PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Being able to raise and lower your hood at any time is cool, and the removal of those god-awful tailing missions with the immediate fail states is a blessing. But unless I'm missing something, Resynced might be adding as many problems to Black Flag as it's addressing. [Hands-On Impressions]

After a handful of hours playing this remake of one of the best Assassin’s Creed games, I’m pretty sold on replaying through it in its entirety when it comes out later this year. [Hands-On Impressions]

The overall gameplay experience, with its reworked action, vibrant, updated visuals, and re-recorded voice lines, is a treat and an excellent proof of concept for Ubisoft’s first-ever remake. I’m cautiously optimistic about the complete package, as tweaks to the modern-day story and the new endgame missions that add to Edward’s already-complete narrative remain to be seen. Still, I’m already confident Black Flag Resynced will replace the original game’s icon on my desktop this July. [Hands-On Impressions]

What is already abundantly clear is that the game is a visual marvel; and if you didn't get to enjoy it back in the day, this experience stands as one of the most intriguing the franchise has delivered so far—so it’s a no-brainer... or rather, a rum-brainer. [3-Hour Hands-On Impressions]

If there’s one thing that, to me, seems unchanged between Black Flag and Black Flag Resynced, it’s the ship combat. This is a good thing. In 2013, Black Flag established a standard for naval combat in games that has not been surpassed, ultimately serving as the basis for Ubisoft’s 2024 open-world pirate game Skull and Bones. (Ubisoft Singapore, the primary developer of Skull and Bones, is also the primary developer of Black Flag Resynced.) Giant frigates aren’t lumbering vessels, but rather nimble vehicles you can turn and accelerate with precision. You can fire a multitude of cannons and mortars. And all the while, your crew of ne’er-do-wells chants sea shanties. It ruled then. It rules now. [Hands-On Impressions]

All in all, I came away feeling very impressed with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. While some may be disappointed that the whole game hasn't been overhauled, I believe that by making a ton of quality of life improvements, it not only honours the 2013 original but it also makes it feel somewhat of a modern release, which should be great news for old and new fans alike. [Hands-On Impressions]

With my eyes, ears and fingers plunged deep into Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, I came away with relative awe at what the team was managing to put together. Any revisit to something beloved can be fraught with peril, but the mastery on display from the team here shows that they know how to navigate those choppy waters. It’s more than a cutting edge overhaul of visuals, it’s a carefully considered enhancement to things that were deserving. My only gripes came from the gameplay session, where my fast-forwarded journey put me deep into late-game piracy, and I didn’t quite grasp the amount of Assassin’s tools at my disposal alongside some of the more fearsome enemies, but that isn’t Edward’s fault – it was mine. I hadn’t quite found my sea legs yet. [Hands-On Impressions]

While I love Black Flag's piratical nature, I've always thought it struggled to reconcile it fully with the franchise formula, and I'm not sure that Black Flag Resynced will do what the original game couldn't. Everyone else seems to love it, though, and if you're in that group, you'll probably love it again. [Hands-On Impressions]

With a story that's full of fun personalities, an impressive suite of new content, and some of the most vibrant visuals I've ever seen, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a brilliant update to one of the series' most iconic games. I can't wait to jump back in and start singing the shanties along with my crew like it's 2013 all over again. [Hands-On Impressions]

Resynced feels like the Assassin's Creed game that I've wanted for years, the game that finally unites the disparate halves of classic and RPG in a way that feels meaningful. There are so many smart ideas packed into different Assassin's Creed games that don't get used again, and if remakes are a way to bring those ideas back, I'm on board. Resynced isn't a game overly concerned about sticking to one "formula" or another, but rather embracing everything that has made not just Black Flag, but Assassin's Creed as a whole so distinct and memorable. In that way, Resynced already feels like the next step for the franchise, rather than just a simple revisit to the past. [Hands-On Impressions]