Skull and Bones has become volatile over time due to its multiple delays and the fact that its gameplay loop and the general direction it's heading into can be quite polarizing. The issues plaguing Skull and Bones before the release have been frustrating for some fans because this game could have been quite straightforward for Ubisoft, as the company has already succeeded with a similar formula. Back in 2013, Ubisoft released one of the most beloved installments to the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, which nailed the exact formula that is being used for Skull and Bones.
Black Flag was one of the best games of the last decade, combining the classic Assassin’s Creed formula with exciting naval gameplay and a huge open world full of possibilities. One of the biggest issues now revolving around the game is that Skull and Bones' most recent gameplay reveal lacks depth and has not shown a lot of growth from the reveal back in 2017. This is a big problem as the game seems to be stuck in its current state, and while the final game could look a lot different, there are still a few parts of Skull and Bones that could prove controversial.
How Skull and Bones Compares to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag broke onto the scene with a bang, giving players not only an enjoyable gameplay loop but also a captivating storyline that carried forward the traditional Assassin’s Creed formula. Nearly every aspect of the game hit the mark: an intriguing cast of characters, a huge world to explore, enjoyable naval battles, and tons of classic assassinations that made the player work for the final strike. Furthermore, outside the main storyline, Black Flag offered its players a lot to do such as side quests, legendary bosses, and even exploring certain locations that hold historic significance, giving the Assassin’s Creed franchise one of its best games.
At the heart of Black Flag’s success was the naval gameplay that was simple and straightforward, yet exciting and in many ways, somewhat challenging. Outside of this, players had a ton to explore with nearly every island in the game providing some sort of treasure, or even side quest, for the players to complete. All of these aspects of the game helped Ubisoft deliver a fantastic game that not only captured the imagination of the gaming world but also one to remember. As such, there is a lot that Skull and Bones could learn from Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.
What Skull and Bones' Gameplay Issues Are
One of the biggest gaps for Skull and Bones is that the world itself does not seem as large and explorable as Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag's. The gameplay reveal showed that while there are a few islands for the player to explore, most of Skull and Bones' islands are closed off from exploration. These islands still provide the player with certain resources that will likely help keep the crew’s morale high or even give players the ability to upgrade their ships. This instantly makes the world a lot smaller than it actually looks, and without all the additional areas for players to explore, the game may not have as much content as Black Flag. In fact, Skull and Bones' lack of land combat could make or break it.
Another major issue with Skull and Bones is that the game itself seems to be more geared towards a guided loop where players pick a quest from their base, prepare their ship, complete their mission, and bring the treasure back. The freedom of an exploration-based experience was one of the aspects of Black Flag that made it so enjoyable for players, instead. On top of this, with the new crew morale system that will feature in Skull and Bones, players may have to grind similar missions over and over again. This limits the scope of the game even after Skull and Bones' sixth delay, and the lack of changes can be concerning.
Skull and Bones needs to hold its own feet to become a successful game, and Ubisoft needs to pour in the experience it gained from developing Black Flag, and even Assassin's Creed 3, to elevate the upcoming game. Possibly featuring a limited world with grind-heavy gameplay that is now made heavier by the uncertainty surrounding its release, Skull and Bones needs more flesh heading into 2024.
Skull and Bones is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
