A Pirate's Life, with Some Assassin Sprinkled In

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag feels like Ubisoft really wanted to make a pirate game and slapped the Assassin's Creed branding onto it. While it's not my personal favorite in the series, I can see why many fans consider it one of the best. The ship combat is satisfying, and Edward Kenway is a well-written character. His journey from a self-serving, greedy pirate to someone who comes to terms with the Assassins' Creed is engaging and well-developed.

Trophy-wise, nothing stands out as overly difficult. The legendary ship battles can be a challenge, but they're manageable. As for the multiplayer, it's mostly dead, but boosting with friends makes it easy enough to complete.

One aspect that felt off was the modern-day storyline. Abstergo turning into a game company and the player being a faceless employee felt disconnected, especially after Desmond Miles' death in the previous game. It's clear that Ubisoft wasn't sure where to take the modern-day narrative from there.

The Caribbean setting is beautiful, but the world feels a bit empty at times, and I've probably heard "Drunken Sailor" at least 100 times by now. Despite some of its shortcomings, if there are rumors or hints of a remaster, I'd happily dive back into the pirate life.