Assassin’s Creed Rogue: Remastered | Xbox One Review

March 27, 2018 Scott Clark

I’m an unashamed fan of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. I’ve finished almost all of them to 100% completion, some of them multiple times on different platforms. There’s something about the formula that just clicks for me. Assassin’s Creed Rogue: Remastered is probably the best game in the series that you’ve never played. While it may feel like a step backwards after the revitalization of the series with Origins; the story is highly under-appreciated and definitely scratches the Black Flag itch. Fans of that game will feel right at home, and the updated visual are definitely welcome.

If you missed Rogue when it first released back in 2014, you’re not alone. The game released right at the end of the previous console cycle, which is why it didn’t get the love it deserved. You follow Shay Cormac, an Assassin-turned-Templar during the Seven Years’ War. Shay’s story is one of the more intriguing tales in the series. The role-reversal that takes place towards the beginning is a clever twist on the Assassin’s Creed formula that feels refreshing. The lines between the opposing sides feel blurred more than they have since the original game in the series. I compare it to playing a Star Wars game where the rebels side with the Empire within the first hour or two…and buying into it. Shay really makes you feel like you’ve been on the wrong side all along.

The only real drawback I have to the plot is the modern-day story. Many despise these sections of the game that distract from the world of the Animus. But I’ve always appreciated the overarching story that transpired with Desmond and the others. Sadly, the story in Rogue feels very forced and unnecessary. This was a letdown for someone like me who actually cared about what happened in the present day. For the first time in the series’ history, I wished they had skipped these moments.

Full disclosure: I do not have access to a 4K TV or an Xbox One X (yet). Because of this, I can’t report on the quality of Rogue‘s visuals. I’ll report back after my upgrade, but the game still looks how I remembered it. Even without the optimal hardware, I’m impressed by the scope of the landscape and the breathtaking beauty of the open sea.

Although the gameplay is very similar to Black Flag, there are some new additions to Shay’s adventure. For starters, his ship can traverse through rivers instead of just the ocean. This provides some very tight passages to navigate and adds some interesting chase sequences. The Morrigan also has additional weapons like an oil slick and mounted Puckle guns for attacking damaged areas of enemy ships. Shay also has an icebreaker ram attached to his ship for destroying icebergs. These changes are very minor, however. The core gameplay is almost identical to Black Flag‘s, so fans of that game will feel right at home.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue: Remastered Final Verdict

While so many are tired of the now old-school formula of Assassin’s Creed games, I immediately felt like I got back on a bike for the first time in years playing Rogue. The story and characters are some of my favorites in the series, and I found myself deeply satisfied with the game’s exploration. Although it suffers from some minor technical glitches, I never experienced anything game-breaking. If you missed this title at first release, I highly recommend giving this one a shot. Shay’s story is a bold one that I hope many more will experience.

This review is based of of an Xbox One review copy provided by Ubisoft for coverage purposes.