Assassin's Creed Syndicate should be a case study in underutilized potential. Many of the game’s strongest elements are not fully developed, as the game opts to play it safe. Syndicate notably introduced Evie Frye, the first female protagonist in a mainline Assassin’s Creed game. However, her inclusion feels underwhelming. Despite her role as the stealth-focused character, many missions, which reward stealth through sequence bonuses, are often played as Jacob, the brawler. This sidelining of Evie reflects Ubisoft's heinous stance that “women don’t sell.”
The dual-protagonist system also falls short of its potential. The final mission, where both characters are utilized, hints at what could have been a brilliant mechanic. It’s incredibly frustrating how cautiously the game implements its innovations. Syndicate's narrative attempts to subvert the usual Templar vs. Assassin dynamic by highlighting the unintended consequences of Jacob Frye's actions, but these themes are not adequately explored.
Syndicate introduces many novel mechanics but fully realizes none of them. The dual protagonists? Only one is playable per mission until the very end. The first female protagonist in a mainline game? Sidelined in the missions where she’d excel. The first brawler in the series? The combat remains the same old Assassin's Creed style. A grappling hook? While it sounds like a great addition to enhance movement, a core focus of the series, it is barely implemented and not carried over into subsequent games. Given the tight development schedules of yearly releases, it's baffling why Ubisoft doesn’t carry over and refine these innovations in future titles.
Overall, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a treasure trove of untapped potential. It’s a good game, but not because it innovates or excels in any particular aspect. Rather, it succeeds because of the established Assassin's Creed formula of beautiful design, decent stealth, and parkour.