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The naval combat genre has captivated gamers for years, offering thrilling battles and stunning visuals. Games like World of Warships, Assassin’s Creed III, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Sea of Thieves have all made their mark. Joining this impressive roster is King of Seas from 3DClouds, a game that promises a unique take on the genre with a focus on classic pirate adventures. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive in and explore the high seas of King of Seas.

King of Seas gameplay

Setting Sail on a Grand Adventure

King of Seas throws players into the shoes of either Marylou or Luky, the children of the ruler of the seven seas. A sudden and dramatic event thrusts them into the life of a pirate, setting the stage for an exciting adventure. The narrative is straightforward and predictable, but well-paced. Supporting characters are introduced organically, each playing a distinct role without creating unnecessary narrative clutter. While the main characters might feel somewhat archetypal, the supporting cast boasts charming and quirky designs.

King of Seas character design

The game’s soundtrack further enhances the lighthearted atmosphere with catchy tunes that create a sense of jovial exploration. King of Seas boasts an expansive open world, a common feature in modern games, but one that can be challenging to implement effectively. King of Seas largely succeeds in creating a vast and engaging playspace that encourages exploration and a sense of playful adventure throughout its lengthy campaign.

Charting Your Course

Rather than gating exploration through levels, King of Seas provides players with a blank map. Only the player’s current location is marked, requiring them to seek out cartographers to fill in the gaps. This mechanic, reminiscent of the synchronization system in the Assassin’s Creed series, emphasizes observation and navigation. Players must constantly remember routes for efficient trading between islands and avoid straying into enemy territory. Fluctuating commodity prices across different islands encourage constant movement and strategic planning.

King of Seas trading

While the main and side quests are marked on the map, preserving a sense of direction, the open-world design allows players to freely explore and progress at their own pace. Performance-wise, the game maintains a solid 60 FPS with impressive optimization, rarely experiencing frame drops even during visually intense scenes.

Engaging Naval Combat

Of course, a pirate game wouldn’t be complete without thrilling naval combat. King of Seas delivers a deep yet accessible combat system. Beyond simply raising and lowering sails for speed control, wind direction plays a crucial role in determining a ship’s velocity. This adds a layer of tactical depth, requiring players to consider wind conditions during engagements. Mastering these elements allows for skillful maneuvering, outpacing opponents, and setting up devastating attacks.

King of Seas naval combat

Upgrading ship components requires dedicated effort. Players must actively engage in combat with merchant ships or venture further from their base to acquire better equipment. Supplemental skills offer significant tactical advantages and can be unlocked through similar means. The more time invested in exploration and combat, the greater the rewards.

Troubled Waters

Despite its strengths, King of Seas has some shortcomings. The control scheme, limited to keyboard inputs, can feel cumbersome on PC. Certain quests can feel overly grindy, requiring vast sums of money or facing overwhelming odds against high-level enemies. The difficulty scaling can be unforgiving, sometimes making missions feel near impossible.

King of Seas enemy encounter

Some features, like the siege system, unlock later in the game but offer limited depth. Other elements, such as giant krakens, ghost ships, and volcanic eruptions, feel more like obstacles than engaging content.

King of Seas in-game event

Weighing Anchor

King of Seas offers a fun and engaging pirate adventure with a captivating open world and deep combat system. However, its clunky controls, occasionally grindy quests, and underutilized late-game features hold it back from true greatness. Despite these flaws, King of Seas provides a unique and enjoyable experience for players seeking a lighthearted swashbuckling adventure.