Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™

[h3]Going Back to a Classic[/h3] After finishing the remake, I felt like I had to go back and review this “old” classic. Back in 2013, Black Flag was easily one of the biggest games of the year for me, with GTA V probably being the only exception. The amount of freedom it gave you felt incredible at the time, and the Caribbean is still one of the best settings this series has ever had. It may not be the most traditional Assassin’s Creed game, but that’s also exactly what made it feel so fresh. [h3]Assassin’s Creed or Pirate Game?[/h3] Black Flag was a pretty major departure from what the series had been up to that point. You either loved it because it was an amazing pirate game, or disliked it because it didn’t really feel like the old Assassin’s Creed anymore. A lot of its foundation was obviously carried over from Assassin’s Creed III, but Black Flag took ideas like naval combat and expanded them into something genuinely special. Sailing around the Caribbean, attacking ships, boarding them, upgrading the Jackdaw, and simply exploring the world gave the game an identity of its own. Even today, I’d still consider the original Black Flag one of the best pirate games ever made, only surpassed in my opinion by its remake. [h3]Edward and the Story[/h3] Edward Kenway is a great protagonist. Sure, he’s kind of a greedy idiot for a good portion of the game, but that’s also part of what makes him interesting. He’s flawed, charismatic, and despite all the questionable decisions he makes, it’s surprisingly easy to sympathize with him. The main story is also pretty good and has some genuinely memorable moments, although personally I still think Ezio’s and Connor’s stories were stronger. Still, Edward’s journey works really well, especially because you actually get to see him change throughout the game rather than starting out as the typical Assassin hero. [h3]The Caribbean and Open World[/h3] The open world was incredible for 2013. Exploring tropical islands, diving underwater, hunting animals, finding treasure, attacking forts, and sailing across the Caribbean gave you a ridiculous amount of stuff to do. Even the collectibles can be pretty enjoyable at first. The problem comes when you decide to go for 100% completion. That’s when the Ubisoft checklist starts showing its teeth. After a while, clearing every icon and collecting every little thing becomes pretty exhausting, and some activities definitely start feeling more like chores than actual exploration. [h3]Final Thoughts[/h3] For a game released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was incredible. It gave the series a massive breath of fresh air, introduced one of its most memorable protagonists, and turned what was basically a side mechanic in Assassin’s Creed III into one of the best pirate experiences in gaming. At the same time, I think its age is much easier to notice today. Personally, after playing the remake, I’d probably only return to the original for nostalgia. The remake simply improves the experience in pretty much every way and, for me, has become the definitive way to play Black Flag. But that doesn’t take anything away from what the original achieved. Without this game, there would be nothing worth remaking in the first place. [b]Gameplay[/b] - [i]9/10[/i] [b]Story[/b] - [i]9/10[/i] [b]Graphics[/b] - [i]9/10[/i] [b]Pacing[/b] - [i]9/10[/i] [b]Optimalization[/b] - [i]8/10[/i] [b]Soundtrack[/b] - [i]10/10[/i] [b]Audio[/b] - [i]8/10[/i] [b][h1]Final Score - [i]8,5/10[/i][/h1][/b]