“AC Black Flag Resynced”: Less luggage, more pirate adventures
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This article is also available in English. It was translated with technical assistance and reviewed by the editors before publication.
Don’t show it anymore.
Is this a game world? Optimized gameplay? Dreamy look? Probably all together. Ten years after the original, Ubisoft lets pirates off the leash again in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. This is not a loveless cash cow, but a detailed remake with new graphics, new content and the strengths of the 2013 original. We inevitably wondered why Ubisoft would invest millions in a game like Skulls and Bones when a near-perfect pirate adventure had been smoldering for years in a treasure chest on some island.
Read more after the announcement
Exciting pirate adventure
Vast expanses, fearless pirates – at the beginning of the 18th century, the Caribbean Sea was the scene of numerous battles between privateers, the British and the Spaniards. Day laborer Edward Kenway sees his future at sea, leaves his wife Caroline with the promise of returning a rich man, and throws himself into the water. But it’s not that simple. As months turn into years, Edward finally puts on his pirate hat, but finds himself embroiled in a power struggle between two secret cults that will dramatically change his life and the lives of his friends.
In the timeline of the twisted Assassin’s Creed series, Black Flag is a prequel to Assassin’s Creed 3, set decades later during the American Revolutionary War. As a result, in addition to historical figures such as pirate legends Blackbeard and Anne Bonny, characters appear who play important roles in the subsequent course of the series. All parts are united by the eternal battle between the Templars and the Assassins, who in the background influence the fate of humanity.
A cleverly redesigned game, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced impresses with its gripping story and stunning visuals. (Painting:
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While later entries in the series took a backseat to story in favor of expansive gameplay, Black Flag is a story-driven, open-world action-adventure game. Edward’s story has a strong tragic tone: traitors and victims stand in his bloody path. “Black Flag” is more serious than the rest of the series and as realistic as an action adventure about super-assassins and vile Templars can be.
Reasonably updated
In Resynced, not much has changed in the story. In addition to the overhauled graphics, the remake offers tweaked game mechanics and some new game content, such as a several-hour side quest that introduces new characters. Removed “modern day” excursions in which players awaken from the memories of their ancestors using the “Animus”. Instead, the portals open at crucial moments in the story, when Edward experiences an alternate progression of his story while doing parkour.
Read more after the announcement
The game is based on the series’ typical combination of action, parkour and stealth. Edward eavesdrops and stalks his victims, moving across rooftops and infiltrating enemy bases. With so-called eagle vision, he can mark important enemies from above or use his sixth sense to identify enemies by their heat signature. Is this historically accurate? No, but very effective in combat. Discovered, Edward defends himself with a saber or pistol. Dodge, parry, strike – nothing more.
How? No skill tree? No more gamepad cramps? Yes, the pirate adventure was almost entirely without role-playing elements when it was first attempted in 2013. Edward can arm himself with a saber and a pistol, maybe have a talisman with a few bonuses, but that’s about it. Even individual areas are divided not into experience levels, but into “Easy”, “Medium” and “Difficult”. This results in lively and fluid combat. Some players may find this too easy because, as always, the enemies are not particularly smart and are easy to counter. For any player who once stared helplessly at the skill tree and dreaded combo moves, the return to purist saber-rattling is a relief.
Battles on the high seas
A feature of Black Flag was once again naval battles. In addition to ground missions, Edward must hunt enemy ships. In return, from the very beginning he receives a maneuverable ship that can be equipped with cannons and mortars. His ship does the most damage with a broadside; forward cannons can destroy the sails. When the enemy cannot move, Edward and his crew board the ship. Then, after a short battle, he can either use it as repair materials or take it into his fleet to send on small missions later.
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Edward is not only a man of action, in addition to his missions, he also builds his own small settlement, which fills his treasury. He uses the stolen money and raw materials to build a general store where he buys ammunition and medicine, or hires harbor captains to outfit his ship. Even a brothel is simply necessary for his team.
In addition to this simple element of building strategy, Edward can take out a harpoon and hunt sharks, or climb into a diving bell to discover valuable chests deep underwater. All this brings him gold, equipment and raw materials. He can use this to make a new weapon belt or expand his first aid kit.
Even the mission set adapts to this purist gameplay principle. While there’s still plenty to do outside of the plot—an assassin’s mission here, a treasure map there, and a small puzzle there—the world map isn’t as cluttered as it was in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. “Black Flag Resynced” feels more focused than its own competitors. This helps “Resynced” achieve a successful and clean comeback. Smooth, exciting and fantastic to watch.
Conclusion
Resident Evil 2, Dead Space and now Assassin’s Creed Black Flag have been re-synced. Ubisoft’s pirate adventure easily joins the ranks of excellent remakes that put a lot of effort into providing fan service. Fantastic landscapes, thrilling naval battles and a whole lot more to discover – Resynced is a seemingly bottomless treasure chest of adventure.
In fact, after Shadows or Valhalla, this is finally another Assassin’s Creed whose story we’re excited about. Less role-playing? Gifted. But everything plays more and more lively. This may be too easy for some players, but it provides an uncomplicated flow that the series has been missing lately. It doesn’t matter that opponents are usually not a problem and are easy to outwit. “Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced” could become the basis for the creation of other games in the Ubisoft series.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will release on July 9 for Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series. It costs about 60 euros. USK from 16. For our test, we played through the Windows version.
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