Anti-capitalist Assassin's Creed: Syndicate. 11 video games with a powerful message
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The action of Assassin's Creed: Syndicate takes place during the Industrial Revolution in London, which allowed game designers to add a few anti-capitalist accents. We may wonder whether this elements were implemented due to the game's setting or maybe the developers just wanted to point out the dark side of our common economic system. Whatever were the reasons – Syndicate is filled with motives that depict the major flaws of capitalism.
Let's start with perhaps the most striking and disturbing pictures of the game – hard-working children in factories. Forced to sweat and toil due to poverty and their social background, they contribute to increase the wealth of those who are already rich. We often take part in tasks consisting in liberating these children of their forced labor. Thus, we strike at capitalism directly where it seems most cruel.
Another important fact is that our main enemy is the grand master of the Templars, Crawford Starrick, who is also a rich industrialist, responsible for the political and economic corruption in London. During the game we also have to confront Philip Twopenny, who is the chairman of Bank of England. This motif has quite a symbolic overtone. On the other hand, we perform some missions for Karl Marx himself, who asks us to help all people in need, that is, the labor class of the society. Marx encourages our heroes to join his party, but they refuse – even the lucrative status of honorary membership.
Therefore, we have a fairly positive story point associated with socialism that highlights the disadvantages of opposite concept. However, it would be an exaggeration to say that Assassin's Creed: Syndicate is a game with an anti-capitalist message. The game also shows the good side of Staricck from time to time. Without a doubt, Syndicate accurately depicts the contrasts and disparities which this system creates and makes you wonder in which ways it could be enhanced to change it into something better.
