After ten years of anticipation and development, Ubisoft has finally unveiled the long-awaited pirate game Skull & Bones to the gaming world. Originally conceptualized as a potential expansion of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, the game has since found its own identity, albeit with a few bumps along the way.
In 2013, the same year the PlayStation 4 was launched and Grand Theft Auto V was named Game of the Year, Skull & Bones made its debut. Since then, it has evolved into a standalone experience, though not without some disappointments.
The story takes place in the seventeenth-century Indian Ocean, amid colonial trade and heavily laden ships. While promising, Skull & Bones turns out to be more focused on seafaring than on the adventurous pirate life. Players spend most of their time at the helm of a ship and engage in limited dialogue, leaving the pirate aspect somewhat underdeveloped.
With only two major hubs to dock at and limited activities outside the ship, the game lacks the depth of exploration that is characteristic of the Assassin’s Creed series. This may be disappointing for fans of the genre.
Despite this, Skull & Bones excels in naval combat, where players can equip their ships with a variety of weapons. The focus on online interactions with other players adds excitement, though some unusual choices, such as a cannon that repairs ships, raise questions about the overall direction of the game.
The combat itself is relatively simple, but the enjoyment of blasting enemies to pieces and customizing the ship with different weapons and designs is definitely there. However, the question remains whether these elements are enough to meet the high expectations.
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The story feels secondary, limiting the solo experience. Skull & Bones truly comes to life when other players are involved, and the lack of that can lead to the temptation to abandon the game.
Skull & Bones has some appealing elements, especially in terms of naval combat, but the question remains whether it offers enough to satisfy both seasoned sailors and newcomers. The long development journey seems to have taken its toll, and only time will tell if Skull & Bones can leave a lasting impression in the gaming world.
