Review Supplemental: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (PS4)

As an outlet, New Gamer Nation has already reviewed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and you can see what we had to say here. However, we got our hands on Assassins’s Creed IV: Black Flag for the PlayStation 4. This review supplemental will focus on the differences between the two versions of the game to help you decide which version is the one for you.

Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is an excellent game no matter how you look at it. It offers gamers a lengthy expansion into the Assassin’s Creed universe, and though the story is on the lighter side, there is still plenty of action to be had. Make no mistake, if you love Assassin’s Creed, you are going to love this game. However, since the launch of the game straddled the time between the last generation and the next generation of consoles, the question of which version is better becomes more apparent.

The answer to that question depends on what is important to you and what system you have access to. If you have the PlayStation 4, this would be the obvious choice for playing the game for the first time. The graphics look updated, but not a complete departure from the PlayStation 3 version, which is to be expected, yet surprising considering the leap in technology. The PS4 version runs at a native 1080p and uses high-resolution textures to make the game smoother and more appealing. While the finer details look relatively the same, the ocean looks a lot better. The ocean swells break on the deck of the Jackdaw in a realistic and beautiful fashion, it is truly a sight to see. The game also features fewer achievements so trophy hunters will have an easier time with the PlayStation 4 version. If that matters to you, this could be a big plus for the next-gen version of the game.

However, if you already purchased the game, or you find that the PlayStation 3 version is cheaper or easier for you to get your hands on, you don’t have to worry that you are missing out on anything significant. The two versions of the game are the same, so from a content standpoint you can’t go wrong one way or the other. You’ll still have the opportunity to experience everything Black Flag has to offer in the same exact way. Even the performance is similar in most respects. The only major differences come in resolution, the PS4 1080p vs the PS3 720p and when you are in combat with lots of enemies, the PS3 version may suffer from occasional slow down. Outside of that, you can go one way or the other and get the same impressions.

From a personal standpoint, we recommend the PlayStation 4 version of the game. We found the DualShock 4 in more comfortable than the DualShock 3 so playing for long periods of time is easier on the PS4. Also, the graphical differences are noticeable and worth playing through if you haven’t done so already. Whether you choose the PlayStation 3 or the PlayStation 4, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a great game. While we wouldn’t say the game is worth a double purchase if you got the earlier version, if you never played the game before, we say go big and get the PlayStation 4 version.

This review is based on a review copy of the PlayStation 4 version of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag published and developed by Ubisoft