SINGAPORE — Having gone on a journey from the Crusades to the Italian Renaissance to the American Revolutionary War, fans of Assassin’s Creed find themselves in the age of pirates in the latest instalment of the popular series, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.

But do not expect any plank-walking or pirates lifted from conventional caricatures. Developers Ubisoft have tried hard to move away from Hollywood’s stereotypes, instead creating a swashbuckling adventure filled with beautiful environments, absorbing combat and loads of treasure.

You play as Edward Kenway, a privateer-turned-pirate and an ancestor of Connor and Hatham Kenway, characters from earlier Assassin’s Creed games. Unhappy with his lowly status in London, he sets sail for the Caribbean in search of riches — and instead finds himself in all sorts of trouble.

Another key character is the Jackdaw, your ship in the game. The vessel is key to your success and you will have to attack other ships to steal goods so you can afford to upgrade the craft — especially its armour and weapons — to complete the game’s more difficult missions.

The combat in Black Flag is as smooth and entertaining as that found in previous titles and the kill animations are very satisfying. Ramming blades into an enemy’s back and then shoving them up through his skull will not please censors or parents, but it will put a smile on most gamers’ faces.

The swashbuckling adventures are carried out amid some of the most beautiful settings in Assassin’s Creed history. The jungles of Havana, Kingston and Nassau in the Caribbean and the open seas look stunning, whether blanketed by bright sunlight or covered by thick black clouds as thunderstorms rage.

The very large map also gives the game an open world feel and the believable environment makes it a real joy to deviate from missions and go exploring.

Like all Assassin’s Creed games, Black Flag switches between two settings. Players will spend most time as Kenway, but they will also be transported back to the present day to unravel the mystery of Abstergo Industries — also featured in earlier editions of the series — as it diversifies into gaming.

While hacking into computers and meeting returning characters from the series was fun, I much preferred the high sea adventures and found this sub-plot a little pointless and distracting.

Ubisoft did well to ensure stealth missions were challenging and entertaining but not frustratingly fiendish, a relief for gamers like me who prefer an all-guns-blazing approach. Unfortunately, the naval battles — which form a huge part of the game — can be quite complex, time-consuming and even boring at times.

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag could have been a great game if the plot and naval battles were more refined. But the hand-to-hand combat is still as exciting as ever and the gorgeous graphics greatly outweigh the flaws, making this one of the most unique and ambitious games in the series.

Verdict: 4/5

Rating: Suitable for 16 & above

Platform: Xbox 360 (S$69.90), PlayStation 3 (S$74.90)