Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
If the series insists on keeping this modern day hook, this is the way to do – unobtrusive, quick and painless but with the capacity for exploration. Assassin's Creed III was sadly something of a disappointment, but Ubisoft Montreal must be commended for learning from its mistakes. The endless problems of easy combat and sticky, simple running may return but the rest is entertaining enough to make up for it. An energetic new protagonist, a focus on piracy and pillaging, excellent naval combat and a huge, beautiful open world make Black Flag an easy game to recommend, and a decent way to kick off the next generation.
A fun, gorgeous-looking high seas adventure that improves on the Assassin's Creed formula while letting us live a fantasy life as a pirate.
