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| Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – preview | Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – preview |
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| If Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's preview embargo could be compared to a horse in a stable, then not only is said horse frolicking in a sun-dappled meadow long after the proverbial door has been slammed, but the stable itself has been dismantled and sold for kindling. | If Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's preview embargo could be compared to a horse in a stable, then not only is said horse frolicking in a sun-dappled meadow long after the proverbial door has been slammed, but the stable itself has been dismantled and sold for kindling. |
| Details about the latest instalment in Ubisoft's lucrative sandbox adventure series have been leaking for the past week like water from a shotgunned sieve. So, in light of the information already in circulation (that it's out on current-gen consoles and PC on 1 November), it's likely you're here to find out more about Ubisoft's new game beyond its release date and the fact that it is, it is, a glorious thing, to be the pirate king. | Details about the latest instalment in Ubisoft's lucrative sandbox adventure series have been leaking for the past week like water from a shotgunned sieve. So, in light of the information already in circulation (that it's out on current-gen consoles and PC on 1 November), it's likely you're here to find out more about Ubisoft's new game beyond its release date and the fact that it is, it is, a glorious thing, to be the pirate king. |
| Yes, it turned out the rumour mill cranked into motion by gaming site Kotaku was bang to rights when the flags were unfurled at Ubisoft's reveal event in London. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is to be set during the golden age of piracy in the 1700s. It almost seems as though the publisher and myriad development studios trundling away on the franchise took the fans' criticisms and praise concerning last year's Assassin's Creed III to heart; they didn't really care much for the game's protagonist, but they did like the parts involving naval battles. Whether or not that's actually the case, players are in for a lot more action on the open sea and the stoical half-Brit/half-Native American Connor Kenway is now firmly in the franchise's rearview. | Yes, it turned out the rumour mill cranked into motion by gaming site Kotaku was bang to rights when the flags were unfurled at Ubisoft's reveal event in London. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is to be set during the golden age of piracy in the 1700s. It almost seems as though the publisher and myriad development studios trundling away on the franchise took the fans' criticisms and praise concerning last year's Assassin's Creed III to heart; they didn't really care much for the game's protagonist, but they did like the parts involving naval battles. Whether or not that's actually the case, players are in for a lot more action on the open sea and the stoical half-Brit/half-Native American Connor Kenway is now firmly in the franchise's rearview. |
| Ubisoft also revealed that Desmond Miles, the series' main protagonist who re-lives the past existences of his ancestral line with the use of a contraption called the Animus, won't feature in the new game. Details about his replacement are sketchy at this point, although some oblique reference was made to the hero being … "you". Apparently, the player will take on the role of a research drone working at Abstergo Entertainment, a division of the shady Abstergo Industries, which serves as a front for the Templar Order. You're one of many Abstergo employees who are using the Animus to explore past existences in order to seek out pieces of Eden for the Templars. The multiplayer, Ubisoft said, will also be wrapped in this fiction. | Ubisoft also revealed that Desmond Miles, the series' main protagonist who re-lives the past existences of his ancestral line with the use of a contraption called the Animus, won't feature in the new game. Details about his replacement are sketchy at this point, although some oblique reference was made to the hero being … "you". Apparently, the player will take on the role of a research drone working at Abstergo Entertainment, a division of the shady Abstergo Industries, which serves as a front for the Templar Order. You're one of many Abstergo employees who are using the Animus to explore past existences in order to seek out pieces of Eden for the Templars. The multiplayer, Ubisoft said, will also be wrapped in this fiction. |
| On me Ed, son | On me Ed, son |
| The single-player mode, however, will be dominated by the franchise's newest hero: Edward Kenway, grandfather of Connor Kenway and scourge of the high seas. A privateer who turns to buccaneering when he finds himself out of work in 1715, Kenway is described as a drunken, brash, rebellious fellow who just also happens to be highly intelligent and rather charismatic. While this certainly sounds like the sort of chap who'd happily buckle a swash after being chucked out of the Royal Navy, his character traits also sound cannily in line with those of one Ezio Auditore da Firenze, easily the most popular protagonist the series has had to date. The pitch for Ed Kenway's story also bears a passing resemblance to Ezio's as it follows his progression from devil-may-care brigand to committed participant in the war between the Assassins and the Templars. | The single-player mode, however, will be dominated by the franchise's newest hero: Edward Kenway, grandfather of Connor Kenway and scourge of the high seas. A privateer who turns to buccaneering when he finds himself out of work in 1715, Kenway is described as a drunken, brash, rebellious fellow who just also happens to be highly intelligent and rather charismatic. While this certainly sounds like the sort of chap who'd happily buckle a swash after being chucked out of the Royal Navy, his character traits also sound cannily in line with those of one Ezio Auditore da Firenze, easily the most popular protagonist the series has had to date. The pitch for Ed Kenway's story also bears a passing resemblance to Ezio's as it follows his progression from devil-may-care brigand to committed participant in the war between the Assassins and the Templars. |
| Ubisoft also unveiled the world and characters players could expect to surround them in Black Flag. The publisher was keen to highlight that the story for the new game would stick to real-world events within the historical timeline it is set, and that players shouldn't expect anything along the lines of sea-monsters, mermaids or entire crews of undead pirates in possession of cursed gold doubloons. This element of realism, however, appears somewhat flexible when it comes to character-models; the likes of nefarious seafarers such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Charles Vane looked suitably scurvy-ridden, yet female pirate captain Anne Bonny could easily have passed for a catwalk model in Milan. | Ubisoft also unveiled the world and characters players could expect to surround them in Black Flag. The publisher was keen to highlight that the story for the new game would stick to real-world events within the historical timeline it is set, and that players shouldn't expect anything along the lines of sea-monsters, mermaids or entire crews of undead pirates in possession of cursed gold doubloons. This element of realism, however, appears somewhat flexible when it comes to character-models; the likes of nefarious seafarers such as Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Charles Vane looked suitably scurvy-ridden, yet female pirate captain Anne Bonny could easily have passed for a catwalk model in Milan. |
| The game's sprawling environment, however, looks impressive in both its size and variety. Black Flag takes place at the fringes of the three great European empires of its age and, we are told, traversing it will be utterly seamless. This means that players will be able to sail Kenway's ship, The Jackdaw, though the length of it without having to watch any loading screens. The three main urban locations in Black Flag were Havanna in Cuba, Kingston in Jamaica, and the unofficial capital of the Republic of Pirates, Nassau. Presumably this means that free-running across rooftops, sword fights with the local authorities and leaps of faith from high buildings are still on the menu. | The game's sprawling environment, however, looks impressive in both its size and variety. Black Flag takes place at the fringes of the three great European empires of its age and, we are told, traversing it will be utterly seamless. This means that players will be able to sail Kenway's ship, The Jackdaw, though the length of it without having to watch any loading screens. The three main urban locations in Black Flag were Havanna in Cuba, Kingston in Jamaica, and the unofficial capital of the Republic of Pirates, Nassau. Presumably this means that free-running across rooftops, sword fights with the local authorities and leaps of faith from high buildings are still on the menu. |
| However, all in all, we were told, Black Flag features around 50 unique locations. Along their travels through Ubisoft's beautiful new creation, players will visit fishing villages, hidden coves, jungles, forts, Mayan ruins, deserted islands, and secluded plantations. They can even take a diving bell to the ocean floor to explore sunken shipwrecks. Black Flag's in-game map sounds like a vibrant and colourful playground, simply groaning with quests, collectibles and activities for the player to get stuck into. | However, all in all, we were told, Black Flag features around 50 unique locations. Along their travels through Ubisoft's beautiful new creation, players will visit fishing villages, hidden coves, jungles, forts, Mayan ruins, deserted islands, and secluded plantations. They can even take a diving bell to the ocean floor to explore sunken shipwrecks. Black Flag's in-game map sounds like a vibrant and colourful playground, simply groaning with quests, collectibles and activities for the player to get stuck into. |
| All aboard The Jackdaw | All aboard The Jackdaw |
| It's in these sections that the feature Ubisoft describes as the game's second character comes heavily into play: Kenway's ship, The Jackdaw. From the sounds of things, she's a far more involved and impressive vessel than Connor's galleon from Assassin's Creed III. Players will be able to upgrade, customise and (if needs be) repair Kenway's ship, as well as use her to take part in naval battles – which many players considered one of the highlights of the previous game of the series. | It's in these sections that the feature Ubisoft describes as the game's second character comes heavily into play: Kenway's ship, The Jackdaw. From the sounds of things, she's a far more involved and impressive vessel than Connor's galleon from Assassin's Creed III. Players will be able to upgrade, customise and (if needs be) repair Kenway's ship, as well as use her to take part in naval battles – which many players considered one of the highlights of the previous game of the series. |
| Combat on the open water sounds like a far more detailed affair in Black Flag, though. Not only will weather play more of a factor this time round, but The Jackdaw will encounter ships using varying types of attacks; some may try to outmanoeuvre her, while others will simply take the direct approach and ram into her broadside. Players can also lead boarding parties onto the decks of other vessels, or, if the opportunity presents itself, they can dive into the water, sneak aboard the enemy ship and assassinate its captain. | Combat on the open water sounds like a far more detailed affair in Black Flag, though. Not only will weather play more of a factor this time round, but The Jackdaw will encounter ships using varying types of attacks; some may try to outmanoeuvre her, while others will simply take the direct approach and ram into her broadside. Players can also lead boarding parties onto the decks of other vessels, or, if the opportunity presents itself, they can dive into the water, sneak aboard the enemy ship and assassinate its captain. |
| Players will also be able to use Kenway's Spyglass in The Jackdaw's crow's nest to seek out activities and side-quests, such as ships to attack, whales to harpoon or islands that offer the promise of buried treasure. From the sounds of things, these events will occur on the fly, so as to encourage players to explore every inch of the world the developers have created for the game. | Players will also be able to use Kenway's Spyglass in The Jackdaw's crow's nest to seek out activities and side-quests, such as ships to attack, whales to harpoon or islands that offer the promise of buried treasure. From the sounds of things, these events will occur on the fly, so as to encourage players to explore every inch of the world the developers have created for the game. |
| On the surface, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag contains some familiar beats, but the boatload of new content that Ubisoft has added to the mix looks genuinely exciting. Yes, the hero is still wearing a cowl and yes, it's likely the game's present-day storyline will probably remain impenetrably banal, but at its core, Black Flag seems to offer the prospect of high adventure on an epic scale. It's early days yet, but we have high hopes for Ubisoft's pirate yarn. At the very least, Ed Kenway promises to be better company then his grandson… | On the surface, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag contains some familiar beats, but the boatload of new content that Ubisoft has added to the mix looks genuinely exciting. Yes, the hero is still wearing a cowl and yes, it's likely the game's present-day storyline will probably remain impenetrably banal, but at its core, Black Flag seems to offer the prospect of high adventure on an epic scale. It's early days yet, but we have high hopes for Ubisoft's pirate yarn. At the very least, Ed Kenway promises to be better company then his grandson… |
| • This preview is based on information revealed at a press event in London. All travel expenses were paid for by the writer, although he did help himself to some complimentary orange juice and cocktail sausages on the night | • This preview is based on information revealed at a press event in London. All travel expenses were paid for by the writer, although he did help himself to some complimentary orange juice and cocktail sausages on the night |
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