No-one said running Lahndahn Tahn was going to be easy. And with street thugs on every corner, armed bobbies ready to gun you down, and devious Templars running the city from behind the scenes, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is as intimidating as it is delightfully cockney.
Evie and Jacob Frye have their work cut out surviving the cut-throat perils and sheer size of Victorian-era London. But with these seven tips on your side, you'll transform them into - heh - seasoned Fryes in no time:
1. The Eagle Points are a good place to start
The Big Smoke really lives up to its name in Syndicate. You won't find many other in-game worlds with this kind of mind-boggling scale - it's 30% larger than Assassin's Creed Unity's Paris, for starters - and with six vast boroughs to explore, it's difficult to figure out where to start once the game lets you off the leash.
Heading for the Eagle Points first will help you get a feel for the lay of the land, and once you've ticked them all off, you can synchronise your viewpoints and fast travel between the boroughs. You should also upgrade your Eagle Vision on the skill tree at the earliest opportunity.
2. Don't neglect your gang upgrades
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It's easy to become fixated with Evie and Jacob's skill trees at the expense of your gang upgrades, but you should make a conscious effort to keep on top of these, too.
Investing experience points in The Rooks - the Frye twins' cronies - is your key to stronger allies and more transportation options. Try to unlock the Little Rooks as early as possible because these street urchins will pick a pocket or two around town to bring you money and other useful items.
3. Crafting shouldn't be overlooked, either
Some weapons and items in Syndicate can only be obtained through crafting, so make sure you aren't sitting on raw materials that could be put to good use. It's a good idea to visit the crafting menu whenever you have amassed a large sum of cash as this will help you keep Evie and Jacob's gear up to date.
Crafting materials aren't difficult to come by around Blighty, but make sure you leave no chest unopened and upgrade your lock-picking skills so you can access them all.
4. Get to know the twins' strengths and weaknesses
Syndicate players will quickly discover whether they prefer the nimble, stealthy skills of Evie or Jacob's up-close-and-personal approach to combat. But the key to success in 1868 London is getting to know both twins and familiarising yourself with their strengths and weaknesses.
Each sibling will be a better fit for certain missions than the other, and the key to using them effectively is spending skills points wisely. For the light-footed Evie, investing in the Chameleon ability is a good place to start as this helps her blend into her surroundings when stationary.
Jacob is the obvious choice when the mission at hand calls for some skull-cracking at close quarters. He's more sluggish than his sister, so the Defense III perk will serve you well by ensuring that you take less damage during brawls.
5. Stock up on assassin essentials before every mission
You can find assassin essentials like throwing knives and smoke bombs during missions by looting corpses and cracking open chests, but stocking up beforehand will take some of the edge off when you're trying to outwit the Templar forces.
There are shops dotted around the map, so the chances of one sitting close to where your mission takes place are high - why not make a quick pit stop on the way? Lethal weapons and stealth aids must have been in demand at retail level during the Victorian times.
6. Visiting the train will get you back on track
Jacob and Evie's hideout is a moving train that gives you a tour of the city, but there are good reasons to revisit its carriages beyond sightseeing. If you're finding that the Frye twins are ill-equipped for the next story mission, it's a good idea to dial things back and return to your roaming home.
From here, you can collect your loot, access your upgrades, and relay instructions to your Rooks on the ground. It's easy to forget the train is there at times, although we're not sure how that's possible given how damn cool it is.
7. You'll get by with a little help from your friends
When those friends include stars of the history books like Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, and Alexander Graham Bell, this is certainly true. These side quests provide a welcome break from the territorial takeovers and story missions, and should not be overlooked - they're the key to unlocking some of the best gear and seeing some of the most entertaining cutscenes.
Dickens's ghost stories are one of the highlights of the game, while Bell is an amusing nutter.
