Salt

Salt is a debut-project from the small, independent studio Lavaboots. This is an FPP game with an open world, which all resembles Sea of Thieves by Rare. Salt debuted thanks to Steam Early Access in 2014 and got quickly recognised by some of the industry’s media. Its full version was released three years later.

Plot

In Salt, the players assume the roles of corsairs who are discovering mysteries of the huge archipelago somewhere in the West Indies. At the beginning, they have a ship and basic equipment, and from that moment on, they are free to do what they want. They can complete one of +50 quests or set out in search of bounty.

Mechanics

The backbone of Salt consists in free exploration, both alone and with friends via co-op, and it comes in two parts – sea and land. During sea travels, the players have to be aware of many variables, like the wind direction or weather. Also, it is vital to control sails, the rudder, and the general condition of the ship. It can receive damage during numerous battles with pirates and dangerous sea monsters. However, it is not safe on land either. Mysterious islands are filled with creatures, cultists, and bandits that can be defeated with melee weapons and firearms. Still, taking a risk can be worthwhile, as there are buried treasures and ancient ruins with powerful artefacts. Moreover, some of the islands are dwelled by merchants who will happily trade goods. According to the creators of the game, Salt offers hundreds of armour elements, weapons, and other valuables.

If you are tired of searching for costly items and fighting opponents, you can engage in other activities. The islands are flooded with game that just asks to be hunted. On the other hand, sea is abundant with fish that can be yours if you make use of a fishing rod. Furthermore, nothing stops you from gathering resources that can later be used in creating ammunition or upgrading and decorating the ship.

Keeping the map up-to-date is an interesting mechanics Salt employs – the places the players visit have to be marked on the map manually.

Technical aspects

Salt utilises simple, yet characteristic and cartoon visuals which may draw attention. The game’s world is generated procedurally. Therefore, not only the world is different with each new game, but also the number of islands, which is basically infinite.

Last updated on February 27, 2018