10 Crucial Video Games That Saved Dying Franchises
8. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed 2 was a huge success, both critically
and commercially. To this day, it’s considered the best of the series, and
that’s unlikely to change any time soon. Unfortunately, AC being an annual
franchise, Assassin’s Creed 2 was quickly followed up by three of the most
uninspired, bland and repetitive entries in the franchise: Assassin’s
Creed: Brotherhood in 2010, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations in 2011, and
Assassin’s Creed 3 in 2012.
After several tedious entries, fans were crying out for something completely different, something utterly unique to reinvigorate a franchise which had grown noticeably stale in the three years since Assassin’s Creed 2. In 2013, fans got just exactly that: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, a game about swashbuckling pirates, and adventures on the high sea.
It sold over ten million copies, and was among the best selling games of 2013. It can also be credited with revitalising the Assassin’s Creed franchise, one that wasn't necessarily dying prior to the release Black Flag, but was certainly in need of a good blood transfusion.
In this case, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag saved the franchise critically, rather than commercially. But, who knows? Without it, maybe we'd all have finally gotten sick of the series, and moved on the greener pastures.