Skull and Bones Review: Is It Worse than We Expected?

Skull and Bones is a multiplayer game that lets you sail the Indian Ocean as a pirate, engaging in ship battles, loot hunting, and faction wars. Is Skull and Bones worth playing? It has been in development for a long time, and players have had high expectations for it and are looking forward to the main features and aspects of the game:

• Ship customization: You can choose from different types of ships, such as frigates, brigs, sloops, and galleons, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also customize your ship's appearance, weapons, crew, and skills, to suit your playstyle and strategy. You can unlock new ship parts and upgrades by completing quests, looting enemies, or buying them from merchants.

• Naval combat: You can engage in ship battles with other players or AI-controlled enemies, using cannons, mortars, rockets, and other weapons. You can also use special skills, such as ramming, boarding, or deploying decoys, to gain an edge in combat. You have to consider the wind direction, the waves, the weather, and the terrain, as they affect your ship's movement and performance. You can also encounter mythical creatures, such as krakens, sea serpents, and ghost ships, that pose a threat or an opportunity.

• Open world: You can explore the Indian Ocean, which is divided into different regions, such as the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Malacca Strait. Each region has its own climate, wildlife, landmarks, and events. You can discover hidden islands, caves, shipwrecks, and treasures, as well as interact with various NPCs and factions, such as the British, the French, the Portuguese, and the pirates. You can also participate in dynamic events, such as storms, wars, raids, and hunts, that affect the world and your reputation.

• Story and quests: You can follow the main story, which involves your character's rise from a lowly pirate to a legendary captain, as well as the conflict between the pirate factions and the colonial powers. You can also take on side quests, which offer different rewards and challenges, such as escorting merchants, hunting bounties, infiltrating forts, or stealing cargo. You can also join or create your own pirate gang, and cooperate or compete with other players in various activities and modes.

However, not all of these expectations have been met by the game, as some players have expressed disappointment and criticism over various aspects of the game:

• Server stability and performance issues: Many players have reported lag, disconnects, and long loading times when playing the game online, especially on the console versions. Some players have also encountered bugs and glitches that affect the gameplay and graphics. These issues have caused frustration and dissatisfaction among the players, who expect a smooth and stable experience from a AAA game.

• Boring and linear story and quest design: Many players have found the story and quest design of the game to be lacking in depth, variety, and choice. The main story is considered to be too predictable, cliché, and unoriginal, while the side quests are too repetitive, boring, and irrelevant. The game does not offer any meaningful choices, consequences, or dialogue options that affect the world and the characters. The game also lacks land combat and acrobatics, making the gameplay boring for some players.

• Lack of balance and difficulty options: Many players have complained that the game is too easy or too hard, depending on the skills, items, and builds they use. Some skills, items, and builds are considered to be overpowered or underpowered, making the combat unbalanced and unfair. The game also does not offer any difficulty options or settings that cater to different playstyles and skill levels. The game also lacks challenge and reward in the endgame content, which is too grindy, monotonous, and unrewarding.

• High price tag and live service model: Many players have questioned the value and quality of the game, given its high price tag of $70 for the console versions and its live service model. Some players feel that the game does not offer enough content, features, and polish to justify its price, and that it is a cash grab by Ubisoft. Some players also worry that the game will have microtransactions, loot boxes, and other predatory monetization practices that will affect the gameplay and progression.

Overall, Skull and Bones is a game that has some potential, but also some flaws. It might appeal to fans of naval warfare and pirate adventures, but it might also disappoint those who expect more variety and depth from an RPG. The game has received mixed reviews from critics and players, with an average score of 6.5 out of 10. If you are interested in trying it out, you can buy it for $59.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC. If you need Skull and Bones Silver when playing it, you can buy it from SSEGold.