Ahoy, Nintendo fans!
Raise the mast and…clear the poop deck.
Because Assassin’s Creed has once again
dropped anchor on the Wii U.
For the second time already, too.
And even though it’s arriving with, uh…less
cargo, than the other versions…it’s still
one of the year’s best games, and a great
addition to the Wii U’s library.
Oh, and this time, there’s pirates.
So.
Guess I better figure out what a poop deck
is.
So if you’re new to the series…welcome
aboard.
This is Assassin’s Creed.
It’s basically a combination of stealth
and open-world gaming, but with a couple of
drops of RPG goodness to sweeten the taste.
And in this case, rum—just, kegs of f*cking
rum.
So this time, you’re a pirate.
That means pillaging, looting, swimming, climbing
up walls like Spider-Man…you know.
Because when your blood’s been polluted
by rum and scurvy, there’s no wall steep
enough to keep you on the ground.
Alright, so maybe the game’s taken some
liberties.
Big deal.
There’s still cheap rum.
And even cheaper wenches.
You know what?
Pirates were straight balling.
So the game’s basically split into two parts.
There’s land, and there’s sea.
On land, there are three major cities, as
well as a ton of smaller islands…each with
little villages and towns of their own.
And of course, they're all separated by this
huge ocean, and that’s the second part of
the game.
When you’re on your ship, and you have the
entire Caribbean to explore.
In fact, it’s kind of like Wind Waker.
Only…there’s a little more, stabbing people.
So the bulk of the main missions take place
in the cities.
And each one is completely open.
So you can work toward your primary objectives…or
you can go off the beaten path.
The game has a ton of side quests and collectibles…there’s
always something to distract you from the
mission at hand.
In a good way.
And because the core gameplay is so strong,
exploring these places and dealing with whatever
dangers they present is incredibly addictive.
Not to mention, generally, incredibly fun.
And what about that core gameplay?
Well, it’s like Metal Gear meets Prince
of Persia.
As an assassin, you’re at your best when
you stick to the shadows.
Or the rooftops.
Or wherever you can see your enemies, without
them seeing you.
You can run up buildings, leap from rooftops,
swing from poles…and usually, you can punctuate
your performance with a kill.
Eventually, you’re stringing together kills
like a deranged gymnast who’s pissed about
a 9.1.
Unfortunately, these aerial assassinations
come at a cost.
And that’s the controls.
See, the game has this…stickiness, to everything.
It assumes you’re either running or going
in a certain direction…usually both.
And when it’s right, it makes your movements
really smooth.
But when it’s wrong, it can make things
a bit of a headache.
You’ll stick to ledges you’re trying to
jump away from, you’ll climb things you
weren’t trying to climb…it’s annoying,
but it can also compromise a mission.
And that’s when it gets a little frustrating.
So the controls could use some work.
At land and sea—controlling your ship feels
trickier than necessary, too.
But for the most part, the game plays really
well.
The combat is fun, and it never stops being
cool when you string together stealth kills.
And the environments are just incredible.
I mean, the characters and animations are
sketchy at times…but the places in this
game are stunning.
From tropical jungles to Caribbean villages
to cannon battles at sea…
The game gives you these beautiful playgrounds,
and the magic is that…it lets you run absolutely
wild in them.
Just like a pirate.
And Wii U owners will be pleased to know this
is a very good port.
On the other hand…it is a port.
So GamePad use is limited to off-screen play,
and although the Wii U version does come with
online multiplayer in tact…as of now, it’s
not getting any new content, released through
DLC.
So when it comes to the Wii U specifically…well,
it’s kind of a tradeoff.
Off-screen play is great, but…no real GamePad
use, and no DLC.
But, if the Wii U is your platform, don’t
let that dissuade you.
Despite the omissions, and the slight learning
curve, and the occasionally clunky controls…this
thing’s awesome.
It’s a game you can pour hours into without
even realizing it…taking side quests, and
killing for hire.
You always have more stuff to do, and it’s
usually in some beautiful new place…where
an epic musical score and plenty of enemies
await you.
How you’ll take care of them is up to you
in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag…a gaming
treasure that’s definitely worth the plunder.
