Freedom Cry ***Spoilers IN SPOILER TAGS, Please***
Remarkably, there is not a thread on this topic yet.
I remember last year there was a thread on the Tyranny DLC months before it was released, but there is nothing on Freedom Cry even though it's been out for a bit already.
So, if you are simply unaware of Freedom Cry's premise, you pick up Adewale's story after the events in ACIV. As such, ACIV spoilers may follow in this thread. Freedom Cry Spoilers should be in spoiler tags please.
I started playing Freedom Cry last night, and didn't play much, but it already feels like a better Assassin story to me than all of ACIV with Edward's story. Not as in overall story (after some time, I've grown to appreciate Edward's story for what it is, so let's not have that discussion in this thread, please), but in the Assassin/Templar construct. Of course this would be the case though, as at the start of the story, Adewale has already become an Assassin and his after Templars.
Aside from that, it seems to me (again, I haven't played much so this is mostly speculation, sorry if I accidentally include spoilers) that this story is going to be similar to the AC3 story of oppression vs freedom, which I feel is central to the Assassin/Templar struggle. Adewale we know is an escaped slave. And central to Freedom Cry is liberating current slaves from their oppressors. How this ties into the main story has yet to be seen, but we got a taste of this from the Templar Hunt with Anto in the main game with Edward. The mechanics and options are much improved (in my opinion) from those in the Tyranny DLC in AC3 where the Natives were the oppressed.
So far, I've had fun running around liberating tons of slaves. I have noticed that the general NPCs don't like me too much, back away on sight, etc... This shows the general fear of being associated with a Freed Slave, and it's nice to feel that you need to be sneaking around. But it's not as extreme as the Tyranny DLC where you get attacked on sight.
Liberating plantations is a blast and now comes with incentives other than an extra 500 cash money for no bells rung... By avoiding conflict, slaves aren't killed and you liberate more for your... purposes (trying to avoid game/story spoilers).
Overall, I've enjoyed it so far and will update in the future with more thoughts as I get there.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
When I read what FC would be about, I loved it. I thought it would be a great story to fit in the AC universe. I mean c'mon, an escaped slave who uses his skills to liberate more slaves, that's perfect as an Assassin. I'm glad it turned out that way. I will most likely not be playing it, but have fun! I'll end up watching a playthrough so I can still catch the story, because I don't think I want to miss out on that.
I played through Freedom cry and while there parts I enjoyed I'd have to admit that overall I was bit a dissapointed by it.
For those who don't want to be spoiled I wouldn't read further :
The story wasn't that interesting to me, the templar aspects, like the package for example, weren't involved enough to be interesting. It all came down to slavery is bad and people who supported this are generically evil. While this is true, it doesn't support a very engaging story. The Governor for example was a generic bad guy with no redeeming qualities. And his assassination mission was boring.
Also, while I was somewhat excited to see that investigations made a return, they weren't used for an assassination so that was very dissapointing afterwards
Hey, I haven't played this, but I'm wondering if there are any really nice bits of level design with opportunities for open stealth play. That's what would get me to buy it. Anything good in there?
All the plantation liberations are opportunities for stealth, and they change based on night or day cycles. And they reset when a new merchant etc "takes over an abandoned plantation."
During the day, you have to stealthily kill 20 overseers to liberate the plantation. Detection = overseers killing slaves (to stop a revolt) = less for you to liberate.
During the night, the slaves are locked up. You have to ID the plant manager guy, get his key, and unlock the three buildings with slaves. This can, in theory, be done without killing anyone.
As for main missions, there are a couple stealth missions (the usual tail missions). There is an infiltrate/eavesdrop/rescue mission within a restricted zone (similar to the HMS Jersey in AC3, I suppose, but with no killing requirements).
No auto-fail on detection missions I can think of except for the last Assassination... sort of. Detection triggers a chase.
Full sync requirements are easily doable on first playthrough... except the final assassination mission.
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To amend my earlier comments now that I'm done, although slavery is something that fits within the Assassin/Templar struggle (to me), and it's done pretty well... the story itself is NOT Assassin/Templar-centric. If you're expecting a return to traditional "this is a Templar trying to do something good but in a freedom depriving way, and that's bad" story. This is not that. That said, memory 8 was incredibly powerful emotionally (in my opinion).
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
Spoiler: Highlight to viewHow the hell am I supposed steal the branding iron to kill the target? Engage him in battle?
reference to above spoiler tags
and how in the world is this more satisfying than sneaking around back, using the holes in the fence to get over, not killing anyone, and stunt assassinating him from the roof? answer, it's not.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
Thanks for the detailed impressions, McStab. The plantation missions seem interesting, like advanced versions of the warehouses in the main game (some of which actually took place on plantations, of course). 20 stealthy kills actually sounds like a serious challenge, I'm surprised. Could you comment on their level design a bit? I'm guessing they're very similar to the main game's plantation warehouses, which I wasn't a big fan of. I'm also afraid that any challenge would be destroyed by whistling from stalking zones, though that's such a pervasive issue that it may be unavoidable. Thanks in advance.
Yes, you can actually just complete them from whistling from stalking zones.
details in the spoiler
As you advance in the game, one of the perks you unlock is bands of other escaped slaves to help you liberate the plantation. They are a nuisance to stealth though, because as soon as combat is triggered near them, they jump from the bushes and start a bigger fight. It's kind of cool if you just want to go in guns blazing style to have reinforcements I suppose.
Again, most of the guards are stationary and not on routes. And pretty much all can be whistled from a stalking zone.
To elaborate, even when conflict is triggered, even when bells are rung, it's only the slaves and overseers in the direct area that react. Essentially it's like triggering a local revolt and the overseers kill the slaves in the area until you kill them, or the slaves in the area are all dead. This is important, because even with triggering conflict, you still don't lose all 40 slaves you're trying to liberate. After a fight, for example, there may now be 33 slaves available to free due to 7 in the area dying at your lack of stealth.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
Thanks once again. That's disappointing to hear, but not really unexpected. About total ghosting, I wonder if it's even possible, and furthermore whether it would be interesting if it were. AC4 disappointed me in this regard, and it was what I was hoping for the most. Without a serious refocusing for the next entry I see myself losing interest in the series.
reference to above spoiler tags
Spoiler: Highlight to viewdid you do it within the mansion grounds or follow him somewhere else? where does he run to?and how in the world is this more satisfying than sneaking around back, using the holes in the fence to get over, not killing anyone, and stunt assassinating him from the roof? answer, it's not.
He will run to the militarised zone by the docks, which is also a good place for the other optional objective, as there are a lot of guards.
Double McStab with Cheese wrote:
reference to above spoiler tags
Spoiler: Highlight to viewdid you do it within the mansion grounds or follow him somewhere else? where does he run to?and how in the world is this more satisfying than sneaking around back, using the holes in the fence to get over, not killing anyone, and stunt assassinating him from the roof? answer, it's not.
Spoiler: Highlight to view
He will run to the militarised zone by the docks, which is also a good place for the other optional objective, as there are a lot of guards.
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
Just beat this a bit ago. I wish they would give these DLCs some significance in the overall storyline. It was fun and I love Adewale, but it just seemed a bit random.
Also, a 30 minute finale is processing right now for my playthrough. I decided to rush through the last sections and put them all together. That word Youtube video!
Joey, we had a conversation about that word and agreed not to use it.
Joey, we had a conversation about that word and agreed not to use it.
Haha! Epic comment, mr golden ratio. 
“Force has no place where there is need of skill." Herodotus
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