How's the gameplay then? Or the shytty combat ? Or the horrible controls? Or how the main character runs like he's got a stick up his ass?
The sea battles are the same thing over and over again. Navigate the seas, look left or right and fire the cannons. What's so special about it?
Then mix it up. There is an entire map to explore, plenty of ships to plunder and then the story missions as well as the Abstergo stuff. Yes, each ship battle is similar but there are variances depending on how many ships you fight as well as how strong they are. Take on a Frigate and a Pirate hunter at the same time and then ask whats so special about it. There is beef to be had with the sea battles, no doubt.....like how you can attach to a damaged ship and safely plunder it while other ships were in the process of attacking you.......but you are trying to dismiss it completely simply because "All you do is shoot from the side or the front"
How many times in various other games do you do the same thing over and over? Plenty of times. Hell, thats part of the reason they are games and not real life. But my question to you is, how many times have you flawlessly destroyed enemy ships and not taken damage? Or ended the battle without any of your crew members dying? It's a rare thing and unless you are destroying your foes in the game with that type of ease, then you still have work to do and that in itself is a reason to play......dare I say it.....a game.
Whether Batman AO is better....I can't say. Why do they have to be compared....they are different games. What I do know, is that with the little time I've spent with AO, I know I'm fighting in Gotham City yet no civilians are around. Thats just one of the flaws of the game in my view. I'm sure there are others to come, I'll get around to it after I'm done with Black Flag.