Assassin’s Creed is a long-running series filled with plenty of ups and downs, but I’ll never forget when the fourth main installment was released: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.
Starting that game up as an Assas—A PIRATE?!
I immediately knew the series was in for an upgrade. It had the same Assassin’s Creed mechanics I already loved, a complex main character, and plenty of pirate tomfoolery. Needless to say, I enjoyed my first playthrough of the original. In fact, I often cite Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag as my favorite game of all time, so Resynced had some massive shoes to fill.
Gameplay and Story
I want to preface this by saying that I’ll do my best to keep this review completely spoiler-free.
Resynced promised to be more than a simple graphical overhaul, which naturally meant gameplay updates, expanded story content, and even some light story changes. These changes honestly don't soften the experience or suddenly make the game feel like it is filled with less gritty pirates, so I never found it distracting.
But let's get to the part everybody actually wants to know: How's the gameplay?
I'll admit, I was originally nervous that a new combat system would take away from what made Black Flag special. I am BEYOND EXCITED to say that's not the case at all.
Edward Kenway isn't an Assassin, so why should he fight like one?
That was actually one of the original criticisms surrounding Black Flag. How could you have an Assassin's Creed game where the protagonist isn't really an Assassin? I think Edward quickly won people over, and Resynced leans even harder into what makes him different.
Combat feels much stronger here. The takedowns, kicks, gunplay, and different playstyles you can work into encounters are all incredibly satisfying. Personally, I loved playing as a gun-toting pirate. The gunshot, kick, takedown combo became my go-to whenever I found myself in a heavy combat scenario.
I did try to play stealthily whenever the game gave me the option. I promise.
As you progress through Resynced, it becomes clear that this really does feel like more. It doesn't feel like somebody simply reskinned the original and shipped it back out (no pun intended).
Characters are given more room to breathe throughout the story. Blackbeard, who was already one of the most iconic characters in the original, gets even more of a spotlight later in the game and you get additional opportunities to really live through these pirate stories.
The officers recommended by Adéwalé have also been expanded. After recruiting them, additional missions allow you to help with their personal stories. You can complete them purely for gameplay purposes, but players interested in learning their true motivations for joining Edward get quite a bit more depth. Personally, I always enjoyed The Padre's tragedy-driven story, so getting more time with his motivations was a really nice touch.
When it comes to level design, it was initially difficult for me to put my finger on exactly what had changed. Resynced simply feels more thought out than the original. There were missions in the original game that could feel janky, often forcing you down awkward routes just so the game could squeeze in a bit of freerunning. Here, mission layouts feel much more natural. Getting from Point A to Point B doesn't feel nearly as forced.
The freerunning and parkour also feel amazing.
I've always thought Black Flag offered some of the most unique and intuitive parkour in the franchise, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't occasionally finicky (to put it lightly). Resynced fixes that in a major way. Parkour and freerunning feel buttery smooth in a way they never have before.
Naval combat has also been streamlined. It feels slightly simpler, but substantially smoother. Moving between weapons, positioning the Jackdaw, and reacting during fights feels much cleaner. Naval combat was already one of the defining features of Black Flag, and Resynced does a great job of improving it without completely reinventing the ship (okay pun intended this time).
The Hideout has received some updates as well. Love it or hate it, there is simply more to do on the island. It isn't nearly as demanding as some of the settlement or home-base mechanics found in other games, but Resynced gives you more reasons to actually return instead of completely forgetting the Hideout exists.
All of these gameplay improvements tie directly into how the story feels as a whole. The pacing is smoother, the missions flow more naturally, and the added character moments give the narrative more weight without dragging it down.
All of the classic story beats you know and love are still here, and somehow they hit even harder. Even though the original game isn't that old—well, it's 13 years old now, which is wild—Resynced manages to make those moments feel fresh again.
I found myself constantly hit with waves of nostalgia while playing. Revisiting certain characters, locations, and story moments with all of these improvements reminded me exactly why I fell in love with Black Flag in the first place.
The game uses the same engine as Assassin's Creed Shadows, but honestly, I like it a whole lot more here. Everything feels more cohesive, and the pirate setting really benefits from the updated tech. Resynced is also more RPG-heavy than the original game, but I quite enjoy that change. It gives you more freedom in how you approach combat and progression, and it fits surprisingly well with the pirate fantasy. I've been waiting for another good pirate RPG for a long time, so I guess I'll settle for a great one.
Another major change is the complete removal of the modern-day segments from the original game. Honestly? Good. I didn't even immediately realize they were missing while I was playing. Keeping the story entirely within the pirate era makes the experience feel substantially cleaner and lets Edward's story maintain its momentum from beginning to end.
And yes, the Assassin's Creed collectibles are still there.
You didn't really think you were escaping those, did you?
Graphics and Audio
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has some fantastic character models. Characters are far more expressive, with improved facial animations that make conversations feel more natural and emotionally grounded. Subtle details like eye movement, smirks, and tension in a character’s face help sell the performances in a way the original simply couldn’t.
The environments have received a massive visual upgrade as well. Dense jungles feel more alive, bustling ports are packed with detail, and the lighting system does a ton of heavy lifting when it comes to immersion. Sunsets over the Caribbean hit especially hard, casting warm tones across the water and making even simple sailing segments feel cinematic.
Speaking of sailing, the water itself looks incredible. The way waves roll, crash, and react to your ship adds a level of realism that constantly pulled me in. The ocean feels like a living part of the world rather than just a backdrop.
Bringing over the weather technology from Assassin's Creed Shadows is one of the best decisions Ubisoft could have made. Black Flag was already beautiful, but watching the Caribbean completely transform under different weather conditions is incredible. Calm waters and bright skies can quickly turn into rough seas and violent storms, complete with heavy rain, thunder, and reduced visibility. These moments don’t just look great, they actively enhance gameplay by making naval encounters feel more intense and unpredictable.
I also love the original Black Flag soundtrack.
It's possibly one of the best soundtracks in the franchise.
Actually, I'll double down.
It is the best soundtrack in the Assassin's Creed series.
The score has been subtly enhanced in Resynced, with cleaner audio mixing and slightly richer instrumentation that helps certain tracks stand out even more. Whether you're exploring, fighting, or sailing, the music consistently elevates the experience without ever feeling overwhelming.
The voice cast is also fantastic. I've always loved Olivia Morgan's performance as James Kidd, a great character with an incredibly complex background. Revisiting these performances with improved audio clarity makes them hit even harder, and the added character moments throughout the game give the actors even more room to shine.
Environmental audio deserves a shoutout too. The creaking of the Jackdaw, the crash of waves, distant cannon fire, and the chatter of crew members all come together to create a soundscape that feels incredibly immersive.
And yes, the sea shanties are still capable of completely derailing whatever objective I was originally sailing toward.
Feedback
I can't lie. The game is buggy.
It isn't so buggy that the experience becomes impossible to enjoy, and I didn't encounter anything truly game-breaking. Most of the problems I experienced were minor bugs and annoying little issues that occasionally forced me to refresh the game.
The most frustrating bug I encountered involved starting missions.
When walking up to somebody to speak with them, I sometimes had to come to a complete stop before pressing the talk button. Otherwise, the character would just stand there and stare at me.
I'd stare back.
Nothing would happen.
Then I'd have to walk away, return, and try again.
Most of the bugs I encountered feel like the kind of issues that will naturally get patched out over time. There's nothing here that ruined my playthrough, but there are certainly enough small annoyances to notice.
Final Verdict
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is still one of my favorite games of all time, and Resynced only solidifies that opinion for me. It’s the ultimate pirate adventure returning better than ever.
Edward Kenway is the best Assassin's Creed protagonist.
Argue with a wall.
The Caribbean is the best Assassin's Creed setting.
Argue with a wall.
Being a pirate is awesome.
Argue. With. A. Wall.
Resynced is definitely less guided than the original and leans further into RPG mechanics, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The stronger combat, smoother parkour, expanded characters, improved mission design, and gorgeous Caribbean make this feel like more than a graphical upgrade.
This is still the Black Flag I fell in love with, just with enough changes to make sailing these seas exciting all over again.
Long story short: if you love Black Flag, you're probably going to like Resynced. I highly recommend it.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced is available on July 9th on PC via Steam and Ubisoft store, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
