“To go it alone or to go with a partner? When you choose a partner, you have to have compromises and sacrifices, but it’s a price you pay. Do I want to follow my every whim and desire as I make my way through time and space? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, do I need someone when I’m doubting myself and I’m insecure and MY heart fails me? Do I need someone, who when the heat gets hot, has my back? I do.”
This quote from one of my favorite films, Safety Not Guaranteed, came to mind during my time with the Sea of Thieves Beta this weekend. While the option is there for anyone to go it alone, the game is more fun and more rewarding when you have at least one partner.
I definitely gave it a go on my own briefly. One thing you’ll notice right off the bat is just how difficult it can be to steer the ship and navigate simultaneously. Thankfully they put you in a smaller boat than they do if you are going with a full crew, yet it still is difficult to maneuver.
Jumping in with at least one friend is definitely the best way to experience Sea of Thieves. In my extended play through with a partner, my experience was much more enjoyable.
We started our voyage together with a map, a ship, and the hope of buried treasure. It became immediately evident that if we were to make it to the island we would have to work together. He took his place at the wheel and I headed below deck to navigate us to the treasure.
Once arriving on the island we searched for the buried treasure using the map given to us at our quest’s beginning. After digging around for a bit we heard the most rewarding sound, the clink of the cold steel against the wooden chest. As soon as my shovel hit the dirt, I knew i had uncovered the booty, and it felt great. It was at this point we realized our ship was long gone. Whether this means it sank, floated away or was stolen we knew had to figure out our next move.
While I stayed on the beach with the treasure, Captain Duddy set off to retrieve the ship and try and sail back to the island in order to pick me up and return the treasure to where our journey began. While thwarting off the undead that tried to attack me on the beach and steal my prize, he finally made it back in one piece with our ship and we could finally set sail together ending our first of what will be many quests together.
Over the past couple of years I have played less and less multiplayer, but I truly believe that Sea of Thieves could be the game that pulls me back in. Check out more on Sea of Thieves here at Handsome Phantom when the game releases on March 20th.
