Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has launched, prompting renewed discussion about the franchise's combat evolution. While the update introduces some new features, critics argue that its simplification of combat mechanics and reduction in weapon variety detracts from the original experience.
Black Flag's original combat, though described as "cakewalk," offered players a range of distinct weapon choices, including hidden blades, axes, and muskets, each with unique animations and situational uses. These options allowed for varied approaches to engagements, whether direct confrontation or more stealth-oriented takedowns. The ability to use a musket, for example, provided a ranged advantage against distant targets like those on ship tops or in towers.
Resynced, however, limits players primarily to cutlasses. This reduction in available weaponry is seen as a step backward, removing the situational tools that could influence gameplay and approach to challenges. The original game's throwing knives, for instance, were useful not only for stealth but also for quickly eliminating distant threats. The introduction of a new blunderbuss-wielding enemy in Resynced further highlights the perceived loss, as players cannot pick up and utilize this potentially effective weapon, instead receiving a rope dart.
While Resynced introduces elements like "kicks-on-demand" and a slightly increased difficulty, the core criticism remains that these changes were not combined with the preservation of the original's diverse combat options. The author suggests that simply reducing the counter window and removing endless chain finishers would have significantly improved the original combat's challenge without sacrificing player choice. The removal of temporary weapons also fundamentally misunderstands their utility beyond direct combat, acting instead as crucial tools for strategic engagement and stealth.
Ultimately, the changes in Black Flag Resynced are seen by some as fundamentally altering the game's identity. The argument is made that removing viable playstyles and weapon choices means a remake cannot be considered a true representation if players cannot engage with it in the same manner as the original. Despite potential improvements in areas like ship combat, the revision's alterations to core gameplay mechanics and player agency mean it fails to retain the feel of the original Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.