Holy shit, this game.
I bought a boxed copy a couple of weeks ago for $9.99 shipped because you talked about it so highly. I put it in last week, played a couple of hours liked what I played in that Assasin's Creed sort of way, and then just didn't go back. Last Saturday I was taking it easy at home, decided to drink a beer or two and play some video games. Started it up again, and god damn! All of a sudden it's like 5 hours later, I'm having the time of my life and I'm 12 beers deep. I actually had to stop because I was no longer coordinated enough to play to an adequate level.....but I didn't want to.
I can't think of any other time where I've played a game and my jaw dropped more than once, but there is just so much that's amazingly fun about this game. Sailing through a hurricane? Jaw dropping shit eating grin on my face. My first epic sea battle? Yeah, jaw dropped and then shit eating grin. Fucking using that contraption to quick mount my mass and then leaping over to their ship and into the midst of battle? God damn, yes my jaw dropped and a shit eating grin spread across my face.
Not to mention all the other stuff that's just plain cool - harpooning marine life, exploring tropical islands, searching for treasure, etc etc. I'm incredibly impressed. Hell, I even tried the second screen app out and it's even fucking cool.
The only complaint I have with this at all is that I don't know if my character is actually an Assassin or not. I mean, I don't really care, but it would make more sense if I was like inducted to the order or something, or just masquerading as one. Accepting assassination contracts just feels out of place at this point in the story.