Review
Assassin’s Creed has taken us from the Crusades in the 12th Century to the American Revolution. While the stories may share a structure, each entry before 2014 felt new, offering fresh goals and additions to the series and culminating in a storytelling arc that came to define it. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag sets the stage for a new narrative, one that began before Assassin’s Creed 3 even launched.
When the latest game in the series was announced to take place during “The Golden Age of Piracy,” I was somewhat concerned it would stray too far from what made Assassin's Creed unique. While the era is often romanticised for its freedom and adventure, Ubisoft faced the challenge of balancing that appeal with the series' deeper narrative focus—a balance not always seamlessly achieved in this installment.
Edward Kenway, grandfather of Assassin’s Creed 3’s Connor, leads this adventure. Unlike previous heroes seeking revenge, justice, or wisdom, Edward pursues power, wealth, and infamy. Easy-going, he avoids conflicts that do not benefit him, but that doesn’t mean he lacks the skills to rise to a challenge on land and sea.
Matt Ryan’s portrayal brings Edward to life as a selfish, opportunistic, yet deeply loyal character. Though not all of these traits are ideal in an Assassin's Creed protagonist, they provide a compelling starting point for Edward as he begins his journey into the world of Assassin’s Creed. He is accompanied through the depths of the Assassin-Templar war by legendary figures of the era, including Blackbeard, Charles Vane, and Woodes Rogers.
Each character, no matter how minor, helps add depth to Edward’s overall arc, where he must decide what he wants and how far he is willing to go to achieve his lofty goals. Blackbeard, arguably the most legendary figure of the time, loves the adventure in his relative youth but begins to grow disillusioned as he reaches his apex. Benjamin Hornigold sometimes acts more as a privateer than a pirate as he bounces from one cause to the next.
These legendary figures are not the only ones who influence Edward’s arc. New characters like Adewale act much like the angel on Edward’s shoulder, and it’s fascinating to see Edward rely on Adewale so much, especially when he challenges Edward to see past himself and the greater fight he could be aiding. Even side characters like Pirate-turned-Assassin Rhona Dinsmore highlight the colourful people who have joined the Assassins and foreshadow Edward’s eventual fate.
The modern-day storyline has always been both the driving force and the anchor point for the past Assassin’s Creed experiences. When we entered the Animus to relive Altair's memories, we did it to find the mythic Apple of Eden. Reliving Ezio's memories would set in motion the gripping storyline of the cataclysm looming over Earth. At times, it could feel intrusive, but it was always a stable foundation we came to depend on.
After the death of Desmond Miles in Assassin’s Creed 3, the series pivots to spotlight a new layer of the Assassin-Templar conflict previously unexplored: the role of video games themselves. Stepping into the shoes of an ambiguous researcher at Abstergo Entertainment, our task is to turn the memories of Edward Kenway into a video game. While it’s an interesting risk, it’s an unusual pivot towards a meta-narrative as it frames Abstergo as Ubisoft and makes a suggestive comment about corporate overlords.
This narrative choice, while expanding the lore, risks weakening the core of Assassin’s Creed by removing personal stakes and emotional investment. Without Desmond’s story to keep us grounded, the Modern Day struggles to find its feet, and it doesn’t give us enough of a reason to want to stay. In Brotherhood, while the Modern Day was limited, I always relished the chance to explore the world that had changed around Desmond and how his team were dealing with their circumstances.
The Verdict
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag walks a fine line as it dutifully attempts to be both a pirate adventure and a compelling Assassin’s Creed story. It is held afloat by memorable performances and individual character arcs that make the overall story worth it. While Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag attempts to set a new universal goal for the series, it has a long way to go before its next steps feel worth the time and emotional investment. Held together by the promise of an uncertain future, legendary figures and a story about purpose and true freedom, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Edward Kenway earn their place as memorable additions to the Assassin’s Creed series.
Main Narrative - The story for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag strives to tell an original & fresh story for the series. While it can often feel as though it is against Edward’s overall personality, witnessing Edward’s growth makes the story pay off. It might feel a bit long at times, but each sequence serves a purpose that highlights an important aspect of Edward’s future. The Modern-Day is the biggest letdown, as it has plenty of potential, but that potential will take a while to pay off, if at all - 7/10
Characters - Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag features a colourful and likeable cast of characters, and each has a flavour that changes the story in many interesting ways. Blackbeard is a fun character to be around, and it was good to see a bit of the man behind the legend. The game also takes the time to try and make sure that its side characters have a useful purpose as well, even if they are not featured as much as maybe they should - 8/10
Environmental & Collectible - The gorgeous vistas & islands of the Caribbean make for a fantastic playground. While there are minimal changes in the world due to our actions, sailing through beautiful seas was never boring. On the one hand, the collectibles in this game are written to tell a consistent & tight narrative with the purpose of world-building and establishing new lore that may be able to pay off in the future - 7.5/10
I give this game 8/10 blood cubes.
