Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

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Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed IV - Black Flag logo.png
Studio Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher Ubisoft
Erstveröffent-
lichung		 October 29, 2013
platform Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
PlayStation 4
Wii U
Xbox 360
Xbox One
Nintendo Switch
Game engine AnvilNext
genre Action adventure
Subject Golden Age of Piracy
Game mode Single player , multiplayer
control Game controller
keyboard , mouse
medium DVD-ROM , Blu-ray Disc , download
language German, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
copy protection Account binding to Uplay (PC)
Age rating
USK approved from 16
PEGI from 18

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a computer game released by Ubisoft in 2013 . It is the sixth part of the Assassin's Creed series and the fourth main title. Like its predecessor, the title belongs to the action-adventure genre. Assassin's Creed IV was released on October 29, 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 . The versions for PlayStation 4 , Windows , Wii U and Xbox One appeared in November 2013. On December 6, 2019, a version (only available as a bundle) for the Nintendo Switch was released .

action

The game is set in the setting of the Caribbean pirates during the 18th century . The main character of the game is Edward Kenway, a British pirate. He is not a real assassin at the beginning of the game, but will be trained by them as the game progresses. He is the father of Haytham Kenway and the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké: ton (Connor), the two playable characters from Assassin's Creed III . Historical figures such as Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch , Benjamin Hornigold , Anne Bonny , Jack Rackham , Charles Vane and Mary Read can also be encountered. There are three major cities in the game: Havana , Kingston and Nassau , as well as many other smaller villages. Edward himself is not an assassin at the beginning of the game, but will work with them as the game progresses because both of them expect an advantage from this.

Fitkive Abstergo logo

As in the predecessors, part of the plot takes place in the present, in which the player no longer controls Desmond Miles. The new character sits at Abstergo Entertainment, a branch of the Abstergo Group, which is already known from its predecessors. This fictional corporation explores historical data using the animus to develop entertainment software.

The character of the PS Vita game Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Aveline can be played in the additional missions that are exclusive to the PS3 and PS4 versions. In addition, it is not included in the game.

Game principle and technology

General

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag , like its predecessors, is an open-world game from a third-person perspective . The system for maritime warfare that was already introduced in the previous year takes on a larger role this time. This part of the game should make up about 40% in the main course, depending on the style of play, this can be larger due to side missions and free movement on the sea. Overall, the maritime gameplay has been expanded and improved compared to its predecessor, for example the aiming system for cannons has been revised. While traveling at sea, random events can always occur which the player can pursue voluntarily. Diving is also possible for the player and the transition between land and water has been implemented more smoothly, so that no loading screens appear here. There is also a fast travel system.

The gameplay on land is again based on the predecessor, but this time the developers placed a little more emphasis on increasing the stealth component again and giving the player more freedom as to how he would like to complete individual tasks. Many passages have to be solved aggressively as well as creeping, with both ways differing in difficulty. The ducking system has also been improved a bit, there are again certain points at which the character can duck, but the character now remains in a crouched position even when leaving these areas. There is also an economic system again in which your own ship can be expanded with the help of looted resources. The combat system again offers various options for combos, here you can quickly switch between the swords and the firearms.

This time there is no fixed character for the plot of contemporary history. The presentation of this section of the game takes place completely in the first person perspective and should best be comparable to a first-person adventure.

Community challenges

If you grant the software access to the Internet, you can compete with other online players in achieving specified goals, which are started by Ubisoft over the Internet. These challenges only run for a few days.

One of these challenges was, for example, that all players had to loot 70,000 ships within three days. This goal ended on December 26, 2013, but was not achieved.

Production notes

marketing

DLC

For Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag , there are some paid downloadable content. In addition to smaller packages containing ship upgrades, this includes story DLCs in which the player z. B. can slip into the role of the quartermaster of the Jackdaw, Adéwalé. A Season Pass was also offered, with which various DLCs could be acquired more cheaply overall than with individual purchase. However, this does not contain the story DLC "Aveline". The in-game items in the pre-order content, on the other hand, are largely contained in the “Famous Pirate Package” available in the Season Pass (see section Pre-order content).

Mission DLC

These DLCs offer an expansion of the main game with additional missions, which however contain narrations independent of the main story:

  • Island mini-missions (15 minutes each): Black Island, Mystery Island and Sacrifice Island. Primarily used to collect equipment.
  • Aveline: "60 minute" adventure in 3 chapters, with Aveline, the assassin from Assassin's Creed III: Liberation for PlayStation Vita. Initially included as DLC code in various PS3 / PS4 versions (with expiry date). Also available as a separate download for PlayStation, but not via the Season Pass. For PC the DLC is only available in the digital deluxe version.
  • The cry for freedom: “3-hour” adventure in 9 chapters, a self-contained story about Edward Kenway's quartermaster Adèwalè. Available as a single download or in the Season Pass or the Jackdaw Edition of the game.

Special editions

In addition to the standard version of the game, there are several special editions of Assassin's Creed IV in Europe :

  • The Black Chest Edition
  • The Buccaneer Edition
  • The Skull Edition
  • The special edition
  • The Jackdaw Edition (contains Season Pass DLC code), was not part of the start lineup, released: March 27, 2014. No longer contains the DLC code for the “Aveline” story and the “Captain Kenways” item set Legacy".

Pre-order content

This time, too, there were various pre-order bonuses (game items) from the various large chain stores.

All three pre-order items are also included in the Black Chest Edition in a package called The Pirate's Trophy . The Captain Kenway's Legacy package , which is included in some of the special editions , also contains some of the content that is also included in the pre-order packages (see table). The famous pirate package (single DLC / Season Pass / Jackdaw Edition) also contains most of these (and more), except for "Golden Double Sabers" and "Multiplayer Costume: Treasure Hunters".

In addition, pre-orderers at participating retailers received a code with which they could access The Watch . Various information, bonus content and rewards were offered here. To participate in The Watch , a free Uplay account had to be created. By registering with The Watch, the respective pre-order bonuses were activated and tied to the Uplay account. The site is said to go offline some time after the game was released and players have been asked to switch to the Ubisoft platform Assassin's Creed: Initiates.

Merchandise

To match the game, various collectible figures of some game characters such as Edward Kenway and Blackbeard from McFarlane Toys were released on the day of release. Again, there is exclusive content for the game itself that cannot be obtained otherwise. A plastic replica of the hidden blade that Edward Kenway uses in the game has also been released.

In addition to a solution book, a novel and an art book with illustrations about the game were published. The Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia also appeared in a third, expanded edition.

Takashi Yano and Kenji Ōiwa wrote the manga Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: Kakusei , which was published in Germany on Tokyopop as Assassin's Creed: Awakening .

successor

On March 21, 2014 Ubisoft announced the successor Assassin's Creed Unity , which was released in November 2014. The title does not contain any numbering and is technically the first actual next-gen title for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles and PC. The framework story is the French Revolution in the late 18th century. In addition, as the end of the Kenway saga, it means Assassin's Creed III and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the successor to the last-gen Assassin's Creed Rogue . The framework story is the Seven Years War in North America . It was also released in November 2014.

reception

Reviews

The magazine GBase.ch gave Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag a rating of 8.5 and thus an award. The test report praised the great scenario and the numerous challenges. In return, the mixed AI and small technical defects were criticized.

whaling

The animal welfare organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) criticized the possibility of hunting whales in the game. PETA describes this game element as "shameful" and denounces that the game would "glorify" whaling. Ubisoft then issued a statement that they would "not approve of illegal whaling any more than [...] piracy, looting, hijacking, or any other debauchery of overly drunk people," indicating that it is merely "a fictional work [handle] based on true events of the golden pirate era ”.

designation

Due to the fact that Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was released just a year after Assassin's Creed III and is set in a similar historical period as its predecessor, the decision to give the game a number (and thus to release it as the main title) was made by fans doubted. Ubisoft itself defends this decision, as there is a new protagonist as well as a different setting and new features. For this reason, the game would convey a different feel and clearly stand out from its predecessor.

Online pass

Ubisoft planned to use an online pass, the so-called Uplay Passport , for the player's online content . Each copy of the game is therefore accompanied by an online pass that can only be redeemed once and gives access to the game's online functions. People who buy the game and have already used the online pass must therefore buy another online pass in order to be able to use all online functions. In the case of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, this applies not only to multiplayer but also to various single player content. This practice has generated some criticism among players. Ubisoft responded to this criticism by abolishing the cost of the online pass. This can now also be purchased free of charge by people who need a new passport due to the purchase of a used vehicle. Ubisoft also announced that it would no longer rely on online passes in the future.

synchronization

In Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag a number of well-known German voice actors lend the characters their voices, the synchronization was created by the dubbing studio mouse-power GmbH .

past
character German voice actor
Edward Kenway Tobias Kluckert
Adèwalè Oliver Stritzel
William Kidd / Mary Read Vera Teltz
Ed " Blackbeard " Thatch Klaus-Dieter Klebsch
Charles Vane Ekkehardt Belle
"Calico" Jack Rackham Martin Semmelrogge
Governor Woodes Rogers David Nathan
Ah Tabai Tayfun Bademsoy
Aveline de Grandpré Yvonne Greitzke
Benjamin Hornigold Michael Iwannek
Commodore Peter Chamberlaine Gernot Endemann
Opia Acito Irina von Bentheim
Antó Tilo Schmitz
Laurens Prins Jochen Schröder
Rhona Dinsmore Ulrike Stürzbecher
Stede Bonnet Sven Hasper
Anne Bonny Luisa Wietzorek
Kenneth Abraham Klaus Lochthove
Laureano de Torres y Ayala Carlos Lobo
Peter Beckford Erich Rauker
Bartholomew Roberts Martin Kautz

Klaus-Dieter Klebsch dubbed the pirate Blackbeard with Johnny Depp in the film Pirates of the Carribbean - Stranger Tides .

present
character German voice actor
Desmond Miles Thomas Friebe
Shaun Hastings Philipp Scheppmann
Rebecca Crane Michaela Breit
William Miles Bodo Wolf
Olivier Garneau Oliver Rohrbeck

In addition, other well-known German voice actors such as Peter Flechtner , Wanja Gerick or Till Hagen can be heard in various supporting roles.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Jump up ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Game Reveal Interview - IGN Video. In: ign.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  2. ↑ News: Assassin's Creed 4 receives firm PS4, PC, Xbox One release dates - ComputerAndVideoGames.com. In: computerandvideogames.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  3. ↑ a b Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag - protagonist Edward Kenway; more pirate than assassin - News - GameStar.de. In: gamestar.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  4. ↑ a b Be Excited About Assassin's Creed IV. And Be Skeptical. In: kotaku.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  5. ↑ a b c The Present Day Part of Assassin's Creed IV Is a First-Person Adventure. In: kotaku.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - information on history, features, open world, pirates, hero ... - YouTube. In: youtube.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  7. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4 exclusive PlayStation content continues Aveline's story - Joystiq. In: joystiq.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  8. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag - Random events at sea are supposed to keep you busy. In: pcgames.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  9. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag - Interview with Game Director Ashraf Ismail. In: pcgames.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  10. ↑ Assassin's Creed IV - General Info Thread (FAQ) - Status: UPDATE IN PROGRESS - Forums. In: forums-de.ubi.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  11. ↑ a b Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag: Various details about the new Assassin adventure, get Season Pass. In: gamona.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  12. ↑ Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - EU Collector's Editions Unveiled - UbiSoft Forum
  13. ↑ Ubisoft: Black Chest Edition Contents
  14. ↑ Ubisoft: Buccaneer Edition Content
  15. ↑ Ubisoft: Skull Edition Content
  16. ↑ Ubisoft: Special Edition Content
  17. ↑ Assassinscreed.de: Jackdaw Edition
  18. ↑ Ubisoft: A Mysterious Find Content
  19. ↑ Ubisoft: The Pride of the West Indies Content
  20. ↑ Ubisoft: The Shipwrecked Treasure Content
  21. ↑ Ubi.com: Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag - The Illustrious Pirates DLC Pack. Retrieved August 29, 2018 .
  22. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag: The Watch Trailer - 4Players. In: 4players.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  23. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag: Blackbeard collectible figure and DLC revealed. In: pcgameshardware.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  24. ↑ Assassins' Creed IV Cosplay Begins With This McFarlane Toys Creation. In: kotaku.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  25. ↑ Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag - Ubisoft announces several official books - News - GameStar.de. In: gamestar.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  26. ↑ GameSkinny.com: A Book Lover's Dream: Assassin's Creed Encyclopedia 3.0. Retrieved July 21, 2018 .
  27. ↑ Ubisoft announces Assassin's Creed Unity & shows first in-game video. In: assassinscreed.de. Retrieved April 9, 2014 (German).
  28. ↑ - Test report on GBase.ch
  29. ↑ PETA: It's 'disgraceful' for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag to 'glorify' whaling - GamesBeat. In: venturebeat.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  30. ↑ PETA Condemn's Assassin's Creed 4's Whaling as “Disgraceful” - IGN. In: ign.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013 .
  31. ↑ Stern: Animal rights activists denounce whaling in "Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag" ( Memento from March 10, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  32. ^ Assassin's Creed 4 - Release. In: giga.de. Retrieved October 19, 2013 (German).
  33. ↑ Ubiblog: Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag and Uplay Passport , October 31, 2013, accessed November 13, 2013
  34. ↑ Games - Assassin's Creed 4 - Black Flag (2013). Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
Assassin's Creed


Main series

Assassin's Creed  • II  • Brotherhood  • Revelations  • III  • IV: Black Flag  • Unity  • Rogue  • Syndicate  • Origins  • Odyssey  • Valhalla

Offshoot

Altaïr's Chronicles  • Bloodlines  • II: Discovery  • III: Liberation  • Chronicles

Offshoots for smartphones

Pirates  • Rearmed  • Memories  • Identity

Movies

Assassin's Creed