Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced [REVIEW] – I Wish I Was a Pirate 

I’m a sucker for a pirate adventure, and over a decade ago, Ubisoft struck absolute gold with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. Well, in an era of remasters and remakes they have brought it back for a new generation, but Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is not just a basic remaster with a fresh coat of paint – it is a wonderful overhaul that balances out the gap between your typical beloved classic and modern gaming standards, easily cementing itself as the BEST pirate simulator available today (sorry, Sea of Thieves). 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The narrative of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced follows the Welsh privateer Edward Kenway – a (lovable?) rogue who stumbles his way into the ancient Brotherhood purely because he sees a chance for a hefty payday. Yeah, that sheer sense of greed is a bit detached from the usual noble hero tropes you’d associate with series protagonists, but it makes for a unique and alluring character arc that perfectly explores the life of a pirate and the misadventures that come along with it. 

The addition of newly recorded dialogue and expanded cutscenes helps add some emotional weight to his backstory, while also fleshing out legendary historical figures like Blackbeard (who feels an even more pivotal character this time around), and in fairness, the overarching journey remains top tier… well… with the exception of a few slow sections later in the game. It’s also worth noting that the present-day sections of the game’s original release are now gone, and instead, the modern framing is handled through a sleek Animus EGO hub. I’ll admit, I’m actually a big fan of the modern sections of older Assassin’s Creed titles, but in Black Flag, it felt like it took a more tedious turn with some repetitive and dull sections, so this isn’t a bad thing. It is something that MIGHT be divisive amongst some players though, so it’s worth keeping in mind that not everything has made the transition to this new release. 

When it comes to gameplay, you’ll notice some immediate changes when you step onto dry land. The old fighting mechanics have been completely scrapped in favour of a modern, parry-focused system. Enemies glow red when you need to dodge and blue when you can parry, allowing you to drain their stamina and pull off some brutal takedowns. And, of course, you’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve, with players able to mix in the likes of rope darts, low kicks, and pistol quick shots to control the crowd. It feels different from what you’d have been used to, but in a satisfying way that ensures combat encounters are more engaging than before. 

“Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is a truly special release that improves upon the original game in just about every way.” 

Stealth is equally refreshed, with players able to crouch whenever they want, utilise stealth grass, and dive into the ocean from almost anywhere. Even the dreaded eavesdropping missions have been fixed – if you get spotted while trailing a target, it no longer triggers an instant failure screen, but instead, a dynamic cutscene plays, and you just have to brawl your way out of the mess. This is a big improvement that fixes some of the more obvious problems with the game. 

The combat is not entirely flawless though, and whilst isolated scraps work really well, things get properly chaotic when you board an enemy galleon or take on a massive group of guards. The lock-on system can be incredibly finicky, and you will often take cheap hits from enemies attacking just off-screen that you can’t do much about. It is a bit of that classic clunk rearing its head, but you know what? It doesn’t ruin the fun… it just shows that there have been a few kinks left over in the transition. 

Of course, the real star of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is your ship, the Jackdaw, and that has also seen improvements. The controls of the ship have been tightened up so it feels far less floaty than it used to, whilst the water physics are vastly improved, turning a casual sail into a terrifying battle for survival when a massive storm rolls in. It looks stunning and each venture across the sea feels like a real voyage. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

Ship combat is as addictive as ever too, bolstered by new toys like heated broadside shots and rear shrapnel barrels that ensure you’re a real force of the ocean. You can also recruit a trio of new naval officers via some brilliantly written side quests that blend seamlessly into the main game, and once on board, these officers grant massive perks, like a burst of speed for ramming or vital defensive buffs. And yes, the sea shanties are still an absolute joy to listen to while you cruise the crystal blue waters – ‘I dreamed a dream, the other night’… it takes me back to the early days of the PlayStation 4. 

What truly makes Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced a breath of fresh air is how it treats the open world. Recent entries in the series have relied on massive maps with strict level gating that forces you to grind side quests just to progress, and whilst I’ve still enjoyed the series, it felt very different from its roots. Well, this game bins all of that, and you are free to sail anywhere right from the start. Sure, some regions are marked as hard, but that just means you will face fiercer weather or tougher galleons. It is a warning, not an impenetrable roadblock, and every island feels like a natural playground rather than a tedious checklist. There’s simply so much to do, but it all flows perfectly into the adventure and feels like something that naturally calls you as opposed to feeling like a necessity to progress. 

Presentation-wise, the game is a total triumph. The West Indies have never looked better, and thanks to the power of current consoles, loading screens are practically non-existent. I played on the PlayStation 5 Pro and it was simply astounding, but even on the base PlayStation 5, it’s a real looker. 

Developer: Ubisoft 
Publisher: Ubisoft 
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC 
Website: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/black-flag-resynced