After the delay and the promise to reveal a gameplay showcase, Ubisoft kept its promise and released a 30 minute gameplay video for Skull and Bones. While it is good to see the progress, the general impression left by this video is unfortunately a bit below the expectations.
Lore of the game seems to be good, and Ubisoft mentioned that they are working with experts when it comes to history and lore. But it can be a crucial part only after the gameplay is on point. Ships do not seem like interacting with water for example, they are almost like floaty cars. Fights between ships are just a bunch of numbers going back and forth, and does not feel like a real ship fight.
Once the plundering part comes in, it really becomes disappointing. First of all, searching and looting is just one button press as the materials suddenly appear in your inventory. You do not actively do anything, not even looking around. When you decide to plunder a local settlement, you go near the place, start fighting and hold your ground during a timer, all the while your “crew looking for the item around the settlement” but you do not see or participate at all.
It sadly looks like Ubisoft will be even more disappointed than players themselves once they see the critics and sales. The game is in development for years, and people obviously expect better.
