That's right, it's been nearly
eight months since the release of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. A lot of high-profile games have been released in these past eight months and many of them I have come to enjoy quite a lot. However the one that has left me with the greatest impression was the game that tells the story of the reckless and brave pirate who turns assassin.Alright so, for those who have played the game, you would know that that last line isn't entirely accurate. No, in fact our hero largely rejects the Assassin Brotherhood for a good portion of the game. While donning the assassin's hood and trademark hidden blade, Edward Kenway continues to go about his pirating ways - sailing the seas while assisting the Brotherhood should he find any profit in it for himself. This says a lot about the nature of the game itself and how you're free to explore the enormous, 18th century world at any time. And boy is that a task. Countless groves, battles and sunken ships are out there waiting to be discovered, but I'll get into that later.
Let me first tell you about the sea-based combat. Back when it was first introduced in Assassin's Creed 3, many fans and non-fans alike found that the battles on the high seas were their favourite thing (if not the redeeming quality) about the game. As someone who did not particularly appreciate it in Assassin's Creed 3, I was surprised to find that I spent hours happily travelling the sea and plundering ships. The new maneuvering tweaks, added offensive abilities and updated sea mechanics all make for a pleasant journey from the beginning of the game right up until the end, and for a game that takes place approximately sixty percent of the time on the blue expanse, that says a lot. Don't even get me started on the Sea Shanties either. Upgrades are available to you for both Edward's arsenal of weapons and his ship, the Jackdaw. The option to boost your ship's fire power exists right from the get-go. The prices do become quite steep later on, prompting you to raid higher level targets, but the payoff is longer sustainability and the ability to devastate more valuable ships. It would be no exaggeration to say that a large part of the pirate experience is right here, on the stormy seas.
Now I don't mean to downplay the adventures you will find on the various isles you come across. These can range from small bandit-held groves to more larger, civilian inhabited lands. The groves are particularly fun, I find. Don't underestimate the fun to be had with ransacking unsuspecting bandits - I would know, I've done this tons of times. Some of the larger isles have shops available to purchase new weapons and armour. On the other hand, I found the scope of Edward's weapons slightly less than satisfactory. This is primarily due to the fact that many weapons are locked until you progress far enough into the story. The swords are great and there is enough diversity to coax you into trying them all. The dual pistols were absolutely incredible and I used them without fail whenever I was given the opportunity. There are two shooting modes for the dual pistols, one which has you shoot from a third-person perspective and another one that lets you shoot automatically at locked-on targets at the press of a button. When used in conjunction with your other weapons, it makes for thrilling skirmishes. Some combinations even allow you to freely jump into hordes of enemies and skillfully take them all out. Needless to say, the combat was really fun and has me itching to get back into.
Ah, there I go on a tangent. This piece shouldn't be a review of the game but rather the impression it left on me. Enthralling as the combat was, the surprisingly warm story is what truly captivates me almost a year later. In fact when I think about Assassin's Creed 4, it's not the awesome firefights or the sea gameplay that first comes to mind but instead this last scene where Edward sees all of his pirate allies who have passed away. It concluded the gripping tale of the pirates' pursuit towards their respective goals and dreams, their triumphs and defeats. It's a moment to cherish, when a game has you looking back and thinking "What a ride". This is a story of a brash hero who later takes the time to amend his mistakes and, while not necessarily a new plot, it was heartwarming nonetheless. It was refreshing to see his soft side under his wise cracking, rum drinking exterior and in fact it really hit home.
Now I don't mean to downplay the adventures you will find on the various isles you come across. These can range from small bandit-held groves to more larger, civilian inhabited lands. The groves are particularly fun, I find. Don't underestimate the fun to be had with ransacking unsuspecting bandits - I would know, I've done this tons of times. Some of the larger isles have shops available to purchase new weapons and armour. On the other hand, I found the scope of Edward's weapons slightly less than satisfactory. This is primarily due to the fact that many weapons are locked until you progress far enough into the story. The swords are great and there is enough diversity to coax you into trying them all. The dual pistols were absolutely incredible and I used them without fail whenever I was given the opportunity. There are two shooting modes for the dual pistols, one which has you shoot from a third-person perspective and another one that lets you shoot automatically at locked-on targets at the press of a button. When used in conjunction with your other weapons, it makes for thrilling skirmishes. Some combinations even allow you to freely jump into hordes of enemies and skillfully take them all out. Needless to say, the combat was really fun and has me itching to get back into.
Ah, there I go on a tangent. This piece shouldn't be a review of the game but rather the impression it left on me. Enthralling as the combat was, the surprisingly warm story is what truly captivates me almost a year later. In fact when I think about Assassin's Creed 4, it's not the awesome firefights or the sea gameplay that first comes to mind but instead this last scene where Edward sees all of his pirate allies who have passed away. It concluded the gripping tale of the pirates' pursuit towards their respective goals and dreams, their triumphs and defeats. It's a moment to cherish, when a game has you looking back and thinking "What a ride". This is a story of a brash hero who later takes the time to amend his mistakes and, while not necessarily a new plot, it was heartwarming nonetheless. It was refreshing to see his soft side under his wise cracking, rum drinking exterior and in fact it really hit home.
Assassin's Creed is a series I really enjoy. On top of that, pirates are my favourite thing (believe me when I say I've spent hours gawking at all the historical pirate information to be found). I suppose it makes sense that I practically fell in love with this game but despite that, I found that Black Flag is an incredible game overall. That's why I urge those who haven't picked it up yet to have a go and jump into the world of Assassin's Creed 4. Because it's still a great experience - even eight months later.
- Silver
- Silver