If you are one of the three people in the world who buy Assassin's Creed games for the multiplayer component, then you are in for a doozy. The folks over at PlayStation Access have captured some gameplay from the competitive multiplayer of the upcoming Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. You can check out the video above to see for yourself. Though it looks remarkably identical to the multiplayer of past AC games, it... well, that's about it. It looks remarkably identical, and there's no real "but" here. I frankly don't see any change at all.
Well okay, customization looks to be a little more extensive this time around, as the video we've embedded below clearly shows. But apart from that, what's actually new here? Or have Ubisoft simply accepted that the multiplayer component is and always will be a second priority for them? It'll always just be tacked on, and kind of rather pointless? A marketing gimmick to make moronic pirates consider buying the game instead of pirating it? Let's hope I am wrong, and that there will be lots more to the gameplay, but I can't say I see it here. I don't see the multiplayer that will make people who dislike the singleplayer, still consider buying the full game for the multiplayer. Wouldn't you agree? Check out the video all the way at the bottom to see if the customization at least tickles your fancy.
In the meantime, let's talk a little more about what's important; the singleplayer component. Ubisoft have recently interviewed themseves (yeah) about the singleplayer portion of the game. Specifically, they talk about the Jackdaw, protagonist Edward Kenway's ship, and how it serves as a good way for the developers to implement a better progression system into the game. Black Flag's game director, Ashraf Ismail, gives us the low-down.
"Having the Jackdaw allows us to have a really deep progression system, We have a lot of different weapons with a lot of upgrades. This really ties everything together. It gives us a reason to travel the world. It gives us a reason to find collectibles. [...] We have enemies that will destroy you in two seconds at the beginning of the game. If you face a Man-of-War, you're toast."
It's a good idea, to have the open sea such a varied place, where you might meet enemies that you are far too weak to take on in the beginning of the game. Artificially introducing more powerful enemies into an open-world environment is often considered by gamers as a cheap way for the developer to deal with making a game progressively more challenging as time goes by. The more highly regarded RPGs often find a different way around it, where the player feels a sense of progression and mastery, finally defeating enemies that would previously tear the player to pieces, after hours of building up and preparing.
Ismail also promises that the progression systems won't be limited to the ship alone, but in true fashion of the Creed, clothing, weapons, tools and other things are also available for upgrade or replacement.
Well, that should be enough of a digest for you all for now. Remember to check out the videos above and below if the multiplayer interests you, and I'll see you on the high seas come November 22!
