Look, we’ve all played our fair share of Assassin’s Creed games over the course of the current console cycle. It all started with one big Ubisoft release back in 2007, and since then, a new addition to the franchise has been seen on a yearly basis. Even if you’re feeling a bit of fatigue when it comes to stabbing people with your hidden blades, Black Flag is launching this year on pretty much every platform under the sun. A new set of hardware could mean bigger surprises for the series, and a recent Q&A held by the game’s Twitter account has revealed a slew of new facts about the pirate-themed adventure.
The game will be 15 to 20 hours long, but like always, “the goal is to have you get lost in the world, spending even more time in it.” That time, though, won’t include series-staple Desmond. Instead, his role will be taken by the person holding the controller. Ubisoft wants you to feel that you’re playing that character in a first-person perspective.
That’s an odd choice, but one feature that fans should appreciate is the return of Assassin tombs like in Assassin's Creed 2. These puzzle-riddled locations were one of the most popular additions to the franchise, but the fan service doesn’t stop there. New hire groups, like drunken pirates, will make use of tools that will manipulate the crowd in “fun ways.”
When it comes to combat, the Twitter account claims that you can “stealth your way” through about 85 percent of the game. One instance where stealth is not an option comes during naval combat, which will play a significant role in Black Flag. We saw this style of gameplay debut in Assassin’s Creed 3, but since this sequel focuses on pirates, much of your time will be spent at sea.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is coming to current-gen consoles Oct. 29, but as of now, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are without dates.
