Playing this i was confused. I didn't know if i was playing a pirate game, an assassins creed game, or a shambled mix up of the two. The pirate elements are what makes the game enjoyable. At times extremely enjoyable. Sailing out on the open sea, destroying ships for their loot, discovering Islands, Harpooning etc. These parts of the game are fun, and even addictive.
Where the game loses it, is when it tries to be assassins creed.
First off your character, Kenyway. He kills an assassin who betrays the assassins, assumes the assassins role, and then throughout the story uses the Templars and Assassins against each other for his own gain. So he's an asshole, and i can't empathise with him so im immediately drawn out of the story. The assassin elements of the story are out-of-place, it feels forced. And the result is feeling detached from the characters and the story.
Yes the game looks great, but the gameplay is familiar, repetitive, and after 20hours, boring. The idea of a pirate game would have worked, if it was a standalone pirate title. Making it an Assassins creed game was ridiculous, as it is clear that the pirate elements are what makes this game fun, and the asssassin elements not only detract from the immersion, but make the whole thing seem ridiculous.
Really this game is best when you abandon the story. Set sail to open see, explore, fight, loot, get rich, upgrade your ship. Be a pirate. Ubisoft had to use the AC branding to sell copies. If they'd made a full on pirate game, it would have been undoubtedly better, but Ubisoft wouldnt have made that $$$$$$$.
Meh, It's alright