I’ve been following Ubisoft Singapore’s Skull and Bones since its announcement, as someone who loves all things pirates and adored the high seas action of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. I even wrote Game Informer’s Skull and Bones cover story back in 2022 and have had the opportunity to play the game several times since then in various capacities like previews, betas, and more.
Despite my initial concerns due to delays, I can now say that Skull and Bones is shaping up to be, at the very least, an enjoyable and well-done experience. Having played many of its different parts rather than the complete game, I firmly believe there is a lot of promise in the game. However, without experiencing the full package, it’s difficult to determine how well everything ties together, a crucial factor for any live-service multiplayer game.
Skull And Bones: Season 1 Endgame And Bosses
The first season of Skull and Bones, titled Raging Tides, is part of the game’s Year 1 roadmap. According to Ubisoft, Year 1 is the Rise of the Kingpins, with Raging Tides being the starting point followed by additional seasons called Chorus of Havoc, Into the Dragon’s Wake, and Shadow of the Deep.
Raging Tides pits players against the pirate kingpin Phillippe Le Peste, who is known for his use of potent African poisons. As players capture spoils in the area, Le Peste is attracted to the region and sends skirmishers and headhunters to thwart the player’s progress. Eventually, after you take down enough of his armada, La Peste initiates the La Potence World Event, which marks the penultimate battle against the kingpin on the Indian Ocean, leading to the final climactic battle against La Peste to end the season.
During the final battle in my hands-on preview, I found the boss fight to be uniquely engaging compared to the action against other ships in the game. It features varied mechanics reminiscent of MMO games, breaking away from the expected third-person ship arcade shooting style found in the rest of the game.
La Peste employs poison attacks that keep players on the move, forcing a different approach to ship control. Sailing speeds must be strategically used to balance evasiveness and maneuverability when avoiding poison barrages. There are also various tactics, such as the good ship’s healer using healing mortars to withstand La Peste’s assault, that come into play.
Season 1 also introduces the Smuggle Pass, Ubisoft’s take on the battle pass, which gives players access to exclusive equipment and rewards. Furthermore, Season 2, titled Chorus of Havoc, brings additional challenges with the invasion of the Indian Ocean by the power-hungry Compagnie Royale.
The endgame content in Skull and Bones expands further with events like Hostile Takeover and Legendary Heists, which provide challenging gameplay options that test players’ abilities and teamwork. Overall, my experience with Skull and Bones’ Season 1 content left a positive impression, nudging my initial skepticism of the primarily ship-focused gameplay towards a more optimistic outlook. The game will be released on February 16 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Are you going to check out Skull and Bones next month? Let us know in the comments below!