Yo ho! And
set sail me trumps! Assassin’s creed has gone all nautical. Ubisoft’s latest
instalment of the bestselling series follows the swashbuckling adventures of
Captain Edward kenway as he sails the seas in search of plunder and booty. Black
Flag promises to deliver what all Assassin’s creed games do, a suspiciously
acrobatic protagonist hunting down Templars and their associates with a
combination of stealth and satisfying assassinations.
It goes
without saying that the assassinations are one of the game’s strongest points.
No one can deny feeling that adrenaline rush when they stalk their prey from
the rafters and pull of a preposterously high air assassination, before
slinking back into the shadows undetected. What Black flag also brings to the
table however, is its baggage. Players are still forced to succumb to the mind
numbingly tedious tailing objectives (not to mention those irritating eavesdrop
missions) which are not only dull but infuriating to repeat if detected.
That being
said, by playing as a pirate captain, Ubisoft has been able to take the naval
settings of Assassin’s Creed III (arguably the greatest aspect of the game) and
expand upon it. The naval battles remain relatively unchanged, with players
going toe to toe with enemy ships and naval forts from both the Spanish and
British Navy. In Black Flag however, Kenway’s Jackdaw has a few more toys to
play with, having a larger arsenal of firepower thanks to the chase cannons and
mortars, as well as the diving bell to explore underwater treasure troves.
Another nifty little addition is the rowboat, essentially acting as a mini game
allowing players to hunt creatures of the deep with harpoons. This is prime
example at how Ubisoft manages to create a great deal of satisfaction with a
single button event. It seems that launching harpoon’s at a humpback with only
the right trigger is just as enjoyable as a patented double hidden blade
assassination with a simple press of the X button.
Any
collector junkies out there, have no fear, Black Flag continues Assassin’s
Creed’s tradition of collectables, delivering a smorgasbord of goodies for you
to hunt down both within the animus and also as an Abstergo employee. Players
are able to acquire cryptic messages hidden in Abstergo headquarters as well as
hacked computer files referring to subject 17 Desmond Miles (now sample 17).
Putting to
one side the pros and cons of the previous games that have been carried over,
Black Flag’s most appealing quality is its engaging lead character. We must
remember that what made Assassin’s creed II one of the best in the series, is
that Ezio showed us all that an assassin can have their own personality, that
they don’t need to follow the creed like scripture, and that in comparison, his
predecessor Altair was a little boring to play as.
After
Connor’s woefully dull period as Assassin’s Creed’s lead, Kenway is exactly
what the series needs, a charming rouge who takes nothing too seriously other
than his own fortune. The reason Edward is so likeable is that he isn’t truly
an assassin. Yes he has the athleticism required to perform the tricks of the
trade but he is merely a pirate who defeats an assassin in combat and adorns
his foes cowl. In truth the only thing linking Kenway to the main story arc
with the assassin’s is his quest to obtain the Templar’s ultimate treasure, the
observatory, and even then it is not a noble cause, simply a means to acquire
riches.
Verdict:
Black Flag
offers players the same thrills that it always has with a simple but enjoyable
combat system, satisfying stealth gameplay and destructive naval battles. Just
grit your teeth and white knuckle it through the tedious tailing missions and
you’ll enjoy a satisfying action filled, swashbuckling adventure.
8/10
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