Yes, folks, the hype is real: everything wrong with the franchise has been dealt with on some level to make this iteration of the AC story one of the best (subject to your genre interests- I really liked ACIII). Of course, any game can become monotonous and tedious because games are meant to be based around one mechanic. The "great" games are those who mask it so well you don't think about the mechanic (e.g.: climb a building, jump down, kill a person, ad nauseum). AC Syndicate has a great story arc and awesome graphics (haven't noticed any glitches yet), fluid character transition between the brute Jacob and his stealthy sister Evie Frye, and last but not least, missions that are fun and engaging the whole time. I gave it 4 stars simply because the one thing they haven't changed is the one-shot feeling of quests. Normally not a bad thing, but it prevents me from being connected for very long. Basically, when you complete a mission, there is nothing to pull you along except pining for micro-transactions which can be purchased with in-game currency (the grind that pulls you along) or real money. When I complete a mission, sometimes boredom sets in faster than I'd like so I pick a new game to play. That should occur, hence 4 stars. But, it's still a very fun game to visit often so I awarded it 4.5 stars (not a real option). If you're a fan of the series or if you're burned out on previous iterations, this one is definitely worth picking up and getting hooked back in with.