Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced: PS5 Review

Developed by Ubisoft Singapore
Published by Ubisoft
Platform: PS5

Back in 2013, Ubisoft released their much-loved seafaring version of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Set in a time of piracy and with the traditional Assassin's world mixed in as well, it was a heady concoction - one that offered thrills to players and endless playability thanks to its story and its graphics.

Originally developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the Resynced remake has been taken on by Ubisoft Singapore - and for those worried about whether the game would suffer as a result, there's really no need. It's not a remake per se, but an enhancement of the original, with new content added in a new look in parts to take advantage of the upgraded systems.

For those not in the know, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag follows pirate Edward Kenway, who finds himself yearning to escape the low-paying world of the pirate and heading out to sea for 2 years to earn enough money to keep his wife safe and the wind from blowing through his house.

But when his ship's boarded and attacked and wrecked, he follows a would-be member of the Assassin's Creed syndicate to an island, kills him and then assumes his identity, after being promised a big payday in Havana.

The gameplay is similar but improved on before - and with upgraded graphics, there's a distinctive shine to the world of the pirate and the high seas - even if you can kill someone, dump them in the water and they somehow remain sideways in there... 

Whereas the map is still a big one to explore and sea-faring shenanigans are encouraged, the sense of discovery has been dialled back in line with the Valhalla Assassins, where points appear on the map after you've encountered them or synced up in the world. As a result, the world of Havana and the pirates feels more realistic, rather than feeling like it's a list of perfunctory missions to perform to knock icons off your screen.

With smooth parkour, subtle transitions and combat feeling much easier than before, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced has a way of getting under your gaming skin.

Additional narrative including Blackbeard and more on Stede Bonnet (probably after the success of Our Flag Means Death) gives the game a feeling of depth and immersion - nothing feels like a chore in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced even if there is a nagging doubt of quests hanging over some of the storyline.

Great writing means Edward Kenway's story still stands the test of time and it's easy to see why it remains so beloved in the franchise. Added to the fact that it looks exceptional, (aside from some gravity-related bugs) and plays well, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is well worth sailing again.