Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thieves is, in many ways, a fun experiment but an odd game experience. When a game developer as historic as Rare releases a game, there's a lot of weight on their shoulders. Not only are they known for making sure fun, original, and cool games, but also for how versatile and big they were.

Back in the SNES and Nintendo 64 era, Rare always pushed the limits of the consoles to deliver some of the best-looking titles out. And most of them are still beloved and replayed even today. So, what happens when they come back with this experiment called Sea of Thieves? Well, that's what we'll be talking about here!

About the game

Sea of Thieves is an adventure game where exploration is at the center of it all. This first-person view title is set in a world full of pirates, mythology, and even some magic here and there. But it's not about exploration, as collaboration is the other centerpiece of this game. This is an always-online title with different missions where you'll have to team up with pirates from all over the world to get things done.

The game features a constant sense of adventure enhanced by the always-online multiplayer experience. Team up with friends or unknown pirates to take on the objective and go back home with your loot!

All that glitters is not gold… or is it?

Sea of thieves feels like an experiment in many ways. It's like there are unfinished things and missing missions. But what really gives the overall sense of experiment is the interconnectivity between players. The upgrades your character can get are only aesthetic upgrades, this is meant to make it a more enjoyable experience when teaming up among experienced and new players.

However, this may not be such a great thing, as it misses a sense of progression. The always-online can be a double-edged weapon. In games like Fallout 76, which is more of a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game, the always-online is justified. And there are also games like The Division, which forces you to be always online, even when playing the single-player story mode. Here, always online is what gives Sea of Thieves a sense of adventure, but it isn't much if your character doesn't get stronger the more you play.

Review

Rare delivered what seemed to be a great title at first, but upon closer inspection, the negative points make themselves more and more visible. The missions, while fun, are not varied, and they tend to be pretty repetitive after a while. But of course, it is not all bad, the characters are fun, multiplayer requires cooperation and sometimes even strategy, and the overall game is enjoyable.

• Graphics and Visuals: The game looks alright, but not really thanks to its graphics. It's the art direction which really puts Sea of Thieves on the map. The cartoony designs and beautiful looks you can get are really fun and fit the game's tone perfectly.

• Gameplay: as for how this game plays and feels, you'd really expect it to be third-person, so going for a first-person POV was a really bald move. The point of view is perfect for a more enjoyable gameplay experience, as it makes the controls feel more interactive. The missions are repetitive, but can still be fun. And navigating the sea just by itself is a great experience in the Sea of Thieves.

• Sound: Rare never disappoints with their soundtracks, and Sea of Thieves is no exception to the rule. The soundtrack is excellent, and the overall sound design is alright too.