I still remember the first time I played Assassin’s Creed Black Flag back in 2013. That game truly made me feel like a real pirate. Sailing on the open seas, street fighting aboard ships, and ransacking treasures; now, it looks like Ubisoft will be bringing the game back to life, this time with a huge revamping that may change the impressions of Edward Kenway’s saga for all.
Reports indicate that the much-rumored remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is now officially alive and kicking. Of course, it’s not just a minor graphical upgrade anymore. The narrative and gameplay are receiving a complete makeover.
When Black Flag was first released back in the day, it quickly achieved legendary status as one of the very best games in the Assassin’s Creed series. We played as Edward Kenway, a complete pirate turned Assassin. He was bold, charming, and a bit selfish at times; still, this is what made him so believable. You could sail from one place to another under the Caribbean sun, hunt for treasures, and fight off menacing warships in epic sea battles. It was a mixture of freedom and adventure so finely balanced that it could keep you enjoying hours of unbroken gameplay.
Now it looks like Ubisoft is steering the series back into the waters, but they might have some new tricks up their sleeves. French magazine Jeux Vidéo claims the remake may do away with the modern segments found in the original. You know those sections where you worked for Abstergo and used the Animus system to explore memories? Apparently, those might be gone.
Instead, the focus of the remake is to delve far deeper into Edward Kenway’s personal story. Even more than the original, it will concentrate on his relationships, his motivations, and the events that drove his decisions. To be honest, I find that pretty cool. Edward was such a deep protagonist, and I’d always be curious about what went on in his head.
But not everybody’s for the change. Some players really liked the link between the world of pirates and the present-day story regarding Assassins versus Templars. It added this air of mystery to the entire game, forcing you to ask pertinent questions concerning power, control, and what people would go to any length for. Removing that would lessen some of the depth that made the series truly unique.
Still, it seems Ubisoft is leaning towards a pirate-centric adventure instead. Perhaps they just want to immerse players in the experience of being real pirates. And once again, any thought on modern adventures would not get in the way.
Apart from the story updates, gameplay will also see a great overhaul. Reports say it will add role-playing game elements, something along the lines of what we’ve seen in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Odyssey: customizable gear, weapons with stats, lots of character progression options. Mostly the same map, but there will be some new activities on the island and ocean sides: animal encounters, side missions, and upgrades for your ship.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about that one. I liked Black Flag for the fact that its simplicity was its charm: grab your sword, sail your ship, and explore. If they turn it into another RPG where you have to worry about stats and gear all the time, it will completely lose that old-school adventure feeling.
But still, I’m excited. Black Flag is one of those games that stays with you. It made me feel freer than any other game could. I still remember moments just standing on my ship watching the sunset with the sound of sea shanties. If Ubisoft brings that sort of freedom back into its gameplay, it will truly be a worthwhile undertaking.
Will the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake relive that magic? Or will it turn out to be yet another modern RPG? Only time will tell. But the one thing for sure is that the sea is once again calling.
And quite honestly, I can’t wait to raise that black flag again. You may also be interested in: GTA 6 Ambrosia Explained – The Rust Belt Jungle Where Power and Chaos Meet
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