Assassin's Creed IV

[cherokeesam]

Save for AC II, you could prob make the argument that ALL AC games are just .5 versions of their predecessors.

I dunno, each new installment of the game introduced some signficantly new gameplay element each time, regardless of whether it was warmly received or not. AC3 was a very different beast than its predecessors, and introduced a lot more elements to the game --- wilderness parkour, hunting, snow and winter seasonal changes, naval combat, crafting, large-scale gunplay (albeit of the black powder variety), homestead management, etc. I haven't seen any of that innovation in AC4 yet, except for diving underwater and going whaling (and I have yet to reach a point where I can do those in the game).

It's still a great story, and Edward has more personality in his pinky finger than Connor The Wooden Indian has in his whole body (how did a saucy rogue like Edward sire two straight generations of stodgy, one-dimensional Kenways like Haytham and Connor, anyway....?) But right now, it feels like a glorified AC3 expansion pack. In a way, I wish AC3 had left the whole naval combat aspect of the game out entirely (it doesn't fit the James Fenimore Cooper setting at all) and just introduced it to the world here, where it belongs. There probably would've been much more of a "wow" factor.

 

[Havok83]

Same here. From what I understand, the story around the animus stuff is more like AC: Liberation, where its an Abstergo program, not a rogue animus thing. So Black Flag could have been its own thing too as opposed to a "sequel."

But I guess they probaly felt that people would confuse it as being a continuation of III, the same way that Brotherhood and Revelations were for II, so they added the number to signify a new Assassin and story.

Would that be a problem though? Both games sold over 8 million. Its not like this game would be overlooked if it didn't have a number in the title

 

[terry78]

Played a little demo of it at Play-N-Trade earlier, and while the mechanics are pretty similar to the previous ones, the pirate and ship setting gives a lot more freedom and a sense of...I would really say adventure as opposed to being in a city.

 

[Soapy]

Did anyone preorder from Amazon? If so, is the Mystery Island bonus mission any good?

 

[Benstamania]

AC4 Next Gen review

http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-next-gen-review-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/

"Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag doesn’t move the franchise forward as a whole—but it doesn’t need to. Instead, this is probably the best pirate simulation in gaming history that successfully lays the groundwork for what’s to come in the series."

Pirate simulator is what I wanted to hear.

 

[jmc]

I recently picked up cheap copy of AC3. The ship battles were my favourite part about the game. A Pirate simulator sounds like fun!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Jeez these sharks are huuuuge. Pretty damn sure hammerheads don't grow to the size of a small bus.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Pirate simulator is what I wanted to hear.

I don't know if it'll change but right now it deff feels like a pirate game that happens to have Templars and assassins in it. It'll be interesting to see how Edward get caught up in all of that. Cuz right now in my game dude is straight pirate. On the quest for booty and well, booty. Nothing else haha.

 

[Benstamania]

Both of your posts feel me with glee! Well..One does, the second one. The first terrifies me.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Jeez these sharks are huuuuge. Pretty damn sure hammerheads don't grow to the size of a small bus.

They generally are between 13-20 feet long.

 

[Doc Ock]

I have yet to play the previous AC games and plan to get to them, but I think I wouldn't mind starting with this one as I have always wanted a awesome pirate video game. This could be my first AC game based on the Pirate factor alone.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

They generally are between 13-20 feet long.

I just googled some images and yea, you're right, they can get pretty damn big and I'm assuming with the limited hunan development in 1776 and the limited means of fishing it wouldn't be outrageous to come across one of that size.

I just took down an Orca and that was bad ass. Cant wait to come across a blue whale.

 

[cherokeesam]

Jeez these sharks are huuuuge. Pretty damn sure hammerheads don't grow to the size of a small bus.

There's a scene very early on in the game, when we literally first get to take the helm as Edward, where you're piloting a little schooner out of the harbor and all of a sudden a huge-ass humpback whale breaches right next to you.....that was a real "HOLY **** !!!!" moment for me. Literally took my breath away.

 

[zenith16]

Report: Some Assassin's Creed 4 single-player content gated by Uplay passport

(4 hours ago)
30

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Those that pick up a brand new copy of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag will notice that the game comes with a Uplay Passport, Ubisoft's version of an online pass. While the passport typically grants access to online sections in the game, in the case of Assassin's Creed 4 it also unlocks small pieces of social content.

Game Informer reports that the online pass locks away the game's fleet management system, in which players add vessels they board in the game to their fleet and send the ships out on missions to earn additional money. Players with second-hand copies of the game that don't plunk down $10 for a Uplay Passport are unable to manage their fleet, and since real-life friends are able to provide assistance to fleets, the management system is not an offline-only aspect of the game, even though it falls into the single-player campaign.

We've contacted Ubisoft for comment on the game's Passport and will update as we learn more.
Source: Game Informer

 

[jacobed]

This game is incredible. Absolutely incredible. My game didn't have an online pass and I can still do that stuff

 

[misjuevos]

Did anyone preorder from Amazon? If so, is the Mystery Island bonus mission any good?

i got it from amazon. the mission is just a small island that you open 3 chest on. they contain your stede bonnett outfit, a sail, and a figure head. all are to make your ship look like the stede bonnett. there are some pirates there to kill as well. also 3 regular chest with various money and items inside. i got a prompt about 3 places that added new chest, but i can't recall if it was talking about the ones i stated or some new ones.

do they teach you how to harpoon or was there a mission explaining it? i'm only on sequence 5 and i hunted moby dick 3 times already. first time my rowboat was too weak. still got him though. the trick is to constantly harpoon him even when he is under the water. you can stagger his attacks as well, just keep harpooning him. all i saw was the prompt saying to use hold l1 and fire with r1. guess that is all you need to know.

if you go to uplay in game at the main menu you can redeem points you earned. you can get a good sword set, the toledo. they are 4,3,3 stats. also you can get the legendary pirate outfit, i don't like it really. also an outfit for MP i guess.

if anyone is wondering you get a captain's quarters you can enter at will. it has your outfits you can change and place to upgrade the jackdaw. still no crew quarters to roam around and play games in, like in the beginning of AC3. don't know if that comes later or if it is there at all.

i would still like a rifle to hunt with. it would have made more sense in AC3, completing the last of the mohicans look. i don't know why rifles aren't in the game as permanent weapons. maybe next time.

the game is really fun, so much stuff to do. i get sidetracked alot. haven't even unlocked the diving bell yet.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

do they teach you how to harpoon or was there a mission explaining it? i'm only on sequence 5 and i hunted moby dick 3 times already. first time my rowboat was too weak. still got him though. the trick is to constantly harpoon him even when he is under the water. you can stagger his attacks as well, just keep harpooning him. all i saw was the prompt saying to use hold l1 and fire with r1. guess that is all you need to know.


.

Did you just stumble upon the hunting ground, or was there a mission that led you to that hunt? So far iv been able to hunt a Bull, Hammerhead and Great White shark, but have only come across the Orca for whales. Id kill for a chance to take down a humpback. Im sure they'd fetch a nice price.

 

[cherokeesam]

i
if anyone is wondering you get a captain's quarters you can enter at will. it has your outfits you can change and place to upgrade the jackdaw. still no crew quarters to roam around and play games in, like in the beginning of AC3. don't know if that comes later or if it is there at all.

So do you need UPlay to get a captain's quarters on your ship? So far, I haven't been able to open the door to the captain's cabin. The only place I can change clothes is at a general store (the shopkeeper keeps giving me funny looks, though).

 

[zenith16]

Ubisoft cans Uplay Passport for all future games, starting with AC4

(1 hour ago)
37

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Ubisoft's Uplay Passport, a one-time-use code in new games that grants access to online features, will not be included in any future games and is being stripped from Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

"The Uplay Passport program was initiated as a means of giving customers full access and support for online multiplayer and features, along with exclusive content, bonuses and rewards," Ubisoft writes. "However, games today are blurring the line between offline and online, between what is 'single player' and what is 'multiplayer.' Based on that and on the feedback we received from you, we recognized that Passport is no longer the best approach for ensuring that all our customers have the best possible experience with all facets of our games."

Uplay in Black Flag restricted single-player access to the game's fleet management system, Ubisoft confirmed. Ubisoft is eliminating the cost of the Uplay Passport in Black Flag – those without one can download a code for free via Xbox Live or PSN, and those who already bought one can contact regional Ubisoft support for more information.
Source: Ubisoft

 

[DareDemon]

Ubisoft cans Uplay Passport for all future games, starting with AC4

(1 hour ago)
37

​

Ubisoft's Uplay Passport, a one-time-use code in new games that grants access to online features, will not be included in any future games and is being stripped from Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

"The Uplay Passport program was initiated as a means of giving customers full access and support for online multiplayer and features, along with exclusive content, bonuses and rewards," Ubisoft writes. "However, games today are blurring the line between offline and online, between what is 'single player' and what is 'multiplayer.' Based on that and on the feedback we received from you, we recognized that Passport is no longer the best approach for ensuring that all our customers have the best possible experience with all facets of our games."

Uplay in Black Flag restricted single-player access to the game's fleet management system, Ubisoft confirmed. Ubisoft is eliminating the cost of the Uplay Passport in Black Flag – those without one can download a code for free via Xbox Live or PSN, and those who already bought one can contact regional Ubisoft support for more information.
Source: Ubisoft

Good news. Some places like neogaf moan about this series nonstop, but Ubisoft is listening to the backlash. Seems to be a customer-friendly company and I approve.

 

[misjuevos]

Did you just stumble upon the hunting ground, or was there a mission that led you to that hunt? So far iv been able to hunt a Bull, Hammerhead and Great White shark, but have only come across the Orca for whales. Id kill for a chance to take down a humpback. Im sure they'd fetch a nice price.

I think you have to be signed in to psn/xbl to see it. It is an event. prompt says you've discovered this event. I found him in 2 spots. One is the top left side of map. Just sailing by and a white whale popped up. prompt said to hold control pad to see. It showed a white whale jump out of the water. Then I went to my map and a new whale icon was there.

Found a new one at 198, 122

So do you need UPlay to get a captain's quarters on your ship? So far, I haven't been able to open the door to the captain's cabin. The only place I can change clothes is at a general store (the shopkeeper keeps giving me funny looks, though).

I think it was after I was forced to buy a ship upgrade. There is a mission that tells you to buy an upgrade.

 

[jacobed]

This is easily my 2nd favorite game of the year behind Bioshock. It's really phenomenal, everything about it is great. The sailing and this world makes it without a doubt my favorite open world game this generation

 

[Quasimod0]

How is the open world handled? Can you just sail to whatever port you want not your own? Are there like islands and stuff scattered about too? I like some adventuring and exploration

 

[Soapy]

In the same vein as the above question, are huge portions of the world blocked off like previous games in the series?

 

[cherokeesam]

How is the open world handled? Can you just sail to whatever port you want not your own? Are there like islands and stuff scattered about too? I like some adventuring and exploration

In the same vein as the above question, are huge portions of the world blocked off like previous games in the series?

For about the first 3-5% of the game, you're not exactly free-roaming...you've got kind of a quick tutorial-type episode when you're shipwrecked on a not-so-deserted island, then you spend a few days getting acquainted with the game mechanics in Havana; but then, after you get your ship, the ocean is literally yours. You can explore the entirety of the Caribbean, but unless you've heard rumors about distant places (gathered at taverns and through treasure maps), then those areas just show up as dark, enticing question marks for you to explore at your own risk. And the game does a pretty good job of telling you how dangerous those areas are, what level of reward you can expect there, how high level an enemy vessel is, etc., so you don't get in over your head unless you're feeling really foolhardy.