Summary
WithSkull and Bonesreleasing on the backbone of a decade ofAssassin’s Creednaval battles, Ubisoft’s multiplayer open world manages to properly elevate this side content from the developer’s flagship series. This is best shown in the upgrade thatAssassin’s Creed’s ship battleshave needed since all the way back inBlack Flag: the ability to fully customize the player’s ships.
Several facets lead toSkull and Bonesgoing above and beyond the naval combat of theAssassin’s Creedseries, but few have as much effect on gameplay as being able to actually customize the various ships in the game. The most notable aspect is the fact that there are multiple ships, each of which offers different roles in combat and can combine with other players to create a proper RPG party.
Naval Battles Have Steep Competition Between Assassin’s Creed and Skull and Bones
The History of Ship Upgrades in Assassin’s Creed
There is a reason thatAssassin’s Creed: Black Flagcontinues to be elevatedas having some of the best ship combat in gaming, even when these unique encounters don’t make up the core of the actual combat. However, as good as the combat itself is, the upgrades and customization options don’t amount to much more than stronger versions of a few different cannon types and some armor improvements.
This is on top of a handful of visual updates, which does help to make every player’s own ship feel like their own, but most of the combat fails to differ from one player to the next. While this best describesBlack Flag, the same can be said forOdyssey, the most recent entry to continue the trend of naval combat.
Cannon Types from Steel to Glass
Withnaval combat taking center stage inSkull and Bones, the customization of the ships themselves jumps into the forefront as well. This can easily be seen in the way that Ubisoft Singapore has expanded not only the upgrade levels of cannons but also the variety of weapons that can be attached to a ship.
These include different types of cannons that can either shoot a barrage at medium range, single shots at long range, or scatter shots at close range. However, there are also options other than cannons to strap to either side of a ship, such as bombardiers, and torpedoes that can fire explosive payloads at range to kick off a fight with a big hit to one or more enemy ships.
These types of cannons and other weapons then allow for significantly different playstyles, which can be swapped out from one encounter to the next. As thelatest beta forSkull and Bonescurrently has players exploring an open ocean that doesn’t pull punches in the higher-level areas, properly tuning a ship’s weapons for the oncoming encounter can be the difference between sinking a convoy or being sunk. This also compounds with an even more powerful form of customization, the ability to actually swap out the player’s ship for a completely different class of boat.
Take the D&D Party to the Seas
As players continue to gain infamy and gather materials, they’ll earn the ability to buy new ships that are assigned different roles in combat including DPS, Support, and Tank. This level of customization further enhancesSkull and Bones' multiplayer gameplayby allowing players to set sail with a group of friends, with each individual ship taking on a role in the overall party akin to aDungeons and Dragonsparty. While some ships are obvious choices, as they come from higher levels with bigger numbers, the ability to round out party composition adds a new layer to engaging with more difficult content.
On top of the powerful ships, and the different classes of ships,Skull and Bonesalso includes a massive amount of visual customization that can help each player’s vessel feel unique. Similarly, groups of players can share designs as a sign of their in-group, like the Clans and Guilds that are abundant in other multiplayer titles. Either way, these customization enhancements are welcome for Ubisoft, whether the gameplay is successful inSkull and Bonesor any rumoredAssassin’s Creedremakes.
Skull and Bones
WHERE TO PLAY
Set sail into the vibrant open world of Skull and Bones, a naval online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin.ENGAGE IN SPECTACULAR NAVAL COMBATPrepare for devastating battles by crafting a dozen different ships and equip your fleet with powerful loadouts. Unlock stronger weapons as you progress and customize your ships to reflect your unique pirate playstyle.SAIL INTO A DANGEROUS HELL IN PARADISEVoyage into the Indian Ocean and explore a vast open world teeming with cutthroat pirates, deadly sea monsters, supernatural threats, devastating storms, and more.TEAM UP WITH FELLOW PIRATESSail the lawless seas solo or team up with two friends or other players to partake in shareable contracts and rewards.ENJOY EVER-EVOLVING CONTENTEach season, face a brand-new legendary sea lord and discover fresh content, limitless endgame opportunities, and new exciting features designed to enhance your pirate experience.
