Assassin Creed 4 Black Flag Review

Does being a captain with a life of plundering prizes, promises of adventure, sailing the west indies while encountering legends like black beard the pirate thrill you? 

This time around Ubisoft has gamers unravelling a conspiracy between high-ranking Templars within the British, Spanish and French empires who, under the guise of cleaning up piracy in the Caribbean, have used their positions to locate the Sage - later identified as Bartholomew Roberts  - who is the only man that can lead them to the Observatory, which they intend to use to spy on and blackmail world leaders.

Assassin Creed 4 Black Flag is historic action-based open world game featuring a fun and carefree pirate know as Edward Kenway. Edward is a British privateer-turned-pirate and eventual member of the Assassin Order; father of Haytham Kenway, and grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton, the two playable characters of Assassin Creed 3.   I won't spoil too much of the storyline, but Edward makes a name for him by battling against famous pirates such as Black beard, Mark Bonnar, Benjamin Hornigold, Calico Jack, Ralph Ineson, and Anne Bonnie (whom which Edward shares a romance with)

AC4 has some innovations that will leave players with a more enjoyable experience this time around.  Some of the pitfalls of previous Assassin Creed titles were the repetitious task of tailing a target and being forced to hear their drawn out dialog until you are able to assassinate the target. This time around AC4 married the vertical city base traversal of AC2 with the energetic world movement of AC3, so players can enjoy assassinating a target instead of dread it.  Ubisoft learned from the mistakes by opening with a lean story that is action driven juxtaposed to the AC3 that was heavy worded.  Edward is more interested in money instead of the goals of some secret society. Edward is a relate-able character that enjoys the thrills of life: money, fighting, sex, and infidelity.  Edward's vices gets players familiar with every crack and curvaceous of the island beauties in west indies that the player will be sure to enjoy.

With over 40 hours of gameplay to explore, plundering tombs and sailing across massive islands with an inspiring core storyline filled with assassinations and forbidden romances. AC4 captures the spirit and l the golden age of pirating as gamers feeding off trouble and turmoil, clearing the decks of a Spanish galleons and assassinating targets in manners never before seen. 

Graphically, It's one of the best looking games of 2013.  It placing an emphasis on well lite, tropical locations and the amazing water effects of the open seas.  Minimum load, perfect sounds of waves clashing as you set sail into the orange sunset wherever the wind takes you. A world brimming with places to go, loot to plunder, and people to stab.

Overall, Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag is a prequel to AC3 that has a main storyline that can't be missed. The multi-player mode puts you in a cat and mouse mode that was introduced in the brotherhood.  If you are like me and never played the Assassin Creed titles, then this is the best game to get you involved with the franchise.  With more fluid gameplay and fun driven storyline, I give Assassin Creed 4 Black Flag a 9.0/10.