Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the worst-kept secret in gaming, to the point where not even its publisher is denying the allegations. After years of rumors, age ratings, fake websites, and more, at long last, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the beloved 2013 classic, has finally been revealed. We learned everything about its new features, improvements, and content, but you won’t have to wait long since it launches worldwide on July 9th. How exactly has it improved on the original? What’s staying the same? Let’s dive into some of the biggest changes, starting with…
Rebuilt With Anvil Engine
For Black Flag Resynced, the development team really had one defining goal: Deliver the same story with the same protagonist but “elevated to a new level of immersion and realism.” As such, the original experience has been rebuilt with the latest version of Anvil Engine, which allows for pushing dynamism and gameplay further, according to creative director Paul Fu. Which is all well and good, but what exactly can you expect in terms of improved graphical fidelity?
High-Res Textures and Improved Environments
To start with, the remake is flush with high-resolution textures and enhanced lighting. Environments are far more detailed than ever – you can compare them side by side with the original to see the difference. Towns look more packed; buildings appear more weathered; and the foliage is far more detailed. Per game director Richard Knight, these additions “deepen the world,” further maintaining your focus on Edward and his journey.
Rebuilding “Every Single Small Moment”
Of course, the developer didn’t just stop there. Fu describes how “every single moment had to be rebuilt,” including the facial animations, which he felt to be “the game’s soul.” As such, a lot of hand-crafting went into the same to ensure they look realistic while maintaining the spirit of the original’s performance.
Stranger Tides and Dynamic Weather
Then there’s the dynamic weather system, which makes every sea-faring journey that much more unpredictable. Storms and rogue waves feel that much more harrowing and realistic, but even if you’re just going through a “normal” rough patch of weather, it will affect the ship’s overall handling. So kick back and enjoy the shanties (alongside some new ones), but always remain alert.
Expanded Underwater Exploration
Another reason to keep your eyes peeled is underwater exploration. It’s back and somehow more expansive, beautiful, and perilous than ever. So as dangerous as the original’s sharks could feel, Resynced is probably going to up the ante even further (and maybe offer some more rewards to boot).
Overhauled Combat System
For all the praise that older Assassin’s Creed titles received for stealth, it was usually the opposite for combat. Black Flag wasn’t bad per se, but it wasn’t exactly the best either. Resynced tackles this by going for a more “action-oriented experience,” reworking it to include perfect dodging, staggers, and faster, more fluid attacks. One example is taking out an enemy from afar with your pistol and then instantly parrying an incoming melee attack. Speaking of which…
Perfect Parries and Chain Takedowns
Better get that timing down because perfect parries will be your ticket to some serious damage. Thanks to different visual cues, it’s easier to read enemy attacks. Parry them perfectly, and you can chain up to four takedowns to quickly dispatch crowds. Otherwise, feel free to throw them into environmental objects or seamlessly switch between tools and weapons to get the job done.
Improved Parkour
Resynced is taking some cues from Shadows’ brilliant parkour, offering more natural movement that flows more naturally and includes options like back ejects, side ejects and free jumps. And whether you’re quickly navigating towns, be it Havana or Nassau, or navigating skirmishes, the developer promises far tighter control and speed than the original.
Freely Crouch in Stealth
Sneaking is also getting a small but significant upgrade. Edward can now freely crouch, so there are fewer chances of being detected. Granted, he won’t be clinging to ceilings or going prone anytime soon, but being able to crouch whenever is one of those things that really should have been in the original. It just fits the Assassin profile that much better.
Revamped Tailing and Eavesdropping Missions
Even if fans can learn to love the combat, the same can’t be said about the tailing missions. They’re simply a pain, especially if you’re detected and immediately desynced. While the remake isn’t completely disposing of them or eavesdropping missions, you’ll no longer fail when detected. Instead, your target will now react and even put up a fight, so you’ll have to adapt accordingly. Interestingly, the development team mentioned “all new interactions” for multiple ways to progress in missions, so this may only be one example of a different approach.
Jackdaw Weapon Upgrades
Who can say no to more firepower, especially in naval combat? The Jackdaw, home away from home for Edward and his crew, isn’t just getting a few damage bumps, though. Instead, each weapon will receive an alternate fire option, further expanding on the ways you can react in situations. Of course, this should also make it a more fearsome threat for anyone dumb enough to challenge you on the high seas.
Three Brand New Officers
Further adding to this are the three new officers – Lucy Baldwin, The Padre and Dead Man Smith. Recruiting them will let you harness their abilities – like Smith’s ability to grant double the shots to broadside weapons. However, you’ll need to earn their trust by completing separate narrative questlines to coax them into joining up. Combined with the new Jackdaw upgrades, you can become an even bigger menace in naval combat than before.
New Narrative Arcs for Blackbeard and Stede
While new quests and content for these characters are great, what about the pre-established cast? Well, you can look forward to new narrative arcs for Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. How many more hours will this contribute? The team didn’t say, but we’re not going to say no to tearing things up with our favorite pirate outlaws.
No Multiplayer or DLC
Unfortunately, there have been some compromises with Black Flag Resynced. The DLC and multiplayer modes have not made the jump, so you’re not playing as Aveline or Adéwalé in their own quests, or terrorizing your friends in the genuinely compelling PvP. Instead, the remake wants to focus on the title’s roots while updating it for a new generation (and the original will remain available). Is it somewhat disappointing? Sure, but at least the developer isn’t spreading itself too thin and focusing more on what really matters (read: the base game).
“New Moments” in Modern Day Rifts
One point that’s still ambiguous, especially after all the rumors, is the modern-day sections. Fu said that the modern-day rifts would feature new moments focusing on Edward’s internal struggles. However, it wasn’t confirmed whether you’d still walk around Abstergo, a core component of the original’s story. Time will tell, but if it’s any consolation, Jean Guesdon, who was co-director on the original and is now head of content on the franchise, said he couldn’t tell where the old game ended, and the new one began. It just felt like playing Black Flag, and for millions of fans worldwide, that may be enough. We’ll find out first-hand when it launches this Summer.