Republished on Wednesday, July 13, 2022: Following July’s PS Plus Extra, Premium lineup announcement, I’m reviving this review from the archives. The original is below.
Ubisoft found success with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. There are more things to see and do than ever before in this exciting world of pirates. Sailing the open sea really gives you the feeling that anything is possible, as the distant horizon is filled to the brim with treasure, assassination targets, and dark secrets. This is not only an outstanding entry in the French publisher’s popular series, but also a lengthy swashback excursion.
However, under Sailor and Grogg, this is still a stealth title, aimed at infiltrating enemy fortresses. You can enjoy fast-paced action while keeping the simplicity of the previous work. The lack of precision in the control scheme the R2 is used for virtually everything can overemphasize eavesdropping and tracking missions, which is especially frustrating if you get stuck on an object you plan to sprint to. Combat when exposed is also frustrating. Yet these annoyances are just flaws in an otherwise great catch.
For example, new protagonist Edward Kenway is an amazing snapshot of the pirate age that Open World Adventure depicts. The character’s insatiable thirst for success and his high ambitions make this hero relatable and a surprisingly powerful representation of the golden age of piracy. The developer did not neglect to recreate the world he lives in. The architecture, dress styles and vessels glimpsed during outings on the water are reminiscent of that era and showcase some impressive production values.
Throughout the game, you’ll find yourself whizzing through the streets of Havana, Kingston, and several other tropical hotspots. Pickpocketing the population’s possessions is one of the title’s standout activities, trying to blend in with the crowd and distract attention from its own obnoxious behavior. This is also a common theme in his online multiplayer suite for this title, working to blend in with non-playable characters in order to keep the pursuers out of their scent. If you kill computer-controlled civilians as a hunter, you will be punished for the act.
It’s the title’s co-op mode, but it’s the true star of the show and arguably one of the best online experiences of any launch title on PlayStation 4. You will be given different goals. These tasks range from assassinating multiple targets at once in sync with allies, to defending treasure chests from shrouded thieves and eliminating poor souls infected with deadly diseases. Many are team-based and require a line of communication between you and your peers, so pairing up with the right people is essential.
A hearty set of upgrades means there’s plenty to loot, and a similar amount of wealth can be found when sailing the seven seas in single player. I can’t do without it. Luckily, it’s fun to helm as Edward Kenway. Your ship is well-steered and you can adjust the speed of movement, making the departure to your destination a pleasant journey. The most fun on board, however, is having the crew sing you a lovely sea shanti. These are his one of many collectible items in the game as you can also get things like Animus shards and treasure chests. As you move through the waters, you’ll come across other boats that you can attack. You can choose to loot these for resources or force them to surrender and add them to your fleet in an addictive strategy microgame.
Sadly, the Excursion gets somewhat bogged down when it switches to a bland modern sequence with little progress. parody the The player takes his Abstergo Entertainment position and interacts with numerous bland software developer stereotypes. There are cute ideas here, and some great views, but ultimately, walking around the hallways of a swanky office collecting QR code-branded sticky notes will make you want Kenway’s virtual shoes.
By the way, it’s the visuals that make the PS4 version of this title worth a look. Framerates are buttery-smooth, and we have high hopes for the future of open-world gaming. Plus, textures and overall image quality (rich 1080p with the title’s latest patch installed) make this a big step up from the current generation. It’s also a really beautiful game, as the whale majestically leaps out of the water and highly detailed splashes threaten to destroy your ship. Given the size of the world full of animals to hunt, you can really appreciate the scale of the effort.
Conclusion
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag doesn’t always sail a straight course, but this is an excellent entry into its occasionally choppy properties. It didn’t reach legendary status, but the slick naval battles, gorgeous scenery, and surprisingly engaging online suite make this package worth looting. If the series continues in the direction of this entry, there’s still no reason for Ubisoft to drop anchor for another historical adventure.
