Black Flag Resynced is a great remake that remains loyal to its roots while also adding a few modern features and mechanics.
New additions
Highlights of some of the most notable changes between the original Assassin’s Creed Black Flag and Resynced and how it impacts gameplay.
Missions + story content
We can now tie some loose ends left by the first game. There are also new questlines that provide new rewards.
- New Blackbeard & Stede Bonnet Quests
- New Naval Officer Side Missions
- New Endgame Chapter “A World Without Gold”
- New Animus Rifts
Since this article is purely informative (and we avoid spoilers here), I won’t go into details about these new quests.
Shanties!
All 35 original shanties return to Black Flag Resynced, with ten new ones joining the playlist.
A companion worthy of a pirate
I’m happy to say that pets are a thing in Black Flag Resynced. So far, we know about cats and monkeys, but other animals might be added in the future.
Weapon “abilities”
Melee weapons now have different effects when using the Heavy Attack:
- Rapier: Deal more damage and pierce through foes
- Cutlass: Covers a wide area, and it can hit multiple enemies
- Pistol-Sword: Two shots are fired
Only one action per boarding
In Black Flag Resynced, you can only choose one option after a successful boarding. Lower your Wanted Level, Repair the ship, Send to Kenway’s Fleet, and loot the Captain’s Lockbox (when possible).
With this new mechanic, you’ll need to think strategically and balance your choices, at least in the early game.
Early Rope Dart
The Rope Dart is now given to you earlier in the game. Additionally, you can also use it to pull enemies to your location.
Recruitable officers
There are three different officers you can recruit. Each one provides a perk for naval combat.
- Padre: The Ram Dash deals massive collision damage. In the first game, this was unlocked only after defeating all the Legendary Ships. Padre will also join the boarding party.
- Lucy Baldwin: Perfect Brace is basically a Parry ability for the Jackdaw. Time it correctly and you’ll nullify incoming damage.
- Tobias “Deadman” Smith: The mortar receives a secondary firing option that fires many projectiles into a single area. You’ll be able to manually control where each projectile lands. You’ll also be able to fire an additional volley from your broadside cannons.
Ziplines
These Ziplines connect high to low ground over long distances. They are perfect for escaping from an area or if you want to take the shorter route. They are common in Forts and the more populated areas in the game.
Advanced Parkour
When activating this option in your Settings, you can parkour down to trigger more precise side-eject behavior, while parkour up prioritizes height gains and momentum.
Manual jump gives you greater control over Edward’s direction, allowing you to take shortcuts and increase speed while parkouring.
Photo Mode
Photo Mode is a tool that allows you to capture every moment in the game with the option of using effects or filters. In terms of features, Photo Mode in Black Flag Resynced is less sophisticated than what we got in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Expanded Hideout
The Hideout has been expanded. Additionally, you can upgrade both the Hideout and buildings on Great Inagua:
- Guesthouse – increase maximum passive income and a slot in Edward’s fleet
- General Store (three levels) – unlock rare and legendary weapons, decorations, and outfits
- Tavern – get access to three mini games which Edward can play, and add to the tip jar to increase your chances of finding a Royal Convoy on the open waters
- Harbormaster (three levels) – increase the number and tier of upgrades you can purchase for the Jackdaw
- Brothel – dancers become free to hire and a number of combat and sailing benefits are applied to Edward, the Jackdaw, and its crew
- Campfire – drunk pirates become free to hire and two more slots are added to Edward’s fleet
- Fisherman’s Wharf (New to Resynced) – increase Hideout passive income over time and double effectiveness of skinning hunted animals
- Treasure Dealer (New to Resynced) – unlock exclusive items and a map restoration service, increase Hideout profit over time, and unlock a chance for increased profit on fleet trading missions
- Mansion Façade – increase maximum passive income and a slot in Edward’s fleet
- Tower and Garden – increase maximum passive income and a slot in Edward’s fleet
Customizable HUD
The HUD is fully customizable with as many or as few elements as you desire. You also have the option to choose from the following presets:
- Default – Enables most HUD elements to provide maximum clarity. Ideal if you want clear guidance, button prompts, and combat feedback.
- Simple – A pared‑down HUD that removes some reminders and highlights, while still offering enough feedback for combat and navigation.
- Minimal – Displays only essential information, such as Edward’s health, interaction prompts, and cannon aiming arcs while aboard the Jackdaw.
- Disabled – Removes nearly all HUD elements for a fully immersion‑focused experience.
Difficulty settings
Difficulty settings affect Combat, Stealth, Activities, and Naval Combat; there are four separate difficulty settings dedicated to each one.
Each is split into three difficulties: Forgiving, Intended, and Hard.
- The Forgiving setting, generally, is for story-focused players or players who have not yet mastered the mechanics of a particular activity.
- Intended is the default and the closest experience of the original Black Flag, providing a balance between the two other settings, and is most suitable for players familiar with action-adventure games.
- Hard is for those who want a challenge and to test themselves against everything the game can throw at them.
What’s been removed
Present-day gameplay
If you played the first Black Flag, you remember the short sequences playing as a 9-5 employee of Abstergo Industries, a company used as a front by modern-day Templars.
The job consisted of retrieving memories from Edward Kenway’s past to create an immersive VR pirate experience, or that’s what they made you believe…
This plotline has been completely removed from Black Flag Resynced.
Berserk Darts’ effect on “bosses”
Important targets tied to the main story are no longer affected by Berserk Darts.
Mini map
The mini-map that showed nearby enemies, points of interest, and enemy awareness no longer exists in this game. Instead, you’ll need to rely on the Compass at the top of the HUD, the observe mechanic, and your own survival instinct to learn what’s around you.
