Black Flag Resynced - What Will It Be?

A month's time ago now, it was officially announced by newly appointed franchise Head of Content, Jean Guesdon, that Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag - one of the most iconic and household installments of the franchise - is getting a revamp, officially titled Assassin’s Creed Black Flag - Resynced. 

Little to nothing was ultimately revealed, except the title, a piece of artwork, as well as a reworked metal looking version of the Black Flag insignia. This was of course met with praise from many fans, excited to set out on the Caribbean sea once again, sinking ships, plundering and exploring the sea’s many islands and settlements. At the same time, there are also some fans, who perhaps are cautiously optimistic, fearing the upcoming game will be a remake rather than a remaster, and will rely too heavily on elements from newer, more RPG oriented games, rather than honouring and sticking to the overall formula of the beloved original.

What will this upcoming remaster or remake consist of, will it stick true to the original masterpiece, or will it trade that in for a looser RPG oriented approach? Will that alienate fans of the original in the process, and what can this upcoming title do for Ubisoft and the franchise? We will be exploring this and more in this article, let’s dive into it!

Remaster Or New Game?

As mentioned, ultimately very little was revealed about this upcoming reiteration, of one of Ubisoft’s most iconic and critically acclaimed titles, except for a logo, a piece of artwork and a title, but more news and details are likely to follow very soon. Already though, one of the big questions among fans and players, is what will this reiteration ultimately consist of? Will it ultimately be the same game we know and love, but with improved graphics, mechanics, features, and maybe some new content? Or will it essentially be a totally new game, getting rid of many of the elements at the very core of the original, trading them in for looser, more RPG oriented elements of newer instalments. Maybe ultimately a mix of both?

The latter could very well turn out the best option, pleasing both old and new fans, adding mere practical improvements, and most importantly sticking true to and honouring the original game. There are many practical improvements which could be added, which would only enhance the experience, and not chip away at the original core or feel of it. The parkour and free running mechanics from say Assassin’s Creed Unity, which are widely still considered the best in the series, could easily be implemented, making things even smoother and more fun. Combat system could be updated to be more like that of Unity and Syndicate, making for smoother combat overall, and adding an additional but fun challenge, also compared to the original game’s combat system and easy counter kills. New weapons and outfits, as well as new content making for bonus gameplay, would also be a fun addition, that only adds to and enhances the original experience.

Another addition that at this point feels mandatory, with newer instalments as well as modern gaming standards overall, that would also allow players to experience the game in a whole new way they weren’t able to the first time, would be the addition of a Photo Mode. This would allow players to properly capture the vast beauty of the many locations of the West Indies, the intensity of naval battles, as well as Edward Kenway in the heat of the moment.

Overall, there are many ways new elements and practical additions could be added, without being detrimental to the core of the original game. For example, when Grand Theft Auto V was remastered and re-released for PS4 and Xbox One, mere 14 months after its initial PS3 and Xbox 360 release, it was ultimately still the very same game, but at the same time felt like a complete new one, with the addition of new side missions, vehicles and wildlife among other things, improved and new controls, an enhanced 3D minimap, and probably most notably, a first person mode, which could still be switched to and out off at any given moment. If anything this remastered version, felt like the game reaching its full potential, and what it was ultimately always meant to be, but could not be at first due to the technical limitations of the old generation of consoles.

Here it is also worth noting, how Black Flag initially also was released for the very same consoles, in the form of the PS3 and Xbox 360. Only weeks after its initial October 2013 release, the new generation of the PS4 and Xbox One were released, and versions of Black Flag specifically tailored to those consoles were released as well. Ultimately though, the differences were minor. Overall graphics were more or less the same, FPS rate still ran at 30, and there weren’t any major differences in scale of the game or content. The only real differences, were the addition of realism elements like moving foliage, fired cannons creating a layer of smoke - also adding an additional fun challenge to naval combat - select refined details and lighting, as well as an overall clearer and sharper look. Overall though, Black Flag was still built on the technology of the then old generation of consoles, and was merely refined for the new one. It wasn’t until Assassin’s Creed Unity a year later, that an AC game was built solely on new generation technology, meaning less restrictions and more possibilities. Was Black Flag perhaps always supposed to have a grander technical vision and scale, that merely could not be executed at the time? Whether this was the plan or not, it is certainly possible to execute now, and the game could at long last reach its full potential.

Reception & Original Game's Legacy

Where things could get risky and quickly cause polarisation, would be if the very core of the game is changed, to possibly be more like newer games, but would that even work to begin with, without drastically changing and rewriting the game’s story for one? Black Flag’s story is written to be linear and structured by sequences, every memory having depth and a clear narrative goal, setting up the rest of the story. If you could suddenly do things in any order - like taking out the final big three targets of Rogers, Roberts and Torres - and hop in and out of missions at any time, wouldn’t the story quickly lose its depth and overall feel? Wouldn’t the memories that come directly after one another, and the transitions between, suddenly feel so sudden and dull?

If drastic changes like this for one were made, it is very likely a lot of fans of the original game, would hop off and lose interest very quickly, feeling the original game is being disrespected. With this one, wouldn’t it also be more important for Ubisoft to respect the original game, keeping the fans that have been with them for nearly two decades at this point, instead of trying to make it more like newer games, many of which have also been met with very mixed reception among older fans? Were this to happen, it is very likely what was supposed to be Assassin’s Creed’s big nostalgia and revival moment, with fans falling in love with one of the most iconic games all over again, becomes anything but that, instead being very dissatisfied with this remake, and instead just sticking to the original 2013 game. This has happened with remasters typically called ‘The Definitive Edition’ before, either being too different from the original, or having bad launches that quickly impact their reputation, making players just stick to the old version.

No matter what, the 2013 original has one of the strongest legacies in the franchise, and depending on what this remaster or remake will consist of, that could grow even stronger, depending on how this new version stays true to and respects the original, which will likely be an important factor for many old fans. Overall, Ubisoft will likely want to focus, on putting out a game, that has the same core as the original game and honours it, rather than changes it too drastically. Something that makes old players fall in love with the game all over again, reminds them what makes it so great, and merely enhances the original experience, while at the same time possibly feeling like a whole new and different one, especially for newer fans and players, only experiencing it for the first time.

Impact On The Franchise & Ubisoft

As mentioned a bit already, a new version of what is one of Ubisoft’s most iconic and household titles ever, could easily have the potential to make for a massive landmark moment of franchise revival and nostalgia, possibly also taking the franchise and the company itself to new heights.

It is no secret Ubisoft have had some rocky recent years, with flagship franchises - including Assassin’s Creed - undergoing heavy change with some longtime fans falling off, the controversial marketing campaign for AC Shadows, financial crises and plummeting stock prices, major layoffs, internal restructurings and more. A reiteration of what is one of their most critically acclaimed titles ever, that has also left its mark on gaming history overall, has the potential to ultimately serve as a bit of cleansing for both the company and fans. Whole new life would be brought to Black Flag, Ubisoft would once again prove what they can really do, longtime fans in need would be reminded what it is they love about the franchise and studio itself, and the game itself would have the opportunity to really leave its mark on Pop culture once again, with old fans falling in love with it all over again, as well as a new generation of gamers experiencing it for the first time.

We overall live in a time right now where nostalgia clearly sells, be it movies, music, gaming or something fourth, so a new version of one of Ubisoft’s most iconic titles ever, really has the potential to be a hit and leave its mark, and take the franchise and Ubisoft themselves to new heights in a time of need. That is most likely if this reiteration, first and foremost honours and sticks true to the original 2013 game, that fans originally fell in love with and hold so close. If it turns out a completely new game - a remake over a remaster - refitted to be more like newer instalments, full of the elements that made original long time fans fall off, it is possible many of said fans who love the original, would feel alienated, and the big Assassin’s Creed nostalgia moment, as mentioned becomes anything but that.

Conclusion

To slowly wrap things up, the announcement of a reiteration of one of the most household titles in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, already has many fans excited, and the hype will likely only grow, as more news and details are eventually revealed. Whether it will be a remaster, essentially being the same game, but with practical experience enhancing improvements and possibly new bonus content, or a straight up remake, refitted to be more like newer instalments essentially becoming a new game, only time will tell, also as to the reception of amongst fans. If done right, it has the potential to make for a massive moment of nostalgia amongst fans, also leaving its mark on Pop culture all over again, reminding old fans what it is they love about the franchise, while also bringing in a whole new array of players, only experiencing the game for the first time.

What are your thoughts on this, and are you excited for this new version of Black Flag, and to re-experience it all over again? Do you hope it will mostly lean towards and stick true to the original, or do you want to see a complete revamped version? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and let’s get the discussion going! Furthermore, be sure to stay tuned and follow The Ones Who Came Before, for all news on Black Flag - Resynced, as well as various content on it!