Skull and Boneshas the potential to be one of the most realistic pirate game experiences out there. Its historically-inspired world setting and realistic visuals could appeal to many players seeking a more adult or mature pirate adventure experience, while still including many customization options for their pirate and ship while sailing the open seas. However, although it’s an action-adventure game set in an open world with multiplayer live-service capabilities like PvP-enabled servers, it does have some features that may limit its appeal to fans of open-world adventure-based games, like thelack of land combat inSkull and Bones.
AlthoughSkull and Bonesincludes elements akin to open-world experiences, taking on board some of the features of modern-day open-world games could help enhance its offering and range of appeal, beyond those who are fans of naval combat. This doesn’t necessarily mean just comparing the game to other pirate-focused games. Other modern action-adventure games set in an open-world location, like the successfulGTA 5, could contain key design features and inspirations that might help enhance and expand allSkull and Bonesoffers.
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How Open-World Is Skull And Bones?
Skull and Bonesboasts a large open-worldmap that makesAssassin’s CreedValhallalook small, although seemingly not as large asAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. However, it takes more than a large map to make a modern open-world game feel immersive. In any open-world experience, it’s crucial to give the player freedom to explore and do different kinds of activities in a setting that’s also rich and believable.
Skull and Boneshas different types of land and sea experiences, with time on the waves heavily focused on naval combat with activities such as attacking forts, transporting goods, and challenging fleets. In contrast, the point of docking at land is to craft new resources like ships, take on pirate contracts, gain safety in pirate dens, and discover different factions. Players can also seek out hidden treasure by following treasure maps, as might be expected of a pirate lifestyle.
The landscape itself is a world inspired by theGolden Age of Piracy, so puts players in a historically realistic world context. Footage of the game shown so far also features bustling pirate zones rife with people and activity, which is a stark contrast to the largely sparse island spaces in pirate games likeSea of Thieves,which occasionally feature other players or PvE enemies. However, where directly comparable pirate adventure-focused games likeSea of Thieveshave the edge is the ability actively fight both on land and sea as they choose, which also helps keep the player immersed in the game world.
In contrast,Skull and Bones' cut scenes replacing ship boarding combatand omitting land combat altogether give players fewer combat options which could be considered a core part of any pirate life-sim-style gameplay. This puts the player in a more passive role where more choices and options could elevate and help balance the open-world gameplay experience. These features also seem to conflict with the ideas of freedom and action, two concepts synonymous with the pirate fantasy concept.
What Skull And Bones Could Learn From GTA 5
Many other fantastic and modernimmersive open-world gamesin circulation could be a brilliant inspiration forSkull and Bones,one of which isGrand Theft Auto 5, often attributed as one of the most empowering open-world games of all time. Stealing and accumulating wealth is a big part of a typical pirate lifestyle in gaming. Similar to growing wealth and building an empire inGTA 5, players inSkull and Bonesrank up their Infamy to build better ships and obtain better opportunities based on their overall pirate reputation.
InGrand Theft Auto 5andGrand Theft Auto Online, players have an immense choice of what to do, where to go, what missions to select, and ultimately what kind of player they want to be in its online mode. Action combat is also a big part of theGTA 5experience, with players being able to jump into any vehicle, whether on the land, sea, or in the air, and fight using weapons or their bare fists. However, the transition between land and vehicle-based combat and movement is seamless and fluid, which helps players stay immersed in the game world experience.
Naval combat game experiences and everything revealed aboutSkull and Bones' shipsso far look to belong to its core strengths, but that arguably shouldn’t be its only focus as an open-world setting. IfSkull and Bonesfocuses on narrowing the gaps between its land and sea gameplay, it could be on to something that’s quite special, albeit a tricky balancing act in a large world setting. However, this also depends if players have enough diverse choices and options for things to do, explore, and experience in the game world, whether on land or sea.
Skull and Bonesis currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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