Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review (PC).
Having been a long time Assassin's Creed fan, even I have to admit that Assassin's Creed 3 took the wind out of my sails. There was a part of me at peace with the fact that the franchise was past it's best and that was okay, after all some of my favorite games of the past generation were Assassin's Creed games. It's with that in mind that I took barely any notice of Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag since it's announcement. Whereas once I was on forums debating every little detail and trying to answer every mystery the games once hinted at, I found myself just not at all interested. But maybe that was in my favor.
Black Flag primarily takes place in the 1700's Caribbean. Whilst I don't wish to spoil many of the games intriguing twists and turns the main tale is told of Edward Kenway (yes, father of Haytham and grandfather to Connor). Whose dream of riches and adventure take him to the sunny shores of the Caribbean in search for the ultimate prize. Like past Assassin's Creed games it's the story which truly drives the adventure here and it's helped by Edward whose such a likable character. Edward is a very different figure to those we've seen before, less driven by beliefs and more driven by simple greed. However there are layers to Edward that are wonderfully touched on throughout his story and unlike Connor, he's a difficult man to dislike and feels like a more fleshed out and complex character to Connor hard outer shell which turned many off the Assassin's Creed 3 protagonist.
Much of what makes Black Flag such an enjoyable game comes down to a mix of better balanced mechanics and a world which is as detailed and intriguing as the story it tells. The Caribbean looks stunning, from the sunlit seas to the vast detailed cities that scatter the map. There's a general level of detail to the sound throughout Black Flag to, which helps sells this world from the crashing of the waves to the chatter of civilians, not to mention the superb sea chants sung by your ships crew. That's right, ship combat returns but on another level entirely as your ship is now your primary means of transport. Whilst this might sound tedious to some, ship traversal is one of Black Flag's most enjoyable features and you'll soon find yourself singing along with your crew as glide your ship the Jackdaw peacefully across the calm seas of the beautiful Caribbean. It might sound simple, but there's a real joy to be found in traversing this world by sea. Once you've visited one of the many locations scattered around the map, a quick travel system is offered for those who don't wish to travel by ship all too often. That said, ship combat plays a large part of Black Flag and to upgrade your ship you'll have to pirate vessels of all kinds to earn bounty enough for the most required upgrades. It's a system that can begin to feel repetitive as you board ship after ship, but the greater variation in what you can do throughout the world make this less of an issue.
One of the most striking differences between Black Flag and Assassin's Creed 3 is a simple one, it's just a hell of a lot more fun to play. I'm not sure if it's mechanics being re-balanced or better game design in general, but Black Flag feels like a welcome return to the likes of Brotherhood where you were eager for the next stealth section because it no longer drives you up the wall or leave you frustrated. Whereas AC3 suffered with gameplay sections that either felt unfair or frustrating, the gameplay in Black Flag feels fairer which results in a more much enjoyable experience. Only at a few points did I get frustrated with what the game was asking of me or find that the mechanics were obstructing my way. Most importantly of all is the fact that Black Flag makes you feel like a badass assassin again and in my opinion that's what makes an Assassin's Creed game great in the first place.
There's a great deal on offer in Assassin's Creed 4: Blag Flag, it's a pretty substantial game. From the lengthy single player campaign to multiplayer offerings, you'll find yourself satisfied for a good while, even if multiplayer will still only appeal to those interested in it's format. But what makes Black Flag stand out more than anything is the simple fact that it's the best Assassin's Creed game since Brotherhood graced us. There's a feeling that the franchise might be back on track after all and the intriguing story leaves many options open for the future games. Long time fans will appreciate the detail Ubisoft have gone into when it comes to the lore of the these games while new players will appreciate what is a great playing game in a rich and detailed world. There are a few niggling issues that still affect the franchise, but when you've been as pleasantly surprised as I have, these issues are easier to ignore and certainly don't rock the boat. So I'll stop with the boat jokes and tell you simply, that Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is a must play for all. Ahoy captain!
