Ubisoft Singapore's Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced removes the boring parts of pirate life from its fantasy RPG, creating a more focused and fun experience. Edward Kenway, a gold-chasing, rule-dodging protagonist, stumbles into the ancient war between Templars and Assassins after a shipwreck with a Templar named Walpole, whose identity he assumes for a bounty.
A Focused Pirate Fantasy
The remake excels at delivering the swashbuckling privateer fantasy. Players spend time sailing, attacking Spanish vessels, sword fighting, plotting heists, and playing checkers with sailors. Unlike the 2013 original, it avoids breaking that fantasy with tedious tailing missions, collectible sweeping, or lengthy Abstergo interludes.
The game takes a stern editor's pen to its source material, cutting tailing missions where Edward followed targets at distance for extended periods. While a net positive, the review notes it would have been more interesting to redesign these stealth missions for tension and payoff.
Abstergo Interludes Removed
Gone are the Abstergo interludes, a double-edged sword. The extra plot layer—players reliving historical memories for a sinister corporation—is fundamental to the series. However, by Black Flag, these passages felt like unwelcome downtime. Now, that narrative exists only as text logs in a menu, unlocked by tracking floating icons on the world map. Abstergo also appears in limited-time challenges rewarding arbitrary actions with currency for cosmetics, staying true to the corporate angle. The removal improves the game but lacks creativity.
Combat and New Missions Shine
The overhauled combat and new missions are a clearcut victory. Fights offer options and combo potential, such as drawing an enemy in with a grappling hook and sweeping their legs, making conflicts look like tightly choreographed movie set-pieces. A handful of new officer missions provide crew members with well-written backstories, matching the quality of original missions.
The game's old strengths hold firm. Edward's day-to-day life delights with variety—upgrading a manor at a private cove one day, clambering Incan ruins for Templar treasure the next. Primary quests are well-paced, well-acted, and make players feel heroic. But the moments in between—sailing at night, watching lanterns sway, listening to the crew sing a shanty—make the game special. It gives enough space to feel a pirate's freedom, now more than ever. As the review concludes, Ubisoft may be plundering its own library for riches, but players get their fair share of the booty.
