Highlights

  • Supply gathering in Skull and Bones feels oddly out of place, disrupting the pirate fantasy gameplay.
  • The resource mini-game is simple but monotonous, contrasting with the exciting ship combat of the game.
  • Players have the option to turn off the mini-game and use Auto Harvest, making the process more enjoyable.

Some players may think that the focus of Skull and Bones is entirely on living out the pirate life, but Ubisoft has also tossed in a few unexpected features. One of those features comes in the form of a resource-gathering mini-game, which players will likely engage with every once in a while. While it may make sense that pirates need to gather resources to bulk up their ships, the way it is implemented in Skull and Bones feels rather strange.

There is nothing overtly wrong with Skull and Bones' resource-gathering, it just seems like an odd addition to the formula. As players spend the majority of their time sailing the ocean in search of foes to conquer, this mini-game seems to take all the wind out of their sails. Additionally, players often do not even have to use it as they can get the resources from sunken ships or can turn it off altogether. All of that makes it feel like a needless addition that stands out in this pirate adventure.

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Skull and Bones Supply Gathering Mechanic Feels Out of Place

Skull and Bones Supply Gathering Explained

In Skull and Bones, players must gather resources if they want to build anything. They need it for weapons, tools, and new ships. So, the beginning part of the game spends some time showing players how to gather those resources. Once they reach Skull and Bones' Saint-Anne settlement, they are tasked with building the necessary tools and are sent out into the ocean to collect everything else that they may need.

The act of gathering resources is relatively simple and does not take that much time. Players will track down a resource node for wood, metal, or fiber on one of the many islands. Once they find what they are looking for, they will interact with the resources and a quick mini-game will begin. This mini-game requires players to time their clicks at the exact right time. Doing so rewards them with whatever resource they want, but failing three times will cause the harvest to be canceled.

The Supply Gathering Game is an Odd Addition to Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones' resource gathering mini-game is extremely brief, and not that complicated, but it also feels like a strange addition to the formula. As players explore the seas, stopping and engaging in this mini-game just seems rather monotonous. It is made even worse by the fact that most of the important resources are gathered from sinking ships, which is a lot more fun. So, it seems odd that these resources were locked behind a pretty bland mini-game.

Additionally, when players think about pirates, they do not often imagine the time they spent gathering resources. While it may have happened, adding that to a game like Skull and Bones does not make for engaging gameplay. Forcing players to stop and mess around with an extremely simple mini-game just so they can progress further can pull them out of that fantasy.

Ubisoft seems to have anticipated that players would not like the mini-game as it included the option to turn it off. Auto Harvest lets them simply pull up to a resource node, interact with it, and then they will be given the resources without any additional gameplay mechanics. While this may simplify gathering immensely, many players have found it far more enjoyable than what Skull and Bones defaults to. And that only makes the addition of the mini-game look even worse, even if it may be realistic.