I have been playing AC4 for a few weeks now and I feel that it is a great game with many improvements over the disappointing AC3.
First, the characterization is better. Edward is a greedy pirate but also a likable guy, in the same sort of vein as Han Solo in the original Star Wars. It is easier to immerse yourself in the experience this way because you identify with the guy. I never felt this way with Connor. Maybe it can be blamed on bad writing. Connor just came across as a punk. Even the mentor, Achilles Davenport just seemed to feel flat. The characters weren’t engaging.
The world of AC4 opens up quicker than AC3 did. You go through a few missions that serve as an introduction to Edward as well as a tutorial. Then you are free to explore the cities and sea at your leisure. In AC3, you are stuck for a long time following linear mission after mission before the world opens up. You start as Haytham in England, then Haytham sailing to America, then Haytham doing missions in America, then Haytham getting busy with an Indian chick. Flash forward some years, then you are Ratonkatruck as a boy doing missions until the village is destroyed, then seeking the Assassins for training, and finally you get renamed as Connor and do a few more missions, then the world opens up. Seriously probably 25% of the game has gone by before you meet and get to control the main protagonist of the game.
Free running is much improved in AC4. Not really in the mechanics, but simply in the fact that you are allowed to do it. In AC3, the minute you climbed a building, guards were chasing you and shooting at you. Also there were not long stretches of buildings that allowed you to free run as an option. Especially New York, the buildings were too far away to leap from one to another. Climbing a building just so you have to climb down the other side to cross the street gets tiring after a while. In AC4, the city layout of Havana, Nassau, and Kingston all promote free running which is great. I feel that climbing buildings to navigate cities easier is an essential part of the Assassin’s Creed experience. Also there are guards sprinkled about on rooftops. But not to the extreme that AC3 had. It definitely doesn’t negate the advantage of being able to take to the rooftops to throw off pursuit.
The naval parts of this game are amazing! Cannons are now aimable, plus you can upgrade to other weapons like the ram or mortar. You are able to stop the ship anywhere you like to explore islands or shipwrecks. There are tons of things to collect. If you are one those guys that like to get 100% of everything, you will be busy for a long time with this game. If you don’t like sailing from location to location, there is a built in “fast travel” feature.
The crafting/upgrade feature has been better integrated into the story for AC4. The crafting feature is used to upgrade Edward’s health, number of pistol holsters, as well as various pouches for darts and smoke bombs. Upgrades for the Jackdaw require money and resources like wood, cloth or metal. These items are obtained by raiding other ships. It is very essential to complete the ship upgrades in order to complete the main missions. This felt different to me from AC3 where it was available if you wanted it, but it wasn’t really necessary, especially upgrades for Connor. The coolest weapon was the assassin tomahawk, and you were given that early in the game. There was no need to upgrade the weapons. Edwards upgrades are worth the money, especially the pistols. So this gives you incentive to hunt treasure chests for gold. You now have something worthwhile to spend money on.
Pretty much to sum up, Assassin’s Creed 4 is a worthy addition to the AC line and is everything that AC3 should have been and more. I will be enjoying this game for weeks to come. Also, I have fallen in love with the Jackdaw and I am researching at the moment because I need a model of it in my house. Right now, I am looking at options of modifying an existing kit versus scratch building my own. Expect a build thread in the model section sometime the next month or so.
