Our videos of AC IV Black Flag

BlimBlim
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 | 10:00 AM
14 comments

First 10 minutes PC PS4 Xbox One Wii U Xbox 360 PS3

After so many years, the release of a new Assassin's Creed game has become a ritual. Every year around the same date in late October, we receive our copy of the new installment in the series and we discover what the multiple dev teams at Ubisoft have managed to improve, or sometimes break. This year is no exception to the rule with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, which we unfortunately haven't had time to complete due to the flu. Thus, all we could do was play the game for something like 8 hours to be able to tell you guys what we think about it. Videos and impressions are inside as usual.
Note: We've been told that a Day One patch would be released to correct some of the visual glitches which may appear when playing. We obviously captured the videos without the patch but we'll post some more if we notice any major improvements.

Verdict

After 8 hours playing the game, I have to say that Assassin's Creed IV is a pleasant surprise. If the rest of the adventure is as good as what I got to experience so far, then this might be one of the best episodes in the series. Thanks to its enhanced visuals and a much more interesting character than in AC III, Black Flag corrects almost everything that the previous game did wrong. There is still a feeling of dejà vu obviously, but even though the series probably needs a fresh start with revamped gameplay mechanics, there is something definitely appealing in the 18th century Caribbeans . Maybe it's because for the first time in the series, the game proposes a truly open world environment. Maybe it's because they've managed to clearly improve some of the gameplay mechanics - like combat and stealth for example. Or maybe it's because there is something exciting in playing the role of a mighty pirate. What is certain is that I'm really looking forward to continue the game and I'm not even sure I can wait until the next gen versions come out!

Téléchargement

Commented on 2013-10-29 10:43:35

@BlimBlim

Thanks for sharing your impressions and the videos with us.

Could you please go into a little more detail on how exactly the gameplay mechanics like combat and stealth got improved?

AC's combat being improved is certainly something I'm very hopeful for, now you just got me even more excited for this game. :D

In reply to

BlimBlim

Commented on 2013-10-29 10:57:39

The combat itself didn't change much from AC3's, it's just that Edward is much more vulnerable than Connor so if you are cornered by 3-4 enemies you'll have to play really really well not to lose a lot of health or even die. I don't remember fleeing from a fight ever in AC3, I could just keep pressing X and from time to time B and power through 99% of the fights. I've fled dozen of fights in AC4 :)
As for stealth, again it's mostly the same as AC3's, but the environment now allow for vegetation patches that hide you completely, and lots of it, so you can go from one side to another without being detected if you are a tad careful, something that simply was impossible in the previous game unless the level's designer had specifically prepared a "stealth path" for you.

GangStarr

Commented on 2013-10-29 12:40:52

these day1 patches will make reviews invalid

Commented on 2013-10-29 14:03:02 In reply to BlimBlim

Thanks for the reply and the great analysis of both combat and stealth.

On the combat front, I was expecting something more, like the AI to be more aggressive instead of just standing there waiting to be killed, not sure how I feel about being more vulnerable, this is something I will have to experience in order to see and measure if I like it or not and by how much.

In AC3 on PC, I kind of had some struggle in combat in the beginning, I played just after playing the 4 games before it and the differences in combat were very big, it even had a different buttons/abilities configuration, but after a couple of days I mastered it.

Being more vulnerable sucks in a way, but maybe it will give a much needed edge in combat and make you not be as much complacent in it, though, after 100% completing Guacamelee! in 1 day, my skills got some level up - damn, that game is truly hard, made me remind of Mega Man 2, so can't wait to pilage me some timbers. :P

AC3's very mildly SPOILERS below:

As for stealth, that is truly great news, one thing I hated in AC3 was those stealth paths, one clear example that comes to mind is the assassination of John Pitcairn mission where they almost force you to take that stealth path or fight your way through.

So overall, those are good news. And sorry for asking 2 more questions, but could you talk a little about the naval combat and the diving mechanics, the naval combats were some of the best parts in AC3, really thrilling, tactical and amazing.

Thanks for the reply and the great analysis of both combat and stealth.

On the combat front, I was expecting something more, like the AI to be more aggressive instead of just standing there waiting to be killed, not sure how I feel about being more vulnerable, this is something I will have to experience in order to see and measure if I like it or not and by how much.

In AC3 on PC, I kind of had some struggle in combat in the beginning, I played just after playing the 4 games before it and the differences in combat were very big, it even had a different buttons/abilities configuration, but after a couple of days I mastered it.

Being more vulnerable sucks in a way, but maybe it will give a much needed edge in combat and make you not be as much complacent in it, though, after 100% completing Guacamelee! in 1 day, my skills got some level up - damn, that game is truly hard, made me remind of Mega Man 2, so can't wait to pilage me some timbers. :P

AC3's very mildly SPOILERS below:

As for stealth, that is truly great news, one thing I hated in AC3 was those stealth paths, one clear example that comes to mind is the assassination of John Pitcairn mission where they almost force you to take that stealth path or fight your way through.

So overall, those are good news. And sorry for asking 2 more questions, but could you talk a little about the naval combat and the diving mechanics, the naval combats were some of the best parts in AC3, really thrilling, tactical and amazing.

Grimbarian

Commented on 2013-10-29 15:39:50

Getting this for the PS4 myself, have the collector's edition pre-ordered :)

Moonwalker

Commented on 2013-10-29 18:33:29

What system is this footage on?

It sounded promising at first, until you said combat and stealth remains the same. I am done with this franchise.

vixtor7

Commented on 2013-10-29 18:53:06

Will you guys be posting ac4, bf4 pc and next gen videos soon?!!
The quality of footage on the other sites is just not very good compared to you guys!

Miguel

Commented on 2013-10-29 19:38:42 In reply to vixtor7

Posted by vixtor7

Thanks :)

I'll put online BF4 videos by this weekend (it's not released in France yet, I'll receive the game tomorrow).

I'll also do AC4, COD Ghosts and other PC videos when I'll get the games.

Blim has a 1080p60 capture card, I've got a 1080p30 or 720p60 one, and Drift can only record 720p60 through HDMI for now, so we'll do our best for next gen games :)
(if HDCP does not prevent us from recording)

Posted by Moonwalker

What system is this footage on?

Xbox 360.

KORNdog

Commented on 2013-10-29 19:40:44 In reply to Miguel

Posted by Miguel

(if HDCP does not prevent us from recording)

HDMI splitter

Commented on 2013-10-29 19:54:35 In reply to KORNdog

I know we can avoid that, but if that's not wanted by publishers, we can't. Xbox One should allow HDMI recording at least on gameplay, but PS4 won't allow it without a future update no? Don't know if this changed or not.

TreyAndQuad4life

Commented on 2013-10-29 22:45:06 In reply to BlimBlim

Posted by BlimBlim

Edward is much more vulnerable than Connor so if you are cornered by 3-4 enemies you'll have to play really really well not to lose a lot of health or even die.

If that means the combat system is more challenging this time around, then this is great news. To me always was one of the main issues this franchise had - little or no challenge in its combat.

Sourav93

Commented on 2013-10-29 23:43:49

Today guys from ubisoft came to my uni's student guild to show of AC4 on the PS4. I had a go, and being completely honest, I was shocked at how poor the game looked. I've seen some ps4 gameplay vids here on Gamersyde, and the real thing didn't compare to that in anyway! I hope I just played an old build, because it looked like a ps3 game. At first I thought it might just be the ps3 version with just the ds4, but I checked out the UI via the PS button and tried out the share button as well. So it was definitely ps4. I guess time will tell.

Commented on 2013-10-29 23:57:35 In reply to Sourav93

Posted by Sourav93

It's a 30fps version of what the PC usually gets. Ie, see them side by side, you'll see textures are sharper, object pop-in reduced, better shadows etc. but it's certainly no looker. Much like COD. In fact, out of everything coming next gen, those 2 are the most piss poor looking. It doesn't help, at least in regards to AC, that it looked as good as it did on current gen in the first place.