Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flagis often regarded as one of the best entries in the entireAssassin’s Creedseries. The game featured a memorable protagonist in Edward Kenway, an intriguing Caribbean setting, and gameplay that expanded upon that of previous games while still maintaining the classicAssassin’s Creedfeel.Black Flagwas also an accessible entry in a lore-dense franchise, which contributed to it becoming one of 2013’s best-selling games. WithBlack Flagconsidered both a critical and commercial success, it’s no surprise that Ubisoft would want to go back to this pirate-themed well.
Many of Ubisoft’s biggest games in recent years have failed to meet expectations. SinceAssassin’s Creedhas proven to be one of the company’s most reliable franchises, Ubisoft is supposedly ramping upAssassin’s Creed’s release schedulewith the goal of putting out a new entry every six months. Such releases includeAssassin’s Creed Shadows,Invictus, and a rumoredBlack Flagremake. While remaking a successful entry may not net an entirely new game for the franchise, Ubisoft has the opportunity to go big with this trend.
Revisiting Assassin’s Creed’s Past
RemakingAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagis one of the safest moves that Ubisoft could make right now. The original game was highly profitable and garnered a large playerbase. With the series' controversialswap to the RPG genreand its failure to bring back older fans withAssassin’s Creed Mirage, aBlack Flagremake could also be Ubisoft’s best bet to capitalize on desires for the originalAssassin’s Creedformula without having to design a game from the ground up. Ubisoft needs a win right now, andBlack Flagcould once again provide it. If remakingBlack Flagproves to be a success for Ubisoft, it should only be the beginning forAssassin’s Creedremakes.
The Benefit of Remaking Other Assassin’s Creed Games
There are plenty ofAssassin’s Creedgames that could use the remake treatment.Assassin’s Creed 3and the Ezio trilogy have received remasters since their original releases, but these mainly made slight tweaks to the games' graphics and performance. The dated level design and inconsistent parkour systems remained intact, for example. While anyone can get their hands on olderAssassin’s Creedgames, people lacking in nostalgia might have a harder time finding a foothold.
Which Assassin’s Creed Remakes Should Come Next
Looking back at older games in the series,Assassin’s CreedandAssassin’s Creed 2would both benefit from remakes.Assassin’s Creed 2is considered by many fans to be the best game in the series. If it received the same remake treatment that popular games likeResident Evil 4andDead Spacehave, it could prove to be a massive success for Ubisoft. GivingAssassin’s Creed IIthe polish of a modern AAA game would be a great way to commemorate the beloved game. New and returning players alike would have the opportunity to experience Ezio’s story without some of the barriers of entry that come with age.
The originalAssassin’s Creedhas fallen behind the pack when it comes to popularity. There are many fans of the series that have never finished or even played this first entry. Its combat and parkour systems are simplistic compared to the games that followed. The open world is fairly bland, and Altair’s storyline can feel repetitive. Revamping the gameplay, graphics, and mission structures to feel more in line with subsequentAssassin’s Creedgames would get plenty of players to give this game a second chance. The recentAssassin’s Creed Miragepays homage to the firstAssassin’s Creedwith similar gameplay mechanics and a similar aesthetic for its open world. This opens the door for Ubisoft to easily repurpose many preexisting elements if it ever wanted to pursue anAssassin’s Creedremake.
RPGs likeAssassin’s Creed OdysseyandAssassin’s Creed Valhallahave proven to be successful but alienated fans of pre-Originsgames. Ubisoft’s attempts withMirageand the rumoredBlack Flagremake means that the company is trying to bring those fans back into the fray. If that’s the case, then the annals of Assassin’s Creed history have many entries worth revisiting. For a series all about finding salvation in the past, a remake-focused strategy could do just that for Ubisoft.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013)
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The year is 1715. Pirates rule the Caribbean and have established their own lawless Republic where corruption, greediness and cruelty are commonplace.Among these outlaws is a brash young captain named Edward Kenway. His fight for glory has earned him the respect of legends like Blackbeard, but also drawn him into the ancient war between Assassins and Templars, a war that may destroy everything the pirates have built.Welcome to the Golden Age of Piracy.
