After numerous rumours, leaks, and social media hoaxes about its cancellation, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is here! Possibly the worst-kept secret in gaming, the remake of the beloved 2013 swashbuckling, stabby adventure has arrived on modern platforms. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, this ground-up remake looks to recapture gamers all over again with
Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, exactly how much of Black Flag has changed? And, is it worth revisiting for gamers who have already played the original?
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: My Favourite Sea Shanty Simulator
Narratively, the main plot remains largely unchanged. Privateer Edward Kenway kills an assassin and assumes his identity, leading to one of the series’ best character arcs. Edward is already very nimble for a pirate, and slowly works his way up to becoming a fully-fledged assassin. Of course, the Assassin’s Order don’t take too kindly to him bumping off one of their own, so he quickly becomes embroiled in their ongoing war with the Templars in order to get in their good graces.
Although the major plot points remain the same, some scenes are expanding upon with added dialogue. Having these little extra conversations does help in feeling more connected to the characters, but it still doesn’t quite feel like enough. With Edward being one of the more memorable assassins in the franchise, it’s great to have more time with this complex scallywag turned hero. It’s just a shame there isn’t more to really develop Edward.
Gameplay
On-foot gameplay has received a big overhaul. You can now enter stealth mode any time with the push of a button, and a detection meter makes it much easier to see how close you are to being spotted. A more modernised HUD allows quicker access to Edward’s tools, so items like the blowgun and smoke bombs are much easier to use in a pinch.
If you are spotted, though, the improved, more fluid combat in Resynced makes dispatching enemies much more satisfying. Melee focuses on well-timed parries and waiting for openings or chipping away at an enemy’s guard meter to perform a takedown. You could also just try and sweep their legs, flooring them and giving you a chance to quickly finish them off. The combat doesn’t feel completely different; instead, it’s more of a balance between the original Black Flag and the newer Assassin’s Creed games. It works well, and the visceral takedowns make these bloody scenarios all the more brutal!
Parkour is something that I’ve always felt was a little off in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. I often found myself leaping in a completely different direction than where I was aiming, with the older games being the biggest offenders for this. Resynced plays a lot better when leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Transitioning from various animations looks smoother, and changing directions is quicker than ever. It’s not perfect, and the flow can still grind to a halt when, for example, Edward decides to grab a nearby windowsill instead of leaping to a balcony.
Weigh Hey, Roll and Go!
Arguably Black Flag‘s best gameplay element was navigating the Caribbean in Edward’s ship: the Jackdaw. Naturally, Resynced is no different, and piloting the Jackdaw is as fun and engaging as it ever was. Sailing around the expansive map is so incredibly chill. Being able to naturally come across collectibles and side content, rather than having a map full of markers, makes exploration feel worthwhile.
Whilst navigation is unchanged, ship-to-ship combat has had plenty of updates. Each of the Jackdaw’s weapons now have a secondary attack. The Heated Shot, for example, has a shorter range, but can absolutely devastate any ship unlucky enough to be close to you. Of course, if a ship is close, you can always board it and engage the crew head on!
Ship combat is just as thrilling as ever, although I seem to remember it being a little tougher in the original. Granted, I was playing on normal difficulty in Resynced, so perhaps I need to bump it up and see if I can survive being sent to Davy Jones’ Locker…
Graphics & Audio
When looking at screenshots and trailers, I wasn’t too impressed by the visuals. Resynced didn’t seem to be that different from what I remember the original Black Flag on PS4 looking like. Well, how wrong I was! Comparing the two, it’s clear just how much has gone into improving absolutely everything. From higher-quality textures, to more detailed environments, and pretty much everything in between.
Massively improved lighting and weather systems are perhaps the biggest highlights. These may seem like small touches, but they make Resynced look so good. It’s very faithful to the original’s style, and the improvements thankfully don’t diminish that in any way.
I played on the Balanced setting, which targets 40 fps and a higher fidelity. Whilst I had no issues with frame drops, I did come across a few graphical issues here and there. These were mainly small issues like artifacts popping up on the world map or clothes clipping through character models. Nothing game-breaking, thankfully!
The audio also sees a slew of improvements. New audio lines help flesh out characters — especially Edward — much more than what I remember from the original. Music has always been, for me, a highlight in the Assassin’s Creed series. And it’s no different here. Except, of course, with the added bonus of the sea shanties!
Longevity
Resynced has plenty to keep players busy for a good chunk of time. It isn’t as bloated as some of the more recent titles (I’m looking at you, Valhalla), but there’s still a lot to do. Besides the main story, underwater expeditions, collectibles, and all manner of other side activities, Ubisoft has introduced new content!
First up is a new set of missions centred around Blackbeard. This expands the legendary pirates’ story (something that was lacking in the original), although it isn’t unlocked until very late into the game. There are also new side missions with loveable “Gentleman Pirate”, Stede Bonnet. These, again, flesh out the character more. Both sets of quests are welcome additions, as are the missions revolving around recruiting three new officers for the Jackdaw. These aren’t as in-depth, but feature new characters that unlock perks for your ship.
Final Thoughts
I was a big fan of Black Flag upon its initial release. In fact, I’d say it was one of my favourite Ubisoft games ever. Now, 13 years later, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has made me fall in love with it all over again. Re-experiencing Edward Kenway’s adventure from privateer to assassin feels better than ever thanks to the reworked controls and improved mechanics. An easy recommendation for both series newcomers and veterans alike.
For being a great remake of one of the best pirate adventures in all of gaming, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced receives a very appropriate ThumbCulture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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