Sea of Thieves (Re-Review)

So anyone paying attention should know that I reviewed Sea of Thieves last year, and I was kind of harsh on it. I actually didn't want to be, but I felt a bit cheated once the final product came out. I could understand technical issues at launch, maybe I could see myself excusing a lack of content, but to have both was insulting. I know Rare is a good studio, filled to the brim with great people. Some of them I started following on Twitter to get a small glimpse into not only development of this game, but also as individuals that make up the studio. Well it's been a year since my harsh words were uttered, and I'm back now, to talk about a game that suddenly, everyone is talking more and more about. With most games that have year long plans, I'll always be back to see if they really improved or not. So let's begin talking about Microsoft's sublime pirate game.

If you haven't yet, go check out my previous review of Sea of Thieves, as I won't be talking about much of what I already addressed, but merely going over the things added over time, and whether they are good or bad. Also I'd like to see if there is anything left I'd like to see added to the game. Once you've done that, come back here, and let's talk about what's new huh?

First off, is the game that exists today, better than the one that was released back on March 20th, 2018? The short answer is yes, but does that really effect you, the viewer, in a way that actually makes you want to finally try it out? Maybe come back after a long time away from it? Well that's where I'll begin, what's new? Well last year, the game added 4 huge patches of content and QoL items that helped make this world feel more alive then ever before. The first was the Hungering Deep, released in May of 2018. The Hungering Deep added a new instrument, a new shanty, as well as a new character Merrick. This all combined to lead you on a short quest, to summon a Megalodon Shark, you know, the shark that the movie "Meg" was all about? This was both cool and scary, as once the event ended, Rare went and put in permanent "Megs" into the game, that just like the Kraken, could attack you at any moment. Hell, they usually attack you together, or at least they do with my luck, and I'm usually by myself. For the most part, THD was fairly well received, but players were still hungering (LoL), for more. That's when we got The Cursed Sails in July of 2018. Cursed Sails added Skeleton Ships as well as Cursed Cannonballs to the game, all wrapped up in a neat little story/quest about a former merchant who might have messed with the wrong magic. Ultimately, you find out she became a Skeleton Captain, and helps explain why there are a sudden influx of Skeleton Ships popping up and around. This event was really cool, and added the ability to team up through alliance, which could be used to either help, or later betray people. This update also added the Brigantine ship, a three man vessel with no Captains quarters. All of this was well received too, and just like with THD, Skeleton Crews and cursed cannonballs were here to stay, and would attack you with them at random times, just like the Kraken or Meg would. This gave you even more to worry about on the high seas, as a ship you might have been approaching, might not be a player ship, but a skelly one, looking to sink you all the same. September 2018 saw the biggest, and most robust change to the game, in the form of Forsaken Shores. Forsaken Shores added a brand new region to the map, Devils Roar, and it was nothing like what we had seen to that point. Instead of the blue seas, and lush green palm trees, this region, was full of soot, fire, and volcanoes. The region itself was the "monster" in this update, otherwise known as Australia, and it gave pirates a host of new challenges to face. While you learned the fate of the "Forsaken Shores Alliance" you also got a brand new rowboat, which can be used everywhere in the game, giving players a new way to transport loot, but also gave players a new challenge in the form of Cargo Runs. You're trying to desperately get supplies and items from one spot to another, without anything breaking or spoiling, to try and get as much gold as you can. It was neat and much welcomed addition to the trading company to earn reputation with them. Finally, we had Shrouded Spoils, the last major update in 2018, that came at the end of November. This update gave us rolling in fog, which makes it dangerous to not be paying attention in the area, as you could hit rocks and capsized boats, but also made it so you couldn't see impending doom from a Meg, Kraken, Skelly Ship, or another group of players. It added an organic mechanic that could both work for and against you. This update also improved on SO many other features added to the game, like giving the Kraken new traits and abilities, as well as the Megs too. The game also brought back some other features that were added as minor updates in the Mermaid Statues, giving players a reason to journey back into the deep to grab the gems inside of them for gold. This update also saw the ability to deck out the wheels, capstans, and cannons now too. All of these updates, plus QoL items have served to bring not only new life into SoT, but also keep it feeling alive afterwards. There are lots of things that they added or improved in the smaller updates too, but these were the biggest changes. Now that you are caught up, how does it all feel?

Well it feels great. Honestly, my biggest and most frustrating complaint in my original reviews, was the lack of things to do. Since then, Rare has done some fine ass work in bringing not only more to do, but doing it in a fairly organic way. The world finally feels alive and robust then ever before.

Everywhere you look, there is something there to reward your time, and of course, try and kill you. It's been a little while since I've been on, really since January due to the crazy amount of things being released so far this year, and I haven't had much of a break. But on it's one year anniversary, Rare showed what they had been cooking up since their last update, and it looks like it'll add even more stuff, and it's good stuff. See that's the most important thing. Are the things added, worth your time, and do they make sense in the world around it? The answer is yes to both. SoT has finally become the game it was meant to be, and to me, is finally a really good game. With their one year anniversary, Rare showed that next month, April 30th, we would be getting a host of new things. First off, fishing. It's something small, but it's something a lot of people have been asking for, because it's something that can waste time, be fun, and can be done solo. Although, let's be real, it's way more funny to be fishing while your crew is fighting off an attack by a Meg. Other items include a brand new trading company, The Hunters Call, a brand new Harpoon, as well as a various amount of traps you can install on shore I believe? Also there will be expanded ship damage too, like taking out the mast, blowing off the wheel, so on, and so forth. These are welcome additions, because it makes the fights between both AI and human players, more tactical. The last big addition is the emergence of the Arena, a multiplayer vs match between other ships/teams for the chance to score a lot of loot. This is welcome for a numerous amount of reasons, the biggest is that it gives those dedicated PVP players, other players that WANT to duke it out. That doesn't mean all will take part, but it should help those single players, or those two man teams out a bit, who probably already have enough on their plate. Some have complained about it being "Sea of Thieves" not "Sea of Keep your gold" and I get it. However, with some of the purely dedicated PVP players, it gives them an avenue, while newer players can get up to speed. Nothing is more uninviting then having new players robbed not once, but every time they try do anything. Sometimes it's made me quit, I've talked about this in forums and Twitter.

Lastly, there is one other big addition. That addition, is more "story" type content. Now they didn't come out and say that, but basically that's what it is. With "Story rich quests" they did say that it was only the first "collection" which means they want to keep adding more, as well as keep adding in more lore and backstory with their comics as well. I rather like this, because as someone that has spent a lot of the time, playing by themselves, I've often been curious about the lore/stories being told through a lot of the visual things throughout the world. The cave paintings and the paintings on random rocks have left me wondering what was, as well as what's to come, as the rocks have showed us some of the things that have made it into the game already. So does that mean some of those things are still to come?

But now more then ever before, this game has a HUGE new lease on life. The positives are still there after all this time. The game is still gorgeous to look at, the sounds are awesome as you hear the waves crashing the shore or the seagulls squawking above. I feel like Rare has done an amazing job not only focusing on the good, but never being satisfied with it either. While they have continued to add more and more content, they have also overhauled a lot of things that weren't even broken, yet it's helped deepen the game, something I begged them to do, and they might not have listened to me per say, but someone else did say it, and they heard them, and they went out and did it. I don't need SoT to be TW3, I just wanted to feel like every time I got on, no matter what I did, I felt rewarded. The game to me, is finally at that point now. While it still isn't "perfect" it is something I find myself enjoying and getting excited about when I'm thinking about it, rather then being salty, like I was when I wrote my first review for the game a year ago.

Most of the things I asked for before, are now crossed off my list, but there are still just a few things. I was looking over the list, and these are still the things I'd love to see still come, if they are in the cards.

- Pets. This is something hat was talked about, and hinted at, a long while back, even before the final release happened. I understand why it was ignored until now, the game needed far more depth for a much longer term crowd. Pets could be a lot of fun, if done right, to be more then just a cosmetic. Pets could also be a mechanic. It'll be interesting to see if and when we do get them, how many different types there will be, and if there will be any depth/difference between them.

- I still want a Moby Dick boss fight. You guys totally delivered with the Meg, and I get that you wanted to change up some of the fights with things like Skelly ships instead. But Moby Dick, especially now that we are getting Harpoons, seems almost perfect at this point. However, I'd be willing to let it go if we could maybe fight a boss type fight on land too. Giant Crabs? Also, I saw that rock with the giant birds on them, that could be cool too.

- So you guys are finally putting in fishing, which is great! But card games could still be fun way to pass time later on down the line. Just a thought.

So let's summarize.

The game was released March 20th, 2018. The game was fun in several ways, but it just lacked any kind of depth for me to want to stick around long term. However, since that release, we got four meaty releases, as well as several small ones, that have helped put not only new mechanics into the game, but even went out and deepened those very mechanics later on, to make them feel like new experiences every time. It's why people love games like Battlefield or now The Division 2, it's to have new experiences even with "old content" because there are so many ways to do things in those games, that it always feels like you are finding something new around every corner. Sea of Thieves has added new ship types, new enemy types, new trading companies, and even a whole new region. But according to a lot of Rare employees, this is just the start. To me, the game is finally where I saw it, and where I wanted it to be over a year ago. I haven't played much lately, but the bits I have played, I had a blast playing. New content coming out next month is going to give us even more things to do, and provide even more depth, and I can't wait.

I'm giving Sea of Thieves, a newly earned 8/10.

I want to wait to see how much is really added with this collection of story rich quests, but if it lives up to the hype, and they keep adding even more great items like it through out the year, I might have to review the game for a 3 time. But time will tell. I hope you guys found this interesting and helpful, and I hope to see you all out on the high seas! Remember to like, share, and comment. Remember to like my Facebook page OnTheShelf or my Twitter account to stay up to date on everything I write/shoot. Until next time, I'll catch you guys on the next, OnTheShelf.