Does Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Continue the Story? A Deep Dive into the Pirate Assassin Saga
Yes, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag (AC4) absolutely continues the overarching story of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, though in a somewhat unique way. While it may seem like a swashbuckling pirate adventure at first glance, it intricately weaves into the ongoing conflict between the Assassins and Templars, expanding upon the modern-day narrative and enriching the historical lore established in previous installments. Black Flag advances both the historical and modern storylines, but its connection to previous characters may not be immediately apparent.
Black Flag: More Than Just Pirates
Black Flag diverges from the direct lineage of Desmond Miles, the protagonist of the first five main Assassin’s Creed games. However, it doesn’t abandon the modern-day setting entirely. Instead, you play as an unnamed Abstergo Entertainment employee tasked with researching the memories of Edward Kenway, a charismatic pirate who becomes entangled in the Assassin-Templar conflict.
This seemingly peripheral role actually serves to propel the modern-day story forward. By exploring Edward’s memories, Abstergo (which is secretly controlled by the Templars) seeks to uncover valuable information and artifacts. The player’s actions within the Animus directly influence the Templar’s agenda in the present, continuing the struggle for dominance.
The Historical Narrative: A Pivotal Link
Edward Kenway’s story is crucial to understanding the Kenway family lineage and its role in the Assassin-Templar war. He is the father of Haytham Kenway, a prominent Templar figure in Assassin’s Creed III, and the grandfather of Connor Kenway, the Native American Assassin in the same game. Black Flag provides critical context for the motivations and ideologies of these characters, revealing how their family became divided along ideological lines.
The game explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and redemption as Edward transforms from a self-serving pirate into a committed Assassin. His journey adds depth and nuance to the broader conflict, demonstrating that individuals are often caught in the crossfire of a centuries-old war. In addition, Black Flag sets the stage for future Assassin’s Creed titles by introducing key historical events and figures relevant to the ongoing Assassin-Templar conflict.
Modern Day Storyline
While Desmond is no longer around, the modern-day story is continued through a new character who is working for Abstergo Entertainment. The player is an analyst working for Abstergo Entertainment, analyzing the genetic memories of Edward Kenway. Though the player is not related to the Assassins or Templars, the actions they take help the templars move forward with their agenda. The player investigates the security breach in the Abstergo servers that occurred in Assassin’s Creed III. Through hacking terminals and discovering hidden messages, the player uncovers the truth about Abstergo’s intentions and begins to question their loyalty to the company.
Black Flag: Setting the Stage for Future Games
Black Flag’s ending, both in the historical and modern settings, lays the groundwork for subsequent Assassin’s Creed titles. Edward’s commitment to the Assassin cause and his reconciliation with his family have significant repercussions for the events of Assassin’s Creed III and Rogue. Meanwhile, the modern-day storyline introduces new threats and conspiracies that are further explored in later installments, such as Unity and Syndicate.
The game also expands the lore of the First Civilization (also known as the Isu), the ancient and highly advanced race that predates humanity. By uncovering Isu artifacts and deciphering their messages, the Assassins and Templars gain access to powerful technologies and insights into the future. The Isu technology found in Black Flag provides a foundation for the Isu plot elements in later games. To learn more about the educational possibilities within gaming, explore resources at the Games Learning Society, where the intersection of learning and entertainment is explored in depth. Find out more at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Black Flag a standalone story, or is it connected to the other Assassin’s Creed games?
No, Black Flag is not a standalone story. While it introduces a new protagonist and setting, it’s deeply connected to the overarching Assassin’s Creed narrative. It expands the historical lore and develops the modern-day storyline, providing crucial context for the events of Assassin’s Creed III and beyond.
2. Do I need to have played previous Assassin’s Creed games to understand Black Flag?
While not strictly necessary, playing previous games will enhance your understanding of Black Flag’s story. Knowing the history of the Assassin-Templar conflict and the roles of previous characters will allow you to appreciate the nuances of Edward Kenway’s journey and its significance to the broader narrative.
3. How does Black Flag connect to Assassin’s Creed III?
Black Flag serves as a prequel to Assassin’s Creed III, exploring the life of Edward Kenway, the father of Haytham Kenway and grandfather of Connor Kenway. It reveals how the Kenway family became involved in the Assassin-Templar conflict and provides insight into the motivations of Haytham and Connor.
4. Is Desmond Miles in Black Flag?
Desmond Miles is deceased by the time of Black Flag. However, his legacy plays a significant role in the modern-day storyline. Abstergo Entertainment uses his genetic memories to research Edward Kenway’s life, continuing the search for valuable information and artifacts.
5. What is the significance of the modern-day storyline in Black Flag?
The modern-day storyline in Black Flag continues the Templar’s search for First Civilization artifacts, and it helps to establish a deeper connection between the modern day and the historical events that happened during the Golden Age of Piracy.
6. Does Black Flag have multiple endings?
No, Black Flag has a single main ending in both the historical and modern storylines. However, after completing the main story, you can continue exploring the open world, completing side missions, and collecting items.
7. Can you keep playing Black Flag after beating it?
Yes, you can continue playing Black Flag after completing the main story. The game allows you to free-roam the open world, complete unfinished side quests, discover hidden secrets, and upgrade your ship.
8. Does Assassin’s Creed Black Flag have a sequel?
While there isn’t a direct sequel in the main Assassin’s Creed series, Assassin’s Creed Rogue serves as a spiritual successor, continuing the naval gameplay and exploring the Templar perspective during the same historical period. Assassin’s Creed: Forgotten Temple is also considered a sequel, but it takes place in comic book form.
9. Is Black Flag a prequel to AC 3?
Yes, Black Flag is a prequel to Assassin’s Creed III in terms of its historical setting. Edward Kenway’s story takes place before the events of Assassin’s Creed III. However, the modern-day sequences in Black Flag occur after the events of Assassin’s Creed III.
10. What happens when you beat all legendary ships in Black Flag?
Defeating all four Legendary Ships in Black Flag unlocks the Speed Ram Attack for the Jackdaw, allowing you to quickly dash forward and inflict significant damage to enemy ships.
11. How long is AC Black Flag?
The main story of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag typically takes around 22.5 hours to complete. However, fully completing the game, including all side quests, collectibles, and challenges, can take upwards of 50 hours or more.
12. Who killed Kenway?
Edward Kenway was assassinated by Templars in London in 1735. This event is briefly depicted in Assassin’s Creed Rogue.
13. How many sequences does AC Black Flag have?
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag has 13 sequences in total. Each sequence consists of a series of main story missions that advance the plot and reveal new areas of the game world.
14. Is Assassins Creed Black Flag getting a remake?
There are rumors and reports suggesting that Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is being considered for a remake. However, Ubisoft has not officially announced a remake. If a remake were to happen, it would likely feature enhanced graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and potentially expanded content.
15. In what order should I play the AC games?
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (431 B.C.–422 B.C.)
- Assassin’s Creed Origins (49 B.C.–44 B.C.)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage (861–???)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (872–878)
- Assassin’s Creed (1191)
- Assassin’s Creed II (1476–1499)
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (1499–1507)
By exploring the connections between the Assassin’s Creed titles, we can further appreciate how games influence and are influenced by how people learn. Resources at Games Learning Society offer a more in depth analysis of video games and how they affect learning.