What intrigued me about Rogue was the idea that it was basically a standalone expansion or spinoff to Black Flag. This isn't even remotely a bad thing, seeing that I really enjoyed Black Flag and wouldn't mind another game that takes that very framework and expands on it. But after pouring nearly 200 hours into this game and getting the platinum trophy for it, I definitely have quite a bit to say about this entry.
The main appeal of Rogue was essentially the story, seeing that a lot of other aspects were things we've seen before. Rogue has one of the best - if not, THE best - narrative premises in the series. An assassin defects from his brotherhood after a tragedy that crumbles a whole city, leading him to side with the Templars. Sounds amazing and there's a lot of really cool story ideas throughout. But for the most part, the story is underdeveloped and the script is inconsistent. This is very much a result of the development cycle of the game, which was only about 8 months. According to Richard Farrese - the lead writer on Rogue and also one of the writers on Assassin's Creed: Liberation, which had a really good story - so much content was cut due to time constraints and so things had to be rearranged quickly. As a result, characters lack depth, the script is illogical at times, and certain plot points feel forced. The saving grace of the story, though, is Shay Patrick Cormac. A really good character and protagonist in a very flawed story. Shay's character arc is pretty well done and his development makes him quite a relatable and honest character. He's the most consistent and compelling aspect of the story - so much so, that he's actually my favorite protagonist in the series. But I really can't say the same for the rest of the cast, who are so flat and badly written. Which is quite the disappointment coming from Black Flag which had the best ensemble in the series. There's just a lot to be desired, here.
As for gameplay and presentation, Rogue reuses the same framework of Black Flag. Same engine, same assets, same gameplay. Just recontextualized. Which, again, isn't bad since Black Flag's framework was already well done. Rogue expands on the framework in certain ways, too. Naval gameplay is a lot more convenient and engaging. The addition of stalkers was really interesting during my first playthrough, as they added a sense of suspense and fear to the exploration. Everything else, like the on-foot combat and stealth, is pretty much the same as Black Flag.
But even though the game uses the same assets and framework of Black Flag, the art direction and atmosphere is different here. Black Flag was vibrant and adventurous. Rogue is cold and immersive. Color schemes are less saturated than Black Flag. The atmosphere feels a tad bit darker and somewhat muted. The soundtrack still carries that epic personality of the Kenway Saga, but there's a slightly more eerie edge to it.
At the end of the day, I feel Assassin's Creed: Rogue is really carried by its reuse and slight expansion of Black Flag's framework. The gameplay foundation set by Black Flag is solid, and the slightly recontextualized art direction and atmosphere is appropriate. But the story, which is the biggest selling point and most notable difference, lacks the polish and development that could've made it the most unique Assassin's Creed tale.
