A lot of very nice words have (surprisingly, given Unity’s qualities) been written about the latest Assassin’s Creed game, but there’s one thing a lot of them overlook: just how pretty this video game is.
Yes, technically speaking, the “graphics” are nice. When it’s not giving off a weird shimmering effect or an AI routine is breaking down, stuff like lighting and textures are some of the best you’ll find in an open world game.
But when I say how pretty the game is, I mean how so much of it has been framed. Much like another big open world title from 2015, The Witcher 3, Syndicate’s major dialogue sequences and cutscenes have gone to town with their cinematic aspirations.
To great effect! An interruption to the action used to be something to dread in Assassin’s Creed, but what used to be a babbling of talking heads has become over the last few games a real visual treat.
If you haven’t played the game and its Jack the Ripper expansion—or have, and want a pleasant little recap—below is an example of what I’m talking about. I find screenshots work best because they not only capture the beauty of a single frame, but also let you appreciate some stuff you might otherwise not be focusing on during play, like how damn intricate the costume design is.