’s explained in the main story) and I am encouraged to use them liberally
as I play. Somehow Jack has taken control of the Rooks, Jacobs’s city
dominating gang, and you have to fight them regularly. Why the Rooks suddenly
want to follow an insane serial killer, I’m not sure, but again, ok. Side quests mostly have to do with saving
prostitutes which makes sense what with Jack having killed so many of them.
After
the first couple of Missions, Jack has managed to frame Evie for a massacre
which he actually committed. This makes the police suspicious of Evie from now
on. As a note, in the mission that takes place at a mansion outside of the main
map, pay attention to the roof of the mansion during the end card of the quest.
It clears up a murkier plot point.
So
the combat is solid, the new Fear abilities are actually really cool,
especially fear spikes. They basically make you knock a dude to the ground and
stab them in the chest with a large spike. When you pull the spike out it
spreads a sort of fear gas. Think Scarecrow from the Batman Comics. I really
like the Fear aspect except it has one fatal flaw. There are 2 levels of fear a
enemy can have, but the first level does practically nothing. They keep
attacking and it doesn’t seem to affect them in any way. The second level they
run away and are no longer considered hostile but the first level just feels
useless. In some cases it is actually a liability due to the time it takes to
throw things like fear bombs. So you know… that’s dumb. But otherwise it is the
same old combat system the rest of syndicate uses.
Next
mission I want to focus on is one where you again leave London to go to some
large Prison Ships. As these ships are run by Jacks Rooks, Evie must free
prisoners, eliminate the warden, and call the Police (The phone has now been
invented!). But what happens next is again, confusing and jarring. Once again
you are given the reins to the Ripper. He has gone to the Prison ships to
MURDER ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS INVESTIGATING, ALL SURVIVING ROOKS, AND COVER UP
ALL EVIDENCE OF HIS TORTURED PRISONERS. So now the game gives me the vibe that
I’m fighting against myself. Every turn I want to be on Evie’s side and take
down Jack, that’s why I got this DLC. What I end up with though is destroying
any footing Evie gains with the Rippers great blade in my hands.
So
I suppose to conclude, the Jack the Ripper DLC of Assassins Creed Syndicate has
a unique combat system and a solid story, but it lacks a sense of cohesion. I
feel conflicted as I play and completely want to continue as I feel like I’m
often helping the evil killer over the main hero. But I suppose in the end that
is a lot of what the Assassins games are about, the grey area.
