The problem is that these sequences are only a small part of the gameplay in “Skull and Bones,” which often boils down to shooting cannonballs at other ships or trying to ram them. There's a bit of a learning curve for the combat, as it's not a standard shooter (there are no spring-loaded shooters), so you have to aim, shoot and dodge all at the same time. Like many simulators, much of your success in combat is determined before you set sail, in how you upgrade weapons, armor, etc. Consequently, “Skull and Bones” becomes a series of fetch missions as you track down items to turn your ship into a naval killing machine. There's also a robust trading system that allows you to sell your ill-gotten gains to merchants and even eventually generate passive income from your pirate empire.
You don't have to navigate the seas alone. Not only will you meet other players in their ships, but you can also team up with friends to take on missions, or even just meet up with a friend you see in the open environment. The concept of a pirate game where you play with other wannabe pirates is a great idea, although it often seemed like the players I encountered were just doing their own thing, probably also scavenging for materials. So “Skull and Bones” becomes a hunting game, an online game that often seems barely online at all.
It's worth noting that “Skull and Bones” is a live service game, meaning there will be updates, tweaks, and new content delivered after launch. There's even a Year 1 roadmap for the game that will feature a villain named Philippe La Peste, but GameSpot ReportThe thing is that the seas of “Skull and Bones” are quite empty and they cannot reach a million players even with a free trial to attract them. It feels like a game that will have ardent fans from the start looking to bring back an “unloved” game, and potentially even a title that will be redeemed in the future, possibly even in year 2 or 3, something that has happened in the past. service games that went out the door earlier. The only question is whether there will be anyone on board to notice.
A review copy of this title was provided by the publisher.
