Assassin’s Creed Black Flagallowed fans to live out their pirate fantasy by placing them into an Assassin-adjacent character, the pirate captainEdward Kenway. He’d eventually join the Brotherhood, but not before a selfish life of pirating. Many enjoyedBlack Flag’s take on pirating, and arguably one of the better moment-to-moment elements of gameplay were the ship battles.
More specifically, it was when boarding an enemy ship. As Edward, players could take their crew and jump, swing, or fall in the water and climb up the enemy ship, engaging them in battle. Players would utilize epic pirate weaponry likeAssassin’s Creed Black Flag’s pistols, or climb to the top of the ship for an epic air assignation. Although this gameplay formula is what eventually led to theidea ofSkull and Bones, this boarding feature is one it does not have, but it’s pretty obvious as to why.
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Black Flag vs. Skull and Bones – Boarding Enemy Ships
What happens in Skull and Bones when players defeat another ship and “board” them is a short transition/clip of claiming the loot. That’s it. It’s nowhere near as epic asAssassin’s Creed Black Flag, but there a few reasons why. The most impactful reason is thatBlack Flagis a single-player game, whileSkull and Bonesencourages players to group up and play together. It can be played solo, but at its core is a multiplayer and naval combat focus.
In other words, if the game is designed for multiplayer, boarding anotherSkull and Bonesshipbecomes a huge problem. Whether players were shielded during the time or not, it sets up an easy ambush. It would ruin the experience if players were constantly caught unaware and essentially third-partied in a non-battle title. The clip is not as big of an opening as a minute or two boarding the enemy would be, and boarding would likely ruin the experience forSkull and Bonesplayers more than it did help it.
Not to mention, having this form of combat would necessitate land combat. If players can fight on a ship, they will want to find on land.Skull and Bones’ combat is entirely focused on the nautical, and this could further complicate the game. One more reason, although more of an in-game justification than anything, is thatSkull and Bonespulls from history but is not replicating it.
Merchants who were pirated would more likely give up their loot than their life, and while the argument could be made that some, especially involving the more powerful factions inSkull and Boneswould fight, a ship that can board is going to be the one who wins.Black Flagadded nice dramatic flair with its boarding maneuvers, but dramatic flair is all it was.
Skull and Bonesreleases November 8 for PC, PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X.
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