I’m Worried About Assassin’s Creed Getting One Thing Right In Black Flag Remake

by

When talk of a game remake begins, people often assume the original needs fixing. This can be worrying, especially if the original game is well-loved and still enjoyable today. Ubisoft, in particular, is known for significantly changing its older games, seemingly believing that updating to modern technology will automatically make them better designed.

The strong rumors about a remake of Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag immediately bring up two concerns. The original game’s sailing and naval combat were incredibly popular – so much so that Ubisoft tried to create a separate game, Skull and Bones, based on those features. However, Skull and Bones wasn’t very successful. Now, there’s a worry that Ubisoft might try to ‘improve’ Black Flag’s best parts using ideas from a game that didn’t come close to matching its quality.

Black Flag’s Ship Combat Worked Because It Didn’t Try Too Hard

Black Flag’s excellent naval combat worked so well because it focused on being intuitive. Sailing felt natural, battles were easy to follow, and players could pick up the controls without needing a tutorial. The game clearly communicated what was happening on screen, which was a huge benefit. Everything was built around the feeling of being a pirate, rather than getting bogged down in complicated controls – a mistake Skill and Bone made, and one that Ubisoft still hasn’t quite fixed.

What I really loved about the ship combat was how seamlessly it fit into the Assassin’s Creed experience. It kept the core gameplay I knew and loved, but let me fight on ships and raid enemy vessels, all without feeling clunky or forced. It never felt like the game was pausing to show off how complicated everything was – the ship was just a tool to get the job done, and honestly, that simplicity is what made it so great and memorable. It just worked.

Unlike previous games, Skull and Bones initially focused entirely on naval battles, completely removing land combat. They’re only now adding that feature, which many feel should have been included from the beginning. The game became bogged down with complicated progression systems and mechanics, making it much slower-paced than it used to be. While this approach might work for a game solely about ships, it doesn’t fit the original, fast-paced style of Black Flag. If the remake copies this heavier design too much, it could ruin the smooth, adventurous feel that made Black Flag so enjoyable.

Ubisoft’s Reputation Makes This Hard To Ignore

It’s understandable why people are wary of this remake. Ubisoft hasn’t had a smooth track record lately, constantly shifting directions and facing criticism. They seem to recognize their games need improvement, but their efforts haven’t been consistent, making even projects with a lot of potential feel risky.

Remaking Black Flag should be simple: enhance the graphics, refine gameplay, and boost performance without drastically changing what already worked well. However, Ubisoft often seems to avoid building on successful foundations, instead feeling the need to rework things just to prove they can. They tend to see familiarity as a weakness, rather than a benefit.

The game Skull and Bones took Ubisoft years and a lot of money to develop, so it’s likely they’ll use elements from it in other projects to save costs. While a remake of Black Flag hasn’t been officially announced, people are worried about how it will be handled. Black Flag is widely considered the best Assassin’s Creed game ever made, and doesn’t need to be changed or ‘improved’ based on a less popular game like Skull and Bones. If Ubisoft focuses on what made the original Black Flag so successful and avoids making unnecessary changes, the remake could be fantastic. Otherwise, it risks proving that getting things right the first time is surprisingly difficult – especially for Ubisoft.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

Read More

2025-12-16 06:42