![]() Like its predecessor, AC4 makes naval combat accessible, but challenging and satisfying at the same time. Naval combat proved to be one of the highlights of Assassin's Creed 3, and making it the focus of Black Flag is a wise decision on Ubisoft's part. And given how often you sail your ship, it's no surprise you'll quickly become attached to it. Why? The improvements you acquire make an immediate impact on gameplay. Whereas previous games in the series have given you the ability to improve your character or build out your Homestead (which you can also do in AC4), no upgrade tree in the series has felt as meaningful as this. Surprisingly, one of the most impactful additions to Black Flag is the ability to spend money on your ship, the Jackdaw. However, there's no point in earning money if there's no way to spend it. Telling players to "get rich" is a rather easy way of directly translating character into player motivation. And of course you'll end up assassinating some targets-for the right price. Of course you'll recruit new sailors to join your cause. Of course you'll get into a drunken bar brawl as a pirate. Your motivation as Edward Kenway is rather simple to understand: get rich or die trying, and every action you take furthers your quest to rule the seas. In fact, it feels like the franchise was always meant to be a pirate game. ![]() Shifting to a pirate theme makes so much sense. Although you engage in a multitude of activities-from hunting wild animals, to diving for treasure, to assassinating-they all work towards the goal of furthering your pirating ways. ![]() Or, so I thought.īlack Flag improves upon nearly every aspect of Assassin's Creed 3, largely by focusing on a grand mission statement: be a great pirate game. Certainly, a one-year turnaround for Black Flag-the next fully-numbered entry in the series-wouldn't be enough to move the series forward. Ubisoft's open-world foray into the American Revolution was too unfocused and too unpolished. After the disappointment of Assassin's Creed 3, I was nearly ready to write off the franchise.
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