You are correct. Skull and Bones does not feature sword combat or any close-quarters melee combat mechanics. This design choice differs from its predecessor, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, which included both ship-to-ship combat and sword fighting on land. Here’s a breakdown of this aspect of the game:
Focus on Ship-to-Ship Combat:
Skull and Bones primarily focuses on naval combat between ships. Players engage in intense battles using cannons, mortars, and other ship-mounted weaponry.
This design choice allows the developers to dedicate resources to refining and expanding these mechanics, offering a deeper and more strategic experience for players interested in naval warfare.
Alternative Gameplay Elements:
While sword combat is absent, Skull and Bones offers other ways to interact with the world and engage in combat:
Crew Management: You manage your crew, assigning them tasks during combat to repair your ship, use special abilities, or board enemy ships in a limited capacity (mainly for capturing resources).
Land Activities: Although limited, you can interact with certain locations on land, primarily to take on missions, trade with merchants, or upgrade your ship.
Community Reaction:
The lack of sword combat has received mixed reactions from the Skull and Bones community:
Disappointment: Some players who enjoyed the swashbuckling aspect of Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag miss the ability to engage in close-quarters combat with swords.
Acceptance: Others appreciate the focus on ship-to-ship combat and find the alternative mechanics engaging and suitable for the game’s theme.
Overall:
While Skull and Bones doesn’t offer sword combat, it provides a unique experience centered on strategic naval battles and crew management. It’s crucial to approach the game with an open mind and appreciate its own set of gameplay mechanics before drawing comparisons or forming opinions based on its differences from other titles.