Assassin's Creed IV

[Bardoon]

I do agree with Deckard, for non-AC fans there are elements of the game that are not explained well. Free-running, climbing, etc. isn't covered very well and that can be intimidating.

However, I am an AC fan and it is easy for me to get into the game. I recommend you exercise some patience Deckard, this is a HUGE game even by AC standards. Read over the controls in the "Pause" menu and try practicing some of them around town. Believe it or not, Ubisoft has actually "dumbed down" the game mechanics from previous games to make it less complicated.

If you have a "run and gun/give me everything NOW" gaming attitude or expect the game to hold your hand the whole way through then ACIV probably isn't for you.

 

[Deckard]

Yea I'm good with controls like I said but only because I found a fan made tutorial that explained naval combat.

Before they explain Heavy Shot and Mortars are a part of the game I lost 4 engagements straight while trying to gather supplies with Hornigold. Since than I've won every engagement cept one against a frigate I ran from. Literally a mention they exist was all the game needed. Instead I got to walk around some building they are way too excited about with an ipad. Never been so quickly taken out of a gaming experiance, definately the biggest wtf ive ever seen in a game in 27 years.

I'm about 7 hours in, I have a ship, I've figured out all the controls by half way to here, my only complaint at this point is the lack of an open world. 7 hours in and the game is still very linear which isn't what I had expected at all and why I'm so dissapointed. I had mainly planned on just doing some open world stuff for fun.

Basically I watched about 10 reviews and close to 2 hours of video before I bought this and none of them mention the limited sandbox or lack of explanations. Just that the SP was meh and that was why I wanted to mainly just play like GTA where you can go do whatever and level up your ship etc.

As I said it's a fun game with a very alive and interesting sandbox and it looks amazing maxed out on 1980x1020 but even with the hang of everything now it still feels clunky. Like even with a guy highlighted someones if you jump off a mast you miss a kill, sometimes he straight up misses what hes aiming at when freerunning or goes up a wall at the wrong time. Making the sprint and climb button the same was a good and bad idea.

Oh and I have 500+ games in my Steam library so pls gimme a break with the "you must be new to games" stuff

 

[Bardoon]

The only thing linear are the story missions. You will have to progress through the story mode to open different features.

Included are:

-Numerous forts at sea (defeating these will make the waters "safer" and identify more locations within certain areas)
-Assassination Contracts (Look for the skulls in towns/cities)
-Treasure Maps (providing upgrades)
-Diving Areas (Proceed through story to get the diving bell)
-Templar Hunts (Proceed through story and you'll see these)
-Smuggler Dens (for loot/they look like caves on the map)
-Harpooning/Hunting (Story will provide a tutorial on this but I think you can start early)
-Crafting/Upgrades for Edward & Jackdaw (You can do this early on after intro. to hunting)
-Warehouse Attacks (for loot)

Basically, you have to progress through the story and you'll see how the game opens up. The newer features like harpooning/attacking forts/diving, etc. are introduced via story missions. The game is a sandbox but more features open up as you progress.

Try sailing around to different areas BESIDES the story missions. You'll see what you can find.

 

[Deckard]

I did man, that was my complaint in that last post.

I tryed sailing from Nassau to Mystery Island, outran a frigate and a fort and hit a giant glass wall that wouldn't let me go any further and killed me. I mean it wasn't even like a sensible thing like a brigde closure in GTA and those all open up by 7-8 hours in. I thought I was sailing into a hurricane and then it got all weird and glitchy looking and told me a I was dying. And of course nothing marked on the map that says you cant go down there so you dont find out until you've sailed 10 mins out of your way.

 

[The Josh]

Usually in AC games the parts that are blocked off are kind of cloudy looking when you come upon them. They're also marked on the map but I don't remember how.

 

[Bardoon]

The AC games have two storylines. There is the "main" historical setting and then the "modern" setting.

You need to read up on AC if you want to fully understand it.

Essentially, the historical setting is being "experienced" by a modern-day person using a device called the "Animus" that allows one to revisit ancestral memories. In this case, you're revisiting Edward Kenway's memories.

The game uses the "desynchronization" as a way to block off areas because it isn't part of the "memory". Hence, why you "die" when you go off the map or you're "desynchronized" when you die. because in accordance to the memory, "it didn't happen".

 

[Deckard]

@ Josh, they aren't marked on the map or mini map at all, the wall just appears when you're close enough and it's not even just within view distance you gotta get close. And yea it looked just like a hurricane was suddenly there so I was like "oh no big deal just stear into waves..."

The AC games have two storylines. There is the "main" historical setting and then the "modern" setting.

You need to read up on AC if you want to fully understand it.

Essentially, the historical setting is being "experienced" by a modern-day person using a device called the "Animus" that allows one to revisit ancestral memories. In this case, you're revisiting Edward Kenway's memories.

The game uses the "desynchronization" as a way to block off areas because it isn't part of the "memory". Hence, why you "die" when you go off the map or you're "desynchronized" when you die. because in accordance to the memory, "it didn't happen".

Yea I get that but I just think it's stupid.

Edward Kenway isn't real theres no need to limit "his memories". In reality what they are doing is just an excuse to limit the sandbox to a fraction of what they are advertising it as and making the story way more linear then they lead on from all the previews.

It's not a total loss just a tremendos letdown. When I was watching all the reviews it looked like an 8-9/10 type game. TBH with all the flaws adding up I'm pegging it more like a 6/10 right now. Too much potential squandered but I'll finish it and see if that score improves.

 

[Bardoon]

Each game has their way of cleverly blocking off the "sandbox".

But in the end, to each their own, Deckard. I completely disagree with you and I'm sorry to hear you don't like it.

On the bright side, looks like you got your first Xbox One game to trade in.

 

[Deckard]

PC on Steam. Got the Gold edition with every preorder bonus and season pass for $40 in Tf2 keys so not a total loss. Half what it retails for. That's how I have so many games, you can get them on tf2 outpost for dirt cheap. Bought Arkham Origins last night for $11.

And I do like it, it's just not as good as they made it look/sound. That's why I said if anyone's considering it, I'd just wait til it's cheaper.

 

[SwedishHeat]

I've played a bit of every AC game they've made so far, and the controls remain as janky as ever. It feels like controlling a Wacky Waving Inflatable Arms Tube Man. I wanted to give this one another shot, because I love pirates, but gotdam. . . I got as far as the escort mission, trying to protect the Templars from the Assassins in Havana. . . but I have better things to do with my time than try a mission for the sixth time.

 

[Nuka Cola Kidd]

Liking the game a lot, but NOTHING is more annoying than chasing those ****ing shanties. I despise those things.

 

[SAB]

Desmond's story is finished. At this point they should just drop the modern story altogether.

Do we really need an explanation as to how we are playing as a pirate ?
I don't need to see someone in game enter the animus.

 

[Jaycepticon]

Does this have a sort of "jump point" to get places? Running around for miles in AC3 is what lost me for this franchise and that's all I can think about when wanting to play AC4.

And I LOVED every AC before then.

 

[The Josh]

Does this have a sort of "jump point" to get places? Running around for miles in AC3 is what lost me for this franchise and that's all I can think about when wanting to play AC4.

And I LOVED every AC before then.

Not having as many quick jump points was one of my issues as well in AC3.

 

[stshammgod]

Not having as many quick jump points was one of my issues as well in AC3.

At least you could call a horse....

 

[The Josh]

At least you could call a horse....

This is true. Just prefer the other method to be honest.

 

[SOLIDSNAKE]

OMG ! killed the first legendary ship.
that was crazy and there are 3 more to go.

under water exploration is just amazing!

 

[Hellion]

Liking the game a lot, but NOTHING is more annoying than chasing those ****ing shanties. I despise those things.

Yeah those things are harder to catch than running after animals on foot. I don't know if they have AI or what but last night I think I actually snuck up on one, makes me wonder if you have to be in its sight line for it to take off.

 

[Sithlord1975]

The AC games have two storylines. There is the "main" historical setting and then the "modern" setting.

You need to read up on AC if you want to fully understand it.

Essentially, the historical setting is being "experienced" by a modern-day person using a device called the "Animus" that allows one to revisit ancestral memories. In this case, you're revisiting Edward Kenway's memories.

The game uses the "desynchronization" as a way to block off areas because it isn't part of the "memory". Hence, why you "die" when you go off the map or you're "desynchronized" when you die. because in accordance to the memory, "it didn't happen".

This is the part of the whole AC experience I don't like.
Could never get into them.
Just put me in the role of an assassin, in whatever historical setting and let me do my thing.
I don't get the whole memory thingy.

I was hoping this was just a straight up - you're a pirate, in this historical setting and that's it. lol

 

[SOLIDSNAKE]

This is the part of the whole AC experience I don't like.
Could never get into them.
Just put me in the role of an assassin, in whatever historical setting and let me do my thing.
I don't get the whole memory thingy.

I was hoping this was just a straight up - you're a pirate, in this historical setting and that's it. lol

so you are not going to play it ?
the story in AC is amazing !
AC4 is by far the best game I have playes this year.