I didn’t like Assassin’s Creed III very much, and in retrospect, I feel I was far too kind when I reviewed the game. I recently got to play quite a bit of its successor, Black Flag on the PS4 – and I was very nearly convinced that Assassin’s Creed IV would be a return to form for the series. Reviews for the game have started trickling in – and I may have been right.
Here’s what critics have been saying about the pirate adventure:
- CVG: 9/10 – “Much like the first Assassin’s Creed, Black Flag isn’t perfect. But the treasure trove of memorable experiences on offer here put all but the very best open worlds to shame.”
- Eurogamer: 9/10 – “Edward doesn’t have the impish wit of fan favourite Ezio Auditore, against whom all Assassin’s Creed protagonists are destined to be measured, but in the end he felt more rounded to me. The revelation, though, is the treasure of a game he stars in.”
- Gamespot: 9/10 – “If there was ever any question that Assassin’s Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some.”
- GamesRadar: 4.5/5 – “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is an imperfect game, for sure, but I found the overall experience immensely enjoyable. Accept that it’s really a game about pirates, not assassins, and you’ll love filling the boots of Edward Kenway for 30-40 hours.”
- IGN: 8.5/10 – “The amazing world of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has kept me gladly occupied for longer than any other game in the series, even though its story isn’t the strongest.”
- Joystiq: 4/5 – “It’s not the proper return to form for the series, but it is a concerted acknowledgement of what that form is today, and what works for the monster of gameplay systems, stealth, ships and oceans that lurks underneath.”
- Nowgamer: 8/10 – “By now we all know what to expect from an Assassin’s Creed game, and in that sense there won’t be any surprises here.Yet somehow – thanks to the focus on piracy – Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag manages to feel simultaneously new and old.”
- OPM: 8/10 – “Black Flag’s cocktail of Caribbean capers is so large that the effect is like dropping a shot of tequila into a fishbowl of Sea Breeze. You know it’s there, and you’d rather it wasn’t, but you’ll still enjoy the journey regardless.”
- OXM: 9/10 – “Where Assassin’s Creed 3 kept players at arm’s length for hours, refusing to let you make your own way, Assassin’s Creed 4 spreads those arms wide. We don’t miss Connor, so much, but somebody should get this new guy a trilogy.”
- Polygon: 7.5/10 – “For all of its mechanical improvements, for the wonder I felt as I sailed the ocean, orca, dolphins, even great whites breaking the surface to my port side as I outran a royal trade armada, for the excellent performances and character moments throughout … it felt disjointed. Directionless.”
We’ll have our own review soon – and I have to say…we rather like it. Are you getting Assassin’s Creed IV? I most certainly shall, though having played it on PS4 already means I can’t go back to playing it on current gen systems. I’ll pick it up for one of the new systems, or perhaps even the PC version when they’re all available.
Here’s how to get the most out of the game, according to our friend Grant.
Last Updated: October 29, 2013
|
|
|
|---|---|
| was reviewed on PC | |
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:37
Quick question , I stopped at 2. Do I have to play those expansion in between 2 and 3 before starting 3 ?
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:43
Those expansions finish off Ezio’s storyline, and expand on Desmond’s, so its recommended for story reasons, yes. Brotherhood was good, but I’ve not played Revelations or 3 yet. I will need to before jumping into my life of piracy. 😀
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:45
Hehe, arr. Thanx. I get stressed out when I look at my backlog 🙁 so was hoping to cut down on some games lol
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:46
Same here
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 29, 2013 at 11:49
It’s a huge time investment; Maybe just read up on the story – or you may suffer from AC fatigue.
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:52
Well, if he skips all the side stuff, he could just do story, finish one in a weekend. Give or take, depending on real life schedule, and how much sleep he needs around that schedule. A free weekend? Easy.
Still, it would be cheaper to just read the story.
Tarisma
October 29, 2013 at 11:53
Thats how I burnt out, 3 games that are incredibly similar in a short space of time. I still have AC 3 on my uplay account. Haven’t even installed it yet
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:55
Exactly, I know if I play through them all by the time I reach 4 I will have had my stomach bloated with AC. Will maybe watch some LP’s as I’m not all that interested in Brother or Rev.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 29, 2013 at 12:02
I really enjoyed Brotherhood, I stopped just as I was getting into Revelations though. After 100 hours of AC games in a row I got tired. I’ll go back to it though… eventually.
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 12:02
With the pile of games in our backlogs I wonder when that will be
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:03
My Steam wishlist is my nr 1 priority. I’ve made peace with the fact that there are some games I just won’t be playing ever.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 12:12
after finishing an Ac game you want something different and no more Ac for a long time..
Ultimo_Cleric N7
October 29, 2013 at 12:37
I’m doing it. Playing through Brotherhood now, just bought Revelations, and I will ever get AC3 after that. Black flag has got me interested in the series again.
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:41
I stopped just before Revelations, so I have some catching up to do. AC Rev is just sitting there at home…
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:45
I know dat feel. And in all honesty this game looks really hype
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:46
Yeah man, and I don’t want to start with this one and miss any story.
DAMMIT BACKLOG DAMMIT
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:47
Dammit indeed. -_-
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:48
DUUUDE……I know. It just keeps piling up hey….I’ve started waking up early on weekends and sleeping late to get through this damn backlog
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:49
See the problem is, that when I have time, I feed my FTL and Planetside 2 addiction, and those cannot be completed, so its just for the uber fun.
🙂 and 🙁
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:55
Lol as long as it’s worth it
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:58
Oh, soooo sweet and glorious!
Heh, last night in PS2, so much sniping awesomeness!
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
October 29, 2013 at 14:05
Is this game really any good? What is the ping like SA side?
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 14:11
Really fun! Ping is quite good actually, I jam on 3g (I have to stay out of the 48+ vs 48+ fights, cuz of 3G, but I jam on the EU server.
The combat scale is massive!
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:10
I’ve been staring at Planetside 2, but I really shouldn’t be adding any more games at this time.
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 12:11
Come join me brother!
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:16
F2P? Am I seeing right here on Steam?
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 12:17
Correct. You only pay for boosts and fancy camo and if you want immediate access to other guns (starting guns are schweet enough)
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:18
Downloading this the second I get home.
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 12:19
Add me on Skype, I’ll guide you to which server and faction I’m at
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:21
Will do. Probably only be up and running tomorrow though. And don’t have Skype at home, will have to get that too.
I usually only voicechat over steam, but everyone else is using Skype it seems.
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 12:24
Also not on Skype at home, was talking about during the day
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:25
Ah, okay. Cool cool. Will do.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 11:51
Just dont rush the games… then kill the experience..
Umar heartless
October 29, 2013 at 11:52
Naa don’t rush, never, which is why it takes so damn long lol
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 11:53
I mean nearly finished a few games only to get distracted by a new one… Swear its a disease!
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:54
It has to be. It’s the only explanation. You have so much damn fun with one, and BAM SPECIAL HUMBLE BUNDLE STEAM BTGAMES and your ADHD kicks in and 5 months later you remember about that game you nearly finished and still have installed.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 11:56
Well thank god I don’t have steam and the ability to get a hold of humble bundles…. Would escalate even more! To think not so long ago I only bought a new game when was done with previous one. Then again had way more free time.
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:59
Yeah see, tonight the monthly humble bundle is reset, so I know at 8pm I’m checking it out. Thursdays the weekly is reset. Steam I check for sales often enough. GoG.com has some bargains there (Just got DK2 again this weekend. Still awesome!).
Its bad man. And the weekly newsletter from BT Games is where I get my console shit on the cheap.
I am not helping any addicts here. Nope. I’m not.
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:00
With great power comes great responsibility. And a whole lot of self-control.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 29, 2013 at 12:00
That’s the truth, I revisited Kingdoms of Amalur last night after not starting it up for I don’t know how long. What was I doing & how do I play again? heh
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 12:00
I finished that game 3 times in a row. The story was shallow, but the gameplay was awesome. Chakram mage anyone? Hell yeah!
Martin du preez
October 29, 2013 at 11:44
Fo sho! Picking up my Buccaneer edition after work!
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:50
Hehe, such a AC slut you arrrr
Martin du preez
October 29, 2013 at 11:51
Can’t wait to rub the figurine of Edward on my erect nipples when I get home
Admiral Chief Ninja
October 29, 2013 at 11:52
PICTAWRS or it didn’t happen (yes, I know I will need eye and brain bleach afterwards, but I’ll do it for teh lulz)
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:53
That’s a little disturbing. hahaha.
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 11:49
It’s definitely better than 3 after having seen it last night. 3 was really bad.
Rincethis
October 29, 2013 at 11:53
Yeah, much better! I want to be back on the pirate ship!
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 11:54
Yarrr.
Rincethis
October 29, 2013 at 11:56
I think that’s John hiding in the back there 🙂
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 11:59
At least you can all rest knowing that I made the worst and slowest joke of the evening.
Rincethis
October 29, 2013 at 12:17
HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Man, that was damn funny!
Rock789
October 29, 2013 at 12:15
I was readying myself to pounce attack Ultimo, who was playing the game at the time…
“The savage beast spots his unsuspecting prey… Slowly he creeps through the pirate ship…” 🙂
Rincethis
October 29, 2013 at 12:17
HAHAHA! And I had Irwin’s voice in my mind! 🙂
Rock789
October 29, 2013 at 12:18
Much lolz! 🙂
Ultimo_Cleric N7
October 29, 2013 at 12:39
I had you in my sights the entire time. You were ‘focus on target’ ‘ed when you walked into the cabin buddy!
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 11:55
Pirates has to be the biggest reason I want this game.
Weanerdog
October 29, 2013 at 12:01
Yes steering a pirate ship while being on a pirate ship that was rolling under my feet was pretty awesome, Aaaarrgh!
Rincethis
October 29, 2013 at 12:16
HAHAHAH!
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 12:14
where these pictures we were promised? or is that it the one rince took lol
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:23
The awesomeness was so great that the camera exploded.
No, actually. The dude from Ubi took the best pics, ours were all a bit blurry. But they’re on Rince’s phone.
Weanerdog
October 29, 2013 at 11:58
Played a bit last night at the launch party. Which was awesome by the way, so a big thank you to Lazygamer for that. I only played for a very short time and I had to negotiate without sound due to the noise from the revelry and piratery that was going on. It seems like a decent game and the setting is really amazing. It can only think that on next gen/PC the environment is going to be epic. I did experience some issues regarding interacting with the environment, this could be because I missed some narration or it may be something with the game (or possibly that I really suck). The AI of the guards in the first mission was a little suspect but that could be just to ease you into the game and the fact that your outfit is so ostentatious that remaining inconspicuous should be all but impossible. But Pirate ships and whales and assassins makes it really cool.
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:07
Good grief, you were there?! 😉
Weanerdog
October 29, 2013 at 12:13
Yes spent the whole evening chatting up some poor fellows wench while he was nattering on to some ginger fellow.
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:14
Someone had to keep the ginger in check. Dangerous folk those.
Weanerdog
October 29, 2013 at 12:18
I do think that the lagz credibility was hurt last night with 2 of our crew showing up with real woman.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 12:18
HAHAHA!
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 12:19
hahahaha.
And its *women.
Weanerdog
October 29, 2013 at 12:23
Tosh you are correct, words that you never ever thought would be muttered on the interweb.
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 13:29
Well, not outside of certain, questionable, web destinations. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
October 29, 2013 at 13:55
Hahahaha.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
October 29, 2013 at 12:40
HAHAHAAA!!! I was too busy on the top deck trying not to throw up. First time I have EVER been seasick.
Rock789
October 29, 2013 at 12:47
Lol… Dude, it was the spinach pastries… Told you not to trust that stuff! 😉
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:47
I’m still not convinced that was all spinach.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
October 29, 2013 at 13:33
My stomach agrees with you…..
SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad
October 29, 2013 at 13:54
I found them pretty tasty. 😛
Zodiac Mindwarf
October 29, 2013 at 12:04
I really appreciate these review roundups. Thanks and keep it up!
Melasco
October 29, 2013 at 12:09
Also looking good, but also waiting for it on PS4 🙂
Vampyre Squirrel
October 29, 2013 at 12:13
Got AC1 (Xbox), two copies of AC2 (PC [Black Edition] and Xbox [White Edition]), AC Brotherhood (PC), AC Revelations (PC) and AC3 (Xbox)… so it’s a possibility I’ll get it 😛
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 12:15
I dont like how you mixed from xbox to pc..
ToshZA
October 29, 2013 at 12:17
I’d just have stuck with Xbox. Oh that’s right, I did.
TiMsTeR1033
October 29, 2013 at 12:18
EXACTLY!
Vampyre Squirrel
October 29, 2013 at 12:31
I got AC2 on PC before I had an Xbox… picked up AC1 and 2 from a friend… Brotherhood and Rev from another friend… and AC3 just after release for R450 when it was around the R600 mark 😛
It’s not by choice… I told you before… I pick up games randomly
John's (JJ's) Steaming backlog
October 29, 2013 at 12:33
I have AC1 on pc, brotherhood on PS and AC3 on pc.
Ultimo_Cleric N7
October 29, 2013 at 12:36
After playing it at the launch yesterday, I can safely say that this feels like AC is back in the game. Was so much fun! And from the small chance I got to play, the story didnt seem that bad at all. Best part is that Edward is a MUUUUCH stronger character than Connor.
Ezio is still the best though ^^
Anon A Mouse
October 29, 2013 at 13:05
I’ve played AC1 & 2 back to back, but that was too much. The last part of AC2 I rushed through just to finish the story. I’ve skipped everything since then, but this has me intrigued. I’ll probably get this and skip the others all the same.