I wish they would included a "classic" combat controls option. I'm enjoying the game on the PS3 but I have to say I'm dissappointed in how it appears they stream-lined the hand-to-hand combat far too much. I noticed they made some aspects more fluid and natural in AC3 over its predecessors but compared to AC2, I feel the combat controls in both AC3 and even more so in AC4 has been over simplified. I dislike that. As I play AC2, the controls, once you get used to them, are in my opinion so much better and actually gives you more control and more combat options. Just practicing the various ways to interact and maneuver in combat pulling off different tecniques is exceptional in AC2. The whole idea (which was wierd and confusing when the AC games first came out) is that you are a puppateer of your character in combat and in climbing. It seems to me there was far more freedom and actual control options in both combat and scaling/climbing in AC2 than in the following games. AC4 dumbed down both those attributes from what I can see so far and to me thats a dissappointment. Its just my observation so far. I hope they return to the AC2 formula for any further games or at least include a "classic" AC control scheme for those players who preferred that.

I also preferred the combat in AC2 over AC3. I never played AC4 but if they streamlined it even more I doubt I would enjoy it.

AC3 wasn't bad. I liked the added weapon animation of flipping it around like a baton but they did simplify it from AC2 and Blackflag appears to me to be even more simplified. They've just taken too much control ability away and don't know why. AC2 seems to have that sweet spot.

In AC2 when you take a flying leap off something, your character will automatically grab a ledge if its available or possible. However after that, if you let go of a ledge, its up to you to re-grapple otherwise you'll keep falling. From what I can tell in AC4, that's all automatic now. If you simply let go of a ledge, your character automatically grabs the next one. I don't like that. I liked how in AC2 you could be scaling some tall stone building, choose to leg go, then fall a couple of stories and then grapple once again onto a ledge as you are falling past of your own accord and input.

I don't have much complaint with the combat control system, my complaint is with the actual enemies you're fighting, Ubi REALLY needs to mix up the AC games enemy roster, their "1 core enemy type with a smattering of special units to mix it up" system is getting very stale for me. The Officers are especially a PITA, a unit that's immune to everything but counter attacks is just super annoying without adding anything to the fight.

This goes hand-in-hand with my other 1 other complaint, NPC skins, the single skin per unit type doesn't make any sense at all anymore. I found it very immersion breaking towards the end of the game when the shine wears off and you realize every pirate in the Caribbean looks EXACTLY alike.