Despite years of development, Skull and Bones falls short of the pirate fantasy many were hoping for. Instead of playing as a swashbuckling pirate, players take on the role of a ship in this game. The lack of a compelling main character with a strong personality makes it hard for players to feel connected to the story. With limited dialogue options, the game feels stagnant and outdated compared to other titles from the same publisher. Overall, Skull and Bones feels like a missed opportunity for creating a dynamic and engaging pirate adventure.
Skull and Bones' off-ship offerings are disappointingly basic, with only two main hub areas and limited activities available when not sailing. While the areas are designed to be visually appealing and explorable, the lack of variety in NPCs and props quickly becomes noticeable. Shopping, missions, and the Black Market are available, but they feel more like necessary pitstops rather than immersive experiences. The on-foot exploration loses its charm quickly, making off-ship activities feel functional and rushed.
Exploring the vast land in Skull and Bones may seem like an exciting adventure at first, but the true incentive lies in finding blueprints that are essential for progressing in the game. These blueprints can be found for sale all across the various islands, but the grind truly begins when you realize that almost everything in the game requires a blueprint to obtain. From armor and weapons for your ship to furniture that provides buffs, the need for blueprints is constant.
The frustration sets in when you spend time and money crafting a new weapon, only to realize that you need a specific type of ammunition that requires yet another blueprint or search for a vendor who sells it. This system quickly exposes the repetitive nature of Skull and Bones, turning what initially seemed like an exciting exploration game into a hidden looter shooter at its core.
In Skull and Bones, the core loop revolves around continuously upgrading your ship with better weapons, perks, and armor in order to progress through the game. However, the ultimate goal is to exchange your current ship for bigger and better ones as soon as possible. As your pirate levels up, they unlock more powerful cosmetics and gain access to higher-level missions. The key to success lies in obtaining superior ships and outfitting them with enhanced weaponry and armor to dominate the high seas. This constant cycle of upgrading and seeking out new ships keeps players engaged and striving for progression in the game.
Skull and Bones offers a thrilling experience of sailing the open seas and engaging in intense naval combat. The game excels in capturing the excitement of ship battles, from adjusting sails to navigating through treacherous waters. While not as hands-on as other sailing games, the player still feels the rush of commanding a powerful ship and outmaneuvering enemy vessels. The naval combat is challenging and immersive, adding another layer of excitement to an already captivating game. Overall, Skull and Bones is a must-play for those who enjoy the thrill of the high seas and intense naval warfare.
Skull and Bones takes the successful ship combat experience from Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and enhances it even further. The combat in the game is smooth and intuitive, allowing players to easily switch between different weapons by adjusting the direction of their ship. With helpful guidelines on the map, players can navigate the intense battles with ease.
The variety of weapons available, each with unique effects like flooding or fire damage, adds depth to the gameplay. As players encounter enemies with powerful weapons like torpedoes and mortars, the desire to unlock and use these weapons themselves only grows stronger. Overall, Skull and Bones builds upon the strong foundation laid by its predecessor, delivering an exciting and engaging ship combat experience.
In Skull and Bones, the thrill of sailing the open seas and engaging in epic naval battles is intertwined with the more mundane tasks of gathering resources and plundering enemy bases. Whether you're taking out enemy ships or scouting the shoreline for resources, much of what you need can be obtained from the comfort of your own ship.
The game introduces a rhythm-based mini-game for tasks like cutting down trees or gathering iron, adding an interesting twist to the typical open-world gameplay. However, some essential items will require you to raid enemy bases, adding a layer of strategy and challenge to the game. Skull and Bones seamlessly blends the excitement of naval warfare with the more routine aspects of resource gathering, creating a unique and engaging gaming experience.
Thrilling Plunder Missions
Plunders in the game are an exciting and challenging mission type that requires players to assault a base from the water, taking on both the structure along the shoreline and attacking ships that come in waves. While the early levels can be tackled solo, higher-level bases are nearly impossible without the help of other players. Fortunately, players can call for help at any plunder site, allowing anyone on the map to come to their aid. However, the calls for help time out after just 60 seconds, and there is no way for responding players to flag that they are on their way. Despite these frustrations, plunder missions offer a thrilling and cooperative gameplay experience for players looking for a challenge.
Navigating through the open world of the seas can be a thrilling experience, but it can also feel isolating when you come across world events that are happening on the other side of the map. The strict time limits and inability to call for help on anything except plunder missions can make you feel like you're on your own in a vast and unpredictable world. The fragmented approach to asking for assistance reflects the multiplayer structure of the game, and the limited matchmaking options only add to the feeling of isolation. As you sail through the waters, it becomes clear that you must rely on your own skills and strategies to navigate through any challenges that come your way.
Despite the option to party up with other pirate captains in Skull and Bones, the lack of successful matchmaking in the 30 hours of gameplay has been a source of frustration. It's unclear whether this is due to a low player count or simply players preferring to go solo. Regardless, the game seems to be best experienced with friends, making it challenging to fully enjoy all that it has to offer. Finding others who are willing to embark on this pirate adventure together may be the key to unlocking the true potential of Skull and Bones.
As players spend more time with Skull and Bones, the game becomes increasingly frustrating. The repetitive quests and persistent bugs make for a frustrating experience. There are instances where players fail quests unexpectedly, such as a bounty quest abruptly ending after attacking a high-level ship for a significant amount of time. The Skull and Bones death mark bug has become a common issue among players, turning into a running joke within the community. Ubisoft has yet to address these issues, leaving players feeling disappointed and disheartened as they continue to encounter obstacles in the game.
Verdict
Skull and Bones has the potential to be a great game, with its impressive sailing and naval combat mechanics. However, it feels more like an Early Access title with its odd MMO traits and a late game that can feel like a grind with little reward. While it may have the potential to grow and evolve like Sea of Thieves has over the years, it's unclear if Ubisoft has the same commitment to longevity for Skull and Bones. Overall, the game struggles to live up to its initial promises and may benefit from more updates and improvements to truly reach its full potential.
