Summary
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flagis known for having one of the more engaging stories in the series, mostly due to its unique protagonist, Edward Kenway. While not all AC protagonists start as dedicated Assassins, most join the order early in the game. The same can’t be said about Edward, who mostly remains an independent pirate despite his deeper knowledge of the conflict.
The story of Black Flag spans multiple years and shows Edward’s development as he grows from a selfish pirate at the beginning to a dedicated Assassin by the end. He also experiences multiple experiences that inevitably humble him.
12Sequence 6
A Plague To Cure
The sixth sequence of the game is the calm before the storm and is not particularly relevant to the overarching plot. It focuses on Edward and Blackbeard working together to recover a specific medicine for Nassau, which takes them into different parts of the game world.
The sequence introduces some new mechanics, such as underwater diving. Still, it also employs some of the more tedious gameplay elements, such as the long ship stealth sequence in Last Memory, which is difficult to navigate due to its location in tight, swampy canals.
11Sequence 1
An Unfortunate Crash
The game’s prologue sequence isa short and sweet introduction to Edward as a characterand the ordeal he finds himself amidst. It begins with a tight battle sequence, with Edward being the only survivor of his crew. After the crash, he meets a mysterious man named Duncan, whose robes give him away as an Assassin.
The sequence sees the player traveling across a tropical landscape, a far cry from the cities that often took center stage in previous games of the series. Eventually, the conflict with the Assassin gets hostile, and Edward kills him, deciding to take his possessions and steal Duncan’s identity.
10Sequence 9
Betrayal
This short sequence mostly serves as an interlude between eight and ten, but it has some notable story moments. It sets up the conflict between Edward and Benjamin Hornigold, a pirate captain who betrayed his allies to get a pardon from Templar-ran authorities.
It also introduces the Wiseman, Batholomew Roberts, and Edward. Bart was a mysterious figure who eluded Assassins and Templars alike throughout most of the game but eventually decided to make a pact with Edward and team up to find the Observatory.
9Sequence 5
To Capture A Templar
The fifth sequence has Edward striking back against his Templar foes. It introduces some of the more exciting mechanics of the game, such as forts and the ability to besiege them. After capturing one of them, Edward finds a lead on the man named Laurens Prins and begins the hunt.
This sequence opens up Kingston, the last major city in the game, as this is where Prins resides. It involves some infiltration objectives and a revelation of James Kidd’s true identity,a woman named Mary Read, which makes it a short yet engaging memory sequence.
8Sequence 4
Assassins’ Hideout
The fourth sequence is notable because it is the first point of direct contact between Edward and the Assassin order. After claiming the harbor from the previous sequence, Edward follows James Kidd, who brings him to an Assassin hideout. Infiltrating the hideout presents a unique challenge, as the player cannot kill.
This leads to more revelations about Assassins, Templars, and the Wiseman. The sequence culminates in a temporary team-up between Edward and the Assassins, but he refuses to join or aid the order and decides to stick to his independent life as a pirate.
7Sequence 2
Templars In Havana
This is an introductory sequence that takes place almost entirely in the city of Havana. After Edward takes on the identity of Duncan,he goes on to meet with the Templars, who were expecting the Assassin traitor. The short-term working period with the Templars is tense as Kenway tries to keep his secret.
It also introduces many gameplay mechanics in the cities, such as viewpoints or the guards, which will come in handy for anyone inexperienced with the series and prove an engaging reminder for those who have played other games.
6Sequence 3
The Life Of A Pirate
This is another sequence that introduces many of the game’s mechanics, but those are the ones unique to Black Flag. The sequence unlocks free roaming and has Edward command an entire ship. The players are introduced to islands, battles in the open sea, and the pirate city of Nassau.
Story-wise, the sequence is also engaging because it introduces many famed historical pirates, such as Charles Vane and Blackbeard, many of whom are Edward’s friends and acquaintances. It culminates in fighting and killing a Templar Julien du Casse in the harbor of Great Inagua.
5Sequence 7
The Fall Of Nassau
The seventh sequence presents a game-changing storyline that kickstarts Edward’s downfall. It begins with Woodes Rogers and his soldiers coming to claim Nassau and, for the first time in years, providing sizable oppositionto the piratesthat have overrun the city. Some, like Hornigold, surrender to their fate.
Edward and a few others decide to resist and fight for their freedom. The sequence has the player fight Rogers’s forces in Nassau, which did not have any hostile guards previously but has become much more dangerous during this sequence.
4Sequence 11
Edward’s Lowest Point
This sequence is short, but it perfectly encapsulates the consequences of Edward’s actions. Throughout the entire game, his pride is the focal point of the story and a driving factor in his search for the Observatory and riches in general. This lands him in prison and sentences him to execution.
In this darkest hour, the Assassins come to save Edward and Mary Reed, who is imprisoned nearby. During the escape mission, the players are able to have Edward say goodbye to his fallen friends. This culminates in him reconsidering his entire life.
3Sequence 10
The Observatory’s Secret
This sequence has two major plot threads, culminating in the conflict of Edward and Ben Hornigold as the two clash on the sea and later finish their duel on a nearby isle. This has Edward commit his revenge and kill Hornigold for good. This engaging sequence is a short triumph for Edward, but it does not last long.
However, the last memory of the sequence turns this all on its head. Edward and Roberts discover the Observatory, but the wiseman betraysthe protagonistand tries to bury Edward in the ancient sanctum. Nevertheless, Edward manages to escape certain death in a series of an exciting gameplay loop.
