Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper

Ubisoft handles the hunt for Jack the Ripper with surprising care, but familiar gameplay.

Jack the Ripper can't aspire to reach the heights that Syndicate did. But, it also doesn't suffer the same setbacks. In a game where open-world strain can become a serious problem, this add-on is a mostly-focused reprieve. Sure, there are some fumbling moments, but there are also some elegantly-handled ones. Given the difficult source material and the obvious danger of stumbling, Jack the Ripper mostly doesn't, and that feels like a best-case outcome.

After the dreadful Dead Kings, Ubisoft has proven that it can make decent DLC with Assassin's Creed Syndicate's Jack the Ripper add-on pack. The new fear system is a novel addition here, while the whole campaign has a compelling, creepy vibe. The story missions are strong, and we appreciate the developer's decision to lead with an aging Evie Frye. If the expansion's titular serial killer famously came from hell, then this content is very much heaven sent.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate is one of the most successful entries in a franchise that has seen many highs and lows.

'Jack the Ripper' is a miniature 'Assassin's Creed' experience. Rather than enlarge the existing 'Syndicate', everything about it is smaller - the story, the open world, the Assassin skills. It isn't exactly innovative, but nor is it cheap or boring. Hopefully it is a stepping stone to even better expansions to come.

Striking fear into Evie's enemies may be a bit overpowered, and Jack may not be the formidable bad guy we hoped he would be, but this DLC is still a fun adventure that serves as a nice excuse to return to Assassin's Creed's take on Victorian-Era London.

Jack The Ripper's inclusion into the game isn't jarring, nor is his arc disinteresting, although its story lacks the kind of detail that would've made for a narrative home run. On the other hand, the gameplay is solid and it's surprisingly deep overall, making it a worthy purchase for fans of the series.