As someone who fell off the Assassin’s Creed series following the Ezio trilogy (which, for the record, all released in the span of two years), Black Flag has always represented a noticeable gap in my gaming history. For years, countless friends and colleagues continued to pester me about it, assuring me that giving it a go would be time well spent. For one reason or another, I kept putting it off, but my chance at redemption is at hand thanks to the release of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
After making my way through the first few hours of the campaign, I could easily see the error of my ways, and why Black Flag is often touted as one of the best entries in the franchise. Sure, the franchise’s core gameplay loop of free-running from rooftop to rooftop, stalking your targets, and delivering the final kill is still at the heart of Black Flag, but it’s all the new additions that really elevate this entry above its brethren.
As you’d expect for a game that puts you in the well-worn shoes of a fledgling pirate, captaining your own ship seems like a no-brainer. Still, being able to run and manage the Jackdaw, recruiting new officers, taking it into battle, and exploring the high seas makes for a nice change of pace, and helps to flesh out the world with side quests. In fact, recruiting new shipmates is a process in and of itself with its own unique missions, and Ubisoft has even added in new story missions and characters as part of this.
Speaking of new, the core of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has made its way into Resynced, but Ubisoft has made a few smart changes to modernize and streamline the experience. Black Flag’s infamous tailing and eavesdropping missions are more forgiving this time around, with no instant fails if you’re spotted. In fact, staying in stealth is easier than ever with a dedicated crouch button, and when you need to break cover, the refined combat is a noticeable improvement, with perfect parries and shield breaks cutting down on some of the monotony.
The purists out there might cry foul seeing as how the modern-day sections of Black Flag’s story have been removed, but if we’re being honest, that’s probably for the best. Not only would these story beats confuse players who aren’t intimately familiar with the series’ overarching plot, but the entire subplot involving Juno, Aita, and the Sages was never properly fleshed out in future entries, and as a few friends have informed me, it was unceremoniously wrapped up in a comic book, of all things. On the other hand, to fill in the gaps, Ubisoft opted to spin up a new plot thread that involves a new authoritarian AI program created by the Templars, and it feels rather half-baked compared to the rest of the new additions.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (PS5) Review: Final Verdict
Still, even with these minor narrative missteps, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a standout remake, taking the best bits of the original and sprucing them up for the modern era. From its stunning visuals and revamped combat to new characters and redesigned missions, it’s a must-play for anyone who’s looking to replay through Edward Kenway’s pirating journey. And for those (like myself) who never gave the original a go, this one’s a no-brainer.
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Gorgeous, best-in-class visuals that bring the West Indies to life
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Smartly redesigns and streamlines some of the more annoying missions from the original
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New characters and story missions are a highlight
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The ‘AI Overlord’ storyline that replaces the original’s modern day sections feels tacked on and underwhelming
