How do you lock onto a target? I feel like I'm stuck in free run all the time?

[Mirick]

Long story short every time I move while fighting my character literally turns to run as if in free run mode. How do I lock onto a target so I continue to face them while moving around?

[Compsognathus]

I am afraid this option does not exist in the game. Since the Combat system in Syndicate was made very similar to the one in Unity it is not possible to lock onto a specific target while in combat and any movement you perform will be treated as open-world navigation.
However you will notice enemies you enter combat with, to be outlined in white. Enemies marked in such manner will be focused by any of your attacks. Note that by briefly tapping one of the movement keys towards the direction another enemy is positioned at, around your focused enemy, you can switch the focus between diffent NPCs, which will cause your character to automatically face them. Furthermore by engaging in maneuvers such as the Counter your character will automatically reposition themselves. Making smart use of these mechanics, quick and fluent combat can be achieved.
Of course it remains debatable, if this kind of free combat is more convenient than the variants found in the earlier games of the franchise, though afterall the answer to this question comes down to personal preferance.

[Mirick]

IC, thank you for the reply. Unity is the only AC game I havent played so I wasn't aware of the change.