Does anyone remember watching Pirates of the Caribbean and wishing that they would make a game that captured its sense of adventure, ship battles, and swashbuckling fun, while also giving the player freedom to do as he or she pleases? Look no further. Ubisoft has created a gem that, if you enjoy adventure games, sword fighting combat, stealth and freedom to explore, you absolutely will not be able to put down.
Gameplay:
Naval Battles:
The gameplay in AC IV feels exciting, as well as fresh. Naval battles have been vastly improved, now allowing the player to specifically aim the cannons at ships with a targeting system. There's nothing more satisfying than outmaneuvering an enemy ship, bombarding them with cannons, and incapacitating them. One of the best new additions to naval battles is the ability to board enemy ships after incapacitating them. Once you are close enough, you hold down B (or O on PS3), and you can board the enemy ship. I cannot describe in words the giddy feeling you get when you swing over to the other ship and began to fight their crew. Once you kill enough of the crew members and sometimes complete an extra objective (such as kill the captain), you take the enemy ship's goods and can either repair your own ship, lower your wanted level, or send the ship to your fleet.
On foot combat: Sword fighting in AC IV still feels a little too easy, as Edward Kenway is an absolute beast. You simply counter with the press of a button and then can dispatch most of your enemies with ease. Nevertheless, the combat is still a blast. Jumping over to the other ship and firing a quick succession of pistol shots before ripping out your sword to engage the enemy crew is an absolute joy. To answer your question and sum up this paragraph, yes, the combat system still functions extremely well and is fluid.
Stealth/Assassinations Have no fear, the stealth/assassination aspect of Assassin's Creed is still here and it still shines! From what I have experienced, you spend quite a bit of the stealth sections in the jungle and this provides a vast variety of ways to take care of your foes. You can take the aerial root by jumping among the trees, but the bushes/plants from AC III are still here, and they are a necessity and provide great ground cover when stalking the enemies. For some reason, I found the stealth sections of Black Flag the most fun of any of the stealth sections from any of the other games in the series. They simply provide such a sense of satisfaction and give the player so much freedom to approach the task at hand.
Graphics/Map: In my opinion, the graphics of Black Flag are some of the best we have seen on current-gen consoles. The world of the caribbean is vibrant, the colors pop, and the draw distance is very impressive considering how old the hardware is the game is being run on. The cities/towns look absolutely gorgeous and the people that inhabit them give them life. The day/night cycle combined with storms (lightning, heavy rain, massive waves) really makes the thrill of the open sea that much more exhilarating. It's simply beautiful sailing off into the sunset or admiring the stars at nighttime. Map: Let me say that the map in AC IV is HUGE. It is scary how large the world is. There is so much to explore and so much to do. Trust me when I say that the world in AC IV is MASSIVE.
What makes AC IV stand head and shoulders above the rest of the AC games in the series: Freedom and sense of scale. The freedom AC IV gives the player is amazing. I have spent more time sailing around sinking and boarding enemy ships and exploring little islands than I have playing the main storyline. Don't get me wrong, the main storyline is fun and exciting, but AC IV is a game that simply begs you to explore and chart your own course. You will WANT to continually attack other ships because they give you the goods to upgrade your own ship, as well as sugar and rum to sell for MONEY! Upgrading the Jackdaw is simply addicting. There are so many things to upgrade on the ship, and each one benefits the user greatly. I think Ubisoft nailed the upgrading system because it takes a good amount of time and effort to upgrade the ship but it is so satisfying doing it, and it never feels tedious at all.
Conclusion: I hope I have answered some questions you may have had about how AC IV holds up compared to the other games in the series. AC IV is an all around amazing package. You get well more than $60 worth of material. This will be a game that I will probably invest in for years to come. All in all, in my opinion, AC IV is definitely worth at least consideration for Game of the Year. Ubisoft really poured their hard work and dedication into this game and it radiates. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, you won't regret it!