What's the Story?

Fifteen years after the events of Assassin's Creed IV's main game, Freedom Cry shifts the spotlight to Adéwalé, former quartermaster aboard Kenway's ship and now a member of the Assassin's Order and captain of his own vessel. This standalone chapter turns towards darker and more complex territory, as Adéwalé attempts to liberate slaves from the brutal regime in Port-au-Prince of the 1700s.

Gameplay

Essentially the same as its parent title, Freedom Cry offers the familiar blend of rooftop acrobatics, melee combat and stealth for which the series has become known. Opening with a maritime mission and offering some degree of exploration around the Caribbean, this remains largely a land-lubber's adventure, more focused on island missions and the potency of its story than piracy.

Highs and Lows

Despite – or perhaps because of – its brevity, this is one of the tightest examples of storytelling yet seen in the Assassin's Creed saga, with brilliantly scripted dialogue throughout. As downloadable content it's unfair to expect massive revisions to gameplay but some aspects of ACIV still irk, such as distant objectives yielding little to reward players for sailing the oceans for them.

Verdict

Freedom Cry refuses to shy away from its troubling themes or the attitudes of the era. Adéwalé encounters prejudice and oppression on a scale that's hard for modern audiences to comprehend, making for a powerfully emotional instalment. It's not breaking the Assassin's Creed mould but it does remind players that the series can skilfully tackle serious historical issues.