The anticipated Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag remake is perhaps the worst-kept secret in gaming right now. News of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (rumored to be the official title) has been surfacing regularly over the last year or so, and with developer Ubisoft having now re-uploaded the game’s entire soundtrack for no apparent reason, it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that a remake announcement is imminent.
While I’m excited about revisiting one of the best Assassin's Creed games ever made, I’m not entirely convinced that Black Flag needs a remake, especially over older titles like Assassin’s Creed and Assassin’s Creed 2.
Ubisoft has yet to announce anything official about the Black Flag remake, though rumors suggest some significant changes may be in store. Here’s what I’d like to see altered in a potential redo, and some aspects that I absolutely want to remain untouched.
The Tempest
I’ve not been entirely sold on the last few Assassin’s Creed games, finding both Valhalla and Shadows lacking in parkour, story, and world design. However, a potential Black Flag remake shouldn’t ignore the modern games entirely.
Shadows, in particular, excels in weather and environmental effects. The dynamic weather in Shadows would be stunning when applied to Black Flag’s West Indies, enhancing sailing and exploration.
Tempestuous storms and rolling fog would elevate ship combat, as would modern particle effects for cannon-fire and sea spray. If I could choose one feature for a Black Flag remake, it would be the dynamic weather.
Hardcore Parkour
Modern Assassin’s Creed titles approach parkour differently than the first six games in the franchise. I recently revisited Black Flag and found the parkour surprisingly enjoyable—fast, dynamic, and allowing for player control.
However, parkour has become overly automated in recent games. While animations have improved, the flow of movement feels restrictive. I worry that Ubisoft might force modern parkour systems into Black Flag, as they did with Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
That game, despite being an homage to the first Assassin’s Creed, features parkour that feels like a tweaked version of Valhalla’s. This doesn’t work in the context of Baghdad, resulting in a slow and streamlined system that pales in comparison to the parkour of earlier games.
Post-launch updates have improved both Shadows and Mirage, but it’s clear that Black Flag’s parkour doesn’t need replacing; it just needs updating and refining. Cleaner animations and an updated control scheme are all that a remake really requires.
Freedom Cry
I have fond memories of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag - Freedom Cry, though I admit it’s not the best DLC in the franchise. A potential Black Flag remake raises the question of whether Freedom Cry should be included. Personally, I believe it shouldn’t.
While the story is engaging, the gameplay and structure of the DLC are lacking. Most missions involve tailing, and the ship combat is repetitive. I’d prefer to see Freedom Cry protagonist Adéwalé’s role expanded and integrated into Black Flag.
Adéwalé could have a more prominent role in the remake, with missions inspired by Freedom Cry and its plot playing out as post-game content. Simply remaking Freedom Cry isn’t worthwhile.
It’s also worth noting that we’ve never seen an Assassin’s Creed remake before. We don’t know if Ubisoft will follow the original plot or create a new version of events. I’d prefer the latter, allowing for characters like Adéwalé to be further developed.
Chasing Its Tail
Many of us remember Black Flag fondly, but the broader memory doesn’t capture the full picture. The game lacks the mission structure we expect from modern AC titles and is plagued by tailing missions, which are often dull.
Black Flag has some of the worst tailing missions in the series, including one where you tail a ship while sailing the Jackdaw in a swamp. These missions need to be reworked or removed entirely. Modern entries like Assassin’s Creed Shadows handle tailing better by offering more stealth options or allowing players to eliminate a target early.
This is an area that requires modernization, and please, no more ship stealth—it simply doesn’t work.
That’s Quite Enough Loot
According to rumors, the Black Flag remake will emphasize loot and gear stats for Edward Kenway’s arsenal, similar to modern games. Personally, I dislike constantly picking up slightly better loot items and prefer the older AC games’ approach to unique weapons and simple upgrade trees.
Black Flag doesn’t need the RPG treatment first seen in Origins, nor does it need inflated enemy health bars and damage numbers. The combat is fast and brutal, fitting the pirate theme better than a plethora of legendary weapons.
However, a better variety of loot would be welcome. I hope we don’t see the same loot system as in Shadows, where players end up with countless forgettable items.
Ubisoft must balance old and new, especially with a beloved game like Black Flag. The challenge will be modernizing control schemes and world design while preserving the original’s essence. Avoiding the urge to fill the remake with sprawling RPG systems will be crucial.
We’ll have to wait and see if Black Flag is indeed getting a remake. All signs point to yes, but it’s important to note that Ubisoft has never confirmed its existence or commented on the recent rumors.
Hopefully, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced stays true to the original, as it remains a fantastic entry in the Assassin’s Creed series, inspiring countless games that followed.