Sailing into the Heart of Battle
A voyage of mayhem and camaraderie in the high seas.
last updated Nov 14, 2023
Blazing Sails captures the essence of pirate battles with a refreshing twist on the genre, offering an exhilarating experience that's just a few leagues short of perfection.
Gameplay – Walking the Royale Plank
Blazing Sails starts with the thrill of gathering loot and quickly sails into intense naval battles. The battle royale style is a refreshing twist, where survival depends on both individual skill and team coordination. The initial looting phase, while sometimes slow, builds tension effectively. The lack of voice chat is a glaring omission, making coordination more challenging than it should be. However, the variety in weapons and ship upgrades adds depth, with special cannonballs and other upgrades providing strategic layers to ship combat. The gameplay is an exciting mix of strategy and chaos, especially as the circle closes in and battles intensify.
Graphics and Audio – Pretty Lighting and Catchy Shanties
Blazing Sails, while borrowing heavily from the Sea of Thieves aesthetic, brings its own charm to the table. The cartoonish, vibrant graphics are pleasing, though the water physics and overall polish fall short of its inspirations. The game shines with its use of Unreal Engine, especially in lighting effects, adding a layer of beauty to the high-seas adventure. The sound design complements the visuals well, with powerful cannon blasts and immersive environmental sounds. The soundtrack deserves a special mention for its catchy tunes that perfectly encapsulate the pirate theme, though the lack of in-game voice chat hampers the auditory experience.
Performance and Polish
Blazing Sails struggles a bit with optimization. Players with mid-range hardware have reported performance issues, even on lower settings. This is a bit of a letdown, especially considering the game's graphical style doesn't suggest a high demand on resources. On the brighter side, the developers seem committed to improving the game, with regular updates addressing bugs and balancing issues. However, the game's reliance on a larger player base for its battle royale mode is its Achilles' heel, as the current low player count can lead to longer matchmaking times and less diverse player interactions.
The High Seas Community
The community aspect of Blazing Sails is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the game fosters a strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie, essential for sailing and combat. Playing with friends elevates the experience significantly, creating memorable moments of cooperation and battle. On the other hand, the game's small but dedicated player base means new players might face steep competition, and finding a match can be a challenge during off-peak hours. The lack of a built-in voice chat system is baffling, as effective communication is key in team-based games like this.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Get Up Games
Publisher
Iceberg Interactive
Release Date
November 13, 2023
Verdict
Blazing Sails is a valiant effort at capturing the chaotic fun of pirate battles with a battle royale twist. While it nails the essentials with exciting gameplay, catchy audio, and vibrant graphics, it's weighed down by performance issues and a small player base. The lack of voice chat is a significant oversight for a game that heavily relies on team coordination. However, the game shines when played with friends, offering a uniquely thrilling experience on the high seas. It's a gem that's worth sailing with, especially for fans of pirate adventures and battle royale games. With a bit more polish and a larger crew of players, Blazing Sails could truly become a treasure of the gaming seas.
