Assassin's Creed Syndicate's Animated Short Is Gorgeous

Just in time for Comic-Con, Ubisoft has released a new animated short for Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The stunning video introduces players to the story of Syndicate.

The video starts out with a historical overview. By the 19th century, many residents of England had left the the "simpler" life of farming behind to join the Industrial Revolution sweeping the country. The work waiting for them was less than pleasant, though. They toiled in coal mines and factories and many didn't even live past 20. At the same time, the elite were growing rich off of these exploited workers.

Jacob and Evie Frye decide to strike back on behalf of the poor. They and their street gang, the Rooks, will claim territory throughout London by eliminating criminal rivals. The Fryes will then use their new clout to fight bigger targets, like crooked cops and bureaucrats.

The short culminates in the Rooks attacking a railroad tycoon on one of his trains. Jacob, Evie and their allies subdue the guards and then sabotage the engine. They then escape before the train careens off a bridge and into a ravine.

Does it oversimplify the Industrial Revolution and whitewash this crime family? Sure, but we're talking about a game that centers around stabbing people. Don't expect too much political nuance here, especially in a four-minute summary of its plot. I do hope the game does address the fact that the Rooks aren't completely altruistic. Judging by their fancy clothes, I doubt all the money that they're taking from the rich is going right back to the poor.

The Assassin's Creed Syndicate short was illustrated by comic book artist Pop Mhan and directed by F. Gary Gray. Gray's name might sound familiar to you film fans. He previously directed Friday, Law Abiding Citizen and Straight Outta Compton. This three-minute behind-the-scenes video gives some insight into how the short came together:

Assassin's Creed Syndicate lets players control both Jacob and Evie in their quest to take back London. They'll be able to use a range of new assassin weapons including brass knuckles, a kukri knife and a sword cane. They can travel through London using trains and carriages and visit landmarks like Buckingham Palace. Ubisoft is so confident in the campaign that they're not including multiplayer.