Even after releasing a new game pretty much every year since 2007, Ubisoft somehow manages to make each entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise worth playing. I promised myself that I wouldn't swoon over the flashy trailers, interesting characters, and improved systems, but the latest Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag trailer is just too good to ignore. If it’s the narrative of this series that’s had you hooked, it’s time to get to know new protagonist Edward Kenway and his many motivations to stab guys in the neck.
Kenway is on a mission to find his biggest score. Instead of spending the rest of his years pulling in whatever small treasures he and his crew can scrounge up, a single prize that’s 10,000 times anything Kenway’s ever seen is what drives him forward. But it’s not easy to go unnoticed as a lawless man, and instead of cooperating, the pirate chooses a new, more interesting path.
There might be different themes and story beats, but this is still an Assassin’s Creed game. The stealth the series is known for will come back better than ever, and while the campaign won’t recreate history, it will continue to act as an authentic, credible experience. Look to pick up the current-generation versions of the game Oct. 29, with the PS4 and Xbox One products releasing in November.