Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag

By: Adam Coleman 

Once again, let us turn back the clock and dive into the role of our favorite Templar fighting Assassins. In this installment, we play the role of a ruthless, cut throat privateer turned pirate named Edward Kenway. For those of you new to the series (or who have been playing the previous games in the dark without any sound, weirdoes), this is the grandfather of our last protagonist, Connor, and the father of Haytham Kenway. Edward is a great character. He comes to life, in the same way Altair and Ezio did in their respective games. He fits the role of a swashbuckling pirate through and through. He’s sly, less than graceful, always looking to make a quick coin or two. This all takes place during the Golden Age of Piracy, a 100 years before Connor’s time I’d say and you play your way through a massive Templar conspiracy (surprise, surprise) and move throughout the Caribbean, and if I may, It’s F*****G MASSIVE. I mean, if you thought that playing in New England was hard to navigate, then you better bring a second map and a third navigator to help you out on this one.

Believe it or not I didn't have any rum before this

In this installment, the map is just enormous and far from empty. Aside from the main story, there are just so many things you can find yourself distracted with before you move on to the next main mission. There are just so many islands, little settlements, and hidden coves strategically placed all around the map, it’s nearly impossible to see them all. Among the chaos of the Caribbean, there are, like all of the Assassin’s Creed games, three main cities you travel between. They are not as important in this game like they are in AC, AC2, and AC3, but they do start out as the center of focus. What really takes center stage throughout most of the game is the mighty Jackdaw. There are so many things you can do to upgrade the Jackdaw. Things like the broadside cannons, to the swivel guns, and you even get mortars to hit your enemies before they can even get close.  All the customization is great too. You have a choice to customize the type of sail, the wheel, and your ship’s figure head. You have a plethora of choices. Everything from pieces of Blackbeard’s ship, The Queen Anne’s Revenge, to styling you’re ship to tribute the pervious assassin’s before him (or after in Connor’s case). The only downside is that the upgrades cost a significant amount of in game money.

The Black Pearl’s got nothing on me.

As for the naval battles, they have improved immensely. It will take a bit of adjusting at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll want to fight every single ship you see on the horizon. Once you have your ship and you know how to battle, the last thing you’ll really need to know is where your home base is. In AC3, you have the Homestead. At the Homestead, you make improvements by completing side quests. What has changed is in Black Flag, you get your own freaking island, and it’s pretty big too. Like before, it holds an unlockable armor, a bunch of other hidden secrets, and can be upgraded. What is different is that you have to upgrade it by, again, spending some more in game cash. Seems to be the only real flaw from what I have seen throughout my time playing. But I know what some of you are thinking: “If Desmond is dead, how can we go on?!” I’m here to tell you to give the present day story a chance. I was skeptical at first, and the present day story was a big, fun part of the game for me. Desmond’s story was mostly what kept me coming back (aside from the awesome assassinations). I was afraid that without Desmond, there would be no present day story. There is no way they could replace him. Move on, and play as another character. But that’s the thing, he hasn’t been replaced, and the Assassins are still out there, just play it through, and if you’re anything like me you’ll love it. All you have to do is take that Leap of Faith.

Good:

           

- Great story line

           

- Enormous map of the Caribbean to play in

       

    - More side quests and things to collect than there are letters in this review

  

         - PIRATES!....and you get your own ship

Bad:

         

    - Free running movement can still be a pain at times

           

- Everything costs some outrageous amount of money, and that takes time to collect

           

 - NO DESMOND!!

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Assassin’s Creed 3

Time once again to return to the shadows of history and put a stop to the Templars in the historical open world stealth game “Assassin’s Creed 3” and this time around players are heading for one of the most turbulent times in American history, the American Revolution. For players who aren’t familiar with the franchise the game comes with an introduction of the story thus far before you get a chance to dig into the action, helping fill in the gaps for anyone who is experiencing the world of “Assassin’s Creed”. Players again assume a duel role between main characters as you experience the events in the present world as Desmond Miles, who is coming closer to finding a way to prevent the destruction of Earth through what his ancestors have shown him. Alongside this, players now assume the role of a new assassin, Conner Kenway a half English/half Mohawkian man as well as his father Haythem Kenway who roles assume most of the players experience through the game. “Assassin’s Creed 3” brings a whole new feel set apart from its predecessors whose stories have taken place mostly in cities and towns, this time around players are able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Colonial American towns like Boston and New York as well as experience the wild untamed frontier. Players will be able to explore the wide open region full of wildlife such as deer, bears, rabbits and mountain lions along with others that can be caught and killed and sold at general stores throughout the game but the fur can be damaged through to many attacks or using pistols so hunters be warned. While other new gameplay additions include new additions to your arsenal aside from the classic weapons of the assassin’s trade like the hidden blade, players now can use muskets and rifles, which can be fired at a considerable, reload time, or used as a melee weapon. Close combat has also been modified, as players are surrounded and are about to be attack time slows down momentarily allowing you to counter in various ways whether it is dodging, blocking, disarming or attacking your opponents and as an added defense human shields can be taken against firing lines of enemies before they get the chance to mow down players. “Assassin's Creed 3” features new weather simulations such as snow, fog, and rain and depending on the seasons, weather determines how the Templars and soldiers will move around with things such as heavy winter snows making it more difficult to move around. 

Another major change is the Homestead or your home base for all of your assassin activities, which starts as a single house and a few outbuildings but expands as Connor performs missions for people who have been mistreated by the Templars or British soldiers which helps you to convince them to settle near the Homestead. As the number of people living around your Homestead increases so does the ability to upgrade your home and your arsenal as the people in your community bring valuable materials and items to your Homestead such as mined minerals and farmed crops. “Assassin's Creed 3” also features a naval aspect. The entire eastern seaboard is a playable area and carries with it its own playable missions, action, side events as Connor captains the ship and controls attacks on enemy ships. The ship like other in game items can be upgraded with better guns, a battering ram and much more. The game also offers a multiplayer mode feature with over 12 modes, such as “Domination” where players hold certain points on the map against oncoming foes. “Assassin's Creed 3” also features a new co-operative multiplayer mode called “Wolf Pack” where players to form teams of up to 4 people and work collectively to eliminate NPC assassination targets, known as “Moles”.

“Assassin’s Creed 3” has completely outdone itself with a whole new approach to the game players know, removing players from crowded cities and adding the ability to freely leave and go out and explore the incredibly designed wilderness. As well as the addition of a new face to the assassins, which while everyone I’m sure has loved Ezio, being able to play as a new assassin is something to love as you set out after the Templars in one of the most influential times in American history. Players will see and interact with a number of famous people of this era in history such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and many others, as well as taking part in famous moments of the revolution whether it is famous battles or history changing movements. “Assassin’s Creed 3” has so much to see and so much to do players will find no shortage of action and enjoyment for seasoned assassins and new recruits alike.

Good:

-Incredible time period to explore and be a part of

-Finally a new assassin

-An endless amount of things to do

-Highly enjoyable multiplayer

Bad:

-Player movements are still a problem at times when climbing across rooftops and trees or during chases trying to get Conner to go the *Expletive deleted* right way 

(Game Reviewed on Xbox 360) 

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

Time to turn the history books upside down once again, everyone, with the latest release to the “Assassin’s Creed” franchise: “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations”.  Players take on the role of Desmond Miles and his ancestor, Ezio Auditore, as they continue to unravel the secrets that they need save the world from destruction at the hands of the Templers. In order to do so Desmond must use a machine known as the Animus to re-live the experiences of Ezio. This time around Ezio and Desmond now plan to return to their roots and unravel the mysteries of the very first assassins through a past ancestor they share, Altair, who players may or may not recognize from the original “Assassin’s Creed” game.  His secrets must now be revealed in “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations”. The game continues the rich tradition of “Assassin’s Creed” games as you are placed in an open world full of treasures and a beautifully designed world of the time period you are in with amazing accuracy, allowing you to fully experience the famous places you set out to explore. As an assassin, Ezio is always well prepared and comes fully-equipped with an arsenal of weapons such as a sword, dagger, throwing knives, and the ever popular hidden blade along with other weapons and tools found throughout the game, Ezio can also buy new weapons from shops in districts all over the cities he currently resides in as well as new armor and fabric designs. Some shops, however, may be boarded up and closed down due to the corruptness of the Templars but these shops can be restored at your expense and earn you money and restore the city to its former glory. While Ezio was always able to freely travel across rooftops and climb buildings as a skilled assassin, a new attribute to the game is the application of the “hookblade” which can be used in travel across zip lines, as well as being used in combat. Also added to “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” is the ability to seize districts of the city from the Templars, which Ezio must capture and defend using a "tower defense" mini game, where you control a group of assassins from rooftops against several waves of Templar soldiers and siege equipment helping free the city from the clutches of the Templars themselves. With all this “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” still has more to offer through multiplayer where players can join others and play games such as capture the flag which is self-explanatory or you can enjoy a simple “deathmatch” where you track down a target and assassinate them which earns you points, the more stealthy the assassination the more points you get. With a historically accurate world, highly enjoyable gameplay and story “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” is easily a much welcomed addition to the franchise thus far.

All and all “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” despite being similar to its predecessors brings a definite new set of upgrades that keep “Assassin's Creed” competitive with its past versions with a great core gameplay that fans know and love. While constantly having to defend the areas you saved from the Templars in the den defense mini game, it can quickly be overlooked by everything else the game has to offer.

Good:

-Historically accurate world

-Fantastic story that brings back memories of the first game

-Highly enjoyable online experience

Bad:

-Den defense mini game is lame and gets annoying

-Fans of the game may want a new assassin; we’ve seen enough of Ezio

(Game Reviewed on Xbox 360)

Scully Rating: 9 out of 10