Live the life of a ruthless buccaneer in this seafaring sequel, but leave your peg leg at the door
Forget talking parrots and hooks for hands; this is the golden age of piracy as written by history, not Hollywood. Ubisoft promise Black Flag isn't just another Assassin's Creed game with pantaloons on, but a bold reinvention of a series that has increasingly sacrificed player freedom for scripted missions and linearity. If there's one thing that defines the romantic image of a pirate it's freedom, and freedom underpins everything in Assassin's Creed 4.
There are eight studios working on the game. Ubisoft Montreal is leading the project, with assistance from teams in Singapore, Sofia, Annecy, Kiev, Quebec, Bucharest, and Montpellier. That might seem excessive, but it makes sense when you realise just how massive the game is, and that it's being released so soon after the last one. Assassin's Creed has, like Call of Duty, become a yearly series, which seems like madness when you consider the size and scope of the games, but they haven't let it dampen their ambition.
But as impressive as all this seems, it doesn't really sound like Assassin's Creed, does it? Well, the good news is that, alongside all this open world swashbuckling, there will be actual, proper assassinations. Not the lame interactive cut-scenes of the last game, but targets that you choose how to approach and take out. Ubisoft says it's returning to, and expanding on, the open-ended missions of the early games and, as lapsing fans, that excites us more than anything else.
As ever, history informs the game's characters, locations, and events. We love the idea of a more realistic, grounded take on 18th Century piracy, and their vision of the time period reminds us a lot of Red Dead Redemption's mature take on the Wild West. Even the name, Black Flag, is a statement of its intent; real pirates flew plain black flags, not the fabled skull and crossbones.
The new hero is Edward Kenway - father of AC3's Haytham - who Ubisoft describes as selfish, cocky, and charismatic. Hardly the most original traits for a modern video game character, but we'll reserve judgement until we've actually heard him speak. For now, all we really know about him is that, like his ancestors, he's really good at parkour and quietly murdering people.
As you sail the high seas you can climb the crow's nest and use a spyglass to search for ships on the horizon. This tells you how strong they are and what cargo they're hauling, giving you the chance to attack or avoid them.
One of the most surprising things about Assassin's Creed 3 is how fun the naval combat is, but this was, in their words, 'only a tease' for what's to come in Black Flag. Weather and physics will play a larger role than before, and there are different classes of enemy ship, including 'chargers' who'll try and ram you and shatter your hull.
The transition between naval combat and boarding won't be interrupted by cut-scenes as they were in AC3: you can approach ships from any angle, weaken them with your cannons, then attach grapples to pull them towards you and storm the deck. Or, for a stealthier approach, swim around the back unnoticed and slit the captain's throat.
Comments
25 comments so far...
Gambini on 4 Mar '13 said:
On one hand, I'm not an AC fan, so I shouldn't really be bothered either way... but, the reason I'm not a fan is because I don't believe Ubisoft ever delivered on the promise on an actual "Assassins" game. The controls have just been too clunky in each iteration to truly feel like you're in control of an actual kill, and with each game, the emphasis on assassinations has diminished. And then there was that stupid Desmond story arc which just took me out of the experience...
As "cool" as this trailer looks, It's a shameless "re-use the assets" so we can (a) milk the franchise and (b) have a relatively quick "next-gen" game ready for release in November. I actually don't mind the setting, but why keep the connection to the previous story? Just make a really cool Assassination sandbox game (which, crucially, plays well) and give us a new storyline to invest in.
Rant over.
nologo on 4 Mar '13 said:
that looks awesome.
Lt Fatman on 4 Mar '13 said:
Assassin's Creed has been losing it's appeal in more recent games I think. Many promises are made and they get the hype train going for each sequel but it's not usually as good as people think it will be.
But I hope this is as great as it potentially can be, it sounds like they have been listening to fans this time. And if they have taken ideas from the brilliant Far Cry 3 and utillised them effectively then that is promising. No pre-order from me, I'll wait for the reviews, here's hoping it's a fantastic experience. It's about time we had another great pirate game.
Unition on 4 Mar '13 said:
Didn't play the last 2 games, but if Ubi hold to their promises, this sounds absolutely incredible!
c97dem on 4 Mar '13 said:
I eventually started to like AC3, still not the greatest game but it was alright
With this being pirates is it going to be the romanticized version of pirates from movies etc, or the more real pirates who would force captains of captured vessels to dance around a pole that there intestines were attached to etc
Marlonjb on 4 Mar '13 said:
Probably pick this up but I can tell you now I wont be bothering with multiprat at all.
brookie_2001 on 4 Mar '13 said:
While i was disappointed with AC3. I love the Assassins Creed series too much to write it off.
I hope this fixes what was wrong with AC3.
I'm not sure about the new story revolving around "me". Research analyst sounds a bit of a cop out. Hopefully they'll still explain what happened straight after AC3. As crap as the ending was. I still would like to know what happened
WHERESMYMONKEY on 4 Mar '13 said:
In my eyes the final AC game is revelations and that's where the series should have ended.
3 was crap except for the Naval Battles which were tons of fun. When i was playing them i sat there thinking it would be excellent if they made a pirate game using this.
Looks like i'm half getting my wish. Problem is i don't want assassins creed - pirates. i want a new ip.
they could of gone out and made something for next gen that was bold and exciting and not tied down to an existing franchise, but no. you throw a known brand name on it and that should = sales.
Problem is that AC has been all but poisoned by yearly iterations and AC3 was a giant slap in the face to fans on so many levels.
oh and this remark.
I liked Desmond, he was a well drawn character that fans gave a damn about and didn't deserve the appauling ending AC3 gave him.
KK-Headcharge78 on 4 Mar '13 said:
I'm not bothered about the fact it's another AC game so soon, I think if something is good bring it on. However with regards AC the last few outings have just been dull for me. However a priate game would be sweet, if it can take the humour, mystique, adeventure and 'little world' elements of something like Monkey Island then it could be a winner.
illage2 on 4 Mar '13 said:
If you can get p**sed on questionable ammounts of rum and stumble around like a baffoon then I'll be buying it
nothing is more funny than watching some drunk do stupid s**t.
GetDownThatYard on 4 Mar '13 said:
Yarrr! This landlubber he talk truth!!!
Arrrggg!!! SHIVER ME TIMBERS!!!
I'll giv' ye a taste o' the cat, ye lice-infested matey... Blast ye!
GetDownThatYard on 4 Mar '13 said:
It always amazed me how Nolan North could voice one of the most popular and likable characters in video game history (Drake) and then at the same time be voicing one of the most dull, boring, unintresting characters in an form of media ever created. (Desmond Dullface)
Just goes to show the man has amazing acting range.
Cinaclov on 4 Mar '13 said:
I can't think of anything more mass-market and sell-able than that
silversun_111 on 4 Mar '13 said:
I am at half mast in terms of my anticipation for this new AC game, as I have yet to complete the third. I did enjoy the naval battles, so if that's expanded upon it should be quite good, but I'm a little burnt out knowing I can expect a new AC each year now.
GetDownThatYard on 4 Mar '13 said:
KEEP THE PUNS COMING PEOPLE.
GetDownThatYard on 4 Mar '13 said:
I don't think I'm gonna walk the plank on this one.
sonic_uk on 4 Mar '13 said:
This actually sounds pretty good. I wonder if being set more at sea you'll be able to swim underwater now? Its something I always wanted to do in these games. Disapointed to see more animal hunting. It seems to be the new "in thing" in games at the moment. I don't mind killing scumbag murdering enemy humans (they deserve it) but leave the innocent wildlife alone!
KK-Headcharge78 on 4 Mar '13 said:
A potential barrel load of laughs and I'll be pillaging the wallet if it turns out some good reviews, unless the DLC schedule gives you scurvy.
It needs not to take itself too seriously....
Chris_Shanahan87 on 4 Mar '13 said:
I can't lie, I am PUMPED for this game!
gmcb007 on 4 Mar '13 said:
I don't know why but this doesn't sound the slightest bit exciting for me. I just feel that they're offering features where the novelty will soon wear off and then you're back to grinding through tasks. Basically AC3 all over again.
IAmTheWalrus on 4 Mar '13 said:
I loved Assassin's Creed III, my only major gripe was the lack of huge buildings to climb, but other than that, it had the most engrossing story, best voice acting (particularly Haytham & Charles Lee). Whilst I was, and still am to an extent, very sceptical about this, I can't wait to see more. E3 will make or break as to whether it's an instant buy, wait until it's cheaper, or if it looks like a quick cash-in (reviews and user reviews) a rental if even that.
matty2000uk on 4 Mar '13 said:
we'll be seeing more of this at the Xbox 720 reveal next month I reckon.
Agreed. I think AC3, despite its problems, was still a great game it just wasn't up to the standard I was expecting.
from what I've seen and read today I'm excited. This game seems to be combining AC with far cry 3 and a bit of Sid Meiers Pirates and that sounds good to me.
tanukilou on 5 Mar '13 said:
I really wanted to like Assasin's Creed but it lost me a while back. I bough AC2 but found the story so awful and the characters so cardboard I couldn't even get a third of the way through it and ended up giving it away. I can usually take a wonky story/bad characters but the game kept rubbing it in my face and forcing me to follow it. It was unbearable, actually painfull... even worse with the present-day twist nonsense. It's a shame because I loved running around the gorgeous city and killing the odd person.
However. I'm still open to the possibilities..
HelloLadies on 5 Mar '13 said:
Sounds like Edward Kenway will be the complete opposite in personality to Connor. Shame they are using the Assassins Creed name to push this obvious cash grab sequel. If they had managed to make this a successful new IP they really could have cornered the market instead of rubbing a once successful franchise even further into the mud.
Cinaclov on 8 Mar '13 said:
It's not so much the name but the numbering that I'm miffed about. It sounds more like a spin off using the AC3 engine rather than the next full step in the franchise. My reckoning is that they realised alot of people avoided the AC2 extensions as not being main games and so not essential, and they're trying to avoid the same thing happening again. Which just seems like blatant cashing in tbh. I'd much rather they refer to it as an AC3 spin off (although I could be entirely wrong, maybe it is an entirely new game with little to do with AC3 and is all new and amazing. I very much doubt it but you never know...)