Ubisoft’s Cranium and Bones has been one troubled recreation in growth. First formally introduced again in 2017, after a number of delays, the sport is now lastly set to launch on February 13, 2024 for Ubisoft+ customers, and on February 16, 2024, for everybody else. Forward of the discharge, Ubisoft performed a closed beta check from December 15 to December 18, and the critiques have been pouring in. They haven’t all been that nice. Right here’s why.
Cranium and Bones December Beta check impressions not very spectacular
A beta tester shared a publish on Reddit on December 25, which on the time of writing has 11.1k upvotes. The Reddit consumer Achilleasa titles it “I stop Cranium and Bones after an hour because of sheer boredom”. Describing their expertise, they write, “I would not even play this if it was free to play. You’d most likely need to pay me.”
In response to the small print shared by this Redditor, there’s no fight within the first hour of the sport apart from a fight tutorial initially, which they add, “didn’t even work proper.” “You simply watch boring cutscenes, endlessly speak to NPCs and do fetch quests,” the consumer mentioned, describing Cranium and Bones as extra of a “strolling simulator.” The participant additionally added that the crafting menu will get used so much within the first hour of the sport, a minimum of, one thing they personally weren’t occupied with.
The consumer additionally criticised the dialogues within the recreation, describing them as “horrible”, “bland” and “sterile”. They apparently skipped via most of them, when that’s not even their traditional plan of action. “Skipping dialogue half-hour into the sport just isn’t what you wish to see”, they write. Concluding the gist of their impression, the Reddit consumer wrote, “I can confidently say I’ve by no means performed any recreation with a primary hour as dangerous as this. Ubisoft, I feel you forgot the half the place the sport is enjoyable.”
As evident from the upvotes that the publish has acquired, a number of different Redditors chimed in on related notes. A consumer claimed that Achilleasa lasted longer than they did, as they solely performed for half-hour earlier than uninstalling the Beta. One other commenter, RevB1983, has additionally talked about “quick black loading screens” that seem each time gamers communicate to somebody which are very disturbing. One other Redditor describes the sport from their expertise with the beta as “Bored. Uninspired. Bleh.”
Nonetheless, another customers did categorical their appreciation for the sport on the identical thread as effectively. IGN’s Travis Northup had beforehand performed the sport as part of August’s Beta check, and their impression wasn’t as disappointing as these Redditors made it sound.
Regardless, Cranium and Bones was initially mentioned to be primarily based on the naval fight in Murderer’s Creed 4: Black Flag, which was later become a MMO spinoff earlier than being introduced as an impartial venture. After a number of delays by Ubisoft to supply customers “the very best expertise”, a few of this suggestions like lack of fight does sound a bit regarding.
Ubsioft delists The Crew (2014) from all shops
In different information, Ubisoft’s Ivory Tower staff has introduced one other of its video games to be delisted, The Crew. The sport, which was launched again in 2014, was delisted from all on-line shops on December 14, as Ubisoft introduced March thirty first, 2024 because the final date for the sport to be playable. The servers will then be shut down, making the sport unplayable on all platforms together with PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna and Ubisoft+. Ubisoft has additionally introduced that gamers who made any current purchases of The Crew shall be provided refunds in accordance with their refund insurance policies.
Having mentioned that, Ubisoft mentions within the official announcement that The Crew has helped construct a franchise that now boasts of 40 million gamers. We noticed the third and the newest instalment, The Crew Motorfest releasing earlier this 12 months in September. IGN’s Luke Reilly rated it a 7 out of 10, describing it as a “strong racer with a assured sense of favor”.