Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection
- December 5, 2019
Prepare to set sail in this bundle of a really good Assassin's Creed game and its overshadowed sequel.
With Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection, get two action-packed games – Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin’s Creed Rogue – plus all single-player DLC. - Includes both Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin's Creed Rogue, plus all single-player DLC. - Become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean in Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. Take part in an award-winning naval experience a…
Reviews
- The Rebel Collection offers a fantastic adaptation of classic Assassin's Creed games, particularly Black Flag, which is praised for its engaging open world and naval combat.
- The inclusion of a vast library of sea shanties and immersive period music enhances the overall experience, making exploration enjoyable.
- The port runs smoothly on the Switch, providing a solid performance and impressive graphics, especially in handheld mode.
- Rogue is not included on the cartridge and requires a significant download, which has frustrated many players who expected both games to be available immediately.
- Some players have reported clunky controls and unresponsive gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
- The overarching plot and mission structure can feel tedious and repetitive, leading to a less engaging experience over time.
- graphics13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game have received a positive reception, with many users praising their impressive quality and smooth performance, particularly in "Black Flag." While some noted minor issues like choppy rendering in certain areas, the visuals are generally considered to have aged well and effectively utilize the capabilities of various platforms, including the Switch.
“The graphics are impressive and the gameplay is engaging.”
“On the game, Black Flag has amazing graphics and runs like butter.”
“Love the Assassin's Creed games; this is perfect for on the go, graphics are actually pretty good even on the Switch Lite.”
“The graphics for Black Flag are a bit choppy but fine.”
“The graphics look very close to the Xbox 360, with only some compromise in the rendering of objects far off in the distance.”
“I don’t find the graphics any better or worse than what other reviews have stated.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it predictable and lacking engagement, while others appreciate the exciting characters and expansive open world. Critiques include a lack of guidance in mission objectives and repetitive gameplay, though the overall experience is still recommended for its fun mechanics and rich content.
“Complete story line, no loss of open world environment - overall I highly recommend this game.”
“The story and characters are exciting.”
“Two huge open worlds provide plenty of bang for your buck; pirate gameplay is the best Creed had to offer before Origins.”
“Additionally, the storyline is a bit predictable and not as engaging as I had hoped.”
“The gripe is that you never really know what you are supposed to do in the story.”
“There could be more guidance; side missions are never explained at all.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay combines traditional Assassin's Creed mechanics with ship combat, resulting in an engaging experience enhanced by impressive graphics and historical elements. While many players appreciate the seamless and smooth gameplay, some find the mechanics become repetitive after extended playtime. Overall, the game offers expansive open worlds and a well-suited mission structure for the Switch.
“Traditional AC gameplay mixed with ship combat makes for a great combo.”
“The graphics are impressive and the gameplay is engaging.”
“Exciting gameplay.”
“I find the game mechanics fairly dull after 10-20 hours in; by the time you finish the first game, the second seems dull.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in these games, particularly the sea shanties and period tavern tunes, is highly praised, with players expressing a deep appreciation for the immersive experience it provides during exploration. Many users find themselves singing along, likening the enjoyment to listening to favorite songs while driving. The continuity of these musical elements across titles, along with the addition of period-appropriate tracks, enhances the overall atmosphere.
“But the real gem of both these games is the sea shanties and period tavern music.”
“These songs mixed with age of sail exploration is akin to driving in GTA and jamming out.”
“Over the last 6 years, I have developed an interest in the music because of Black Flag.”
“I find myself singing these songs as if they were on the radio.”
“Rogue has the same sailing songs with a few later additions to be period correct.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised, with stable performance at 30fps in portable mode and minor drops when docked, comparable to other consoles. While the visuals are impressive and well-suited for the Switch, some users note that the game does not fully optimize for smaller screens.
“Performance is rock steady at 30fps in portable mode, with slight drops when docked, but it's on par with any other console. In portable mode, it looks fantastic.”
“Great visuals and performance; it takes advantage of the Switch’s capabilities. Black Flag is one of the best.”
“My only issue is that the game isn't optimized for a smaller screen.”
“Performance is rock steady at 30fps in portable mode, with slight drops when docked, but it's on par with any other console.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, players are impressed with the game's stability on the Switch, noting that it runs smoothly with fewer glitches than expected. However, some users have reported persistent glitches and issues with certain segments that can disrupt gameplay.
“Fairly persistent glitches, pace-grinding Abstergo segments.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced multiple freezes during gameplay, which ruined the immersion.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding elements of the game to be tedious and laborious, with persistent glitches and slow-paced segments detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the absence of multiplayer features from previous titles like Black Flag further contributes to the sense of monotony.
“The overarching plot is as tedious and laborious as ever.”
“Fairly persistent glitches and pace-grinding Abstergo segments make the experience frustrating.”
“Black Flag's multiplayer is nowhere to be seen.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with Ubisoft's monetization practices, particularly criticizing the misleading advertising related to in-game content, which they feel detracts from the overall quality of the game.
“But falsely advertising rogue being on the cart does not excuse Ubisoft for doing any kind of cheap job.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I can't believe how many features are locked behind paywalls; it ruins the experience for those who don't want to spend extra.”
Critic Reviews
Assassin’s Creed: Rebel Collection Review
At almost three years into the Nintendo Switch’s lifecycle, it’s no secret that the hybrid console has become a breeding ground for re-releases and updated ports of older games.
80%Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection Review (Switch)
Prepare to set sail in this bundle of a really good Assassin's Creed game and its overshadowed sequel.
88%Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection
Step back into the Animus and relive the wonder of being both an Assassin and a Templar in The Rebel Collection. Ubisoft brings players back into Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag and Assassin's Creed Rogue. The collection is a fantastic way to see two great games be brought to a current-generation console and to a new generation of players.
82%