Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Reviews

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
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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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag doesn't move the franchise forward as a whole—but it doesn't need to. Instead, this is probably the best pirate simulation in gaming history that successfully lays the groundwork for what's to come in the series.

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GameGrin
Top Critic
9.5 / 10.0
Nov 6, 2013

Black Flag presents a game world that is wonderfully historic, yet incredibly fun. Being a pirate is one of those childhood fantasies I'd love to live and ACIV brings me one step closer. Probably as close as I'm going to get without the help of an actual animus.

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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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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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Oct 28, 2013

An ambitious start for Assassin's Creed on next-gen. The vibrant Caribbean world and bloody piracy shine brightest, while the only sour notes come from contrived series story beats and repetitive missions--both need rethinking for AC5.

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9 / 10
Oct 28, 2013

Easily the most ambitious Assassin's Creed game in years, Black Flag is an outstanding adventure by any standard.

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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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Nov 5, 2013

"Assassin's Creed IV" is very different from the five games that preceded it, but proves that a little change can be a good thing.

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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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Oct 29, 2013

'Refreshing' could be applied to several aspects of the game's design, with performances and an attention to detail that place it among – if not ahead – of the franchise's best. And with no discernible shortcomings when placed next to its American-Revolution-predecessor, Black Flag is the step into next-gen that many fans have been waiting for.

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Oct 29, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a polished and all-encompassing experience, which pits players into the role of an eighteenth century pirate named Edward Kenway. While it doesn't blow its predecessors out of the water by presenting anything revolutionary, it provides fans with a fine-tuned and expanded take on its series' core foundations.

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Nov 1, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag puts the franchise back on track with a gorgeous huge open world that's ripe for exploration. The innovative iPad or Android tablet companion app is a fun and informative extension to game play.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 30, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is essential gaming for anyone who has ever dreamed of running up the Jolly Roger and taking whatever they can carry from His Majesty's holds.

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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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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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9 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2013

With a heavier focus on ship exploration and combat, a giant map to explore full of cities, settlements, ancient ruins as well as loads and loads of hidden collectibles to find, your time spent in the West Indies is going to be largely enjoyable.

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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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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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9 / 10.0
Oct 28, 2013

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag boasts tons of content, an exciting story, and plenty of fun gameplay. Some of the series tropes are running thin as the series is now going on its sixth entry, but it is still a quality experience. Black Flag is currently my favorite game in the series, not only because of its heavy use of piracy, but because of the constant swapping between land and sea gameplay. Black Flag is a must have for fans of Assassin's Creed, and newcomers with a love for pirates will surely find something to love.

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