Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag Review
Summary: Black Flag is a remarkably new take on the series, and I would go as far to say it’s the finest entry we’ve seen to date.
4.5
Remarkable!
Title: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
Publisher: Ubisoft
Reviewer: Cameron Grimes
Genre: Action Adventure
Available on: PS3 (reviewed on), X360, PC, WiiU, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: MA15+
Ubisoft has delivered arguably the most defined version of Assassin’s Creed to date, with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Featuring the incredibly vast and beautiful setting of the Caribbean Islands that is yours to explore, a light hearted narrative and a fresh take on the mysteries of the Animus, this is the biggest game changer in the series since Assassin’s Creed II.
The story of Desmond Miles is all but over, and now the primary use of Animus technology is to create entertainment products for mass audiences to enjoy. You take on the role of a no name employee of Abstergo Entertainment who is in charge of recording the memories of Edward Kenway, a pirating ancestor of Desmond living in the 17th century.
All seems peaceful on the surface, as you learn of Edward Kenway’s dreams of fame, wealth and the love and respect of his wife Caroline, but outside of the simulation internal corruption of Abstergo Entertainment is being planned, and those responsible need your help.
While the real world plot of the Assassin’s Creed series has always been intriguing it fails to create the same immersive feelings that the Animus provides, and the gorgeous setting of the West Indies is perhaps the most atmospheric location fans we have found ourselves period. Every island is brimming with colour and life, making the journey on your ship to each one worth every minute, showcasing some of the most impressive graphics of this generation of gaming.
Sailing and gun fights have been greatly improved, and it feels much more at home with the new setting. Gun fights are exciting and engaging, and swinging across to an enemy ship to claim your booty is a near cinematic experience that is addictive as hell.
On your journey to become the most feared pirate in the lands you will form alliances with real life pirates including the most notorious of them all, Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch. The narrative is a clever mix of adventure and political corruption, and Kenway is smack bang in the middle of it all, making the quest to find the mysterious ‘Observatory’ all that more intriguing to be a part of.
Black Flag suffers from some repetitive missions; as with other games in the series, you will be following people around, listening to conversations and tailing enemies to various locations. While they are the key to getting the most out of the story, they do become tedious after a while and unfortunately interrupt the adventurous pacing of the game. Assassination missions are a blast as always and the improved parkour mechanics make running through the shanty island towns the best they’ve ever been.
Black Flag is a remarkably new take on the series, and I would go as far to say it’s the finest entry we’ve seen to date. Not only is it the best entry into the Assassin’s Creed legacy, it’s easily the most refined 17th century pirating experience you will ever find.
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