Assassin's Creed IV

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag stands as one of my favorites in the series, with its captivating theme, engaging gameplay, and an unforgettable ending. The passion of the developers, actors, and sound designers truly shined through from beginning to end, making it a standout release amongst the Assassin's Creed series.

The theme and setting of this title were the main reasons for my enjoyment, along with the excellent pacing, engaging gameplay, and the memorable ending. After completing the game, I craved for more, a testament to the passion of the developers, actors, and sound designers. It's a shame that such dedication is not as common anymore with Ubisoft's releases. Perhaps they should take notes from their previous successes to create gems like Black Flags again, let's hope, that they will someday find their ways again. ...

GRAPHIC DESIGN:

It's fairly unique to see that the graphics of a game, which was already in development in mid-2011, and released in the 4th quarter of 2013, still hold up pretty well a decade after it was initially released.

The game looked gorgeous in its original form. The game featured detailed and realistic environments set in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy. With lush jungles, bustling cities, and vast open seas, were rendered with a high level of detail. The water effects, in particular, were praised for their realism, with dynamic waves, reflections, and spray adding to the immersive experience of sailing your ship around.

Character models were highly detailed, capturing realistic facial expressions and fluid animations. Edward Kenway and other characters were brought to life with detailed costumes and lifelike movements. They utilized advanced lighting techniques to create dynamic day-night cycles and realistic shadows for its time. The changing weather conditions, including storms and fog, added another layer of realism to the world.

Despite its age, the graphics remain quite stunning, especially when you enable ReShade mods which you can find on nexusmods.com, a favorite of mine was released by Vandos. The Reshade enhanced the visuals for a better experience, I expect most of you will appreciate this little enhancement as an extra layer. ...

As mentioned, in preview blogs; I'm not really someone who sticks around for graphics alone. I'd rather lower my graphics settings a bit to gain a performance boost if necessary. That doesn't necessarily mean I don't love nice visuals, but, when I look back at how this game looks right now, I honestly can not overlook that the game's visuals still hold up very well, especially if you bear in mind the release cycle of this title.

SOUND DESIGN:

I enjoy watching documentaries, or, behind-the-scenes videos of those games I truly love, they often reveal something I share with the creators. As they pour their hearts and minds into the game, I am drawn to their unique craftsmanship, whether it's through graphics or sound design. When those elements come together naturally, they create something truly unique and magical, which is a testament to their genuine passion.

The soundtrack was composed by Brian Tyler, who also developed the music for Far Cry 3. Additional compositions were provided by Sarah Schachner and Omar Fadel. The sound design itself was created with a tool called Nuendo 5, and as you can see in the video above. When you see those elements nicely coming together with all the visuals, you experience a very impressive atmosphere when you are playing the game.

I expect every game I play to have a high level of craftsmanship, just like this. If the various elements of the game don't come together well, I quickly lose interest. However, this wasn't the case with Assassin's Creed Black Flags. The sound design is stellar and still holds up to this day, just like the graphics. When I look back on how they designed the game as a whole, I can personally appreciate their craftsmanship even more.

It is very difficult to reconcile the passion I once felt trough their work with the games they produce today. That sense of dedication used to be so visible in their craftsmanship, but over the years, that spark seems to have faded. While there are many factors involved, I believe this shift is largely due to a heavy move toward monetized elements and changing work ethics. Looking back at our beloved franchises, I truly miss the days when you could feel the genuine passion of those involved woven into every part of the experience.

NARRATIVE:

This represents one of the five core elements I look for, and they mastered it with such apparent ease that it set the bar for everything else. Sadly, in my experience, this is something Ubisoft has failed to deliver for a long time. Revisiting this game today is a bittersweet reminder of that. It confirms for me that when that genuine passion is missing, the magic just is not the same.

At its heart, Black Flag was all about the pure fun of the experience. I felt like the character was truly crafted alongside my own progress, which made it so easy to connect with Kenway. It felt like I was him, living his life. I found myself pulled into the narrative in a way that just has not happened with any other release in the series, and that is what makes it so incredibly compelling to me.

I really loved the Desmond era. The stories were awesome, but they have always felt quite linear to me. That changed completely with the release of this game. They took the more open-ended approach they had started in Assassin's Creed III and really refined it, taking that freedom to a whole new level.

They expanded on the idea of an open approach, but they did it in such a way that it didn't feel overwhelming. It's easy to bore people, but they hit the sweet spot just right. I always felt that Black Flags carried what Assassin's Creed did so well in the Desmond Era and broke new ground at the same time.

Kenway shares a magnetic charisma similar to Ezio, capturing that same spirit where he is always ready to seize the moment. However, they executed this in a way where they avoided the stale copy pasta we see in many games today.

While Kenway mirrors some of that classic charm, his core motivations are fundamentally different from those we have seen before. This divergence is exactly what allows him to stand out, grounded in his own path of self-discovery rather than simply repeating a familiar or predictable trope.

What makes this character so interesting is that he starts off as a selfish pirate looking out for his own pockets, but you actually see that change through his experiences. As the story unfolds, he gradually grows into someone who stops being so self-absorbed and begins to genuinely care about the people around him, which ultimately makes his long journey feel truly grounded and real.

NARRATIVE:

His evolution is further reflected in his responsibilities as a captain, as he commands a ship and a crew. He is forced to transition from a lone, opportunistic bloke into a leader accountable for others. As the vast, immersive exploration of the Caribbean unfolds, these adventures draw him deeper into the hidden conflict between the Assassins and Templars. This shift blends his personal journey with the weight of the Order, effectively merging high-seas pirate adventure with the disciplined, stealthy path of the Assassin.

Kenway’s journey became my journey, but while I was at it, it was also the freedom that hooked me. The game never pressured me to stick to its script; instead, it invited me to play him true. I spent hours sailing the Caribbean, hunting ships, looting, whaling, and diving for treasure. It became my one and only true pirate fantasy, where I captured vessels, expanded my fleet, and meticulously upgraded my hideout at Great Inagua.

That is what made this game so much stronger than its peers. While a central story was set out for me, the world offered an open invitation to tell my own story simultaneously. It intertwined my personal exploits with the main narrative so seamlessly that it became my own damn adventure.

This immersion is anchored by the atmosphere, the salt spray, the shifting winds, and the timeless shanties sung by the crew. Those songs are not just background noise they are the rhythmic pulse of the journey, elevating every voyage into a personal ballad. When those melodies mix with the chaos of the sea, the game stops being a series of missions and feels like a lived-in reality. This proves that Ubisoft was very capable of delivering a compelling story without annoying their player base with microslob transactions or bloat.

It is sadly difficult to say for sure wheter Ubisoft will ever be able to recapture the glory days. This industry is constantly evolving, and companies often think they need to adapt to stay relevant. But, when they listen to their player base, focus on high-quality experiences, and find a balance between monetization and player satisfaction, there is always a chance they can reach new heights. Time will tell. Ubisoft has faced significant challenges in recent years. Beyond ethical concerns, they have dealt with high-profile departures of key creative leads, as well as valid fan backlash over the quality in the more recent years.

GAMEPLAY:

The game begins with a feisty naval battle against a British vessel, which serves as a tutorial for the player to learn the game's naval combat mechanics, which will become a central aspect of the gameplay throughout the rest of the game. After the battle, Kenway ends up stranded on an island where he meets an Assassin, who he ends up killing and taking the man's place. From here, Kenway sets out on a journey to become a pirate, but soon embroils in a conflict between the Assassins and Templars.

A similar parkour system to its predecessors allows you to freely traverse the open world and scale buildings and other structures. Black Flags also introduces the ability to climb and dive, to explore various shipwrecks and beautiful underwater sceneries. Exploring with the diving bell offers a distinctive means of uncovering hidden items and side missions, adding an exciting new gameplay element to the game.

The combat system was overhauled with a focus on more fluid and responsive controls. One great feature is that you can chain together multiple attacks in a combo if you time it right, in combat. You also have access to new weapons like dual swords and pistols. Additionally, the game introduced a new "counter kill" mechanic, where you can perform an instant-kill on an enemy after perfectly timing a counter-attack.

With the gameplay mechanics covered, earning at least a 7 out of 10, I strongly believe that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag easily ticks off four out of the five boxes needed to be a very good title overall.

When we combine everything from the atmosphere, graphics, and sound design, along with the compelling story of Edward's transformation from a selfish pirate to a dedicated member of the Assassin's Order, the game creates, in my view, a unique and immersive experience in the Assassin's Creed series.

That leaves us with the final box to tick, which is the rewarding system of the game.

As you progress through the story, you will gradually open up the game world. This created a sense of limitation for me, as I was unable to explore the entire game world from the beginning. However, I understand that this was necessary to protect the narrative and gameplay, which also tied in with unlocking weapons and equipment for your character and ship. Throughout the game, you will discover a wealth of collectibles, including treasure maps, Mayan stones, and Animus fragments.

Collecting these items can unlock new content, such as special outfits and weapons.

I never paid much attention to the multiplayer part of the game since Assassin's Creed games were always about the stories and atmosphere for me, where I could meet various historical figures along the way!

by kevanh79 | July 21, 2023 - Reading time: 11:33 minutes

This is somewhat of a love letter to Ubisoft, stop with what you are doing, AND Go back to what you were doing in the past, steer a bit of ''extra'' passion, dedication and true art into it!

GRAPHIC DESIGN:

When we consider games as an art form, the integration of graphics and sound design is crucial. The designers of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag excels in that regard, as they have created an immersive world where the graphics and sound design complement each other perfectly.

SOUND DESIGN:

I don't mind paying more for a game; however, when I do pay more, I expect better. While games have become more expensive, it is fairly rare these days that every box is ticked off.

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GAMEPLAY:

WRITERS NOTES

by kevanh79 | July 21, 2023 - Reading time: 11:33 minutes

This is somewhat of a love letter to Ubisoft, stop with what you are doing, AND Go back to what you were doing in the past, steer a bit of ''extra'' passion, dedication and true art into it!

GRAPHIC DESIGN:

When we consider games as an art form, the integration of graphics and sound design is crucial. The designers of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag excels in that regard, as they have created an immersive world where the graphics and sound design complement each other perfectly.

SOUND DESIGN:

I don't mind paying more for a game; however, when I do pay more, I expect better. While games have become more expensive, it is fairly rare these days that every box is ticked off.

NARRATIVE:

NARRATIVE:

NARRATIVE:

NARRATIVE:

NARRATIVE:

GAMEPLAY:

WRITERS NOTES

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