Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Reviews

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10
Jul 12, 2022

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag doesn't always sail a straight course, but this is still an excellent entry in an occasionally choppy property. Clumsy traversal mechanics and some dire mission types prevent the release from reaching legendary status, but the slick naval combat, luxurious landscapes, and surprisingly compelling online suite make this a package worth plundering. If the series continues in this entry's direction, then there'll be no reason for Ubisoft to drop the anchor on its alternate history escapades just yet.

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90 / 100
Apr 20, 2014

This next-generation launch has been described as a little anemic, but I'd have to disagree. There are some incredible games hitting the market this holiday season, and this is one of them. The PlayStation 4 version of the game is mechanically the same as the PlayStation 3 version, but the new engine is eye-poppingly awesome. The new visual tech has gameplay implications, which is rare and highly appreciated. In the end you really can't go wrong with either version, but the PlayStation 4 version has entirely too many bells and whistles to not recommend. The fact that I've had a bout of OCD and needed to find each and every thing in the game speaks volumes.

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9.3 / 10.0
Jan 27, 2014

AC3 had a rather mixed reception among the gaming community, but for some it was a step in the right direction for the franchise. Can this latest instalment right the wrongs of previous and can it evolve on what was good?

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9 / 10
Jan 16, 2014

For people who just want to be a pirate, there really is nothing else for you out there, so indulge in the only real great pirate game on the market. That is until Ubisoft makes a full-on pirate spinoff from this mainline entry in Assassin's Creed – well I can hope.

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8.8 / 10.0
Jan 2, 2014

Man the cannons and brace for impact, because Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is here to blow up any preconceived notions you had about the annual franchise. With a great cast of characters and a huge world to explore, this next-generation sequel is the best installment since Assassin's Creed II.

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5 / 5.0
Dec 23, 2013

I myself am not one profoundly familiar with Assassin's Creed, and this is the first title I've truly sat down with and completed. That said, I find Black Flag to be an excellent entry point for new fans of the series.

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8 / 10
Dec 12, 2013

The Assassin's Creed series is teetering on the brink of saturation. Credit to Black Flag for escaping that fate thanks to its interesting and innovative mechanics. Naval exploration brings in several additional hours of gameplay, which along with its competent plot contribute to make Black Flag the best Assassin's Creed game since the second chapter of the series.

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8 / 10
Dec 10, 2013

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Assassin's Creed IV may not feature additional content not found on other platforms, but the visual improvement alone makes the game a must-have. Both Sony platforms (PS3 & PS4) feature the only platform exclusive content, involving the heroine of the Vita game; Aveline. Although Black Flag is a beautiful game with an incredible wave and weather system, the PS4 version in particular is awe inspiring. Shortly after the game released on the PlayStation 4, Ubisoft was true to their word, updating the game to include native support for 1080p. The visuals are simply matched with clouds of smoke impairing your vision during heated ship battles as cannons fire, shallow waters are crystal clear and thunderstorms at sea are amazingly treacherous.

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Dec 9, 2013

It feels odd and slightly insulting to be given the option to rate missions, as it implies that the designers still don't know what works or, worse, that they want to better pander to gamers.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 8, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag is a damn good game that has little flaws attached to it, which is impressive for a launch title. Not all the visuals were completely next-gen, but Montreal really was thinking about how a next generation game should be and act when they were creating Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. You can see it in so many elements of the game, but not all of the elements are quite there yet. If they can expand from this mold then the next Assassin's Creed should be a helluva title. 'If' being the word in that sentence.

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ThisGenGaming
ThisGenGaming
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Dec 6, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV breaks the streak of disappointing Assassin's Creed games for me personally.

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Dec 4, 2013

If pirating and plundering with some stealth on the side sounds mouthwatering to you, chances are you want to get into this, no matter what you thought of Assassin's Creed III. We're more than glad to see the franchise continuing in the right direction. Consider us surprised that pirates didn't turn out to be the most cliche experience in the universe.

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Gamers Heroes
Captain Camper
Top Critic
9 / 10
Dec 4, 2013

There are many hidden elements and motives that unravel as the story progresses but it’s an experience worthy of your time. Best of all, you don’t need to have played the previous Assassin’s Creed titles as the story presents itself with enough depth to feature as a stand-alone story; although previous experience with the storyline will undoubtedly offer a little more substance.

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Dec 2, 2013

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is right up there with the best games in the series. Building a game entirely around the sea based features found in ACIII sounded gimmicky when it was announced earlier this year, but Ubisoft nailed it on all fronts

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Dec 2, 2013

Black Flag takes a sharp left turn from the series' traditional progression, but the ways in which it diverges are what make it one of the most purely entertaining games in the franchise.

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Unscored
Dec 1, 2013
► WTF Is... - Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag ? video thumbnail
PC Gamer
Top Critic
90 / 100
Nov 25, 2013

A gorgeous, relentlessly entertaining open-world piracy simulator packed with interesting 18th century rogues.

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8 / 10
Nov 22, 2013

Like its winsome protagonist, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is fixated on pursuing the riches of high-seas piracy and seems reluctant to be drawn into convoluted Templar plots. The most self-aware Assassin's Creed title to date, and one that makes the most of some aging mechanics.

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8 / 10.0
Nov 19, 2013

The game looks absolutely beautiful, is jam packed with things to do, and as ever, the combat is a joy to fiddle with. But for next year? Ubisoft, it's called Assassin's Creed: make me feel like one.

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Unscored
Nov 18, 2013

It's the best Assassin's Creed yet! Which is 90% because Black Flag, a a third-person action adventure about pirates in the Caribbean, isn't really an Assassin's Creed game in the traditional sense, and 10% because the lead character is from Swansea.

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