Ubisoft's long-awaited Skull and Bones has finally set sail after over a decade of development. Drawing inspiration from Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, the game ventures into the Golden Age of Piracy within a live-service open-world set in a fictional Indian Ocean. Despite its ambitions, Skull and Bones struggles to make waves in the gaming world, offering a lackluster experience that fails to deliver on its promises.
An Unfulfilled Pirate Fantasy
While players might envision a grand pirate adventure filled with swashbuckling and plundering, Skull and Bones focuses primarily on ship-based gameplay, sidelining on-foot interactions. The game's technical issues, lackluster on-foot combat, and shallow story diminish the immersive pirate experience players might anticipate.
Initial pirate encounters in vibrant cities offer some excitement, but as players venture further, the game's charm diminishes. Missions revolving around ship battles and looting lack depth, often feeling like repetitive chores rather than engaging quests.
Redundant Gameplay and Live Service Hassles
While Skull and Bones offers a wealth of content, much of it falls into monotonous fetch quests and grind-heavy progression. The storyline lacks depth, with forgettable characters and uninspiring dialogue, leaving players disconnected from the game's narrative.
Live-service elements further burden the experience, introducing convoluted progression systems and encouraging real-money transactions for in-game advantages. The game's structure leans heavily on repetitive tasks, detracting from the potential enjoyment of the gameplay.
High Seas Excitement and Visual Splendor
Where Skull and Bones excels is in its ship-based combat and naval exploration. The engaging ship battles and strategic combat mechanics provide moments of excitement amidst the game's shortcomings. Customizing and upgrading the player's ship remains a highlight, offering a sense of ownership and personalization.
The game's visuals capture the essence of a pirate's life at sea, with stunning storm sequences and picturesque landscapes. However, the inability to explore on foot limits the immersion, showcasing a missed opportunity for a more interactive gaming experience.
Skull and Bones presents a mixed bag of pros and cons, failing to deliver a truly immersive pirate adventure. While its ship combat stands out, the game's repetitive gameplay, lackluster narrative, and reliance on live-service mechanics hinder its potential. For players seeking a taste of the Golden Age of Piracy, Skull and Bones offers a lukewarm experience that may leave them wanting more.
Skull and Bones is now available on Amazon Luna, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. This review is based on a PS5 code provided to Game Rant for evaluation.