Two of my big gripes about Assassin’s Creed Unity, other than the glitchy buggy mess than meant I kept falling through the world, were the confusing currency systems and the chests that I couldn’t open without the companion app. Why put a chest on my mini map if I can’t open it? That just seems unfair! Well, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate seems to be fixing that this time, along with the currency situation.
When I saw the upgrade info earlier this week, I already told you that it looked like there were microtransactions in the game. These have now been confirmed by Francois Pelland speaking to IGN, and, as I suspected, they aren’t nearly as horrible sounding as people always assume:
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate will include paid options to save time and accelerate progress. The model for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is quite similar to Black Flag, allowing players who do not have time to fully explore our huge game world to still be able to eventually acquire the game’s most powerful gear as well as other items. Rest assured, all of AC Syndicate’s content is available without paying anything additional and the game has been balanced such that microtransactions are 100% optional.
See, I’m not worried by these sorts of microtransactions – if lazy people who don’t have time to play the game thoroughly want to fast track with real money to get all the upgrades, that’s up to them. As long as it doesn’t feel pushed on me, and I can still experience the whole thing without paying an extra cent, I’m happy.
Meanwhile, my chest gripe seems to be resolved in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, without any links to a companion app or Initiates or any other outside application. Of course, that doesn’t mean that all the chests will be easy to open, and I’m okay with that.
Lock picking is back, but as a skill and not as a mini-game. What this means is that you need to have invested in the lock picking skill to open some chests and doors in London. Chests are not locked by anything else than that.
At least those gripes should be resolved this time around. Now Ubisoft just needs to make sure I don’t fall through the world and I might be the happiest Assassin’s Creed reviewer in years.
Last Updated: October 1, 2015
Corrie
October 1, 2015 at 12:38
Ahhh yes the typical interference by publisher on it’s dev’s , no doubt this was forced in to the game.
It just means I’m not picking it up until bargain bin time, haven’t finished Unity yet so got plenty of time, damn haven’t even finished Far Cry 4 yet
SargonTheRebornBatpanda
October 1, 2015 at 12:47
A) Not even remotely surprised there are microtransactions
B) People who want to speed up their progress should be able to do so. There is no one way to “complete” or “beat” a game. As long as it doesn’t provide some sort of real advantage (in terms of gear being both OP and unavailable unless paid for with real money) I’m okay with it. Optional microtransactions are the right sort of microtransactions. 🙂
WitWolfy
October 1, 2015 at 13:45
Unity had it too… Wasn’t necessary to buy it though.. There’s probably money scattered all over the place…
PiXelCat
October 1, 2015 at 12:47
I never quite understood people who use microtransactions in games like this one. Why buy the game in the first place if you don’t find it enjoyable enough to obtain materials/gold/etc by actually playing it?
HairyEwok
October 1, 2015 at 12:51
They buy it to be part of “the group”
SargonTheRebornBatpanda
October 1, 2015 at 12:56
They buy it to play the story and find the extra side stuff repetitive and/or boring? Or they just don’t have the time to dedicate x amount of extra hours into the titles in order to upgrade their Jackdaw (insert relative theme here) to the tippy top of the Carribean food chain. Etc. Etc.
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 13:05
Because majority of people are stupid sheep
Nikola
October 1, 2015 at 13:25
Spot on!
The Sten
October 1, 2015 at 13:32
Sometimes things happen in people’s lives that makes them unable to spend as much time playing the game as they expected when they purchased the game?
WitWolfy
October 1, 2015 at 13:48
I for one would pay for awesome swords, a pistol that has infinite ammo or a hoodie that give you a double health bar … Why not release DLC like that?? People would be more likely to actually buy that than this in game currency crap!!!
Kromas untamed
October 1, 2015 at 13:23
Bad news. HoMM just got released by Ubisoft and is a huge buggy mess. They are actively trying to win back the negativity Konami stole from them.
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 13:29
HoMMMMNOMNOMNOM
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 1, 2015 at 13:32
Eating bugs? :/
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 13:38
Don’t be silly, that would have been HoMCCCRRRRRRRNOMNOMCRRRRNOMNOMCRRRRRR
Kromas untamed
October 1, 2015 at 14:28
Back to food I see. 🙂
WitWolfy
October 1, 2015 at 13:52
Ubisoft be like…
*at the start screen*
Pay $4 to be able to press the “start button” at the start menu screen…
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Kromas untamed
October 1, 2015 at 14:28
Reminds me of that South Park episode with the Terrance and Philip freemium game.
“The mium is latin for not really” 😛
WitWolfy
October 1, 2015 at 13:43
The micro transactions a side… I’m still contemplating if I want this game, or not…
Grand Admiral Chief
October 1, 2015 at 14:26
*aside
😛
WitWolfy
October 1, 2015 at 15:41
At least you always try to help me … Feel like an idiot…
Grand Admiral Chief
October 2, 2015 at 08:08
xD
Ghost In The Rift
October 1, 2015 at 15:18
In a few years time….Gamer 1: ” I finished AC: Syndicate in 4 days, cause you know, i got cash, how about you?
Gamer 2: ”No i’m still busy, cause you know, wanna play the full game”
Gamer 1: “You poor poor gamer, you’re not a gamer anymore”