Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

1. EzioA88

   Jun 24, 2014

   10

   I loved Assassin's Creed. I adored Assassin's Creed II. I had the same feeling for Brotherhood and Revelations: remarkable. And for a fewI loved Assassin's Creed. I adored Assassin's Creed II. I had the same feeling for Brotherhood and Revelations: remarkable. And for a few months, III was my favourite game of all time. It just felt like the perfect evolution of the series and was a remarkable game that certainly delivered upon its hype. But now we reach Black Flag- a numbered entry that has released a year after the last. But don't think for a second that it is a shameless cash grab. This is the best in the series by far and is my third favourite game in the series. It also helps that it is the first next-gen effort and is therefore massive in size and scope.
   
   The gameplay is key in this entry, mainly because it is nothing like the other games. On land familiarity soon sets in, with similar parkour mechanics and combat that isn't that different. Crafting is very reminiscent of Ubisoft's other open world smash, Far Cry 3, with the simple mechanics being a relief after III's complicated systems (well for some anyway). The economy is a little more barebones and there are no brotherhood mechanics. For the first two hours this seems like a slimmed back entry and not even better stealth can really help it. But just as you think you have been "Revelationsed", BOOM! It happens. The opening of the game comes back into play and you get set off onto the open seas with your own ship (The Jackdaw really is the second main character) and your cool uniform. This light years ahead of the third game's starting, seeing as how you don't have to go through 6 hours of tutorial. The ship is full of options, with customisation being key. You can unlock new statues and sails for it and also buy new weapons like mortars and various cannons. You can upgrade your carrying capacity and your durability- the theme of piracy is high, as money really is key to your successes. I don't know if it's just me or are we gamers getting money hungry, after th heists of GTA V and the appearance of money in MW3's multiplayer? Back on track now. The amount of control you have over your ship is amazing and the impacts on the gameplay are profound. I can definitely see AC continuing along this path in future spinoffs and entries.
   
   To go with your ship is a massive open world. There are over 50 main locations, with 3 main, large cities and hundreds of islands that are littered with treasures, collectibles and various other goodies. I don't know the exact stats, but is this bigger than GTA V's open world or are they about equal? Because it is friggin' large. The graphics are absolutely beautiful. As usual the characters and animation work is top of the line, but they are outshined by the open world. The colours are vibrant and uplifting and this is some of the most realistic water in gaming. There is hours upon hours of content here, with assassination contracts making a welcome return, along with plenty of naval missions and- wait for it- fortresses! They replace bases and are ridiculously good fun to take on. They have their own level just like ships and net you great bonuses. First you take out their defenses, then you dock and then you kill some captains, before brutally murdering the owner of the base (a gunshot to the head always works well). There are also Legendary ships, which are basically the best of the best. They are good fun to take on and embrace variation with each type.
   
   I haven't talked about the story yet, but that's because it is the weakest part. Well, not so much the story, just the missions. You see it is a well written, entertaining escapade, with great characters, a cool hero and some well conceived themes, along with accurate re-enactments of historical events. The missions are just so repetitive. The final acts are enjoyable, with good set pieces and fun assassination missions (Stealth is way better as I mentioned before), but there are just way too many tail and eavesdrop missions. They get repetitive and let the game down, but only slightly. I did like the present day sequences though, which are first person, highly immersive and rarely interrupt your gameplay, with most of the content being optional. The multiplayer is also strong, with ship battles not appearing but custom game modes being fun. I spent hours with the MP and actually loved it.
   
   AC IV isn't perfect, but it is the best in the series and for that I love it. With hours of great content, some spectacular gameplay and a good protagonist, this is one must buy game, no matter which gen of consoles you own!… Expand

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2. ThomJ

   Nov 4, 2013

   10

   I am absolutely stunned by the sheer joy I get out of this Assassin's Creed. The world and possibilities are so vast this time. It just allI am absolutely stunned by the sheer joy I get out of this Assassin's Creed. The world and possibilities are so vast this time. It just all fits very well. After hours of plundering, I can say I am positively surprised about the fact that this Assassin's Creed has "it" for me. For the first time since AC2, I feel they've put an element of perfection in the game. It was totally worth the money and time!… Expand

   • 2 of 4 users found this helpful
4. Big_Boss_Snake_

   Oct 29, 2013

   10

   playng it since thursday awesome game its a mix of assassin creed 2 with brotherhood with pirates and assassin themes wich is awesome edwardplayng it since thursday awesome game its a mix of assassin creed 2 with brotherhood with pirates and assassin themes wich is awesome edward is a badass … Expand

   • 43 of 66 users found this helpful
5. Arw2231

   Aug 20, 2022

   9

   o blackflag foi minha primeira experiência com ac, eu amei esse jogo, a história é legal, os gráficos me surpreenderam pois na época do PS3 sóo blackflag foi minha primeira experiência com ac, eu amei esse jogo, a história é legal, os gráficos me surpreenderam pois na época do PS3 só tinham jogos cinzas que não me agrada já o ac4 e colorido, tem ótimos gráficos, a gameplay e viciante, o mapa é gigante e vivo com vários baús e fragmentos que faz o jogador explorar cada pedacinho do mapa, a minha experiência com ac4 foi incrível, e fiquei com sentimento de culpa por ter pirateado esse jogo… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. MyTopREVIEWS_LV

   Jan 15, 2015

   8

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Finally some major new content for us to enjoy. But does it all stick togeather....yes!
   
   First of all, AC4 takes place in the Carribean islands, you are a pirate named Edward Kenway who is the father of AC3 main antagonist Haytham. This is the first AC game that is a prequel to another game.
   The story takes you through a real rollercoaster. Edwards character is fresh and his reasons for doing most of the things in the game are........money and more of it.
   The combat felt the same ad AC3, but the edition of 4 pistols and two swords made for some intense battles. The map is filled with many islands for you to explore at your will, because soon after 1 or 2 hours into the game you can sail across the ocean with your ship, The Jackdaw.
   
   The graphics look fenomenal on the PS3 and even better on PS4. The whole map looks huge. It takes some time for you to get from one place to another. The vibrant nature of the islands and the animation of the weather and the sea was awesome. Although I did run into some bugs but they were a lot smaller than AC3.
   
   Overall the game is great and i would recoment it to peaple not only interested in the AC franchise, but for pirating favorites as well. The soundtrack is great, the characters also. Some minor bugs. AC4 is one of the best entries in the franchise.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. lukevandam

   May 19, 2014

   8

   best game in the series since brotherhood few problems with it though number one edward kenway seems a bit stupid at times as to what is goingbest game in the series since brotherhood few problems with it though number one edward kenway seems a bit stupid at times as to what is going on and two some of the on land missions are boring other than that fantastic game can't wait for unity… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. asfj

   Jan 25, 2014

   0

   Unbelievable for the high reviews. Don't you find this game has very little content, but self copy again and again like bacteria so as toUnbelievable for the high reviews. Don't you find this game has very little content, but self copy again and again like bacteria so as to create an epic elusion?
   
   That's true there are many mini games sprinkled on map...randomly..., but every time you play it, it just repeats the same animation. More annoying is that you have to waste time very long to finish one.
   
   Naval battle is in fact very boring, what all you do is just playing circling game with rival ship to find a good angle to shoot, again and again. If you want to board, you have to waste another 10 mins, during which you just encounter same enemy, same animation, same music and same boarding missions, utterly boring and annoying. But in return, you only gain double loot. The loot is just a form of EXP for your ship, nothing special. So I prefer directly wrecking the rival ship, then gaining even half loot spending just 5 seconds.
   
   The environment is really visually-tiring, just same coastlines with randomly planted trees.
   The city is very flat, constructed with several pattern of normal buildings randomly composed, Nor historical landmarks or classical/elegant internal architecture at all!!!(Recall what was in AC II is so memorable). The designer boasts the environment is epic... Don't fool us, designing this random and repetitive will cost you very little efforts, you know, lazy. We want diverse and elegant content. I have to say, in AC II, climbing to the peak of buildings to overlook the city is my favorite. However in AC IV, I never do this again because of the so lack-of-characteristic scene.
   
   What about main story? I have forgotten most of it. What is left is just some repetitive trailing and killing missions. In addition, a strong anxiety/confusion is why the hell does he wear like an assassin?
   The confusion makes me very lack of motivation to continue the game because, in instinct, a strong feeling is that he has no soul of assassin which however is forced to be titled on him by dev so as to be coherent with the franchise.
   
   After a 4-hour playing, I felt this game is very shabby and hollow, full of random and repetitive mechanism, lack of soul of assassin, with little and tricky effort from dev who seems to have found a lazy way to create an addictive game.
   IMO, it is reasonable for a game to have a certain amount of random and repetitive mechanism to extend gaming time and save cost for dev, but in AC IV , this conduct is too obvious, excessive and aggressive. In other words, the dev are taking customers as fool. This is unacceptable.
   
   I tried this because of good impression from AC II. Ok, now, I know this franchise has faded. Good bye.… Expand

   • 2 of 4 users found this helpful

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