Freebie Feelers: Assasin's Creed Syndicate

Freebie Feelers is a series where we download the free monthly console-specific or newly released free-to-play games to test their worth. This series will contain some useful information as well as plenty of personal opinion. While these articles may not be reviews, we hope that you will be able to use them to help decide whether that free download is worth it.

What is it?

Originally released in 2015, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is the ninth installment to the main Assassin’s Creed series. It is also the most modern, taking place for the most part during the Victorian Era in England, and one section taking place during World War I. This time around you play as twins Evie and Jacob Frye - a pair of Assassins with complementary skills - on their way to London. During the second industrial revolution, many of their brotherhood were killed, making them some of the only Assassins left. They intend to overtake the Templars and reclaim the city for the Assassins, will help them reach this goal.

This game introduces two new features to the Assassin’s Creed repertoire: such as a grappling hook and carriage racing or driving. It also includes some RPG style elements, giving the character a skill table that can be leveled up depending on how you wish to build the character. Evie is intended to be stealthy, while Jacob has a more in-your-face style, though the attributes allow the player to almost personalize their character with the abilities they most want. One thing it doesn’t have unfortunately is different save file slots like Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, so if you want to play multiple games in different ways, you’ll have to finish your game first. This feature has reappeared in Assassin’s Creed Origins.

What did you think?

I’ve been into the Assassin’s Creed series since 2013’s Black Flag and have gone back to play the other main games as well as gone on to play future games in the series. Black Flag will always be my favorite, it was an absolute masterpiece that I own on a few different consoles at this point. Syndicate is probably my second favorite in the series largely due to Jacob and Evie. Their voice actors really made me fall in love with the characters, Paul Amos and Victoria Atkin. Much like Edward Kenway’s voice actor, Matt Ryan, they really worked to bring life to their Assassin’s, the Fryes.

It’s also wonderful to get to play a female character, though I will point out Evie isn’t the first female Assassin in the series as a whole. That right goes to Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation’s Aveline de Grandpré. Evie is the first playable female character in the main series. One could argue that Evie is more deadly than her brother, mainly due to her stealth skills that make her a true silent killer.

Is it worth downloading?

Absolutely. I know that a lot of traditionalists in the series had complaints about Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, but I liked it a lot. It was fun to visit this world and explore Victorian London as it is one of my favorite eras, just on the cusp of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In fact, you might even get to meet a young Sir Arthur in a DLC.

Speaking of DLC’s, there are four for the game including a romp with Jack the Ripper. There is a ton of stuff to do in Syndicate, and rarely any dull moments. This game can be played in a ton of ways, focusing entirely on the main story or going the completionist route. I’m still working on getting 100% on this game myself… this sounds like a really good time to revisit London.