For all the Templars' repeated insistence that they're really the good guys of Assassin's Creed, they sure do a lot of diabolical stuff. In the cinematic trailer for Assassin's Creed Syndicate, for example, one of them buys an orphanage's worth of child laborers and sets them to work around open vats of molten metal. He probably has some really fantastic justification for it all, but it's not going to be enough to convince Jacob Frye and his vicious gang of hoodlums, who'll stop at nothing to shut down the Templars' exploitative operation.
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Displaying much more than typical Templar nastiness, the trailer – which debuted today at Ubisoft's E3 press conference – is a showcase for a lot of what's new in Assassin's Creed Syndicate. Being the first Assassin's Creed set after the Industrial Revolution, Syndicate features an enormous city filled with new ways to get around. Trains can get you around the city quickly, and fighting on top of them offers a chance to bust a few jaws in dramatic high-speed brawls. Horse-drawn carriages are essential for navigating London's broader streets, and also allow for dynamic chases and carriage-to-carriage combat. And Jacob's rope launcher – conveniently strapped to his wrist alongside his Hidden Blade – lets him climb buildings and move between distant rooftops faster than any Assassin before him.
Then there are the Rooks, Jacob's gang of thugs and ne'er-do-wells, who'll come out in force to support him against Templar-controlled rival gangs. The trailer gives us a few good glimpses of them, as well as an idea of how Jacob and his sister Evie will recruit more: by beating and humiliating the leaders of rival gangs in fast, nasty brawls, after which Assassin influence will expand across their former territory. You'll be able to try it for yourself when Assassin's Creed Syndicate launches for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 23; in the meantime, keep your eyes here for more coverage from E3.
For more on Assassin's Creed Syndicate and other E3 2015 features and news, check out our E3 hub.
