The game pulls you in immediately, and that’s no figure of speech. It starts at full throttle, then catches its breath, drawing you closer with a “candy-like” allure.
The story sparks questions and curiosity right from the start, all of which feel just within reach. You tell yourself, “I’ll just finish this mission and I’ll have the answer”—and sure enough, you get one! But it’s not quite satisfying; it only leads to more questions, with further answers seemingly just around the corner.
“Just one more mission, and you’ll have the answers”. The cut-scenes are perfectly paced and fuel your desire to keep the plot moving. When you aren’t busy unraveling the story’s mysteries, your urge to explore takes over. Roaming the seas, plundering ships, and hunting for treasure has never been this much fun.
As for the gameplay mechanics, the stealth aspect is a point of contention. Some argue that it’s not particularly useful. Beyond the classic routine—crouching in the foliage, luring a soldier over, slitting his throat, and repeating the process to clear an area—stealth isn’t a core mechanic of the game, and that’s true. Ultimately, it comes down to player preference, though the options provided can feel a bit forced. It’s worth remembering that we’re stepping into the boots of a pirate who stumbled into the conflict between Assassins and Templars—driven by a mix of chance and greed. Consequently, a purely stealth-based combat style doesn’t really fit the character’s narrative arc.
Another element I’m conflicted about is the “syncing” process at observation points—where you climb to the highest spot in an area to synchronize, which then populates your map with various points of interest. Treasure chests, sea shanties, and other secrets are all laid out right before your eyes. On one hand, this might dampen your desire to explore a given port or island; on the other, it saves you from spending hours wandering around aimlessly.
Ubisoft is still Ubisoft, and microtransactions are present. But in a game where you’re a pirate—plundering and hunting for the perfect loot via maps and hidden chests—it leaves a bitter taste to realize that your efforts might be a waste of time when you could simply pay $9.99 to get exclusive items.
On the positive side, there’s plenty of gore. Finishing moves are a spectacle of blood and violence. The water and the seabed are rendered beautifully—no small feat for a game set in the Caribbean, where you’ll spend the vast majority of your time at sea. But most importantly, you can pet the cats and dogs, and really, and that’s all that matters.
These days, it’s rare to find a game that keeps you glued to your controller, but Black Flag Resynced is one of them.
So, come on! Let’s belt out a sea shanty and make off with all the gold we can find!
