Before jumping into the cockpit of Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing there is one important question you must ask yourself – do you enjoy the sea combat that has become a huge part of the Assassin’s Creed franchise? Now, I am not saying that the naval battles are horrible – they simply are not the best feature incorporated into the franchise and have resulted in me steering clear of some of the more recent releases in the series. Imagine if you will, the next iteration of the series forgoing all historical relevance, slapping on a stylized new engine that looks at home in the world of Borderlands, and removing all of the parkour and stabby stabby actions (you know, the fun stuff), and you’re left with Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing.

You are to join in the Bow to Blood tournament, which is akin to a reality TV show in which a group of space pirates compete for points as they complete various tasks while racing to the finish line. These tasks are quite repetitious and almost always require the player to either blow something up or collect a package despite being randomized on each and every run. On multiple occasions, I was presented with the exact same challenges in the exact order, with very minor differences that didn’t impact the game whatsoever. Comprised of seven events, some randomly selected and others selected by the player, this is the one mode of play offered in the game. If you happen to be in the lowest rankings (which I consistently am), you run the risk of being voted out of the game, much like 99% of the reality TV shows out there.

The gameplay incorporates a few different mechanics, with the air combat making up the bulk of the experience. As I mentioned before, it plays out exactly like the naval encounters in AC, albeit with you flying opposed to sailing the seas. Using the bumpers to set your speed, you are freed up to divert most of your attention to the tiny enemies that litter the screen, attacking on sight. With the exception of the other game show participants, these enemies are extremely nimble and make for a challenging battle from the get go, primarily due to the clunky controls that make tracking the enemies harder than it ever should rightfully be. Your ship comes standard with mounted guns that never feel like they pack a worthy punch. Pouring salt into the wound is the fact that the enemies look so similar and are designed in such an abstract way that your team mates’ suggestions for aiming at specific weak spots fall on deaf ears. I’m sorry, but if the ship looks like an egg with some dragon wings glued onto it, I can’t tell what side is the front or the back.

In addition to the combat, you’ll need to direct two members of your crew on the fly as you progress, as their assignments provide buffs to specific areas of your vessel. This was the deepest aspect of the game, and sadly, also one of the more cumbersome. Pulling up the radial menu to select where you wanted each member to go while taking fire is near impossible and certain functions will only work if the NPC is located at the correct post, such as replenishing your shields. This is never properly explained and only brought to light through trial and error, and quite honestly, feels like it should have been incorporated a bit later into the game. Adding to the insanity, you’ll need to keep on your toes and watch for smaller enemies that will invade your ship and require you to pull out a meager pea shooter to dispatch them, or run the risk of losing additional health and the like.

Based off of the title, you’d think this was a multiplayer or battle royale affair. For the first time in my life, I can say I am saddened this mode is missing. As a single player experience, you’ll be at the mercy of AI votes, which can only be swayed by making alliances with the AI counterparts. I feel like adding a human element to this would’ve made for a more enjoyable experience, not to mention less one sided, as the AI consistently has voted me out early into each of my runs. I will be honest and throw out that I have usually been a dick when approached, either stealing resources out from under the competition or denying their request to bribe their vote in exchange for points; but I feel like this should be a given response when you’re constantly on the bottom of the ranking. Even when I buckled and decided I would make a run as “Yes” man, I would get screwed over again and again.

The overall visuals are passable at best, where the landscapes look as if this was a secondary mode added to the original Borderlands on the past generation of consoles. Cel shaded, procedurally generated canyons and the occasional metallic structure make up the majority of the sights you’ll take in, which are heavily impeded by the viewpoint of your ship. This takes up about half of the screen if you’re looking at the front of the ship, allowing you to easily see who is doing what on board while you’re battling it out with the enemy forces, but often prohibits you from seeing what is in front or below you.

At the end of the day, Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing is a game that may thrill flight or sea combat enthusiasts, but fails to deliver anything but frustration and horrible memories by showcasing one of the worst elements from one of the best franchises of the past decade.

4 out of 10

Pros

• Unique Concept
• Didn’t Give Me Motion Sickness

Cons

• Cumbersome Controls
• Random Elements Aren’t Overly Random
• Limited Field of Vision
• Combat

Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing was developed and published by Tribetoy. It is available on PC, PS4, NS, and X1. The game was provided to us for review on X1. If you’d like to see more of Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing, check out the publisher’s website.

 

Here at GBG we use a rating method that you are more than likely familiar with – a scale of 1 to 10. For clarification, we intend on using the entire scale: 1-4 is something you should probably avoid paying for; 5-7 is something that is worth playing, but probably not at full price; 8-10 is a great title that you can feel confident about buying. If you have any questions or comments about how we rate a game, please let us know.

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